Mee Sum Cafe

8.3/10Chinese

AI-generated summary

Get the toishan zongzi. People call it the best in Chinatown, huge and packed with filling, and you can take them home to freeze and steam later. It's a rundown old school Cantonese cafe with no frills, which one regular warns is not for everyone. The and the get votes too.

26 Pell St, New YorkChinatown / Tribeca, ManhattanGoogle Maps

What Reddit says32

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  • postStir fried blue crabs at Mee Sum Café139 pts

    “It was well worth it - a steal at $25, brimming with cracked sweet super fresh crabs and deliciously aromatic with ground pork, fresh ginger, garlic, scallions, soy sauce & Shaoxing wine. We devoured every last morsel.”

    H3

  • in:Being a part of this sub since it’s inception makes me laugh how literally every food report has the exact same spots on them. Hope it becomes more common to venture off the beaten path and find the spots that aren’t on TikTok and eater mag. What’s a non hyped spot you tried lately that you enjoyed?12 pts
    replying to u/crazeman: That Witch Ales You. I recommended them a lot in the past year on this sub. I first went in the spring this year on a Friday? I felt kinda bad because I think I was there for a few hours with a friend and only saw like 5 people there the entire time. They definitely deserve more attention for how unique they are. They're a "nano brewery" and claim to brew everything on site. I love that it gives off the local, family owned vibes. Small store front but they have a backyard where you can hang out and enjoy your drinks. I went to Forma Pasta near Atlantic recently and it gives off similar backyard vibes. It feels like I'm drinking at the backyard of a friend's house. They're in a awkward location in Two Bridge. Like kinda close to Chinatown but it's a bit of a walk. Kinda close to South Street Seaport but also a bit of a walk.

    “IMO it's not a great place to recommend for most people. It's a runned down spot and they serve very salt of the earth, no frills, cheap Chinese / Hong Kong cafe type of food, so I feel like most non Chinese won't really enjoy it. They do make the best very best Zongzi or Joong in the city though.”

    H3

  • in:Where can I find zongzi to take home?3 pts

    “I'd say Mee Sum Cafe is my favorite. Get the toishan one. It's like how grandma used to make it, like it's huge and it's jammed pack full of fillings.”

    H3

  • in:Foodie Souvenirs!5 pts

    “My personal pick from the list would be ZongZis from [Mee Sum Cafe](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MkuTDEBTtz2NPq5D7) if you don't have access to Zongzi where you're from.”

    H2

  • in:Pork belly zongzi from the Zongzi Lady on Grand St5 pts
    replying to u/donut_butt: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/HvmXHqVH8Tk7y6AL7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/HvmXHqVH8Tk7y6AL7) One of the best zongzi I've had in NYC. I'm glad she had the simple, pork-only ones I prefer (I went to Deluxe Food Market first, and they seemed to all have egg yolk / peanuts / etc. that I personally don't like). 10/10!

    “IMO their zongzi is better than Zongzi lady's.”

    H2

  • in:Hong Kong Supermarket Frozen Aisle3 pts
    replying to u/crazeman: Some of my favorite pantry items (including unfrozen): [Frozen Eels](https://www.sayweee.com/en/product/Unagi-Kabayaki-Charcoal-Grilled-Eel--Frozen-1/13138?trace_id=1d68abdb-431c-41d8-bdbf-08001f671a13) (Unagi) - More of a Japanese product. There's instructions on how to cook them in the package, it's been a while but I believe you can microwave them. Cook some rice in the rice cooker and eat the Eel over rice. The package SHOULD have enough sauce but if you need more, you can always buy some extra Unagi sauce and go nuts with the sauce. **(steamed) Buns** - You're better off going to [Golden Steamer](https://maps.app.goo.gl/2KSrMiRLpt6HRrB79) nearby (there's 2 right around the corner from each other, the newer one on Grand St. is bigger and has more stuff) and grabbing a package of buns from their fridge and sticking it into the freezer when you get home. Steam them for 10-15 minutes to warm them back up. I would recommend the Steamed Roast Pork Bun. Also like The Pork and Vegetable bun and the Big Bun has a bit of everything in it. As a kid I love the lotus seed bun while my sister loved the egg custard. Salted egg yolk bun is also worth a try. (I pretty much listed their entire menu but Golden Steamer is pretty fucking awesome) This [Korean Taiyaki Ice Cream](https://www.sayweee.com/en/product/Binggrae-Samanco-Taiyaki-Green-Tea-Ice-Cream-Sandwich-with-Red-Beans-4ct/15307?trace_id=2450bf95-50bb-4bf9-8176-723673c96973). There's also [Brown Sugar boba popsicle sticks](htt…

    “I personally would recommend going [Mee Sum Cafe](https://maps.app.goo.gl/KktuKN2unaea3Fgq6) instead as they make the best ZongZi.”

    H2

  • in:Hole in the Wall Recs2 pts

    “Oh and before you leave, I would highly recommend ordering/getting a Toi Shan Style "Sticky Rice Wrap" (or ZongZi) to go, there should be a bunch on a tray by the door.”

    H2

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