CHINATOWN, MANHATTAN

Nyonya

Manhattan's Malaysian standby on Grand Street — nasi lemak, prawn mee and a Bib Gourmand.

On Grand Street, where Chinatown runs into what's left of Little Italy, Nyonya is a casual Malaysian room with a long menu and modest prices. The name comes from the Peranakan kitchens of Penang and Malacca, where Chinese and Malay cooking merged.

Order nasi lemak the full way — coconut rice, crisp anchovies, pickled vegetables, curried chicken and a hard-boiled egg — and a bowl of prawn mee, the sour, spiced shrimp noodle broth. Chow kueh teow with tiger prawns and squid is the wok dish, and the coconut-battered jumbo prawns are for the table. The MICHELIN Guide keeps it on its Bib Gourmand list.

Editor’s tip

Nasi lemak and prawn mee make the ideal two-person order.

Make an evening of it — beautiful stops nearby

SOHO, MANHATTAN

Crosby Street

SoHo's working back lane — cobbles, fire escapes, and no performance.

Beautiful Street · Free

~7 min on foot

SOHO, MANHATTAN

Greene Street cast-iron blocks

The world's best run of cast-iron facades, still impersonating marble after 150 years.

Architectural Gem · Free

~8 min on foot

Also in the neighborhood

CHINATOWN, MANHATTAN

Nom Wah Tea Parlor

New York's oldest dim sum parlor, holding the bend of Doyers Street since 1920.

Dim Sum · Hidden Gem · $$

CHINATOWN, MANHATTAN

Wo Hop

Down the stairs since 1938 — a Beard America's Classic where the walls remember everyone.

Chinese · Hidden Gem · $

Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 13, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.