Two-Story Hot Pot Restaurant in Chinatown

If you're a hot pot fan like I am, grab a bunch of friends and head to Chinatown's new 99 Favor Taste! The fresh meat, vegetable, and seafood are unlimited for $21.99, but if you like Korean BBQ, that's available too for 5 dollars more. The grill and pot are in the center of the table so you and your friends can have fun cooking your own food.

Last week, my friends and I went for the first time to celebrate two birthdays. The service was fantastic, very personalized, and we sat in a semi-private room in the mezzanine level.

99 Favor Taste LES 285 Grand Street 646) 682-9122 Take the D train to Grand Street Opened from noon to 1AM daily

Reservations are available and so are semi-private rooms, giving you and your loved ones a designated space to celebrate any event! Check out their Facebook page here.

2014 Chinatown Weekend Walk III is Coming

Join us on Saturday, July 26, 2014 for the Chinatown Weekend Walk 3!

Mott Street (South of Canal Street), 11am to 4pm

- Fun & Games for All Ages - Great Food and Snacks - Dance and Art Performances - Free Face Painting - Giant Chess and Much More!

For more info, click here.

5 Things to do in Chinatown with $10 or Less

Strapped for cash and want to do something fun? Head over to Chinatown for an amazing day of cultural experience. Grab a friend you haven't seen in a while, bring a new date, or even explore the hustling and bustling neighborhood by yourself. Here's how to do it with $10 or less. Here we go!

1. Chinatown Ice Cream Factory - When I bring friends to Chinatown, I usually bring them straight to the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. With flavors like ginger and almond cookie, there is always something for everyone. For big occasions like Mother's Day and Thanksgiving, you can even pre-order ice cream cakes with your three favorite flavors!

65 Bayard St New York, NY 10013 Phone: (212) 608-4170 http://www.chinatownicecreamfactory.com/

2. Elizabeth Center - With a cone or cup in hand, head around the corner to Elizabeth St. (which has now been named Private Danny Chen Way) to the famous Elizabeth Center. There are lots of gift shops with presents to buy for your friends. But go quickly - many of the stores are closing soon!

13 Elizabeth St New York, NY 10013 (212) 431-5150

3. Mahayana Buddhist Temple - work your way to the beautiful and colorful Buddhist temple for a cultural experience. It's free admission, but you are more than welcome to leave a donation. There is a beautiful interior that is worth exploring!

133 Canal St., New York, NY 10002 at Manhattan Bridge Plz.

4. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) - Learn about Chinatown's history. Learn about Chinese history in New York City. This is a great time to go, especially because it's Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month! The general admission is only $10, but you can snag a deal on Thursdays with free admission through Target Thursdays.

215 Centre Street New York, NY 10013 (212) 619-4785 http://www.mocanyc.org/visit/

5. Fruit & Vegetable Stands - Before getting back on the subway after your fun-filled day in Chinatown, stop by the fruit and vegetable stands on Mott Street. Walk past Hester St. and you will see store after store filled with fruit, vegetables, and more. It's the perfect and cost-effective way to finish your day in Chinatown and get dinner ready!

That's on our list. What's on yours?

The Visual World of Chinatown

Chinatown is a beautiful place to explore. There are countless restaurants to try and culture to learn about. It's a photogenic neighborhood that draws a lot of visual artists. Check out the link from Serious Eats to see the best food photos in Chinatown. What's your best picture?

Top 10 Dim Sum Places in Chinatown

Americans have brunch with bottomless mimosas. The Chinese have dim sum in a loud, action packed restaurant. But what exactly is dim sum? Small pre-cooked Cantonese dishes pushed around in carts. Each table will receive a paper that will be stamped, depending on what you order. It's a fun experience that you must try at least once while you're in NYC.

Here is list of the top 10 places in Chinatown to catch some dim sum.

10. Chatham Square Restaurant - Believe it or not, the seafood dishes are amazing here. Try the clams in black bean sauce!

9. Buddha Bodai - Not interested in the pork buns or chicken feet? No worries! Buddha Bodai is a great vegetarian restaurant.

8. Oriental Garden - Just down the street from Jing Fong, this restaurant offers a small version of the big dim sum hall experience. Fried fish balls are a must.

7. Mei Lai Wah - If the walls could talk! A Chinatown favorite, this coffee shop has been around for decades. The egg custards are famous, but my all time favorite snack is the fried dough dipped in honey.

6. Grand Harmony - Try their stir fry (anything) and soups. Traditional decor with dragons and phoenixes makes it a very popular Chinese wedding venue.

5. Golden Unicorn - A two-level restaurant, this becomes a very popular dim sum spot on the weekends. Their fried noodles with seafood is super delicious! Hot sauce optional.

4. Ping's - They are known for their seafood (STIR FRY LOBSTER!) but everything is great!

3. Dim Sum Go Go - ALL DAY DIM SUM. Whether you're craving it during peak hours or 8PM at night, you can come here!

2. Red Egg - A more modern twist to the traditional experience. Best happy hour dim sum! 2 for 1 drink deals.

1. Jing Fong - Best banquet hall experience with traditional Chinese decor. Big chandeliers and the women pushing the dim sum carts add to the authenticity. Go before or after peak hours (10am to 2pm) - it can be quite a wait!