Lei

A fabulous wine bar nestled in the heart of china town with a fantastic selection of of wine and very creative and delicious dishes. Must try.

Fantastic new spot, a great place to drink great wine, smart food, and the service matches up to it all. Tight, focused wine list, with many bargains to be found. Food was tasty, the lamb noodle stole the show. Team was both friendly and professional. Definitely will be back (many times).

Honestly, I am glad I came here now as I am certain this will become one of the hottest wine destinations across NY and will be impossible to get a reservation (reservations strongly recommended). I really think Annie slayed it in creating the ambience of such a curated wine bar, from the drawings on the wall, to the lighting, the furniture and just thee overall vibe. The place is simple yet so sophisticated, and like da Vinci said, simplicity is the highest form of sophistication. I doubt there are many other places in the world where you can find such high quality of fusion Chinese food and a truly outstanding wine selection. As this is after all a wine bar, I have to put my hands together for Matt for creating such a refined list and to Hugo for being a true enthusiast and helping pick the gems. If you are looking for an easy night with great food and great wines, Lei is the place to be. I hope to come back soon, very soon.

Alex Wiley

Came here for my birthday, this was one of the loveliest meals I've had in a while. I recommend having a reservation, they say they take walk ins but its a small space so that really only seems to work if you show up around the time they open. The sommelier was very helpful in choosing wines and we enjoyed them with all of the food we ordered. We had the celtuce, scallop crudo, shaobing with lardo, short rib, cats ear noodles and sticky toffee eight treasures pudding. The cat ear noodles were probably our favorite, the dish reminded us of the lamb cumin noodles we used to eat in china

Tay Chlebina

Such a hospitable team!! We walked in without a reservation and were told they had a spot for us but had a reservation coming in 30 mins. They immediately made us feel welcome and even made us feel comfortable and confident we could order a few plates of food in that time. We ordered three plates that all came out quickly with enough time for us to enjoy. Every plate was uniquely Lei, perfectly balanced and seasoned. It was a quick visit but I’m already looking forward to my return

Steven Rossi

Our experience at Lei was incredible. We were lucky enough to get a late post-dinner reservation to try some of their wines, and it certainly exceeded our expectations! The place is quite cozy, making it an ideal spot for a date or intimate occasion. The staff were personable and gave us top-of-the-line service. Matt, the Wine Manager, has a deep knowledge of wine, which made the experience all the more unique as we got to hear stories of how the wine was sourced and what we should be looking for as we tried some wines. Per his recommendation, I had one of my favorite red wines I’ve ever tasted: Fukuihara- a red wine from Japan. I highly recommend going out of your comfort zone and trying whatever he recommends; I guarantee you it won’t disappoint! For dessert, we had the sticky toffee pudding, which was absolutely delicious. They poured the sauce over the ice cream right in front of you, which made the dessert a show as well. All to say, if you’re in the area or you’ve ever thought of going - this is your sign to go. If they’re booked up, join the wait list, you won’t regret it.

Glenn C

A couple of nights ago, I went to this very small restaurant after work, thinking it wouldn't be too difficult to get in because of the cold, as there wouldn't be a line. I happened to get the last seat after they made sure that the corner bar seat was fine and that they would need the table in an hour and a half. The spot is next door to Nom Wah and right near Chinese Tuxedo, so it's funny that there are now two fancy spots surrounding the oldest tea parlor. The menu is small and pricey, and overall, I liked two dishes a lot, and my entree was okay. In terms of staff and the space, the people inside were friendly, whether it was the front staff or the bartender who was my waiter as well. As this is a wine bar, I got a glass of white after he asked my general preference. I usually like drier minerally whites, such as assyrtikos, or, at the other end, gewürztraminers. The $23 wine he recommended was the 2022 Domaine les Astrelles Bourgogne Aligoté "Les Lares" from France. He described it as a minerally white burgundy, and it was delicious. Regarding food, they recommended two to three dishes per person, and I went with three. My appetizer was the 豬血糕/Berkshire black sausage with firewood soy, chili, and peanuts for $19. This was plated simply with four large pieces of said appetizer and some tiny pickled chilis. As the name and translation suggest, this was their fun spin on a popular Taiwanese street snack called ti-hueh-kué, or pig's blood cake, which is usually made with sticky rice, pork blood, peanut powder, and chili. From what I can tell, they used better-quality pork and not just blood, and the dish was also fried, which added a lovely texture compared to the usual one, which is pretty chewy on the verge of being mochi. Otherwise, the pork itself had a deep richness, the peanut added a nice extra flavor, and the bits of chili helped balance the dish's fattiness. This was excellent and worth it for the price point. My main dish was the 猫耳朵/hand-rolled cat's ear noodle with lamb braised in cumin and tomato for $27, which also had plenty of chopped scallions on top. Said noodle/mao er duo is from Shanxi and is supposed to be similar to gnocchi. As this is a Chinese place, I expected the noodles to have a chewy texture and for the dish to have a strong cumin flavor. Instead, I was surprised that the noodles themselves were al dente, and that the dish had more tomato flavor than cumin, making it almost more Italian than Chinese. While I liked the noodle texture, I found the flavor a tad light overall and wouldn't mind if the dish balanced the cumin and tomato more, so both flavors are more apparent. The lack of larger pieces of lamb also made the dish lack texture outside the chewy noodles, and it didn't feel worth it for the price, based on flavor, even compared to spots a few minutes away. This was okay, but next time, I would get the ribs or order three small plates or something. My dessert of choice was the 八寶飯/8 treasure rice with sticky toffee pudding, for $16. This was a delicious spin on a Chinese classic, with the sauce poured over ice cream on top of the sticky rice, and more sticky toffee pudding sauce on the side. The goji berries, sticky rice, and various other textures, or rather "treasures," all paired nicely with the sauce. It wasn't overly sweet and worked very well, and like the appetizer, I would recommend it highly. The price point is a tad high, but the food quality was good overall. Based on my experience, I would recommend ordering something else cheaper nearby and sticking with wine, appetizers, and dessert here. Said spot is probably closer to a 4 than a 5, but I had a good experience.

Kara Wilson

Had the most perfect impromptu birthday celebration last night. The wine list is thoughtful and extensive, and every single plate we had was incredible! If they have the carpaccio special, ORDER IT! The camera did not eat that plate first but it was absolutely perfect with a bottle of rosé champagne.

Jessica Jo

Space is tight inside but I never felt like I didn't have room even with a small two-top full of food. Food and service were great. Pacing was steady and portion size was perfect for trying a variety of dishes for 2 diners. Only thing is the short rib wasn't my favorite.

Sunny Wanger

Lei is MAGIC. A perfect bang-bang dinner BOTH ways. Whether you have dinner plans and need somewhere to have a glass of wine accompanied by a few small plates, or it’s the last stop, they are well-equipped with a full dinner menu and tasteful pairings. Regardless of where in your agenda Lei lands, the 8 treasure rice pudding with hot toffee is required before leaving the premises.

Cara Stewart

Cute hidden gem with a creatively delicious menu, great ambience, and an excellent selection of wines. Perfect spot to catch up with friends, snack on share plates, or a date. Definitely try the cockles — I was too busy savoring the flavors of the rich broth and textured loofah to remember to snap a photo!

Michael Chao

This cozy wine bar is a great addition to Doyers Street and brings some modern flair to a historic neighborhood. The food is excellent, with standouts including the celtuce, fried fish and cat's ear noodle. The wine list is a rarity in Manhattan--extensive while reasonably priced, with options for every budget. Can't wait to go back!

Alon Juwal

Beautiful and cosy wine bar filled with candles and an amazing vibe! Loved it.

Sanam L

A fabulous wine bar nestled in the heart of china town with a fantastic selection of of wine and very creative and delicious dishes. Must try.

yunuen soto

The food was absolutely amazing! Haven’t had such a unique experience in a while! Each plate was different in the best way possible. The sesame shaped bing and the short rib were my favorite but everything was amazing. Ambience was 10/10

Mr. Q

Fantastic new spot, a great place to drink great wine, smart food, and the service matches up to it all. Tight, focused wine list, with many bargains to be found. Food was tasty, the lamb noodle stole the show. Team was both friendly and professional. Definitely will be back (many times).

Karina Valeeva

A new gem in Chinatown. Came with friends and was blown away by the flavors! Standouts were the chilled celtuce, crown daisy salad, and Lady Edison ham with Asian pear. The hand-rolled cat’s ear noodles and sweet & sour short rib were rich, comforting, and perfectly executed. Beautiful wine selection, with some truly unique pours. A thoughtful, elegant spot that feels both grounded in tradition and totally new.

Love Lei - been here at least five times and I keep going back and it’s now my monthly wine get together spot. Strong food menu, superb wine selection. What keeps me coming back is Steven, not only does he know his wine, he recommends interesting off the beaten path wines that always magically fits what I’m looking for

Absolutely amazing! The food, the wine… truly no words. Every dish was different. Perfectly balanced and beautifully executed. And a special shoutout to Arthur, who made our first experience even more memorable. He thoughtfully walked us through which wines to taste, pairing each one perfectly and elevating the entire evening. We couldn’t have asked for a better introduction.

Lei is one of those Chinatown gems that feels like a secret you don’t want to share but can’t stop talking about. We went on a Monday night for a celebration, and the experience felt special from the start. The food is designed for sharing: snacky wine bar plates that are delicious. The wine is exceptional. We drank a Henriet-Bazin Blanc de Noirs (Meunier) that was vibrant and mineral-driven, the kind of Champagne you rarely stumble upon unless someone knows what they’re doing. The list overall is full of unique, well-chosen bottles. We weren’t wine experts, but they met us exactly where we were and made the night feel celebratory and effortless. Service was a standout: warm, involved, and genuinely caring, more like being welcomed into someone’s home than a typical wine bar experience. Lei is elegant and versatile. Its atmosphere is intimate, softly lit, and stylish which makes it a great date spot but also works beautifully for a small group lingering over plates and bottles. Daydreaming about my next visit!

Just returned from dinner at Lei- since I got there earlier than my friend I asked Paolo what red wine is best. He had me taste a yummy Syrah and then gave me 1/2 a glass ( to warm me up- it was Cold tonight). Food was stellar and dessert was fabulous. The staff was terrific and helpful. They knew exactly what was needed when. We just wished Lei was larger. Lots of movement that was really kept calm between the servings and seatings could do with more space. Highly suggest!

Josephine Wong

Love Lei - been here at least five times and I keep going back and it’s now my monthly wine get together spot. Strong food menu, superb wine selection. What keeps me coming back is Steven, not only does he know his wine, he recommends interesting off the beaten path wines that always magically fits what I’m looking for

Dan McBride

Lei is one of those Chinatown gems that feels like a secret you don’t want to share but can’t stop talking about. We went on a Monday night for a celebration, and the experience felt special from the start. The food is designed for sharing: snacky wine bar plates that are delicious. The wine is exceptional. We drank a Henriet-Bazin Blanc de Noirs (Meunier) that was vibrant and mineral-driven, the kind of Champagne you rarely stumble upon unless someone knows what they’re doing. The list overall is full of unique, well-chosen bottles. We weren’t wine experts, but they met us exactly where we were and made the night feel celebratory and effortless. Service was a standout: warm, involved, and genuinely caring, more like being welcomed into someone’s home than a typical wine bar experience. Lei is elegant and versatile. Its atmosphere is intimate, softly lit, and stylish which makes it a great date spot but also works beautifully for a small group lingering over plates and bottles. Daydreaming about my next visit!

Mindy Rosner

Just returned from dinner at Lei- since I got there earlier than my friend I asked Paolo what red wine is best. He had me taste a yummy Syrah and then gave me 1/2 a glass ( to warm me up- it was Cold tonight). Food was stellar and dessert was fabulous. The staff was terrific and helpful. They knew exactly what was needed when. We just wished Lei was larger. Lots of movement that was really kept calm between the servings and seatings could do with more space. Highly suggest!

I was lucky enough to snag a seat at the bar right as they opened at 5pm on a Saturday. Within 10 minutes, the whole restaurant was jam-packed. Staff is very friendly and welcoming and the vibe is great. I ordered the chilled celtuce, the scallop crudo, the ham and pear, and the shao bing along with a glass of cotes du rhone. The highlight was the ham (really good). The other dishes that I ordered after reading rave reviews about were not remarkable for me but that may be on me. I am not especially savvy in terms of this cuisine.

Had the celtuce, cat's ear noodle, and a few glasses. Smaller portions as expected for the format. The by-the-glass wine was decent, although the selection wasn't out of the range of a favorite wine bar of mine nearby. I visited on account of a mention in Eater, and while the genre is unique to the neighborhood, it feels like its primary calling card.

Was super excited to try this place. Cute spot, interesting wines, thought the food was ok - but we didn’t order the main dishes just the squash and goat cheese.

Irma Zandl

I was lucky enough to snag a seat at the bar right as they opened at 5pm on a Saturday. Within 10 minutes, the whole restaurant was jam-packed. Staff is very friendly and welcoming and the vibe is great. I ordered the chilled celtuce, the scallop crudo, the ham and pear, and the shao bing along with a glass of cotes du rhone. The highlight was the ham (really good). The other dishes that I ordered after reading rave reviews about were not remarkable for me but that may be on me. I am not especially savvy in terms of this cuisine.

Chris Liu

Had the celtuce, cat's ear noodle, and a few glasses. Smaller portions as expected for the format. The by-the-glass wine was decent, although the selection wasn't out of the range of a favorite wine bar of mine nearby. I visited on account of a mention in Eater, and while the genre is unique to the neighborhood, it feels like its primary calling card.

Amy L

Lei has wine bar -ified chinese food (small, aesthetic, fusion plates). I’d would rate higher if not for the table of 5 next to us. They were affiliated with ownership and very loud. Most of the other tables were couples, but this made it feel more like a rowdy bar than a date night spot. I was glad that they — one guy in particular — were having a good time, but the noise level had surpassed lively and was grating and discordant. It just wasn’t the atmosphere I was expecting or hoping for. The food was solid, but in my opinion, expensive for what it was. I’d recommend the cherry granita dessert the most. But nothing stood out enough to come back for — can get better food, wine, and atmosphere elsewhere.