12. Stony Brook

Soup dumplings at Red Tiger Dumpling House
Soup dumplings at Red Tiger Dumpling House

Suffolk County has one of its own developing Chinatowns around Stony Brook and nearby Centereach, with over ten eateries specializing in cuisines from across China. Situated right near Stony Brook University, students, locals, and foodies alike travel to the Stony Brook area for some of Long Island‘s best Chinese fare.

A staple of Stony Brook’s food scene, China Station offers relatively cheap noodle soups with options like lamb and beef tendon, a variety of dumplings with more creative options like kimchi dumplings, and rice and noodle dishes. With a similar menu and atmosphere, 1089 Noodle House offers a selection of Shanghainese noodle soups prepared with five types of noodles, chef’s suggestions like big plate chicken and spicy dry pot, and American-Chinese classics. Noodles are also the star at Splendid Noodle, which serves Lanzhou-style noodle soups with varieties like oxtail, clam, and duck, as well as starters like jellyfish salad and pig ear.

For high-quality dim sum, Red Tiger Dumpling House offers a selection of Shanghainese delicacies like soup dumplings, crystal shrimp dumplings, and peach buns with lotus, in addition to spicy Beijing-style chef specials like beef with bitter gourd and hot pot beef. Adding to the spice is Jianghu Restaurant, which specializes in Sichuan cuisine with dishes like flounder in chili sauce, braised fish with pickled mustard, and chestnut braised pork. Also popular for Sichuan cuisine is Spice Workshop, with five types of dry pot, Chengdu-style noodles, and an array of fish prepared in extremely spicy sauces.