May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month — a time to recognize the amazing contributions of generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders throughout history and in contemporary society. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite AAPI-owned businesses along our routes that you can support, not only in May, but all year round.
Western Yunnan Crossing Bridge Noodle – Sunset Park
Western Yunnan Crossing Bridge Noodle, owned by Tara Chen and her brother Yong Ting Chen, offers a unique noodle soup that is hard to find in NYC. Crossing the bridge noodles come from Yunnan, China’s southernmost province, and have a fascinating legend behind them.
The story is about the wife of a student who travels to a quiet island every day to study. The island is approachable only by a very long bridge and he would often forget to eat. His wife noticed he was becoming thin and began preparing him hot chicken soup. To keep it warm when crossing the bridge, she brought the ingredients over in different bowls, combining them just before he was ready to eat. On its own, the chicken broth stayed hot enough to cook the noodles and other ingredients, and created a thin layer of oil that kept the whole bowl piping hot. The scholar loved the hot noodle soup, and the wife started crossing the bridge everyday with these bowls.
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Western Yunnan Crossing Bridge Noodle – 705 59th St Unit E (7th Avenue), Brooklyn, NY
Kopitiam – Corlears Hook
Kopitiam serves primarily a hybrid of Chinese and Malay flavors drawing ingredients and techniques from both cultures along with sprinkles of influences from the Portuguese, Dutch, and the British. The goal of chef/owner Kyo Pang, a third-generation Nyonya, is to continue carrying forward Pang’s family’s recipes in New York City and preserve the fading tradition in cooking dishes the way her ancestors did. Their selection ranges widely from sweet buttered toast to noodle soups and desserts.
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Kopitiam – 151 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002
Wu’s Wonton King – Corlears Hook
When you step inside Wu’s Wonton King you’re greeted by tanks filled with crabs and a huge menu full of authentic Chinese fare ideal for sharing. They offer everything from whole fried crabs to a family-style wonton soup that comes in a bowl that looks like a giant’s teacup. They have plenty of seating and can accommodate large groups, plus they’re BYOB.
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Wu’s Wonton King – 165 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002
Her Name is Han – E. 34th St
With a growing number of Korean-Americans and Korean internationals working and studying in the city, Her Name is Han wanted to create a place where they could find the perfect home-cooked meal reminiscent of their mothers’ cooking. So they created a home away from home where they use only traditional Korean ingredients and recipes to produce “Korean soul food” that feels surprisingly fresh and light.
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Her Name is Han – 17 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016
Korean K9 Rescue – Astoria
At Korean K9 Rescue in Astoria, their mission is about building awareness and compassion for dogs, especially those that are rescued from dog farms, high kill shelters and puppy mills both here and abroad. Executive Director and Founder Gina Bohler, has been working on this mission since July 2017 when the organization started up. Thanks to Korean K9 Rescue, over 2,000 dogs have been rescued and successfully adopted.
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Korean K9 Rescue – Astoria, NY
Madame Vo – Stuyvesant Cove
Jimmy Ly met ‘Madame’ Yen Vo and the two connected over their mutual love of Vietnamese food. As a Queens native, Jimmy had worked in his parent’s banh mi shop. Yen spent her youth eating traditional Vietnamese food in her native Houston. When Jimmy introduced Yen to his family’s cooking, the inspiration for Madame Vo was born. They strive to honor the tradition of Vietnamese food by providing New Yorkers with the familiar and nostalgic flavors of southern Vietnamese cooking following recipes which have been passed down through their families for generations.
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Madame Vo – 212 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003
Double Chicken Please – Corlears Hook
Double Chicken Please opened its doors in LES at the height of the pandemic in November 2020. Taiwanese cocktail vets GN Chan and Faye Chen started in a 1977 VW minibus hosting unique drinking and dining experiences across the country. DCP offers two different experiences in one space. The front bar serves inventive cocktails on tap and their delicious chicken sandwiches in a casual environment. The back bar, decked out in mid-century modern decor, offers a fine dining experience.
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Double Chicken Please – 115 Allen St, New York, NY 10002
Kim’c Market – Brooklyn Navy Yard
The mission of Kim’C Market is to introduce and provide premium Korean food products that are tasty, healthy and trendy. The market was launched because there was no way to get high-quality Korean groceries in the city. In 2019, Ryan Kim opened Kim’C Market in the Brooklyn Navy Yard with the goal of helping people stay healthy by providing healthy Korean foods and ingredients.
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