Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Manhattan since the 2000s. Offers extensive menu of vegetarian/vegan versions of traditional dishes as well as dim sum items, priced per dish. Food appears to be mostly or all-vegan. Fried rice, steamed buns, fried rolls, different mock meats, pan-fried dumplings, and much more. Open Mon-Sun 10:30am-9:00pm.
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24 Pell St (at Manhattan Chinatown), New York City, New York, USA, 10013
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- Cash only
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Last update on 27 Dec 2023 by htalina
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82 Reviews
First Review by Poundie
PurpleCurrant
Points +3898
Good food! - Edit
The restaurant looks pretty authentic, so I was intrigued. The food was very good and I definitely recommend it, but the staff needs to be a bit less entitled.
Read moreGuest
lilymarlow
Points +40
Favorite restaurant ever - Edit
You can get like way too much super delicious food, be over full, stuffed to the point of gluttony with delicious dumplings and when you get the bill it’s like $24
Read moreGuest
VeggieLondoners
Points +50
A long term favourite for some very filling Dim Sum - Edit
This is not your posh dainty Dim Sum house but a more hearty and filling cheap Dim Sum place with lot's of vegetarian variety. They have a completely vegetarian menu but portions can be a little big so this is a great place to go with a group of friends so you can have lot's of flavours to share.
Read moreI've been going to this place on and off when I'm in New York since 2006 and I always make a visit when I'm in town. For lot's of vegetarian choices and a filling Dim Sum meal there is no where better.
Pros: Enough options for many many visits, Friendly staff, Great value
Guest
VinnieRodriguez
Points +368
Great food…a lot of variety - Edit
The restaurant was open when other restaurants weren’t, so the hours are great. They also have such an extensive menu with so many options, you can’t get bored with the options.
Read morePros: An incredible amount of variety on their menu, The food was sent out quickly after ordering
Cons: The cups, utensils, plates are all plastic/paper , They only accept cash and their ATM doesn’t work
Guest
Shelita
Points +54
Everything here is vegan ❤️ - Edit
Everything here is vegan even though it says vegetarian in the name. I love the food.
Read morePros: The best vegan dim sum
Guest
aps
Points +16
Longtime Favorite - Edit
I love this place - it's like a second home. I've probably been coming here for 20 years. The people are nice, the food is good, the prices are perfect... Favorites include: monk dumplings, watercress dumplings, mock duck, Singapore noodles, sticky rice in lotus leaves, congee, Buddha's bean curd rolls, etc.
Read moreGuest
Lendasock
Points +370
Really disappointing - Edit
I was so disappointed by this place. I'm not too bothered by bad service, and all the bad reviews of this place only gave them because of the service, but I'm here about the food.
Read moreThe food was so strange. The weirdest dim sum I have ever had. They put rice in all of the fillings, as a cheaper way to substitute the meat (this was in addition to the fake meat in the dim sum). My partner and I got 5 dishes and got incredibly full because everything had so much rice in it. The flavours were also really unusual, with barely any vegetables in the dim sums (despite thinking that we ordered ones with vegetables in them). We got the prawn dumplings, spinach dumplings, BBQ pork buns, dim sum, and fried dim sum.
Worst part of it all was that everything came out COLD in the middle 😭😭😭😭
1/5 of the menu had "run out" when we got there, which was fine because we arrived at 9pm.
For people thinking that this is "authentic" dim sum... Wow you are seriously missing out on some amazing food by going here.
Pros: Lots of cheap dim sum, open late
Cons: All the dim sum had rice in them
Guest
Sherlockieee
Points +101
Bad food bad service - Edit
We did not enjoy the food. We ordered pork bun, shrimp dumpling and Cresent dumplings. The shrimp dumplings and Cresent dumplings were both tasteless, and apparently made from the same fillings. The pork buns were better, but the filling is very small compared to the bun. The staff was a bit rude and annoyed that we stayed for too long, keep signaling we need to leave even though there were plenty of seats. Would not recommend.
Read moreGuest
kmau_
Points +1143
Simply delicious! - Edit
We ordered way too much food and loved everything we got. Dumplings and buns are the showstopper and there was a good selection of veggie and mock meat options. The wontons were crispy and delicious. The fried rice with veggies hit the spot. Our favorite dish was the mock shrimp dumplings though by far - perfectly done. Great place to bring a group. Will be going back again with friends.
Read morePros: Tons of options, Good quality, Good prices
Cons: Cash only
Guest
Hiddenlavender
Points +308
Grim - Edit
Rude, grim and tasteless. No stars
Read moreGuest
SamLuck
Points +66
Pretty good dim sum - Edit
The fried dumplings, lotus root cakes, and lotus leaf rice roll were brilliant, spinach dumplings, and shark fin soup dumplings were just ok, will definitely return though.
Read moresusantian
thorough and helpful review
Read moreGuest
Jarhead
Points +50
I now frequent this place because it's so good - Edit
I don't know why there are so many negative reviews on here. The staff was very friendly, but their English is limited. They told me everything on the menu is vegan, but you may want to ask just in case. They immediately serve you tea once you sit down, which I love. And the times I went the place was empty which is also really surprising.
Read moreThe menu is huge, and if everything is vegan like they said, wow! What I do is order a few of the small dishes ($5) on the small menu and share it between people. You can feed two people to the point of being full for $15 which is super cheap for New York, especially vegan New York.
I really think more people should go here. It's now my favourite restaurant in NYC.
Some of my favourite dishes: sweet and salty dumplings, mashed taro treasure boxes, pan fried dumplings, mock roast pork buns.
Pros: Lots of vegan options (they told me all of it was), Tea! Quiet atmosphere, Very cheap (if you order off the small menu)
Cons: Underappreciated
Guest
IrisCredo
Points +74
Great flavors - Edit
Have always loved dim sum and it was a treat to find a place where I could eat most anything on the menu. Traditional dishes like "shrimp" (seitan) dumplings and "pork" buns, and other vegetable dishes. All tasty! Great location in heart of Chinatown.
Read morePros: Great variety, all tasty!, Affordably priced!
Guest
AndrewTasi
Points +50
Despite what they might say on the phone, they do NOT take reservations. - Edit
Don’t come here expecting anything approaching normal levels of service or politeness. I made a reservation over the phone, only to arrive the next day and be told they don’t take reservations and it’s walk-ins only. We ran into another party in the lobby that had been told the same thing.
Read moreIt was a big disappointment. The food itself was decent.
Guest
lafuitedebarbara
Points +196
Feast yourself with little money! - Edit
Authentique food, delicious, cheap, abundant! Everything is great.
Read moreGuest
Ciad
Points +1520
Get Sum Dem Dim Sum - Edit
Stopped in for a couple things to take out. Got the Vegetarian Mock Shrimp Dumplings and the Turnip Cake. Ate it outside of the Harley Davidson locale. Excellent.
Read morePros: Friendly People, Good Prices
Guest
mum2nicky
Points +51
Come hungry and ready to feast - Edit
We ordered a lot because dim sum menus are usually very limited for non-meat/non-seafood eaters so we couldn't resist trying as many dishes as possible. Most everything was very delicious and there were 1 or 2 average dishes. The value is outstanding. So much food for the money compared to every other restaurant we visited. We'll definitely return on our future visits to NYC,
Read moreGuest
JackyMuñoz
Points +38
So flavorful! - Edit
Great tea, great service, great food all at a reasonable price in chinatown.
Read moreGuest
Mormor
Points +42
delicious - Edit
Great food. Humble and authentic place
Read morePros: big portions and yummy
Guest
Prufrock
Points +574
Good but... - Edit
The place is a typical Chinese restaurant located in the heart of Chinatown.
Read moreThere is a huge variety of dishes, original Chinese recipes in their veg version. Unfortunately, the staff is not really helpful, and if you are not used to Chinese food it is difficult to pick up a dish.
You are given free hot tea with your meal.
Pros: Good price, perfect place for Chinese food lovers
Cons: The staff is a bit dismissive.
Guest
Astrid_Maine
Points +181
vegan options galore! - Edit
I do agree with the previous reviewer that items here can be hit or miss, but once you find something you like, it will be reliably tasty year after year. We love the shark fin soup, the Buddha rolls (made with tofu skin, yum!), the Chinese veggies (yesterday it was Gai Lan or Chinese broccoli.) Will return on our next trip to New York!
Read morePros: many vegan options
Guest
theevetree
Points +158
will go back for corn congee & snow pea dumpling!! - Edit
many vegan options available!! the items are hit & miss, but when you pick a good one, it is just incredible!! we just had dim sum there, no main dishes. server was great. the water they gave us tasted funny tho so we ordered tea. just to be safe, don't order water. it wasn't that impressive, but i will go back if i'm in the area.
Read morePros: big menu with lots of vegan options, snow pea dumpling & corn congee, friendly staff
Cons: the water didn't taste right, cash only (that's a con for me--i don't like to ca
Guest
esjay
Points +49
Disappointing - Edit
The egg rolls were average, Buddha's bean curd rolls were interesting, the curried vegetables were mediocre, and we finished with some terrible red bean cakes. Many of the juices were out of stock and the staff were not helpful. This is an interesting place where you can try many dishes that are not normally available as vegetarian, but could use some improvements in service and some refinement in flavoring.
Read morePros: A full menu of vegetarian options
Cons: Rude staff
Guest
yup
Points +112
Microwaved frozen food - Edit
I went here, delighted that I found a veggie dim sum place near my cousin's favorite dim sum place, and was extremely let down. Prices were high, portions were small, and everything was super salty. The pork buns I got were cracked on the top which only happens if you try to heat a frozen one uncovered in a microwave, instead of steaming them. The shrimp wrapped in rice noodle was the saltiest thing I've ever eaten, and there were two on the plate, each containing one faux shrimp and the saddest bit of cilantro. I think that plate cost $5? I only wish I could rate this one star, but happycow doesn't allow me to do so.
Read morePros: Veggie options
Cons: Salty, Expensive, Terrible
Guest
Simoon96
Points +38
An array of flavours - Edit
A calm and quiet escape from the bustling city. Extensive menu with a large array of vegetable, and mock meat dishes. Service was good, and the price was reasonable for the area. Good portion sizes, don't order more than 3 dim sum! Good but not the best
Read morePros: Extensive menu, Good for sharing
Cons: Mock shrimp balls - avoid
Guest
A.Z.P.
Points +635
GREAT... But Dissapointing - Edit
This place is owned by the same people who owned "House of Vegetarian" on Mott. St, which was my FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD. 2 weeks ago it closed for good and had a sign on the door directing us us to the Vegetarian Dim Sum house instead. We ate there twice and both times we were disappointed.
Read moreThe "Steak kew" Gluten and Duck appetizers were as spectacular as ever and the hot and sweet steak Kews are probably still my favorite foods in the world. The sauces and textures are divine.
The Iron steak which is made out of deep fried yams with a tangy/unbelievable Chinese BBQ sauce , was still amazing, but the flavor of the sauce was slightly off and instead of the Al Dente Broccoli which always came with it, it came with bok choy, which does not go nearly as well with the tenderness of the "Iron Steak" or the powerful flavor of the sauce. The curry tofu (order it fried!) had a great sauce and was still the best tofu dish I've eaten in 34 years as a vegetarian, but the tofu was not cooked as well and lacked any crunch and there were less veggies in it. I would still highly recommend both, they just didn't quite live up to expectations.
While the flavor of the Hot and Sour soup was excellent, the soup itself was thoroughly displeasing as it was just a huge bowl of broth with no content except for crumb sized pieces of silken tofu in it. and the smallest soup was almost 6 bucks.
The biggest disappointment was definitely the dim sum. We tried two types: the shrimp and spinach. The shrimp was just a vege shrimp in a dumpling wrapper and was as bland and unimaginative as could be. The spinach had very little spinach in it and was mostly some kind of soft mush which most closely resembled soggy kasha. We both spit it out after one bite.
Overall, this place is probably the last link in the chain for those who loved the original Chinatown Vege Mainstays of Vegetarian Paradise I & III, and House of Vegetarian, so for those like myself who grew up eating there, it's a restaurant to be treasured, as they still make the same dishes, despite coming up just short of the greatness of its predecessors.
Next time we're in New York we'll definitely give this place another shot, considering that they make some of the most amazing flavors and dishes I've ever had, I;m hoping that cooking-wise they just had a few off nights.
Pros: Spicy & Sweet Gluten=Best food in the world, Huge menu filled with Delicious flavors, Quick Service
Cons: No Lunch special, No Dipping Sauces 4 appetziers
Guest
Johnnykt
Points +96
wow, what a disappointment! - Edit
Stopped in for lunch on a recent visit to NYC. Very sorry I did so. None o the food tasted very good... Just plain. Service was bad.. A bunch of young women in the middle of a Dinah room not doing much of anything. Menus did a really poor job of describing food. So very frustrated to have wasted the time and money there. Very much like a chinese restaurant where the primary language is Mandarin... Servers didn't speak English, menu descriptions weren't good in English. Wish I could recommend but I just can't.
Read moreGuest
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