Despite being one of the lone neighborhoods in Manhattan to preserve its heritage and verve, Chinatown sometimes seems unaware of its cultural cachet. Whether it’s because it has shunned the branding that raises rents or because of the anti-curb appeal of hanging carcasses and crates of seafood along the streets, the hood has maintained status as a lowkey downtown enclave for creatives and families alike.
At the same time, there’s been an uptick in uptown influence, most notably André Saraiva’s Café Hernie on Forsyth Street, as well as several boutique businesses. Despite the abundance of new options, local creatives Alberto Chapa and Riley Metcalf flock to Chinatown’s authenticity, specifically the place named the second most essential restaurant in New York by Eater.
