Joe's Shanghai

This is one of Chinatown's best bare-bones restaurants. By that, I mean they have a limited menu, but what they serve is cheap and delicious. As others have noted, to eat here and fail to order the crab dumplings is a worse than venial sin. They are not to be avoided, although you should try to avoid spraying your neighbors with dumpling juice as you bite into one.Also highly recommended are 1)the shredded pork with pickled cabbage soup, which comes in a rich broth, 2) chicken with either hoisin or plum sauce, 3) Bean curd Szechuan style, and 4) Pork in either a jalepeno or a bean sauce.Enjoy, but be prepared to wait!

Ok... now think Chinese food... now take everthing that you like about that thought.... Ok, now order... and make sure you order the steamed dumplings (you'll notice that everyone else in the dining room has at least one bamboo steamer of them).There are some down points: 1) No Reservations, and more than likely there will be a wait. 2) No Credit Cards, someone said that this policy has changed recently, but last time I was there I did a pre-dinner ATM run.Seriously don't miss the Crab & Pork Dumplings... they are these great little buns with soup inside of them... When I go, I make a meal out of them, and just order a typical entre as an extra.

If you want a true Chinatown dinning experience, this place is for you. Located in a small alley on Pearl, this place has truely what I'd call the Chinatown experience: great food, quick turn around, packed crowd and lively.This place do not accept reservations, but expect at least a half and hour to an hour wait. But don't worry, it has all sorts of instructions on how to eat the steaming bun outside the resturant to entertain you. An be sure to order the appetizer #1 crabmeat steam bun the minute you sit down.If you are not up for the wait, go to the 57th St (and 5th Ave) branch. You pay a little bit more for a more roomy and comfrtable environment. But then it wouldn't be Chinatown experience, would it>