NYC Restaurants

Chinatown's newest mega-restaurant has arrived. Hwa Yuan Szechuan sits in a stylish three-story building that formerly housed a Bank of China branch. A full bar and casual dining are available up front. More formal dining is available inside with linen-topped tables, soft white banquettes and blue chandeliers. The restaurant also has a rich history. Its patriarch, the late Shorty Tang, is credited with introducing New Yorkers to cold sesame noodles, a family recipe that remains intact today. It's offered along with other Chinese classics, like Peking Duck, Kung Pao Chicken, Shanghai-style Soup Dumplings and a house favorite, Crispy Dried Beef with garlic and chili peppers. Hwa Yuan Szechuan will dazzle you with its looks and hook you with its cuisine and friendly service.

- Thomas Rafael