Noodle Village

"If you aspire to be an Expert Level New Yorker, there are a few skills you’ll want to master. You’re going to need to know which subway car to get on for efficient exiting, at least on your own line. You should most certainly know how to avoid a broker’s fee. You should know how to politely not have a moment for the environment when a guy with a clipboard comes for you (sorry) and when to order delivery so that a hot meal is ready and waiting for you just as you get home. Another thing you should have down pat as an Expert Level New Yorker? You should be able to get dropped in Chinatown, and quickly navigate those around you to a great, somewhat under-the-radar spot, where you’ll tell everyone about the best thing to order. When you find yourself in this situation, direct your group to Noodle Village. Tell everyone they have the best wonton soup in Chinatown, and that the soup dumplings are pretty good too. You won’t be lying. If your experiences with wonton soup have been relegated to slippery, doughy wontons filled with little bits of pork dropped into an oily soup, a trip to Noodle Village will change your perspective. The soup is light and doesn’t just taste like something that came from a can, and the wontons are thin and filled with big chunks of shrimp. Since trying the wonton soup here, we find it hard to walk near Chinatown on a cold day without going in. And after trying some other places up the block with reportedly good wonton soup, we can confirm that Noodle Village’s is indeed something special. The space is nothing too notable, but it’s a calm, not overly cramped room that seems like it’s been recently renovated. You can come with a reasonably sized group, or roll in by yourself. And just like that, it’s New York, Expert Level: Unlocked. Food Rundown Wonton Soup As previously stated, this is a wonton soup of gods. Do gods like wonton soup? I think so. Although the restaurant’s name might suggest otherwise, you should skip the noodle version and go wonton-only - the noodles sometimes have a metallic-y taste and the soup is better without. Add some of the red vinegar to your soup to continue towards expert-level status. Shanghai Soup Dumplings Are these better than Joe’s Shanghai around the corner? It depends how you like your soup dumplings, and anything we say here is probably going to start a fight. So just know that compared to Joe’s, these have a thinner, chewier skin that is almost... al dente. Steam Rice Roll A nice gooey plate of carbs, topped with peanut sauce and hoisin sauce. Get one for the table. Clay Pot Rice If you’re dead set on some rice and protein, go for a clay pot rice - the crisped up rice is enjoyable, but it’s also not what you come here for." - Hillary Reinsberg

"Noodle Village’s soup dumplings have thinner skin than the ones you’ll find around the corner at Joe’s Shanghai. But if you’re looking for some chewy, sticky xiao long bao filled with lots of broth in Chinatown, these are the ones you want. The crab soup dumplings won us over with their rich mixture of meaty liquid and chewy meat, but the pork dumplings here are also excellent. Order some of both for lunch and eat them on Noodle Village’s outdoor patio to remind yourself why you live in New York City." - hannah albertine, nikko duren, carlo mantuano, molly fitzpatrick

"Noodle Village is serving their excellent food under a tent in front of their restaurant on Mott Street. This place serves Chinatown’s best wonton soup, which you should order without noodles (despite the name of the restaurant). It sounds confusing, but just trust us on this one." - hannah albertine

"If you want to seem like a New Yorker who knows Chinatown like the lyrics to “Believe” by Cher, invite some friends to Noodle Village for your next group dinner. The space is nothing too notable, but it’s calm, and feels more roomy than most of the other casual spots in the area. Both the soup dumplings and wonton soup are some of the best you’ll find in Chinatown. You should try to sit at the long table running through the center of the restaurant, but if it’s occupied there are booths along the walls where you can squeeze quite a few people." - hannah albertine, nikko duren

"Despite its name, you shouldn’t be coming to Noodle Village for noodles. You should be coming here for Chinatown’s best wonton soup (and you should get it without the noodles, which are confusingly not great). You should also come for their excellent soup dumplings, which we think are better than those from Joe’s Shanghai around the corner. While it can get busy here during the day on weekends, it’s usually a great bet for a weeknight dinner." - Hannah Albertine, Bryan Kim, Hillary Reinsberg, Matt Tervooren, Carina Finn Koeppicus