NYC Jiangzhe Cuisine｜No.1 Beggar’s Chicken: Full of Drama & Flavor! 🐔

When I think of Jiangzhe cuisine, my first impression is “sweet”—but this NYC spot broke that stereotype and surprised me in the best way. 🍴 Zheli 📍 19 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003 First impression: lovely ambiance—spacious, classic Chinese decor, feels like dining back home. Try their house-made pear soup 🍐—simmered for 8 hours, thick but not too sweet. Appetizer: 🦑 Braised Squid & Abalone – Lightly seasoned with a hint of spice, tender and bouncy. Main Highlights: 🐔 Beggar’s Chicken – The showstopper! Wrapped in lotus leaf, torched tableside, then cracked open with a mallet. Fragrant, juicy, fall-off-the-bone tender—even the breast meat (usually dry) was enjoyable with the dipping sauce. 🍤 Longjing Tea Shrimp – Plump, fresh shrimp with a delicate tea aroma. Even better with a touch of vinegar. 🍚 Porcini Mushroom Clay Pot Rice – My favorite! Savory sauce poured over steaming rice with earthy mushrooms and bell peppers—so comforting on a cold day. 🍡 Brown Sugar Glutinous Rice Cakes – Not your usual version—flattened, pan-fried, and coated with peanuts and brown sugar for extra texture. Next time, I plan to try their drunken chicken—maybe via 🍙 Fantuan Delivery @曼哈顿饭桶 ! #HangzhouCuisine #RestaurantRec #HiddenGem #FoodCollection #Cuisine #WeekendEats #NYC #NYCFood #NYCExploration #NYCDelivery #JiangzheFood #ManhattanDelivery #FantuanDelivery #NYCEats #EastVillage #NYURestaurants