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MEE SUM CAFE

Last Updated: 10 days ago

Phone: (212) 349-5260

Address: 26 PELL STREET 10013

TLDR

A Chinatown gem since '67, serving traditional Cantonese comfort food w/ a warm, familial vibe. A taste of home w/ affordable, classic dishes.

Sentiment Overview(Based on 13 Reddit comments)

69% Positive31% Neutral

Achievements and Accolades

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Tags

chinese 8toishan 3zongzi 7View All

Neighborhoods

Chinatown

Instagram Posts References

Summary

Details

Established in 1967, this humble Chinatown eatery offers a nostalgic taste of traditional Cantonese comfort food. It's a beloved spot known for its affordability and a warm, familial atmosphere reminiscent of Hong Kong. From classic dim sum like siu mai and cheung fun to hearty rice dishes, it provides a genuine, no-frills culinary experience.

Food Overview

The cafe specializes in traditional Cantonese comfort food, with highly recommended dishes including the salted fish with pork patty over rice and the Toishan style zongzi, noted for their generous stuffing. Other popular items include siu mai and shrimp cheung fun (rice rolls). While some found the cheong fun to be thicker and chewier, overall feedback on the food is positive, emphasizing its authenticity and homestyle quality.

Highlights / Recommended

"Highly recommended are the Toishan zongzi, praised for their size and generous stuffing, and the salted fish with pork patty over rice. The beef jerky is also noted as a good take-home option."

Mentioned Dishes:

  • toishan zongzi(2)

Customer Sentiment

Customers appreciate the authentic, affordable Cantonese comfort food and the nostalgic, welcoming atmosphere. It's considered a humble, home-style eatery with a strong connection to Hong Kong roots.

Reddit References

Highlighted Posts

This post discusses zongzi in Chinatown, with multiple comments recommending Mee Sum Cafe. One commenter specifically praises their Toishan zongzi for being large with abundant stuffing, calling it the best in the city.
A commenter recommends Mee Sum Cafe for their zongzi as a personal favorite and also suggests their Chinese/Malaysian beef jerky as a good take-home item.
In a thread about lunch spots, Mee Sum Cafe is recommended as a good place to buy early morning lunch.
A comparison of zongzi vendors where Mee Sum Cafe's Toishan zongzi is praised for being larger and more filling than competitors, making it a better meal option.
A user suggests Mee Sum Cafe for cheong fun, describing it as thicker and chewier, which might appeal to those looking for a specific noodle texture.

Recent Mentions

From post: Roast My Nyc Food Itinerary

"Suggests Mee Sum Cafe for cold Zongzi to take home. These sticky rice items are wrapped in leaves and can be refrigerated or frozen."

Positive
Dec 16, 2025View Comment →

From post: Heading To Nyc Next Weekend Is There A Food Item

"Recommends Mee Sum Cafe's Toishan zongzi as the best in Chinatown, noting they freeze and transport well."

Positive
Dec 11, 2025View Comment →

From post: Low Key Quiet Dim Sum Place In Manhattan

"This commenter simply mentioned 'Mee Sum Cafe' in response to the original post."

Neutral
Nov 21, 2025View Comment →

From post: Anyone Know Of A Bbq Noodle Rice Roll Similar To

"This cafe is suggested as a place that offers thicker and chewier cheong fun, potentially matching the desired noodle texture."

Neutral
Aug 18, 2025View Comment →

From post: What Are Your Favorite Places To Buy Lunch From

"A user on the thread recommends Mee Sum Cafe as a good place to buy early morning lunch."

Positive
Jun 6, 2025View Comment →

From post: Pork Belly Zongzi From The Zongzi Lady On Grand St

"The commenter notes that Mee Sum Cafe closes early and expresses a preference for Toishan style zongzi, which includes a variety of fillings."

Positive
May 29, 2025View Comment →

From post: Pork Belly Zongzi From The Zongzi Lady On Grand St

"The commenter attempted to visit Mee Sum Cafe but found it was closed at the time of their visit."

Neutral
May 29, 2025View Comment →

From post: Pork Belly Zongzi From The Zongzi Lady On Grand St

"The commenter recommends Mee Sum Cafe, stating their zongzi is 'better than Zongzi Lady's' despite being more expensive, as they are larger, have more filling, and are suitable as a meal."

Positive
May 29, 2025View Comment →

From post: Chinatown Zongzi Rice Tamales

"The user lists Mee Sum Cafe as one of their runners-up for the best zongzi, indicating a positive opinion."

Positive
May 20, 2025View Comment →

From post: Chinatown Zongzi Rice Tamales

"The user recommends Mee Sum Cafe for zongzi, stating they believe it has the best in the city due to their huge size and abundant stuffing."

Positive
May 19, 2025View Comment →

From post: Foodie Souvenirs

"Mee Sum Cafe is a personal pick for ZongZis, especially if they are not available where the user is from, and also offers good Chinese/Malaysian beef jerky suitable for bringing back."

Positive
May 17, 2025View Comment →

From post: Unusualethnicity Diners

"This cafe serves club sandwiches."

Neutral
Apr 20, 2025View Comment →