Chin Chin Restaurant

(212) 888-4555

216 E 49th St
New York, NY 10017 40.7549 -73.9709

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Neighborhoods: Midtown East (Turtle Bay), Midtown, Midtown East

chinchinny.com/

What People Are Saying About Chin Chin Restaurant

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – The bustling dining room is cleanly decorated, with white walls, polished wood and black-and-white framed photographs. Waiters move with blinding speed, taking and delivering orders with a brusque approximation of courtesy. The clientele is made up of biggish spenders who enjoy the full bar and don't mind the immoderate prices, or special-occasion diners who wanted elegance and insisted on Chinese. – – The Food – This menu attempts to take Chinese food upscale with re-invented classics, like savory shark-fin soup and supple, greaseless tea-smoked duck. The…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Don't feel like a scene? They deliver.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “food was so nice the service was awsome and the entire atmosphere was great.”
  2. “My daughters and I loved the food and the atmosphere.”
  3. “The place is beautiful with a chic atmosphere.”
  4. “Though you will not get the ambiance and not the same service, you will enjoy eating great tasting food for cheap in Chinatown.”
  5. “The authentic Chinese cuisine on white-napped tablecloths and sophisticated Western-style service and ambiance is a great combination, and not usually seen outside the better restaruants of Kowloon or Hong Kong.”
  6. “The service was attentive, the ambience was elegant and the food was extraordinary!”
drinks
75.0% positive
  1. “Your wait will be short and pleasant due to the friendly confines of the bar and staff.”
  2. “Upon arrival we had drinks at the bar, the bartender was nice but service was slow, he seemed obviously overwhelmed.”
food quality
85.0% positive
  1. “The taste and quality of the food were good as well.”
  2. “Far from elegant food or dining room.”
  3. “Good food, semi-friendly staff, a bit pricey”
  4. “The best meal we had this time around (except Grimaldi's which was transcendent, but that doesn't dount cause it's pizza not upscale dining)”
  5. “The service is always excellent and the food is absolutely delicious.”
  6. “Service was great- waiter was attentive, funny, nice- & food was very good too!”
  7. “mean to find authentic Chinese food, where else would you go besides Chinatown?”
  8. “You can get the same great tasting food and better, the same dishes and more in Chinatown for half the price that Chin Chin offers.”
  9. “for Chinese food that was moderately better than what you'd have delivered to your apt for $10 - shouldn't that price tag include decent service, at the least?”
  10. “The fried rice with sweet Chinese sausage and scallops was EXCELLENT as was the sauteed spinach.”
  11. “Sorry, but pressed linens, coattailed staff, and fancy names for disgusting chicken drenched in soy do not sophisticated cuisine make.”
  12. “Over-priced, bland food, rude service”
  13. “The authentic Chinese cuisine on white-napped tablecloths and sophisticated Western-style service and ambiance is a great combination, and not usually seen outside the better restaruants of Kowloon or Hong Kong.”
  14. “did not enjoy my dining experience, neither did my friends, the service was terrible (I also am a server), the food was very average and extremely overpriced.”
  15. “food was so nice the service was awsome and the entire atmosphere was great.”
  16. “My daughters and I loved the food and the atmosphere.”
  17. “If you like shrimp you will die for the Grand Marnier Shrimp.”
  18. “The service was attentive, the ambience was elegant and the food was extraordinary!”
  19. “It might seem pricey, but the portions are quite large and the quality of the food is great.”
  20. “If you want good chinese food where the quality and service of the food are great then go to Chin Chin.”
  21. “every dish is super tasty and they have an interesting menu for a chinese place.”
  22. “overpriced chinese food”
  23. “The food was good.”
  24. “Lets put it this way if you have money to burn and you love Chinese food this is the PLACE to go.”
  25. “The spare ribs are the best & the 10 ingredient fried rice was superb & was mixed into everything.”
  26. “He was surly throughout the evening, never once coming to our table without being flagged down (which he assiduously avoided btw), and it completely detracted from the food, which wasn't half-bad (actually the crisped orange beef was pretty good).”
  27. “For one, I think Chin Chin's food is DELICIOUS!”
  28. “Everyone was extremely nice, and the food did not take long to arrive at our table.”
  29. “Though you will not get the ambiance and not the same service, you will enjoy eating great tasting food for cheap in Chinatown.”
  30. “So many better places with authentic chinese without French and Italian music playing.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Though not on the menu, do try the Grand Marinier Shrimp, a luscious and unique taste.”
  2. “every dish is super tasty and they have an interesting menu for a chinese place.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “love Chin Chin, after Bill Hongs closed this became my favorite chinese restaurant.”
service
72.22000122070312% positive
  1. “Though you will not get the ambiance and not the same service, you will enjoy eating great tasting food for cheap in Chinatown.”
  2. “did not enjoy my dining experience, neither did my friends, the service was terrible (I also am a server), the food was very average and extremely overpriced.”
  3. “food was so nice the service was awsome and the entire atmosphere was great.”
  4. “Good food, semi-friendly staff, a bit pricey”
  5. “Upon arrival we had drinks at the bar, the bartender was nice but service was slow, he seemed obviously overwhelmed.”
  6. “The service is always excellent and the food is absolutely delicious.”
  7. “The place was jammed but service was excellent.”
  8. “And, the wait staff are great too.”
  9. “If you want good chinese food where the quality and service of the food are great then go to Chin Chin.”
  10. “Sorry, but pressed linens, coattailed staff, and fancy names for disgusting chicken drenched in soy do not sophisticated cuisine make.”
  11. “for Chinese food that was moderately better than what you'd have delivered to your apt for $10 - shouldn't that price tag include decent service, at the least?”
  12. “Your wait will be short and pleasant due to the friendly confines of the bar and staff.”
  13. “Service was great- waiter was attentive, funny, nice- & food was very good too!”
  14. “The authentic Chinese cuisine on white-napped tablecloths and sophisticated Western-style service and ambiance is a great combination, and not usually seen outside the better restaruants of Kowloon or Hong Kong.”
  15. “Went there on a Saturday in Feb 08 and the service was very good.”
  16. “Horrible, horrible, horrible service.”
  17. “Over-priced, bland food, rude service”
  18. “The service was attentive, the ambience was elegant and the food was extraordinary!”
value
72.22000122070312% positive
  1. “Though you will not get the ambiance and not the same service, you will enjoy eating great tasting food for cheap in Chinatown.”
  2. “overpriced chinese food”
  3. “Lets put it this way if you have money to burn and you love Chinese food this is the PLACE to go.”
  4. “You can get the same great tasting food and better, the same dishes and more in Chinatown for half the price that Chin Chin offers.”
  5. “did not enjoy my dining experience, neither did my friends, the service was terrible (I also am a server), the food was very average and extremely overpriced.”
  6. “It might seem pricey, but the portions are quite large and the quality of the food is great.”
  7. “Good food, semi-friendly staff, a bit pricey”
  8. “There are great tasting restaurants for dim sum, for lunch, brunch, and dinner for not even half the price spent at Chin Chin.”
  9. “for Chinese food that was moderately better than what you'd have delivered to your apt for $10 - shouldn't that price tag include decent service, at the least?”
wait time
75.0% positive
  1. “Upon arrival we had drinks at the bar, the bartender was nice but service was slow, he seemed obviously overwhelmed.”
  2. “Everyone was extremely nice, and the food did not take long to arrive at our table.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/19/11

Chin Chin should take it on the chin!

by howardtheduck at Citysearch

Today I took an attorney to lunch at Chin Chin. This was my first experience at this restaurant and absolutely my last. At first I thought this was going to be a nice experience as they were very attentive to the table. Then the attention became over bearing, constantly coming and asking us to order. The wait staff was constantly trying to serve us more drinks. My guest was not hungry and ordered a simple plate of fried rice with shrimp and chicken and I ordered Velvet Corn soup and duck with orange sauce. When the food came the presentation was terrible. The plate for my guest looked like there was a rice shortage and unappetizing. My soup was served hot but was tasteless. The duck was tasteless as was the sauce and the presentation was less than acceptable. I cannot recall ever having worse Chinese food than that experienced at Chin Chin. But I give them credit, they know how to charge.

1 Star Rating: Poor

06/06/10

I WAS ROBBED

by gusy at Citysearch

after an enjoyable dinner we were given the bill which i payed with cash. our waiter came and took the bill. as we were getting ready to leave, the owner(Jimmy Chin) came up to us and said that we didn't pay. after arguing this led to me calling the police. in the end we were told we had to pay a second time. the police told us to pay w/a credit card and file a merchant dispute. i suggest that you avoid going to this restaurant,or if you must go, do not pay w/cash.

  • Pros: decent food
  • Cons: pay in cash
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/07/09

Top notch Chinese Food!

by Scott Lawrence at Citysearch

I went here on a recommendation by a close friend. To cut to the chase, this restaurant is top notch. If you like shrimp you will die for the Grand Marnier Shrimp. Have it as an appetizer and the move on to the sweet and sour pork. If you like something a little on the spicy side try the Mongolian beef. It is top notch. This is a must visit Chinese restaurant. I am going back again with some business associates for lunch this week. This is just 3 days after my dinner there. Oh yes, it is that good!

  • Pros: Great service, great food, great atmosphere.
  • Cons: This isn't cheap chinese nor would you want it to be.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/28/08

Great Chinese!

by citilivin at Citysearch

I've been going to this place for years and it has never disappointed me. The place is beautiful with a chic atmosphere. The service is always excellent and the food is absolutely delicious. It might seem pricey, but the portions are quite large and the quality of the food is great. I definitely recommend giving Chin Chin a try!

1 Star Rating: Poor

05/12/08

Nothing special

by myla35 at Citysearch

Food is mediocre at best, and not sure what the hype is about the dining room. Far from elegant food or dining room. So many better places with authentic chinese without French and Italian music playing.

  • Pros: Close to my apartment
  • Cons: Atmosphere, food and did not get the Italian/French music playing

The Details on Chin Chin Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • good chinese food
  • great sophisticated westernstyle service
  • horrible service
  • love chin
  • great quality
  • perfect spare ribs
  • mixed ingredient fried rice
  • unique taste
  • favorite exceptional chinese restaurant
  • great semifriendly staff
  • authentic chinese
  • friendly confines
  • extremely nice everyone
  • pretty good crisped orange beef
  • best meal
  • very good went
  • attentive waiter
  • authentic ambiance
  • loved daughters
  • nice private room
  • great restaurants
  • good hot
  • disgusting chicken
  • warm setting
  • nice sky light