Trying Most Expensive Vs. Cheapest Chinese Food in America

CLICK HERE to see how I learned fluent Chinese: bit.ly/37gTpLc Today I’m comparing the most expensive vs. the cheapest Chinese food in America. Both of these spots are in New York City, which contains the absolute extremes of cheap and expensive when it comes to all foods, but particularly with Chinese food - you’ll be blown away by the outrageous contrast here! Actually this video is from a few years ago, pre-COVID - I made it in Chinese but I decided to translate it into English because I thought my English speaking audience might find it interesting. Anyway, the places are:
Mr. Chow
324 E 57th St, New York, NY 10022
and:
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
118 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
Check them both out and give them some support! I had a really great time at both of these places, VERY different experiences!
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[@dammitjim9131]

Good thing Xiaoma is speaking Mandarin in the expensive Chinese restaurant so no one can hear him criticize the food!

[@marcusaurelius2052]

😂😂oooh the irony

[@pauloj.1428]

So true

[@WarlordFlanker]

OOF

[@raybergstrom]

hahaha

[@cdnsilverdaddy]

Mainlander accent arrgh gutteral LOL

[@BSGSV]

The funny thing is he could say whatever he wanted in Chinese in the expensive restaurant and they wouldn't understand a word as no one there was Chinese.

[@MrBezazel]

That's the true irony right there lol

[@nevillec5252]

@@MrBezazel It's ironic that foreigners can make so much more money selling Chinese food than actual Chinese people.

[@kalekainxx]

You know there is something wrong at a chinese restaurant when you are the only one that can actually speak chinese.

[@MuzikJunky]

Same thing with Japanese cuisine and language! Peace.

[@kandade4563]

@@MuzikJunky and language?

[@trianamusica]

And you’re an american doing so lol

[@ActionAlligator]

it should be about the food tbh not the language

[@koukhang9020]

@@ActionAlligator The comment infers that the restaurant isn't up to par and doesn't attract the actual people who the restaurant is basing its food upon. I've learned a long time ago that regardless of the ethnic restaurant if the people the food is based upon doesn't eat there it definitely won't be worth trying.

[@KoMaruyama]

I miss these old videos of tours in Chinese restaurants around town. Doesn't even have to have language surprise in it, sometimes just the new food that you and friends share with each other is fun to see! 谢谢 🙏

[@rwiersema]

The crispy top layer of the second dish is actually the bottom (when they "fry" them in a pan) Also, when the cooked vegetables are the best thing on the menu, that's pretty sad

[@Gingerbran]

It’s created using a nonstick man and a cornstarch slurry.

[@plinsf]

@@Gingerbran I'm curious what the stickiness of the person has to do with anything 🤔

[@kunfuz1on5]

It’s food for upper class white people

[@chrismcknight5697]

@@kunfuz1on5 can't make it too spicy

[@redcolour1197]

@@plinsf maybe he meant Nonsticky Pan. 🤣😆

[@leelu2753]

“you speak mandarin!!” i love how people are so excited. :))

[@xSAxJkkool]

Being new to speaking Japanese it feels amazing to hear that and it makes your heart flutter at least mine does.

[@xSAxJkkool]

@Joshua Carrillo exactly. I can only do a basic greeting in korean but can read hangul and even just that shocks the eldery as you say. It's funny when this older lady told me even her kids don't know korean all that well.

[@leelu2753]

@Joshua Carrillo that sounds lovely, but just seeing the shock and joy on their faces i’m sure makes it more than worth it haha.

[@leelu2753]

i’ve never craved chinese food so badly after watching y’all destroy the peanut noodles. ✋🏼😪

[@katrinaela]

luckily i got chinese food last night so now i’m eating it for breakfast haha fried rice lo mein general tsos chicken

[@xogmaster]

@@katrinaela thats lame

[@hisokamorow3611]

@@katrinaela do you actually have eight treasures (acht schätze) in america? It's a really great chinese dish but probably mostly german/austrian

[@joylynch5204]

The rice dumpling soup really got to me

[@julieornelas3787]

I’m rly craving it now!!! 🤤🤤🤤

[@cptmalcolmreynolds3623]

Totally true. When I lived in China, the BEST food was from small mom and pop places. Huge portions too. Plus they have sooo many different sauces to add your own kick to it

[@firerice5650]

Whenever i'm in China i just wander by the street food stands ordering stuff untill i'm full and it usually cost less than 10 bucks while the food is great too.

[@leelu2753]

i love this channel, feels like such a genuine find.

[@eateveryone]

So great my china

[@normlui3282]

Fu Zhou Cuisine is cheaper than McD. It's likely much tastier & healthier also. Fu Zhou gives the most bang for the $. I am salivating watching this clip with just $10 in my pocket.

[@percussionnow5982]

Tastier I agree but healthier probably not. Eating noodles covered in salty soy based flavorings with msg and peanut butter is not any healthier calorically or nutritionally than a quarter pounder and french fries.

[@joeh858]

Ehhh?

[@byakurenhoujuu]

@@percussionnow5982 1. There's nothing wrong with MSG. 2. Are you simply not aware of the shit McD puts in their burgers in the US? lol 3. Non-US Peanutbutter can actually be pretty healthy, because of a lack of certain additives.

[@byakurenhoujuu]

@@percussionnow5982 Your sources are incredibly low quality. lol I also hope you are aware that MSG naturally occurs in a lot of food, meat included. Furthermore saying that something is unhealthy, because it's unhealthy in excess is pretty stupid. It's called excess for a reason. Sounds to me like you just pick and choose which study to believe in

[@percussionnow5982]

@@byakurenhoujuu y Your sources don’t exist and my guess is they are google searches of confirmation bias for you. Naturally occurring means nothing, food preservatives like the ones used to keep meats and noodles from bacteria also are also naturally occuring. Arsenic is, most poisons are, PolySaturated Fats are…moot point. www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/questions-and-answers-monosodium-glutamate-msg can explain to you what you seem to miss. Also I was merely comparing the incredibly false unbacked up Claim made by OP, yet to see any proof otherwise. So dumb seeing comments like that or MCDONALDS kills, no, people eating it in excess is what kills.

[@thomass1620]

Bottom line: high price restaurants are just for the extra ambiance & service, the food not always tastes superior to cheaper places. Plus in NYC especially, all the ingredients come from the same 3-5 food service distribution centers not higher end nor organic food in the expensive place so no point to spend more 🥴😂

[@G1NZOU]

Yeah tbh there's generic high price restaurants, and then there's the gems which people go to cause they have a great team of chefs and a great menu, similar prices for both but one just has the ambience and the other has the level above food to actually make it worth the price.

[@liv0003]

Not true. Normally cheap restaurants have trash food

[@Soccerboiyann]

@@liv0003 in American cuisine...

[@kvin9210]

Bottom line is that NYC has garbage high end restaurants. Overrated and bland flavour is an understatement.

[@JeanChordeiles]

6:33 : Lady & the Tramp spaghetti scene ! (I couldn't say who's who, though !)

[@nicolestlouis6411]

That's what I said lol

[@joeh858]

No homo tho

[@LizdeSouza]

I am relieved that Xiaoma went to two restaurants in two different days 😆

[@jasonclark6543]

Haha. He'd usually knock both of them out for the same meal. First lunch and second lunch...

[@Ganggangbuzzbuzz]

He look skinnier

[@_.iamhoneey7826]

@@Ganggangbuzzbuzz is a reupload this is a old video

[@Pwecko]

There are some expensive Chinese restaurants here in England, too, that offer pleasant service and nice surroundings, but the food is generally sub par and hugely overpriced. The best sign of a good Chinese restaurant is if Chinese people eat there. Where I live, they are few and far between, unfortunately. I do visit a very good one on special occasions, which takes me back to the six years I spent in Hong Kong in the 80s and 90s. Every Sunday, it's full of Chinese families going for dim sum. Wonderful.

[@Akashmash]

Thank you for the video, really missing LaoShu 😔

[@1Golden2]

Bro I miss him so much I really enjoyed his content. His brother is doing a investigation right now to find the people who murdered him and made it look like a heart attack. 😪

[@maecheng6185]

Same he was amazing at languages

[@rileyhartman5995]

Right!! I will never forget Laoshu, it's also how I find Xiaoma after a couple months of watching Laoshu long ago. What a pure soul he was. 😓

[@astrids6803]

Follow mark laoshus brother Deception followers

[@Finnie1203]

@@1Golden2 it wasnt a murder, heartattacks can happen. If the doctors said it is a heartattack it is

[@k1e1n1t1o]

Whenever an ethnic restaurant comes highly regarded and I walk in and see no one of that ethnicity, I walk out. Tells me those who recommended do not know the cuisine. I've never been wrong.

[@dracuella]

That might work in places like the US but in my country, the, let's say Indian population is miniscule at best so finding an Indian restaurant with actual Indians it it (except for the staff) is pretty damn hard. Not to mention some Indians prefer late meals (according to my Indian friend) and I eat early dinner because I get up early so the cross-over becomes even harder.

[@oskartorgersen8890]

Literally impossible for you to know if you're right

[@GarnetsWeb]

"I've never eaten chocolate but I know it's nasty. I've never been wrong." In any case you can't be right or wrong if you genuinely have no idea 🤔

[@eodyn7]

That's pretty racist of you. I bet you frequent r/AsianMasculinity smh

[@Myusernameistakenwtf]

Although I understand where you're coming from, it's not a very good stance to take. I have seen plenty of good burger drive-in restaurants ran by Asians and Hispanics.. imagine how it would sound if I said that I walk out when the burger people (or its customers?) aren't white. It would be terrible.

[@leanbeam1314]

Thank you so much for making these videos and continuing to support local asian businesses

[@a1hero_]

My favorite videos are the ones where you show us the different foods from all the cultures and highlight local businesses! You're always so willing to try new things and you're respectful of the culture and cuisine while still being honest about the "review". Literally the best videos to watch in my opinion, also cause it helps me decide what to get at various restaurants lol

[@trockodile]

I live in the Scottish Highlands and we only have a VERY limited range of restaurants and takeaways, so I love these videos so much for inspiration to cook my own dishes. I started by watch Ziang's Food Workshop here on KZbin. They're a UK based family of takeaway owners/chefs who cook authentic traditional,, street food and UK style takeaway meals. They're a mother and son team who are skilled, knowledgeable, honest and hilarious beyond measure (Chin and Choo). Anyone with a love of Chinese cooking will definitely enjoy their shows! Thank you for your content, it makes me hungry and inspired in equal measures. 👍

[@jtzimm233]

Shu Jiao Fu Zhou is sooooo good. My friends and I were the only caucasians in the restaurant and I couldn't have been happier about that.

[@hbee921]

I love your videos. So happy that you have English translation. That food looks delicious!

[@nicolestlouis6411]

This was one of your best videos. Thank you ❤️

[@dianesimoes8943]

Enjoy your videos always keep giving them to us.

[@LessThanThree76]

Awww, Xiaoma all young and innocent still. 😉😂❤️

[@edwinvelasquez624]

I was wondering if it was an older video haha

[@rudiausbuddeln7573]

I was about to comment „wow he really lost some weight“ 🤣

[@spider-man-100]

Some of it is psychological, when you overpay for something, it just doesn’t feel as good as it should be. And on the other end, when you get a really great deal on something, it feels better than it normally would. All that and the MSG, video makes sense

[@BeetaroniPizza]

You'd think an expensive restaurant could afford MSG. LOL.

[@Tavosmother]

I love your honesty. You always tells it like it is!

[@thedatolles6289]

I have found that the best food is almost always not expensive and usually the mom/pop version of the expensive meals, loved this video thank goodness for english subtitles🤣😉

[@hollismallory2757]

This is quickly becoming my favorite channel… it is no longer a language channel but a channel about real life.

[@johnpaulmakowski7464]

Another excellent video from Xiao!

[@simonwong2346]

Great video! Wonderful review! A Chinese restaurant without Chinese customers => disquiet. Seeing how you and Evan enjoyed your meal says so much 😋

[@bronxmosthated1]

Much love thank you for the video

[@paula.2422]

I'm so envious and wish I could also speak Chinese like you....you're a real genius! Respect 🙌

[@simonbionary11010]

You can! Start studying! Xiaoma released a video of how he tackles language learning etc.

[@SaulMeyersz]

i love your honesty.

[@janellek21]

8:43 and effective today their new price is $20/serving.

[@darthgroot4006]

Love the videos!!

[@ragemydream]

When you enter a Chinese restaurant and there are no asian people is a telling sign :D

[@janswhatsupdoc]

With how many Vietnamese restaurants exist in the us (especially pho) I’m surprised you hadn’t done a Vietnamese video yet

[@smoaky123]

God I love Vietnamese food 🤤

[@serasotasadie]

I love that you are far more comfortable with chopsticks than a fork!! Love that you spoke Mandarin. Please do more in that/ your other languages! As someone who only speaks English and a little Spanish I really enjoy hearing the languages spoken out loud. I don't get to hear as many varied ones in my smaller town.

[@nevillec5252]

Try Wouter Corduwener's KZbin channel. He regularly speaks 29 different languages with tourists on the streets of Amsterdam (including Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese).

[@sensibleorange4886]

That soup .... what looks amazing!

[@matthewwilliams1155]

Love that vlog xx 👌

[@stormnaumu2623]

I keep watching his old videos and he looks so different now I decided to watch this and he looks amazing! So healthy 😁

[@Grandma685]

AMAZING VIDEOS !

[@SolSister10596]

For the expensive fried dumplings, if I remember correctly, that crispy layer is either flour or potato/corn starch. The flour is mixed with water and poured over the dumplings to steam them. Once the water is all evaporated, the edges crisp up.

[@nevillec5252]

Yup. Andy Cooks (KZbin channel) did that when he made his pot-stickers video.

[@PogoSeller4U]

Amazing I’m a huge fan keep up the the videos

[@MartinScheuerJr]

Exactly what I’d expect. Coleman the wall mom and pop shops are ALWAYS the way to go!

[@willvr4]

Xiaomanyc's amazing ability to speak Chinese is the polar opposite of his ability to eat with a fork properly haha He holds a fork like a toddler would.

[@samchiang4321]

A while back I actually did the noodle crawl that you recorded. It was awesome! You should do another chinatown or flushing crawl.

[@blheron]

Xiaoma, I have a question for you about Chinese food in New York. I left the city in 1973, we used to eat at a place called Hung wa in Chinatown when I was a kid. They would pour the tea on the table to clean it. We would always order snails in black bean sauce. I have never seen this on any menu elsewhere or in California where I now live. Is it still available in Chinatown? Love your channel.

[@agrilledcheese813]

I really liked the subtitles in this vid

[@DucksAhoy]

moving to nyc in march and cant wait to try these awesome authentic restaurants 😍😍😍

[@xyon4338]

FINNALLY YOU POSTED A NEW VIDEO I ENJOY YOUR VIDEOS

[@nhbilly]

When your waiter does and exceptional job. You know for sure you're not in an "real " Chinese restaurant.

[@kandade4563]

That's sounds so wrong xD

[@jamesw.2185]

Time to try Haidilao buddy!

[@31337ification]

We have a few chinese restrurants and takeaways in our town. Only 1 has chinese staff and chinese customers. Guess which one has the best food?

[@elund408]

same with mexican food, look for the mexican laborers. good food for a reasonable price.

[@GrandWalkingTours]

Ni how ma Hello From Ireland , love your videos man , your so honest and nice and fun :)

[@nothingspecial2953]

Love this video.🖤😍

[@MaartenOtto]

Bewn to NYC in 2018 and we found a great Japanese place that got two restaurants, one in Manhattan the other in Shibuya Tokyo. We were the only European customers and never in my life have I eaten such fantastic Japanese food.

[@charlishinstine7012]

U look amazing! Keep up the hardwork! :D

[@lukesurtees2211]

Wow. Looking well dude

[@Andvaritas]

The crunchy thing on the dumplings is probably a tuile, you can make it quite easily actually like a pancake; with flour, olive oil, salt and water. If you want you can experiment with flavourings and colourings i.e. parsley powder or something for green and squid ink for black

[@ollie6563]

to make the crispy part of the potstickers from the fancy restaurant, all you do is mix a little starch into the water you pour into the pan to steam it. it's a common presentation in Japanese, where it's called "hanetsuki gyoza" or bascially gyoza with wings/feathers.

[@eedubss1501]

Might travel to NY just for the cheapest option! Sounds amazing!

[@lesliesylvan]

Can't wait to go. Salivating! :)

[@UpInYourGrills]

Proof that "you get what you pay for" is a modern myth. I live somewhat frugally but eat some of the tastiest foods ever!

[@DeChuckD]

he spoke Chinese so those nearby wouldn’t understand him roasting them 😂

[@erikat5678]

I always have to eat some soup dumplings while I watch these videos! Where is that restaurant? I need rice ball soup!!!! Yum!

[@ObeyDestroyDesignsEW]

All this did was make me hungry for authentic Chinese food. Now I have to go find some in Mississippi

[@scaryboat]

I love the minced squab at Mr Chow.

[@ssocar96]

I like his new food/restaurant reviews segments lol.

[@urzathesummoner416]

That was awesome

[@georgepetrin1334]

Hearing you speak Chinese while eating was so much fun.

[@toeboi1840]

Jordan headband looked good on you🔥

[@koreanboi817]

The crispy web on the dumplings is made from a thin flour batter tbat i fried then steamed

[@MichaelaXiao]

More of these please

[@rfibiza4072]

2 years ago!🤓

[@leenyukyinkpm-guru4517]

第一次看你最新的视频，每次都看旧的喔！

[@jackojuice8691]

dude this type of content is bangin

[@ggjenny9260]

There is a restaurant in Hong Kong and its super cheap every morning to 12 pm it will give discounts and many old people would often come there to eat because the food in there is many and it also good as well

[@BluefoxII]

Small restaurants are more personal and place more emphasis on taste, which makes it easier for customers to come back. In the larger restaurants it is rather impersonal because they are designed for optics and expensive prices instead of taste.

[@aviw4420]

Amazing 🖖

[@buthainagaladari2649]

I love mr chow😭😭😭 one of my fave restaurants

[@gorg2877]

Just got a baselang ad that had you in it before the video and got super confused lol

[@Doing_Time]

it's generally this way with all types of food throughout america...especially if you avoid urban centers and stick to clean restuarants, the cheapest with an A in the window is usually superior to anything over $7 a plate, provided you don't mind serving yourself...

[@Cook66]

Most of these prices are on par or just slightly higher than my small town Chinese restaurant which serve sub par food. I tried almost everything on their menu looking for something worthwhile without finding anything.

[@limvittra4775]

I would love to see him study or try to speak “Khmer” someday. That would be insane because it’s different from what he normally try to learn

[@TheParadiseParadox]

I love hearing people speak it. something about it is so beautiful

[@sam0233]

Cool comparison

[@Kymus]

5:47 better than Dumpling Man? For me, their thicker style of dumplings are the best I've had. I'll have to try this.

[@relaxxzz9956]

I really like Korean Kimchi dumplings ! Should give them a try. Now im just craving for dumplings tho.

[@HF-eu2ei]

Such a smart guy!

[@fromthedeskoftimlovell7920]

Thanks for your kind comments, dicksplash.

[@jpbaugh]

If you're ever in Michigan, Hong Hua in Farmington Hills is by far my favorite Chinese restaurant in Michigan. And I've had dozens.

[@mjs28s]

that last restaurant....I am so damn jealous.

[@JonGreen_UK]

More (nearly-)pure Mandarin vids like this, please! They really help us learners!

[@paydn202]

when the food is made with love and care from family it is always better, when someone starts an expensive restaurant it never compares.

[@soidogcowboy3282]

I've taken many a client to Mr Chow. Always delicious

[@samuelberson8202]

Keep channeling Bourdain and Zimmern my guy!

[@HypnoticAbyss]

now im going to drive an hour to the city for my favorite Chinese dumpling restaurant lol. made me too hungry for it with this video XD

[@pauloj.1428]

Cant stop laughing because this was an honest review... In mandarin where nobody understood unless the cheff and owner heard you

[@rayMan-tq5do]

very interesting to follow you, a bit embarrassed as a Canto Chinese I need to read the English subs to follow what you say ^_^ !

[@argonwheatbelly637]

I love this. I used to eat lunch at a little "hole in the wall" in the city. $4.50. It was good, and I was stuffed.

[@dshiu89]

the lesson here is, the price of food does not define its quality. Almost like a person that wears brand name clothes, it doesnt necessarily mean they are classy.

[@37Raffaella]

Is Shun Lee still open? That place is amazing!!! (expensive side)