Twilight Lounge 朝暮

Twilight Lounge is a fantastic find near NYU in the East Village, offering both great atmosphere and seriously good food. We ordered the BoomBoom Crunch Ribs (Lingnan pork ribs), which were incredibly juicy with a tea-marinated flavor and an addictive crispy rice crust. The Laifeng Pickled Cabbage Fish was perfectly balanced—tender fish fillets in a comforting, tangy broth with tofu and napa cabbage—while the Pickled Chili Beef delivered just the right level of heat and freshness. We also loved the wok-charred green beans and the fried eggplant in garlic sauce, both full of wok flavor. The Twilight Special Fried Rice with shrimp, sausage, egg, and XO sauce was the perfect way to end the meal. Stylish lounge vibes, generous portions, and consistently delicious dishes make this a spot I’d happily return to and recommend.

Overall, the dining experience was quite pleasant. We arrived close to closing time, yet the staff were still warm and welcoming, showing no signs of impatience—something that truly deserves recognition. From ordering to food service, the process was smooth and efficient, with dishes arriving promptly, which is a definite plus for diners who are short on time. As for the food, portion sizes were on the smaller side, so those with a bigger appetite may want to order a few extra dishes. The flavors were generally solid and reliable—nothing particularly outstanding, but also nothing disappointing. The Suancai Fish was well-executed, with a good balance of sourness and saltiness, making it a safe and steady choice. The standout dish, however, was the Salted Egg Yolk Tofu, which was excellent and easily the highlight of the meal. Overall, strong service and efficiency are the key strengths here. If you’re looking for a place for a quick and hassle-free meal, this restaurant is certainly worth considering.

Lunch special $12-14 for entree + spring rolls and garlicky cucumber salad is great as of November 2025. One heads up, make sure to indicate what spice level you want or they’ll default to mild. I was eating the chicken and said “It’s good but mild” only to see mild on the receipt. The portions are nice for sharing. I liked the purple rice option. I might suggest a reservation.

I was looking for a Chinese restaurant around the West Village, and this place popped up on Google Maps. The menu looked interesting, so I decided to give it a try. I went around 1:30 PM, and it was quite busy - probably because there was only one server handling the whole place. It felt a bit hectic when many customers arrived at the same time, but everything was still managed well. After being seated, the server explained the lunch specials and the regular menu. I ordered two lunch specials, which both came with crispy spring rolls and a cucumber salad, Kung Pao Chicken and Crispy Garlic Fish, both served with jasmine rice. I also ordered an extra dish that wasn’t part of the lunch special, Lava Salted Egg Tofu, because it sounded delicious. Kung Pao Chicken – I ordered medium spicy, but it wasn’t as spicy as I expected. That said, the flavor was good, and you can ask for chili oil on the side if you want more heat. Crispy Garlic Fish – Fried fish fillet with garlic sauce (not spicy). The fish was crispy, and the fried garlic added great flavor. The garlic was a bit salty on its own, but adding the plum sauce and chili oil on top made it amazing. Lava Salted Egg Tofu – Fried tofu tossed with salted egg sauce. The salted egg flavor was there but I was hoping for a bit more sauce to coat the tofu. It was slightly dry. Still the taste was good overall. The price was reasonable, and the portions were generous enough to share. If you like spicier food, I recommend ordering spicy or asking for extra chili oil. Lastly, the server was incredibly kind and hardworking, managing a full house all by herself. I really appreciated her effort and service.

Updated: December 29, 2025, A group of us decided to have a late lunch/early dinner to celebrate prior to the New Year’s 2026: To my surprise as well as my guests all were very satisfied with their service and food. I can not express how much I was pleased with how attentive the manager Mr. Ridwan and Lily were with our guess. They made sure that the food being served were tasteful and to our liking. What I also noticed was the team work with the manager and the server and how they both interacted with other customers who came in to eat. Their professionalism and kindness makes a big difference in a restaurant and their smile makes it much better. I will definitely be back again. This rating continues to be 5 stars. November 27, 2025. A hidden gem in the East Village of New York City .On this day , Thanksgiving, I decided to go to Twilight Lounge with a few guests which was recommended to me by a friend to try their authentic Chinese cuisine, since I like to rate restaurants for food , service, etc. To my surprise, I truly was not disappointed with their food, hospitality and professionalism. The manager Mr. Ridwan, was so attentive, caring and professional. Mr. Ridwan made sure that our guests were happy with their service and their food. The server Lily was very kind and attentive too making sure all was going well on this Thanksgiving Day. I can tell as someone who has a business, the manager and the server, were not only attentive to us but also to their customers. This very rarely happens in many restaurants even in Michelin restaurant which at times are over rated. The Twilight Lounge, is a modern Chinese restaurant, which offers a unique blend of Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine, making it popular in the East Village of NYC. We had a number of delicious Chinese dishes. 1: Dim Sum Trio 2: Shanghai Vegetable Spring Rolls 3: Chongging Spicy Chicken 4: Spicy Beef Soy Sauce Supreme Chow Mein 5: Spicy Pineapple Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs with Honey Walnut Prawns 6: Steam White Rice 7: Pork Dumplings in Chili 8: Fried Eggplant in garlic sauce , we also had a Tsingtao and Lucky Buddha beer. I will definitely be back again and will recommend this restaurant to others and to ask for the manager Mr. Ridwan. The restaurant food is all fresh and prepared daily and is run by the family with authentic Chinese cuisine. Special thanks to the manager Mr. Ridwan, the server Lily and Chef , for making our Thanksgiving a wonderful experience. I normally don’t give a 5 star but on this day I did. The staff and manager went beyond my expectations. We will definitely be back!

Went to Twilight Lounge yesterday as a group of 4 - we had a great time. When we got in, we immediately noticed the atmosphere - it wasn't too loud, and the decor was nice. The surpassed our expectations though. We ordered several things, the cucumber and wood ear appetizers, braised fish, crab and egg tofu, pork belly, bok choy, stir fried potato. I was surprised when all of the dishes were good - when ordering so many dishes usually there's something that's not well seasoned etc. I enjoyed them all but was surprised by how good the bok choy was - tons of garlic, very flavorful and cooked just right. The person serving us was also very nice.

Went with a friend to get a late lunch. The place has a pretty cozy vibe and everything was pretty clean. The servers were really nice and the food came out pretty fast. I ordered a chili oil chicken, braised beef tendon and glutinous rice balls in sweet rice wine. The chicken was tender and slightly sweet and savory. It has a good spice level but I wouldn't consider it really spicy. I think you can ask to make it more spicy which I should've done. It's also topped with crushed peanuts which provides a nutty flavor. The braised beef tendon was delicious and the tendon was cooked well as it just melts in your mouth. It was very aromatic and has a nice sesame oil flavor. Just felt like the portion could have been a little bigger but otherwise really good. I haven't seen many places with braised tendon. Lastly, the glutinous rice balls in rice wine has a nice tangy flavor and is lightly sweetened. The scoop of black sesame ice cream was also really tasty. Has a really nutty black sesame flavor and was not too sweet. Overall a pretty good restaurant and I would definitely come back and try the rest of the dishes!

Came here for a late lunch and left with a pretty hefty bill. The place was clean and was pretty modern—service was decent as well. We ordered suan cai yu, which they used flounder as the fish. The fish was a bit flakey and didn’t taste amazing but the broth was good. It wasn’t too oily like some other places so that was a plus. We also had the crab roe tofu which was pretty good as my partner reallly liked it. And had the seasonal vegetable stir fry which was simple but delicious. For the price we paid after tax + tip I expected higher quality food but overall I’m not super mad about it because the portion sizes are good.

I think this is the best place to get Chinese food in the East Village. Their lunch special is absolutely amazing. I keep dreaming about their Chicken with Shanghai Baby Bok Chow. I can't wait to keep trying more items on their menu.

Decided to try this place out during the summer restaurant week. Based on the name I was expecting a dark and hipster asian restaurant, but it was actually light bright and unpretentious. The food was also delicious. And it was so fun that they included a cocktail as part of their restaurant week deal.

My completely unfounded hypothesis for how Twilight Lounge came to be is that the founders wanted to open an authentic Canto spot but after market researching (AKA talking to the locals), they learned that New Yorkers are crazy for Szechuan food, so they decided to tack that on--because Chinese people are nothing if not people pleasers. And thus this Cantonese-Szechuan menu was born. The above is based on an untrue story. Now on to the food. - Wood Ear Mushroom Salad: Refreshing and perfectly spicy - Lotus Root Stir-fry Medley: Because we all need fiber. Get this classic stir-fry to make your bathroom trips more fun. - Crab Roe Silken Tofu: Soft and tasty, better than I expected. - Wong Fei Hung Prawns: If you look at this name and the Jet Li theme song doesn't automatically play in your head, you're not Cantonese enough to appreciate this dish. But it's okay; this dish is so good, it would win over a vegan. It was easily the star of the show, everyone's favorite. The prawns were plump and juicy, and the peppercorns were crunchy and satisfying--all coming together in the perfect marriage of mouth-singing flavor. We picked this clean like buzzards circling a dead rodent. - Sichuan Braised Fish: Our first taste of their Szechuan offerings, and the verdict is....pass! This was spicy, umami and complex, loaded with mouth-tender fish and veggies, and as comforting and filling as similar offerings at Szechuan restaurants. - Tea Smoked Duck Fried Rice: Not much duck, smoke or tea flavor. Not much duck either. I'd skip this unless you really want to blow money on fried rice. Service was friendly and attentive, and decor was modern chic. Twilight Lounge has stiff competition from the borough, but it surprisingly holds its own--esp. if you're in this neck of the woods and craving umami.

This new spot in LES is serving up some authentic Chinese dim sum and entrees. It is a small gorgeous space inside and they were doing a happy hour so we had to get some discounted dim sum. Service overall was good even though there were only two servers running everything while we were there. I really enjoyed all of the apps. The dumpling skins were strong and they all had lots of filling. The beef in the pancake was cooked perfect too. The tendon was chewy and hot. The fish was crispy but not too oily. The fried rice wasn't too salty and the beans were lightly fried and lightly salted. I do think they lower the flavors to accommodate to non-Asian customers though and wish they added some more MSG or salt to some of the dishes. Also, in June, if you spend over $60 you can draw a raffle ticket to win a Labubu.

Growing up eating Cantonese food in Hong Kong, I can say Twilight Lounge is one of the best modern chinese restaurant in NYC. And yes, I'm biased toward Canto cuisine. While the menu features both Canto and Szechuan dishes, it leaned more Szechuan. We got most of the Canto dishes here. It gave me 私房菜 (private kitchen) vibes, and felt like a journey back to HK. ＊Canto Style Crispy Prawns 避風塘大蝦 $26 I didn't expect I could find "避風塘" (typhoon shelter) dishes in NYC. The 8 crispy jumbo prawns were tossed in crispy garlic and dried chili. It was less savory than the ones I remember, but I might prefer this version more. ＊Canto Braised Beef Tendon 港式炆牛筋 $28 This slow-cooked beef tendon has a jelly-like texture, and the juicy chunks of winter melon and carrots gave it a natural sweetness. ＊Twilight Special Fried Rice 朝暮炒飯 $18 I haven't had xo-sauce fried rice in a hot minute, so this one really hit. It had shrimps, lap cheong, corn, scallion and egg. I do wish it had just a touch more umami to round it out. ＊Crab Roe Silken Tofu 蟹粉豆腐 $25 The tofu was silky, coated in a rich crab roe sauce. You could actually see and taste the crab roe, with bits of crab meat. ＊Dan Dan Noodle 擔擔麵 $10 ＊Pork Dumpling in Chili Oil 紅油抄手 $10 I was also curious about the Szechuan dishes. The chili oil was aromatic and packed some heat. The dan dan noodles had a numbing spiciness, but the kick didn't linger too long.  ＊Glutinous Rice Ball in Sweet Rice Wine 酒釀圓子 $8 The BEST 酒釀圓子 i had in NYC so far. Lightly alcoholic and bursting with osmanthus fragrance. I only wished they could give more sweet rice wine soup because it was too good.  ＊Golden Coconut Milk Custard 脆椰奶金磚 $8 It had a soft coconut milk center, coated in a crispy and thin panko crust, just like 炸鮮奶 (deep-fried milk), and very lightly sweetened!

I finally had the chance to visit this new Chinese restaurant in East Village on Mother's Day. It's a cozy spot with a nice ambiance. They were able to accommodate our group of 9 and were giving any moms that ate there a bouquet of flowers. It was a nice gesture that several of the patrons appreciated. Twilight Lounge has a deal for lunch special sets from 11 AM - 3 PM every day. They come with several different items. For a meal in NYC, these sets are at an excellent price point. However, we opted to go family-style due to the size of our group so that we could try as many dishes as possible. All the dishes were solid, but the one that really stood out was the fried eggplant in garlic sauce. It was a favorite for several members of our group. The texture and depth of flavor in the sauce were exceptional. A few of us wrapped up the meal by trying the golden crispy coconut milk custard. It was crispy on the outside, piping hot inside, and was a nice little treat to end the meal with. The service was great and it seems like they are still experimenting with potential new dishes. I would definitely visit again in the future to try out more of their food.

Food was absolutely delicious!!!!! can't recommend it enough. The service was perfect and they are so kind. The ambiance was not only aesthetic but also super inviting. If you are in the are you need to eat here at least once!

Twilight Lounge | East Village Location & Vibe Tucked into 110 1stAve, Twilight Lounge offers a cozy, stylish atmosphere ideal for casual dinners, intimate gatherings, or laid‑back drinks. The interior strikes a balance--warm lighting, thoughtful seating, and just enough buzz for a lively night out. Cuisine Highlights This spot serves up bold, polished Chinese fare--melding spicy Sichuan with elegant Cantonese-- *Chongqing Spicy Chicken: a standout for heat lovers. *Cantonese‑style Crispy Prawns: highly recommended for their flavorful pop . *Tea‑Smoked Duck Fried Rice: a creamy, aromatic comfort dish often praised visually on galleries With Chef Chen's 30+ years behind the stove, expect dishes steeped in authenticity and finesse. Drinks & Deals Their happy hour draws attention with $6 beers, $8 small plates, and $10 sake/wine from 2-6PM daily . The drink menu sticks to curated wine, sake, and craft beer to pair with the bold food. Details *Hours: Daily 11AM-10PM *Perfect for: Lovers of spiced, authentic Chinese cuisine; casual get‑togethers; East Village explorers. *Seating: Cozy and intimate--expect a lively yet relaxed vibe.

I noticed a $14 lunch special that was too good to ignore. I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken, which came with the white rice, egg rolls and pickled cucumbers. The chicken was tender with just the right amount of wok-seared edges, tossed in a glossy sauce that struck a nice balance between sweet, savory, and just a hint of spice. Crunchy peanuts gave it texture as did the egg rolls, and the cool, vinegary cucumbers on the side refreshed the palate between bites. For $14 in Manhattan? A steal. I came with family and we ordered a few dishes off the regular menu to share. The Spicy Cumin Lamb was a standout. Sliced thin and stir-fried with whole dried chilies and cumin seeds, the dish had a smoky, earthy depth that lingered in a good way. It packed some heat, but it was the kind that builds slowly--warming, not overwhelming. The real surprise for me was the dry-style Sichuan Beef Noodle. I usually expect something heavier or soup-based, but this version came tossed in a savory, umami-rich sauce that clung beautifully to the chewy noodles. The marinated beef slices were flavorful and tender, and the overall dish felt comforting yet bold. It's the kind of meal you could crave on a rainy day--or after a long one. The Twilight Fried Rice also deserves mention. Unlike typical fried rice dishes, this version arrived with a crispy bottom layer--almost like a socarrat from paella--adding a delightful crunch to each spoonful. It was savory, aromatic, and loaded with bits of egg, scallions, and diced vegetables. It's a clever and satisfying twist on a classic that I didn't expect to love as much as I did. We also tried dishes like the beef pancake roll, which was like a scallion pancake rolled around savory beef slices, the wife and husband sliced beef in chili oil, spicy shrimp, and the spicy fried fish filet, both of which leaned on the hotter side, so be warned if you're spicy -sensitive (or tell them to adjust the spice level). I found the lotus root stir-fry refreshing and light, with its mix of squash, wood ear mushrooms and lotus root slices. And a special shoutout to Jonathan, who took care of our table with warmth, efficiency, and always with a smile. Twilight Lounge an East Village gem that brings the heat, flavor, and hospitality. Definitely one to watch.

New favorite spot for Sichuan food the dishes tasted nostalgic and familiar. The Chongqing Spicy Chicken and the Crispy Prawns is a must get - my favorite dishes. Super flavorful. The interior is cute, minimalistic and clean. The server was nice and came by to check on us. Their portions was big and great for sharing. I would definitely get their lunch special to try different dishes in a smaller porter. 100% would recommend.

This is upscale Chinese dining, so maybe I'm a bit unused to the high prices. The food was good and service very attentive. The teas were good, and you can choose beer and wine as well.

Delicious, classic dishes with warm, inventive modern flourishes. Very pleased by the flavors and service and vibe here. House special fried rice blew me away! So glad it's here in the East Village. Shoutout to my vampires, werewolves and Hitchcock fans, too!

Loved Twilight Lounge! It's a great addition to the neighborhood! All of the food was really fresh and well prepared. The service and space were warm and friendly. Best of all they were able to accommodate a seafood/nut allergy which can be tricky. Definitely will go back to try more dishes!