PrintA Guide to Jerky in Manhattan's Chinatown
Manhattan's Chinatown is a huge neighborhood, and although it's a good thing that it offers a nearly endless number of eateries, one might be overwhelmed by all the choices. Where do you go on an empty stomach? What do you order? Sometimes, when you're faced with such a wealth of options, it's best to narrow your focus a bit. This, then, is a guide to jerky in Chinatown.
In Chinatown, there are shops that primarily sell jerked meats. These aren't like Slim Jims, but closer to the homemade kind. Most of them have beef and pork; some have chicken; some have both regular and spicy versions. The taste and texture differ from shop to shop. They sell in quarter, half, and one pound quantities—a quarter pound costing about $4 to $5. Here are four notable meat shops in Chinatown. Let me know if I missed any.
Ping's Dried Beef
Beef and Pork.
The one that's probably been around the longest is Ping's Dried Beef on Mulberry Street across from Columbus Park. My family and I have been getting beef from there ever since I was a kid. The regular beef jerky is the most savory of the ones I've tried, nice and chewy; they have pork jerky, too, but it isn't as good. Note: this is the most expensive place of the four.
58 Mulberry Street, New York NY 10013
New Beef King Corp.
Beef chunk, beef strips, and pork.
Right around the corner from Ping's is New Beef King Corp. Here, the beef jerky chunks are the thing to get. Their oyster flavored beef jerky tastes different than those from other stores, and while I don't like it that much, it somehow works as smaller beef chunks. They also have curry-flavored beef jerky, which other stores don't.
89 Bayard Street, New York NY 10013
Malaysian Beef Jerky Inc.
Beef, Pork, and Chicken.
A much different jerky can be found at the Malaysian Beef Jerky Inc. shop on Elizabeth Street. Instead of the tough chewy strips, they make it in tender square sheets. It's also more oily, and slightly charred. Besides the beef and pork jerky, they also have chicken, and chicken and shrimp—but it's the beef and pork that are good here. The chicken jerky tastes like the pork, and you can barely taste the shrimp in the chicken and shrimp jerky.
95 Elizabeth Street, New York NY 10013
Ling Kee Beef Jerky
Beef, Pork, and Chicken.
You can find a jerky in a similar style at Ling Kee Beef Jerky, located further east on Canal Street. Just like Malaysian Beef Jerky, beef, pork, and chicken jerky are available, but Ling Kee's was far better. Their pork jerky is much tastier, and the chicken jerky has a more pronounced chicken taste. It's worth walking a little bit more.
42 Canal Street, New York NY 10002
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13 Comments:
Thanks Gordon! This is a great guide!!!!
NYminknit at 1:27PM on 09/08/09
My family has always gone to Malaysian Beef. Looks like we're going to have to try some new places! Also, we hardly ever buy jerky because its terrible for you and is a bit pricey for a snack. Whats the price comparison like?
engmcmuffin at 1:39PM on 09/08/09
@ NYminknit: Thanks!
@ engmcmuffin: It's terrible for you??? It is a bit pricey at 4 something to 5 dollars. But it's a nice treat every so often.
Gordon Mark at 1:46PM on 09/08/09
I've had the malaysian beef jerky stuff. It was good, but word of warning to the people expecting what they think is beef jerky: this is VERY different. It has a very strong charcoal flavor and is very moist and tender.
formz at 2:07PM on 09/08/09
I had a fantastic green papaya salad (somewhere not in NYC) served with two kinds of jerky, one of them livery. It was a stellar combination -- green papaya, tart dressing, jerky. Anyone seen that here?
guido at 2:43PM on 09/08/09
great list, I love real jerky. once a long time ago in portland, i had salmon jerky. it was amaaaaaazing. wish i knew somewhere to get it. couldn't find it again after that one time. if anyone knows of good salmon jerky give a holler!
cg_ups at 3:09PM on 09/08/09
Awesome post, thanks! I had some pork bakkwa in Singapore a couple months ago and have been wondering where the best places are in NYC. I'll definitely have to give these places a try.
Polynesia Addict at 3:40PM on 09/08/09
this is great, I didn't even know about Ling Kee. Thanks!
foodinmouth at 9:56AM on 09/09/09
Sounds familiar. http: //chowhound.chow.com/topics/230252
guttergour at 5:51PM on 09/10/09
I didn't know there were 4! Thanks for posting this, I love this article.
jeffsayyes at 1:19AM on 09/11/09
I love beef jerky. Cant' wait to try these places!
sherrypie at 11:26AM on 09/11/09
Salmon jerky is a fine treat. Sorry you can't find any. Here folks make it themselves and buy it at most of the supermarkets.
jnugal at 6:38PM on 09/11/09
@cg_ups, Alaska Sausage and Seafood sells "salmon strips" online... http://www.alaskasausage.com/IBS/SimpleCat/Shelf/ASP/Hierarchy/03.html (8th or 9th item down the page)
I used to love tearing into those. Delish!
semarr at 8:45PM on 09/19/09