WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN
Bonnie's
Cantonese-American cooking with a grin — the cha siu McRib, fermented long beans and an MSG martini.
Calvin Eng named his restaurant for his mother and built the menu out of the Cantonese-American home cooking he grew up on, then let it run loose. Bonnie's is a small, buzzing Williamsburg corner with a wine list, a cocktail list that includes an MSG martini, and a table of friends at every turn. It made Eng a Food & Wine Best New Chef, and it has kept its edge.
The cha siu McRib — sticky, glossy pork rib on a bun — is the famous one, but the cooking runs deeper: stuffed trout, fermented long beans with yauh ja gwai, crisp salt-and-pepper squid with a Chinese ranch, clams over silky steamed egg custard. Order a congee for the table and a round of drinks, and let the kitchen's sense of humor do the rest.
Editor’s tip
Order the long beans, the squid and the McRib, and try the MSG martini at least once.
Make an evening of it — beautiful stops nearby
Also in the neighborhood
WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN
Sunday in Brooklyn
Home of the malted pancakes — Williamsburg's definitive brunch, best taken on a weekday.
New American · Brunch · $$
WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN
Devoción
Farm-fresh Colombian beans under a skylight and a living green wall — Brooklyn's most beautiful cup.
Café · Neighborhood Café · $
Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 13, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.