NYC Chinatown Zongzi Guide (2021)

Dragon Boat Festival, or Duan Wu Jie (端午節), is on June 14th this year, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month!

Zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, are commonly eaten during this festival in commemoration of Qu Yuan, an ancient Chinese poet and minister known for his patriotism. Legend has it that he was banished for opposing the king and later drowned himself. To prevent fish from eating his body, locals threw sticky rice dumplings into the river.

Also known as joong, bak chang, or Chinese tamales, zongzi is made of sticky rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves. They are usually steamed or boiled.

Don’t know where to get your zongzi? We gotchu! Here are our top 5 recommendations in Chinatown.

📍 Zongzi Street Pop-Up (6/13 from 1-3 pm)
298 Grand Street, New York, NY 10002

📍 Zongzi Lady
At the corner of Grand Street and Chrystie Street

📍 Mee Sum Cafe
83 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013

📍 46 Mott Bakery
46 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

📍 Deluxe Food Market
79 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10013