TLDR
Chinatown wine bar w/ creative Chinese-American small plates & extensive French wine list. Intimate, candlelit vibe perfect for dates or drinks.
Bryan Kim reviews Lei, a Chinatown wine bar offering French-leaning wines and creative Chinese-American small plates, perfect for drinks and a light bite or a date night.
Details
Lei, a fashionable wine bar in Chinatown, NYC, offers a unique Chinese-American small plates menu and an extensive French-leaning wine list [1]. The intimate, candlelit atmosphere makes it suitable for drinks and light bites, first dates, or date nights [1]. Dishes like the sweet and sour short rib glazed with strawberry jam and shaobing with butter are particularly noteworthy [1], [2]. It's considered a worthwhile addition to the Asian-inspired wine bar scene [1].
Food Overview
Lei offers creative Chinese-American small plates and an extensive, French-leaning wine list. Noteworthy dishes include a sweet and sour short rib glazed with strawberry jam [1], flaky shaobing stuffed with butter [1], celtuce with kombu jelly [3], and cat's ear noodles with braised lamb [3]. The wine bar is also known for its bar-side dining experience [4] and was listed on the NYT top 100 list [5].
Highlights / Recommended
"Standout dishes include the celtuce with kombu jelly and the hand-rolled cat’s ear noodles with braised lamb. Other praised items are the sweet and sour beef short rib, sesame shao bing with cold butter, Berkshire black sausage, and Lady Edison Jinhua ham with seasonal fruit."
Mentioned Dishes:
- •celtuce(3)
- •lady edison jinhua ham with thinly sliced seasonal fruit(2)
- •warm sesame shao bing with a cold pat of butter(2)
- •sweet and sour braised short rib(2)
- •fried whiting(2)
- •sticky toffee rice pudding(2)
Caveats
Some users have noted that Lei can be quite loud [6] and has become difficult to get into since its awards and recognition, with the establishment now being consistently full shortly after opening [7].
Reddit Opinions & Reviews
Top Reddit Posts About LEI
Recent Reddit Mentions
From post: Looking For Unique Dessert Spots In Nyc With
"Lei Wine Bar is mentioned alongside Cosme, Oxomoco, Bistro, and Bar Bete."
NeutralFrom post: These Are The Nyc James Beard Award Winners 3
"The user expressed frustration that Lei has become difficult to get into after winning an award, noting it was a great hidden gem wine bar but is now consistently full shortly after opening."
NegativeFrom post: Lei Doyers St Chinatown Wins James Beard Best New
"Replying to a user who found Lei's win confusing, this commenter simply asked 'Why', seeking further explanation for the sentiment."
NeutralFrom post: Lei Doyers St Chinatown Wins James Beard Best New
"A user expressed that while Lei is good, its win for best new restaurant doesn't seem to make sense to them."
NeutralFrom post: Lei Doyers St Chinatown Wins James Beard Best New
"A user commented on the post about Lei winning a James Beard award, humorously noting that award ceremonies seem to favor wine bars."
NeutralFrom post: These Are The Nyc James Beard Award Winners 3
"The user enjoyed the wine and found the food good but not exceptional. They particularly liked the black sausage appetizer and sticky toffee rice pudding, though found the 'cat's ear noodles' main course just average, considering the establishment a strong wine bar."
NeutralFrom post: Are There Any Similar Restaurants Akin To Foxface
"This user commented that lei wine is currently very loud."
NegativeFrom post: Are There Any Similar Restaurants Akin To Foxface
"lei wine was suggested as a wine bar with a snack bar as a potential alternative."
NeutralFrom post: New York Times Top 100 Restaurants X Michelin
"Lei is listed on the NYT top 100 list for 2026 with a Michelin selection."
NeutralFrom post: Any Restaurants That Serve Morels Now That Theyre
"This wine bar offers scallop crudo and stuffed cabbage dishes that include morels."
PositiveFrom post: Last Visit Before 1st Baby Lower Manhattan Or
"Lei Wine Bar is listed as a recommended restaurant."
PositiveFrom post: Tried Lei In Nyc This Past Weekend It Was Really
"This commenter agreed that the celtuce and sticky treasures pudding are very good. They also mentioned cat's ear as part of their ideal order."
PositiveFrom post: Tried Lei In Nyc This Past Weekend It Was Really
"The original post mentioned trying Lei in NYC and finding it really good. Specifically highlighted the celtuce dish."
PositiveFrom post: Nytimes The 100 Best Restaurants In Nyc 11100
"This is one of many restaurants listed by the commenter from the NYTimes list."
NeutralFrom post: Spots Where Bar Seated Meal Is Great
"Lei wine bar is mentioned as a good option for bar side dining."
PositiveFrom post: Where Would You Go As Your Last Meal In Nyc
"For dinner as part of a hypothetical 'day of last meals,' the commenter lists Lei Wine Bar among their choices."
PositiveFrom post: Nyc Wine Happenings For People Into Wine
"This is a wine bar in NYC that was mentioned as a place to learn about wine."
PositiveFrom post: What Is Your Favorite Restaurant In Chinatown
"Lei Wine Bar is listed as a recommended restaurant."
PositiveFrom post: Date Night Tonight
"This user included Lei Wine Bar on their list of date night spots."
NeutralFrom post: The Newest Additions To The Michelin Guide New
"This commenter stated that Lei wine bar is a well-deserved addition to the list."
Positive