BY CAROLYN ONOFREY
What’s on… Doyers Street?
Chinatown
Doyers Street is a historic one block street in Chinatown. In the early 20th century, the unique street was known as the “Bloody Angle” due to its right angle hooking the street north from the Bowery to Pell Street. Doyers Street was the site of Chinese gang wars where the sharp angle and series of underground tunnels made the perfect battleground. It is said that foot by foot, Doyers is home to the most bloodshed in the city
Lucky for us, today Doyers Street has plenty of great stops without the violence!
Roast duck with hand pulled noodle soup at Tasty Hand Pulled Noodle Inc.
1 Doyers Street – Tasty Hand Pulled Noodle Inc.
Stop by Tasty Hand Pulled Noodle for a huge bowl of freshly pulled noodle soup. Can’t be beat prices, ranging from $4.50 – $6.50 include everything from beef tendon to roast duck to eel. Take out is your best bet but if dining in, try to tune out the rather disturbing slapping and pounding noise of the hand pulled noodles being made in the kitchen and enjoy your soup and complementary green tea!
Service isn’t the quickest, but the waitresses are more than accommodating and will do whatever they can to make you feel at home.
*Try the dumplings as well for an equally as tasty treat!
3 Doyers Street – Excellent Pork Chop House
For authentic Chinese comfort food, try Excellent Pork Chop House. The basic pork chop over rice ($5.25) is always a crowd pleaser, but don’t forget to try the spicy wonton dumplings, or for something a little different, their marinated eggs ($.50 ea.).
9 Doyers Steet – Apothéke
The only nightlife destination on the street lies at an unmarked doorway at 9 Doyers Street. Modeled after the opium den that once occupied the same address, Apotheke wows patrons with its expertly mixed cocktails ($15 at the bar). The cocktail list is always changing, with standbys like my personal favorite, the Cilantro Paso – a cilantro infused gin with white lillet, agave nectar, lemon juice, and muddled cucumber.
Table service is also available if you’re lucky enough to snag one by reservation or by luck. Enjoy a selection of aptly inspired Asian hors d’oeuvres or a cocktail off their pricier menu featuring the likes of Ron Zacapa and itching to set your back upwards of $50 each.
Live entertainment featuring DJs and experimental indie rock on select nights is always a draw, but be prepared for a choosy door.
11 Doyers Street, 2nd Floor – ???
On some nights above the old location of Doyers Vietnamese at 11 Doyers Street you can see red lights and movement behind drawn curtains on floor #2. Inside sources say this is a secret karaoke lounge, only accessible by the extremely in-the-know. Could this be where the Gold Flower Karaoke loung (original location at 9 Doyers, closed in 2007) moved to? Or could the red lights suggest a different kind of establishment altogether?
Nom Wah Tea Parlor – Currently under renovation
13 Doyers Street – Nom Wah Tea Parlor
Although currently closed for renovations, Nom Wah, originally opened in 1920 was the first Dim Sum Parlor in New York City. The Shew My (pork buns) are can’t miss. Eat like a king for under $10 and leave relaxed, fat, and happy.
We can only hope that the new renovations won’t take away from this historic Chinatown gem!
18 Doyers Street – Sanur
If you’re in the mood for authentic Malaysian food, Sanur is the place to go. Sanur serves authentic Malaysian and Indonesian specialities like lontong (a compressed rice cake dish) and soto ayam mee fun (a spicy Indonesian chicken noodle soup).
As with all the restaurants on Doyers, the shabby not-so-chic decor can be a turn off, but really do you come to Chinatown for the decor or the food?
