Lanzhou Ramen

Paying Tribute to 52 NYC Restaurants That Closed During the Pandemic  - Eater NY

"88 Lan Zhou was an anomaly when it was opened in 2007 by Mandy Zhang and her family. Not for its menu of dumplings and hand-pulled noodles (attributed to Lanzhou, hence the name), which were then the newest thing to hit Chinatown, but for how far east it was on East Broadway, long before Mission Chinese and Wu’s Wonton King lent their stylish presence to that stretch of the thoroughfare. When the original 88 Lan Zhou closed in 2017, everyone thought it would be forever, but it reappeared later right on Bowery near Chinatown’s heart. The menu was vastly expanded from its original 20 or so items, but the pork-and-chive dumplings were as good (and cheap) as ever. Perhaps the competition from a slicker new restaurant next door was too stiff, but 88 Lan Zhou, a place with a real personality all its own, closed down for good in early August, at a time when the pandemic and the prejudice that went with it toward Asian Americans exerted a powerful effect on Chinatown’s commerce and tourism." - Eater Staff