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Consider China 1 (formerly No. 1 Chinese) the East Village answer to Spice Market—with a side order of ironic nostalgia, in the form of fried wontons with homemade duck sauce. The creators must have had that Copacabana tracking shot from GoodFellas in mind when they drew up the bi-level floor plan—nearly as sprawling as Vongerichten's Asian fantasia. For the menu, though, they've just channeled the local Chinese restaurants of their youth, refining dishes like spicy pork with bok choy and General Tso's chicken. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld

Any of the meat selections can be made vegetarian.

Note
The bar and lounge stay open after the kitchen closes, until 4 a.m. on weekends and for special events during the week.

General Tso's chicken, $11