Nom Wah Tea Parlor in Chinatown, NYC

We’ve all seen those imitation-NYC movie and TV sets that are supposed to be Chinatown, right? The tiny cobblestone streets with lots of little shops and eateries, and people walking to and fro? Well, Doyers St. is the type of place those sets are modeled after, and Nom Wah Tea Parlor is the main attraction. Except it’s not on some set – it’s real.

Nom Wah has been a staple of Doyers St. since 1920 and has occupied its current space since 1968. It’s a dim sum restaurant – which is a Chinese style of eating that involves bite-sized foods served in small portions – with an awesome old-school awning, and vintage tables and booths. Curiously enough, the place resembles a French brasserie. I decided to go to Nom Wah on December 7th, my 22nd birthday.

I hate my birthday. I’m not really sure why, but as soon as December 7th rolls around, I grow sad and usually end up in tears. This phenomenon may have to do with the fact that birthdays are so hyped up and there’s always pressure to feel special and to make the day memorable, when in reality, there is no sensible reason to. I usually try to ignore the day as much as possible but this year’s was a Friday and I knew I’d want to go out anyway but I decided to keep it simple - a low-key dinner with Rene, followed by drinks with friends.

The birthday girl

To order, simply mark the items you want on the order card and hand it to your waiter.

Beef dumpling soup

House special pan fried dumplings

All the food was great but the steamed sampler was my favorite. It’s an assortment of pork, beef and/or shrimp-filled chewy dumplings. They are fun to eat and share, all they need is a drizzle of soy sauce.

Steamed dim sum sampler

I must say I fell in love with this place. It’s small, cozy and super affordable – this meal along with a pot of tea came out to about $25. It is definitely a must try for anyone who lives in or is visiting New York… or anyone who desperately needs to be comforted on their birthday.