PLEASE SUPPORT W42ST
W42ST runs on limited resources to keep Hell’s Kitchen connected, updated and upbeat. Access is totally free. Please consider supporting what we do so that we can continue our work!
There’s an authentic new Chinese restaurant on the block — or rather, the corner, as The Corner Chinese Restaurant takes its place in the neighborhood.
The Szechuan-focused cafe soft-opened this month on — where else — the corner of 9th Avenue and W48th Street, taking the place of Qi Thai Comfort Food and before that, Chaan Teng. While the restaurant’s menu is still evolving, the team will base their current offerings — like Sizzling Black Pepper Filet Mignon, Jumbo Shrimp with Homemade Sesame Sauce and Peking Duck Egg Rolls — off customer feedback from The Corner and diners at the restaurant’s sister joints, Uncle Ted’s in Greenwich Village and Peking Pavilion in Manalapan Township, New Jersey. “We’re still working on our final menu,” said Thinh Nguyen, manager of The Corner. “We’ve added some customer favorites from Uncle Ted’s and Peking Pavilion, we’re trying a few new and different things here and we’re seeing what people really love.”
In addition to a developing menu of traditional Chinese and Asian-fusion entrees, the team at The Corner is serving up several premium draft and bottle beers, a wide selection of small-batch, biodynamic natural wines as well as sake and shōchū-based cocktails. “We are really excited to offer very high-quality sake and shōchū at more reasonable prices,” Nguyen told W42ST. The restaurant holds a temporary wine, beer and sake license and plans to build out its cocktail program when they receive their full State Liquor Authority certificate, he added.
The team’s first priority is to provide patrons with a premium experience,. A 20-year veteran of the New York restaurant industry by way of Vietnam, Nguyen first met The Corner owner Dufan Li when they worked together to open the popular Dunhuang Noodle shop. After successfully managing several eateries together over the past seven years, Li founded the Mogao Hospitality group and asked Nguyen to manage his three newest projects, the most recent of which is The Corner.
After taking over the Hell’s Kitchen space in late 2022, Nguyen and Li worked tirelessly to ready the restaurant in less than six months — importing design and decor accents like the dining room’s beautiful lattice walls from China and putting together a space that reflects “a combination of traditional and modern Chinese tastes,” Nguyen said.
Choosing to settle in Hell’s Kitchen was an easy decision, with Nguyen and Li deciding that the area’s already-established culinary reputation made it the right fit for their next project. Li said: “We were thrilled to open a Chinese restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen because we knew we had a winning formula with our food, but we just needed the right location to bring our vision to life. After searching for what felt like an eternity, fate intervened, and we took over the spot at 698 9th Avenue.” Added Nguyen: “Everybody already knows that the food is good [in Hell’s Kitchen] and that there’s something for everyone, and we’re excited to bring more business to the neighborhood and get to know the locals.”
Having already gotten the chance to connect with fellow 9th Avenue newcomer DD Hibachi, Nguyen and the rest of the team at The Corner are looking to collaborate with other independent businesses. “There aren’t a lot of good Asian dessert shops in the city,” he said, adding that they are exploring the possibility of hosting a dessert-themed pop-up with the right sweet shop.
And while they are focused on developing their catering, private events and community outreach, Nguyen and The Corner team already feel welcome on the West Side. “We didn’t do any promotion before we soft opened, and we’ve already had people come back two, three times in one week,” he told us. “We’re very lucky. For us, it’s about being a part of bringing Hell’s Kitchen back to life and busier than ever.”
The Corner Chinese Restaurant is located at 698 9th Avenue (corner of W48th Street) and is currently open Sunday through Thursday from 12pm to 10pm, Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 11pm.
Same team as Uncle Ted’s…good to hear Welcome to the neighborhood,!
It broke my heart to see that beautiful space sit unused for so long. Corner is strikingly designed, and on my first visit, the food was something really special. I will be back soon!
Looking forward to going!
As a Chinese, I can tell you they don’t provide authentic Scechuan cuisine. I’m more interested in the soon to open Chinese grilled fish restaurant on the 9th ave.
Hi Eddie: As a former Brit. who lived in Hong Kong for a while..! I know what you’re saying. It’s hard to find legitimate Chinese food in NY. .. Could you be more explicit about the new restaurant you mentioned that’s opening on 9th Ave… The name &/or the cross street.. Thanks!
Sure. It’s called Lubian Grilled Fish. They offer Chinese grilled fish and classic Sichuan cuisines. The grilled fish is a bit pricey for the portion though.
Good luck to them, but it’ll be hard to pry me away from Ollie’s 🙂
No vegetarian dishes offered on lunch specials ?
The mark of a good restaurant is being able to make the food taste good without the usual excessive oils & cheap salts. That is rare.