Chinatown Rice Roll Restaurant — Review by Sonny Side
New York City, United States — Cantonese
Sonny Side visits a traditional Cantonese rice roll shop in New York City's Chinatown and samples a fresh shrimp rice roll. The dish features perfectly steamed rice batter with tender shrimp and scallions, showcasing authentic cooking techniques passed down over a thousand years. While the quality and texture are excellent, the five-dollar price point leaves the reviewer wanting more food for the portion size.
What was great: Excellent texture of the rice roll - soft, gummy, and squishy with a nice contrast to the bouncy, springy shrimp. Fresh ingredients and traditional Cantonese preparation method. The cook's willingness to adapt recipes for American taste preferences.
What could improve: Portion size is small for the price - at five dollars, one roll doesn't fill the stomach despite filling the plate
The Dishes
The main focus of this review is the shrimp rice roll, a classic Cantonese breakfast item. The dish begins with rice that is soaked and ground into a smooth batter, a technique used by Cantonese cooks for over a thousand years. The steaming tray is brushed with oil and filled with the milky rice mixture before fresh shrimp and scallions are added as the protein. A drizzle of soy sauce and sprinkle of sesame seeds finish the roll. The resulting texture is remarkable - the rice roll itself is soft, gummy, and slightly squishy, creating a perfect contrast against the shrimp, which maintains a bouncy and springy texture achieved by soaking the rice a full day before grinding.
The Experience
The reviewer meets Robert, a tour guide originally from Beijing who now specializes in Chinatown's food and history. Robert reveals that the restaurant serves approximately a thousand customers on a good day, indicating this is a popular breakfast destination. The atmosphere is fast-paced and efficient - customers come in, get their meal in about two minutes, and move on with their day. This is quintessential Cantonese breakfast culture where the rice roll serves as a quick, convenient meal.
Value & Pricing
The rice roll is priced at five dollars. While the reviewer acknowledges the quality and generous plating, the portion size doesn't provide substantial satiety for the price point. The reviewer notes they could probably eat three of these rolls and still want more food, making it more of a breakfast item meant to be consumed quickly rather than a satisfying solo meal.
Notable Moments
I'm in love. That's really good. The texture of this flat noodle. It's a little bit gummy. It's squishy. It's a nice contrast in texture to that shrimp, which is really bouncy and springy.
Because I like American. The American guys like a very hairy taste. So we try to do the hairy taste with soy sauce.
The Verdict
This is a must-visit for anyone interested in authentic Cantonese cuisine and traditional rice roll preparation. The quality and technique are excellent, and at five dollars, it's reasonably priced for a quality breakfast item in New York City. However, come expecting a quick breakfast rather than a filling meal on its own. Best for those exploring Chinatown's food culture and wanting to experience traditional cooking methods that have been perfected over centuries.