CHELI MANHATTAN 浙里

My visit to Che Li was an unforgettable journey into the heart of authentic Chinese cuisine. From the very first dish, the Smoked Fish with osmanthus and thick braising sauce, I knew I was in for a treat. The Longjing Shrimp was another standout, with tender poached shrimp enveloped in a delicate tea sauce that was both innovative and delicious. However, the real showstopper was the Flaming Beggar’s Chicken, smoked chicken stuffed and wrapped in lotus leaves, then encased in flour clay. The presentation was dramatic, and the chicken was succulent and full of flavor. The sides and desserts were equally impressive. The Stir-Fried String Beans were nicely spiced, offering a good kick. The Salted Ham Rice with mixed vegetables was a comforting dish, and the Jasmine Milk Pudding and Green Tea Milky Rice Cake were the perfect end to the meal, being both light and satisfying. Drinks like the Milk Tea with Yellow Wine and Osmanthus Rice Wine were innovative and complemented the meal wonderfully. Che Li is more than just a restaurant; it’s an experience that showcases the depth and breadth of Chinese culinary traditions with a modern twist. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore the best of what Chinese cuisine has to offer!

I had dinner with friends. It was a little neat place, well decorated with red lamps, bamboo staff, Chinese paintings, etc. The food was okay to me, who grew up in China. Dishes were well presented to guests and tasted well. However, a few dishes were too sweet, not sure if the restaurant was catering to Americans' love for sweetness. Other than that, it was a well managed restaurant with good service and a good atmosphere. Quite popular for the young.

Beautiful restaurant with excellent service and delicious food! We had a great time and everything we ordered was unique and flavorful. We ordered the pork soup dumplings, white pepper beef with soft tofu, and the moonlight vegetable dish. I would recommend each of these dishes. They were very tasty and the perfect amount for two people with some leftovers at the end.

Had dinner here and it was one of those unforgettable moments of my life. The host (Yuner) did a good job at getting me to a table. The food was delicious, would very recommend the braised pork belly (a must). Other than the food and service the atmosphere of this place is insanely amazing, it was nicely decorated and the music was just calm and fitted the mood

Ranked #15 on the New York Times top 100 restaurants and listed on the Michelin Guide, Cheli definitely deserves all its hype and recognition. Tldr: their desserts are FIRE, especially the Sweet Osmanthus Rice Cake!! Don’t get me started on the ambiance—it is like walking into an old village in China with the traditional decors and dining booths. A total immersive dining experience for high quality Chinese cuisine. ＊Flaming Beggar’s Chicken 南宋叫花雞 $35 ** The fire show is magical. They pour alcohol over the bread crust and lit it up. When we cracked open the crust and unwrapped the lotus leaf, the chicken underneath was incredibly juicy and fall-off-the-bone tender. I usually don’t order whole chicken but this one surpassed my expectation and beyond. ＊Minced Crab Meat Tofu Stew 蟹粉豆腐 $23 ** The crab meat over tofu was another standout dish. It was bursting with crab flavor and the sauce was so velvety. Perfect with a bowl of rice. ＊Hot Stone Braised Rice 牛肝菌燜飯 $26 * I loved the hot stone braised rice from their new sister reataurant Blue Blossom, so I had to get it again. It spoke a lot about how much I love this dish. It wasn’t too spicy even it was mixed with green pepper. ＊Xiao Long Bao 鮮肉小籠 $7 The texture, flavor and filling all hit the spot. The wrapper was thin and chewy, filled with juicy minced pork. 10/10 perfection. ＊Eggplant in Garlic Sauce 魚香茄子 $16 It was flavorful but not as impressive as the other dishes. The garlic sauce was on the sweeter side. ＊Sweet Osmanthus Rice Cake 桂花拉糕 $10 *** These flower-shaped rice cake are the PRETTIEST DESSERT EVER. You have to get this no matter how full you are. It is a mochi alike snack with osmanthus honey. So floral and delicious!! Will definitely come back for this. ＊Triple Sweet 紅棗銀耳桃膠 $8 * Traditional chinese dessert soup with red date, peach resins and white wood ears. Peach resins taste like jelly if you’ve never had one. It is especially beneficial for women after menstruation and mothers after childbirth. ＊Jasmine Tea Pudding 茉莉茶奶凍 $8 ** Literally a jasmine milk tea presented in pudding form. It was infused with tea aroma. Very fragrant, milky and not too sweet.