Canal Seafood Restaurant

Improved their internal appearance. Waiters wear uniforms now. This place look cleaner and more organized now.
Best place in Chinatown for Bitter Melon rice

After a few years away from Chinatown, my job relocated back here in early 2015. A morning of train trouble allowed me to discover AG this morning. Excited to see this space had been renovated, I suggested to a colleague that we go for lunch. Entering, we were ushered to a table in an open, clean and comfortable dining area. Perusing the menus we were given, I noticed there were no dim sum items, which prompted us to request the the dim sum menu. Thinking the prices were pretty expensive for lunch ($ 8-​$ 15) in the area, we decided to share a meal and four dim sum selections. As we sat, we noticed that the place was frequented mostly by Chinese people, leading us to believe the food must be authentic and good. My colleague pointed out that all the Chinese diners were given one menu with others given another; we thought, perhaps, the menus were in different languages. Throughout our meal, which was very good by the way, we noticed they adhered to this practice of one menu to Chinese people, another to those of us who aren’t. Upon leaving, we asked to see the menu that was tucked away from the others, and WHAT DO YOU KNOW?! That menu was in ENGLISH, but the prices were drastically different from what was offered to the rest of us. Not wanting to make a scene there, and having to get back to work, I simply called the restaurant informing them of our experience. The woman who I spoke with said «Oh, that’s because some of the servers don’t speak English.» Girl bye! No, they heard English, and decided to become little cons and discriminate. This upset me mostly because I was having a wonderful day, and was excited to have a meal with my colleague in a new spot. I will never frequent this place again. If you do, be sure to ask for ALL menus, not just those reserved for dumb Americans and tourists. Their «cash only» policy is another turnoff.

They recently renovated this place a few weeks ago. Everything is brand new. The tables and the bathrooms are VERY clean. Of all the quick places to eat in Chinatown this one is the best. It’s the closest to the subway and it is CLEAN. I cannot stress that enough. I hate Chinatown bathrooms but this place is so nice. The roast duck and pork is very good. I usually get an order to eat there and then bring one home for lunch the next day. Well worth the money for the amount of food you get.

Ive made a point to deviate from a striated eating pattern of Chinese food since I work near Mahattans Chinatown and live near both of Brooklyns Chinatowns, however to my surpise this joint has satisfied me twice now. Ive had two different styles of pork belly which I admire immensely and condemn those who cannot properly prepare pork pasionately. And they buck my trend of no 5^th star for no booze, but I cannot complain so far. as this place is a workplace staple.

If you like a super grimy restaurant this is the place you! Food was so bland and horrible I would of rather went hungry.

I know that the service in Chinatown is bad. But this is WORST I have ever seen! How dare they charge 15% for the bad service and if you are not willing to pay you will get intimidate and scolded throughout the restuarant!
Even they have no right to asking for the tip but they do! They won’t let you go untill you pay for 15% tip! I warn you guys don’t go to this place!!!

I came here for lunch with my mom and sisters on a Sunday afternoon. My mom told me this restaurant has a bomb dish that she thinks I would really enjoy and of course moms know best.
I’ve walked past this restaurant numerous of times and the name of this restaurant has seem to change many times too. This restaurant was a lot roomier than I thought, but not much décor and I thought having carpet on the floor was weird too.
So mom told me they make an excellent and scrumptious lamb with bean curd stick over rice and I love lamb, so I decided to trust my mom and ordered it for lunch. One of my sisters ordered a diced chicken and salty fish fried rice and my other sister ordered a bitter melon with beef over rice dish.
The service here is so-​so. The food isn’t excellent, but it’s not bad either. I enjoyed my lamb over rice dish. The lamb was really moist, tender, and seasoned just right! There was just enough sauce to go with the rice. I wouldn’t say it was bomb, but it was good enough.
The chances of me returning here are possibly slim because I’m sure there are other Chinese restaurants in Chinatown that can make a more impeccable lamb dish than this spot. This restaurant strikes me as a more of a touristy restaurant, nothing too crazy or extravagant.

I love the vegetable and fish slices over rice. Other than that, I don’t really eat there. I think everything else is too overpriced and not the best.

Since my last post, i’ve stopped eating meat, but still enjoy fish, which makes this a great option once again for a fast lunch. As others have mentioned sometimes the service is a bit lacking, and they are not always the friendliest bunch. I do appreciate good service and since I’ve been coming here regularly they remember me and are a bit friendlier. Service aside, the food, despite what others have said, is in my experience very good. Yes there are tourist here, but there are also plenty of locals. For seafood, the prices and portions are fantastic. I highly recommend the steamed fish (Basa i believe) with still crunchy Chinese Broccoli. Excellent texture from the veggies, nice light ginger sauce, not too salty or sweet, nothing overpowering the seafood. The Squid with the same preparation is very good fantastic and very tender. Lastly I love the Shrimp with 3 mushrooms, a very hearty portion of food. The food usually arrives very fast, and you get huge portions of food for $ 6 or $ 7. Its very worth a visit.

OH YEA? so Unilocal removed my review because it contains inappropriate content. But that doesn’t stop me to come back here and write another one because I was so mad back there and still angering now and of course future.
Again, I would give them NO STAR if I could. Dirty, they don’t mope tables and dishes were terribly washed. Food is disgusting, a lot of MSG and very oily.
The waiter were so rude, tips got snatched away while giving them a cash change. They demand it as a 15% must, which got me into an loud argument. I almost got into a fight with them unfortunately my girlfriend drag me away, I’m so regret I didn’t have a chance to punch each and everyone of them in the face.
Worst restaurant I have ever been to. Super Bad experience as a tourist to New York, what a shame.

We had to stop here since we were a little hungry. This spot wasn’t good at all. I wouldn’t suggest to eat here if want good food.

your basic chinese restaurant for a quick bite. Came here for take out because I needed something quick and in the area. My food was good and they gave a lot of meat. No complaints if you’re just looking for something basic.

Here are some keywords for this place:
Dirty
Rude
Disgusting
Shitty
Got the whole duck and it wasn’t cut properly. You’re supposed to put the bits of duck in a pancake, but you couldn’t because there was still bone attached to the meat. Attached in such a way that it’s impossible to de-​bone yourself. And I know [and love it because] duck is supposed to be greasy but this crap took it to a whole nother level. Needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway) I vomited violently later in the night. I honestly did, ask my girlfriend.
The waiter was a typical rude chinese restaurant waiter. He even tried to trick us. He scribbled all over the check and when my girlfriend asked what aparticular piece of scribble was about, he said it was the tip. If we didn’t ask, that shitbag would’ve gotten a double tip without us even knowing it.
Lastly, when I tried to use the bathroom, it was locked and the guys told me it was being cleaned. At 6pm on a Friday? I should’ve just pissed on the floor, cuz that place can’t really get any dirtier anyway.
Fuck that place.
Almost forgot, the duck we ordered was placed on a dirty cafeteria lunch tray and brought to the back to be cut up by a guy who was spitting in the restaurant earlier.

Yes, it’s geared towards tourists with inflated prices, but they will speak to you in English, or Cantonese, unlike some other local establishments. They were nice and asked if I wanted plates and forks without any hints on my end. I ordered a whole roast duck, two orders of roast pork, and a whole soy sauce chicken totaling $ 64 after tax for take out. Yes, a tad expensive, but not astronomical prices for being located on Canal. All prepared under 5 minutes and fully butchered.
The quality of the food was on par with anywhere else. I will not be coming back here often since it’s priced high and not the part of Chinatown I frequent, but it’s not on my black list either.

First off, don’t come here expecting friendly service. They will NOT bring you chopsticks, chili sauce, or water without frowning or some other display of displeasure. Don’t take it personally.
They won’t hand you the lunch (cheaper) menu either if you look like you don’t speak Chinese, so make sure to ask for it.
I love the fish fillet with chinese vegetables over rice, as well as the steamed carp over rice, both on the lunch menu. The steamed carp takes 20 minutes for them to make, so call ahead and have them prepare it for you.

Good for breakfast items, everything else is pretty bland.
I go here for the char sui bao (70 cents) and the lotus wrapped sticky rice. It comes in two different sizes. I’ve also had the roasted pork here.
I wouldn’t suggest getting the legit Cantonese stuff if your don’t speak Cantonese. This is the type of place where grannies skip the line and you have to really speak up to get the butcher’s attention. Also you have to be discerning otherwise he’ll just give you a scrap already on his board. Tell him how many ribs you want instead or what part of the pork you want.

Holy nipple twist, Batman. Let me start off by saying that this restaurant (on the menus and actually on top of the restaurant now) is actually called Canal Best Restaurant. Whoever thought of that, well played. Makes me wish there were no professional responsibility and ethic rules for lawyers so I can name my firm New York’s Best Law Firm.
Anyway, my office is actually right across the street so this place is a perfect option for me when I get lazy, when it’s cold, or ESPECIALLY when its raining (Chris don’t play with rain).
Every time I step foot in this place, it is packed. But fear not, because if you want a seat, they will seat you within five minutes (some times at a big table eating across from another family — no worries, chances are, you won’t speak the same language, so eavesdropping will be hard). If you want take out, they take orders lightening fast and the food comes out even quicker.
I usually order my favorite chinatown dish — boneless chicken and roast pork over white rice and cabbage, sprinkled with some soy sauce, and scallion ginger sauce. The result — I’m happy, I’m full, and pretty sleepy.
Sidenote: every time I go and actually sit to eat, I see what other people are eating and order off from that. No need for a menu. Just point at other people’s dish and ask the waiter for that. They won’t be offended. Cannot go wrong with any dish here. All tastes great. All tastes like Chinatown.
Side-​sidenote: most of the people that sell bootlegs on the street eat here. Lunch and a rolex. The restaurant is a safe zone so no worries, won’t hear them asking you «Louie, Gucci, Fendi, Prada, Gucci?.» Always was a mystery to me why they say Gucci twice, without fail.
Happy eating, suckers.

Solid place for the price
Recommended
* roast pork fried rice had lots of bbq pork and young green peas. Pretty good for $ 6, i would definitely get this again
* e-​fu noodles with chicken was pretty good too. It had chinese greens, mushroom, braised soft noodles, and white meat chicken. $ 10 for a dependably tasty and complete noodle dish.
Okay
* got the sliced bbq pork from the deli section, not bad and not a disappointment
Not recommended
* i’m not a fan of the beef quality here but it is typical of what you would expect from a local chinatown place with no décor

I used to work on Canal street ages ago, and I used to eat at this restaurant regularly before its recent renovation. While its walls and furniture have all been replaced, what has remained is its rather welcoming appearance. When you walk in, you see a counter where you can order dim sum, buns, roasted meats and take-​out. Look at the main part of the restaurant and you’ll find a wide open space with tables that can accommodate small and large parties. The only bad part are the rest rooms, which are so tiny you could easily hit someone with the door if they’re washing their hands.
I’ve had a variety of foods here. Their dim sum is tasty and well prepared. I’ve never had tough meats or ultra soggy noodles there. Their roasted meats are well done. Not the best I’ve ever had, but definitely moist and with good seasoning/​sauces. My favorite is the scallion roasted chicken, second favorite is the soy sauce chicken. Their roast pork is okay, but not particularly high quality.
Service is really quick here, and unlike many restaurants in Chinatown they make an effort to be friendly, which is much appreciated. The front counter people are a bit nicer than the waiters, but even they are nowhere near as gruff as your average Chinatown waiter.
Canal Seafood isn’t the epitome of Chinese food in New York City, but if you’re in the area it’s a good option to grab a quick Chinatown style bite.

I went to this place just because I was down on Canal st. and hungry at the time. But after the experience that I had here I do not think I will ever return. While I was here I ordered two dishes, one chicken and just one spring roll. Both came at amazing speed but lacked… sides and basically everything. I needed to go to the bathroom also while I was there and asked at least two people where it was and both responded in mumbled broken english which I could not decipher. As for the food, it was ok, but not for the price that we paid.
Also the place factored its own tip in… not cool.