New York, USA–Greasy Chinese food is one of the city’s well-known charms, along with corner bodegas and hot dog stands. However, why pay for a cheap, fried, and oily eggroll from the hole in the wall by your neighborhood when you could have sautéed ginger beef in an actual restaurant? Ollie’s Noodle Shop, which has been established for 19 years, offers delicious, yet affordable Chinese food for both native Nu Yawkers and tourists. With four locations nearby Columbia University, The Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center, and the Theatre District, there’s no excuse to miss out on some of the best Chinatown style dishes above Canal Street!

Ollie’s in Lincoln Center is one of the more popular of the chain, where customers can catch a movie across the street, or reserve tickets for some jazz at Dizzy‘s Club Coca Cola. Inside offers a surprising interior of delicate sea-green chairs, comfy sofas and round tables. The space is unpredictably stylish with soft jade walls and classical music playing in the background. While Ollie’s is usually packed and moderately noisy, each table has adequate space for large orders (bring on the roasted duck!) and good conversation, perfect for first date jitters. Each table provides steaming green tea in silver teapots with tiny porcelain cups. Menus are swiftly provided and the wait staff is immediately available for service, without the excess pressure in ordering quickly. 

Ollie’s offers a wide variety of Wonton soaps, velvety Mandarin noodles, and even vegetarian dishes, such as tofu salad, for the leaf lovers. The Eastern Pacific melting pot of meals are individually mouth watering with its crispy lemon chicken, large scoops of fried rice for diet cheaters and Taiwanese Mai Fun containing slices of pork, chicken, shrimp, and egg for indecisive eaters. Daring foodies can try the grilled swordfish, little neck clams, or scallion pancakes that are light in dough and rich in flavor. The shrimp and broccoli, served with white or brown rice, is one of the major highlights with its pink, plump shrimp and crisp, fresh broccoli. The chicken bun, a large steamed ball of dough with chopped, boneless, skinless chicken, is both an appetizer and a meal all on its own, which can’t be ordered merely once. The alternatively sweeter bean bun is just as tasty.  Each dish is filling and can be enjoyed with a glass of white wine, which is suited with seafood.  Best of all, every meal is served within five minutes. Not only will you end the night with fortune cookies, but a meal for two with drinks averages around $25!

Whether you’re seeking a quick meal before an afternoon matinee or merely just famished, Ollie’s Noodle Shop just can’t be beat. With moderate prices and an attentive staff, why take an hour subway ride to Canal Street and shove people in crammed streets, all for some egg drop soup?  Ollie’s is worth visiting and hey, it‘s a great excuse to go to the theatre!

Ollies Noodle Shop
1991 Broadway
New York, New York 10023
212-595-8181

Text by Stephanie Nolasco

Filed under: Cuisine