The Making of Manhattan’s Chinatown

New York’s Chinatown is one of the country’s most iconic ethnic neighborhoods. The story of this community is one of resilience and adaptation, as residents worked to overcome cultural divides and racial discrimination. But it’s also the story of New York’s love affair with Chinese cuisine and how each wave of immigration helped shape that cuisine with its own flavors, traditions, and innovations.

This is a guide to the culinary fabric of Chinatown, built by immigrants from across China and Southeast Asia, from the mid-1800s to the present. Explore its evolution through the restaurants, shops, and dishes that trace its history.

Watch the video, read the history, hear the stories of locals, and plan your visit to Chinatown, a community that has made its mark on New York, and forever changed the way the city — and the country — eats.