Kosher Chinese in NYC

[eatingwitheddie]

Can anyone point me in the direction of good kosher Chinese cooking?

Any thoughts as to the most popular dishes in the kosher Chinese food biz?

[bloviatrix]

Here are the kosher chinese places that I can think of in Manhattan:

Eden Wok on W. 72 btw Columbus and Amsterdam

Mr. Broadway/Me Tsu Yan 1372 B'way (37 & 38)

Esti-hana W. 79th btw Amsterdam and B'way

Gan Asia - corner of Amsterdam and 93rd

Eden Wok and Estihana serve both sushi and chinese food. The food is ok (how's that for damning w/faint praise?). Gan Asian (take-out only) serves Thai and Chinese. I'm more partial to the Thai offerings. And their dumplings were awful. I've never eated chinese at Mr. Broadway.

I'm sure there are places in Queens and Brooklyn, but I can't help you there.

What ever you do, stay away from the place in Elizabeth, NJ. It's the worst food I've ever eaten!!!

In my experience chinese isn't that big in the kosher community anymore. It's been replaced with a sushi obsession.

[alacarte]

There was a kosher Chinese place at one time -- Bernstein on Essex was the name, I think?? -- which Mr. alacarte still mourns.

[Mayhaw Man]

What ever you do, stay away from the place in Elizabeth, NJ. It's the worst food I've ever eaten!!!

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How bad is it? Really bad? The worst place in the world? Or just New Jersey?

[Daniel]

What ever you do, stay away from the place in Elizabeth, NJ. It's the worst food I've ever eaten!!!

I work in Elizabeth, NJ and live in Manhattan. What place is this? I couldnt imagine eating chinese food anywhere in this town.

[bloviatrix]

My husband can't remember the name, but I assume it's on Elmora Ave near the other kosher places. Essentially, every dish tasted the same. I think they made one gloppy sauce and doused everything in it.

[Daniel]

Well if a gloppy sauce is all you ended up with i would say you lucked out. Some of these places around here are pretty scary

[LESider]

Esti-hana W. 79th btw Amsterdam and B'way

I was recently having a drink at the Dublin House and someone brought an eggroll and a dumpling from this Esti-hana in from there. It was by far the greasiest , nastiest piece of food I have ever tasted. Really I wanted to go over to the restaurant and throw it back in their face it was so gross, and I didn't pay for it. They should be shut down.

[Pam R]

In my experience chinese isn't that big in the kosher community anymore.  It's been replaced with a sushi obsession.

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I agree that the Jews have discovered Sushi (and I can't go to a sushi place without running into at least one table of people that I know..) but I still think chinese food has a place in most Jewish hearts. Christmas Eve I of course, ran into about 6 tables of Jews while having dinner... but it's rare to eat in a chinese/japanese/ thai restaurant without seeing some MOT's

There was a kosher Chinese place at one time -- Bernstein on Essex was the name, I think?? -- which Mr. alacarte still mourns.

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Shmolka Bernsteins? (No idea on spelling here). Was taken there a good long while ago...while on a high school trip. Assume it's no longer in business.

[Gifted Gourmet]

Shmolka Bernsteins? (No idea on spelling here).  Was taken there a good long while ago...while on a high school trip.  Assume it's no longer in business.

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Schmulka Bernstein's is long gone but, take heart, there is a fascinating discussion on Jews and Chinese food at eGullet:

right here ... in it are some mentions of NYC kosher Chinese food ... enjoy!

more information:Kosher Dining Guide maybe China Glatt?

[bloviatrix]

[

There was a kosher Chinese place at one time -- Bernstein on Essex was the name, I think?? -- which Mr. alacarte still mourns.

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Shmolka Bernsteins? (No idea on spelling here). Was taken there a good long while ago...while on a high school trip. Assume it's no longer in business.

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Bernstein's has been gone since the late 80s.

[Pan]

There are some kosher vegetarian Chinese restaurants. One new one just recently opened on Mott St. near Chatham Square.

[Pam R]

Bernstein's has been gone since the late 80s. 

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am i that old?

[wesza]

There was a kosher Chinese place at one time -- Bernstein on Essex was the name, I think?? -- which Mr. alacarte still mourns.

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I set up "Schmulka Bernstein's Chinese" on the Lower Eastside as the first Chinese Kosher Restaurant. It was chefed by Cantonese Cooks who were familiar with Kosher cooking who had experience working at various Kosher Hotels in Catskill's but also had extensive experience working at NYC Cantonese Restaurants.

Every item on the menu was adopted to taste as close to the food being seved at every other Chinese Restaurant in the City. At that time there was very little menu variation except in China Town and even there were only about 1/2 dozen places plus eating clubs that catered to Chinese. The only place serving Dim Sum was the Nam Wah Tea House.

I haven't found any NYC area Kosher Chinese Restaurant nearly as good on any of my visits that served so called NYC Chinese.

Not sure of the exact year it opened but "eatingwitheddie" if I remember correct worked with Reis Brothers.

Irwin