The best birthday restaurants in Chinatown, NYC

Chinatown is known for its casual, mom-and-pop eateries, but if you're looking for something a little more formal for your special day, head to Chinese Tuxedo. While the dress code isn't actually black tie, you might want to dress up (at least a little bit) to spend an evening in this candlelit restaurant. Located in the former Chinese Opera House, Chinese Tuxedo channels the elegance of the building's former life while serving modern takes on traditional Chinese dishes.

Start your birthday meal with some tasty dim sum, like sweet potato curry spring rolls and braised oxtail buns. For a celebratory drink, choose from their signature cocktails, such as the Midnight Lantern or the Nodding Tiger. If you're just as obsessed with bubble tea as we are, the milk tea ice cream is the perfect sweet treat to finish off the night.

Chinese Tuxedo can accommodate up to 300 guests for private events.

Whether you're looking for the antidote to aging or the tonic for eternal youth, your best chance of finding it is at Ye's Apothecary. Inspired by the tradition of Chinese herbal medicine, this vintage speakeasy creates an eclectic environment for birthday celebrations. With plush furnishings and antique lampshades, this cozy corner of Chinatown is an immersive space for sharing delicious meals.

Try a little bit of everything on the menu with their selection of small plates, such as scallion pancakes and yuzu shrimp. The drink menu plays on the flavors of medicinal herbs with cocktails like the Earl Grey Gimlet or Grandma's Penicillin, a mix of lemon, ginger, and plum with mezcal.

Ye's Apothecary can take reservations for groups of up to nine or more.

Whether you're looking for the antidote to aging or the tonic for eternal youth, your best chance of finding it is at Ye's Apothecary. Inspired by the tradition of Chinese herbal medicine, this vintage speakeasy creates an eclectic environment for birthday celebrations. With plush furnishings and antique lampshades, this cozy corner of Chinatown is an immersive space for sharing delicious meals.

Try a little bit of everything on the menu with their selection of small plates, such as scallion pancakes and yuzu shrimp. The drink menu plays on the flavors of medicinal herbs with cocktails like the Earl Grey Gimlet or Grandma's Penicillin, a mix of lemon, ginger, and plum with mezcal.

Ye's Apothecary can take reservations for groups of up to nine or more.

Don't worry, you don't have to bring anything to this Potluck! Inspired by the owner's childhood in Chinatown, the Potluck Club takes care of all the cooking for you with its Cantonese-American menu. The sleek industrial interiors, lined with movie posters from Hong Kong cinema, create an energetic atmosphere that celebrates the unique multicultural influences of the neighborhood.

Toast to another year around the sun with one of their eclectic drink options, like the jasmine tea lager or the puffed rice Chinese pale ale. You can snack on appetizers like potstickers or fresh salads while you decide between fusion dishes like salt and pepper chicken with scallion biscuits or tiger shrimp with candied walnuts for your entree.

For groups of eight or more, the Potluck Club offers a pre-fixe menu with a selection of their signature dishes.

With an Instagram account boasting visits from celebrities like Emma Stone and Gwenyth Paltrow, Hwa Yuan Szechuan Restaurant has made a name for itself as a stand-out restaurant in Chinatown. A revitalization of the original Hwa Yuan which closed in the 80s, the refreshed restaurant pays homage to the traditional recipes and sophisticated atmosphere of the first establishment.

The restaurant is best known for its seafood, serving up fish, scallops, and shrimp cooked in their signature spicy sauce. Hwa Yuan also offers lobster and Dungeness crab served with decadent garlic or truffle sauces.

Hwa Yuan can take reservations for up to 12 people.