Raindrops And Wontons: Time To Cozy Up With Chinese Delivery, UWS

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY – Inches of rain fell in New York City on Tuesday night, and more precipitation is expected through Saturday.

Savvy Upper West Siders know exactly what that means: skip the schlep to Fairway and cozy up with some of the best Chinese food in the city.

“New York City is in the middle of a Chinese food renaissance,” according to Eater, and some of that renaissance is taking place right here in the neighborhood.

Familiar favorites like Legend 72 – which does a particularly delicious dandan noodle – and Han Dynasty each offer a smorgasbord of Sichuan.

Further north, if you haven’t yet tried dry pot – an intoxicating array of ingredients stir-fried in a singular blend of spices – 108 Food Dried Hot Pot is an excellent option. The restaurant manages its own delivery (one may order on their website), a system that first-timers will find puzzling.

New-ish arrivals mentioned by Eater include Atlas Kitchen for pan-regional options, Nan Xiang Express for soup dumplings, Moon Kee for Cantonese, and Happy Hot Hunan for the cuisine of Hunan, which is similar to that of Sichaun.

Higher-end establishments include Red Farm and Shun Lee West, and for nostalgia’s sake, there’s always Ollie’s.

Mouth watering yet?

What do you have to say about the dining scene on the Upper West Side? Are we in the middle of a food desert or is the neighborhood an underrated hotspot? Email michael.mcdowell@patch.com.