Yin Ji Chang Fen Rice Roll

Food: A reliable spot for a comforting brunch! The congee and rice rolls were delicious, especially when paired with a warm cup of soy milk. It's the perfect way to start the day.Cost: The prices are reasonable, especially considering the quality and quantity of the food.Environment: The interior is pretty basic, but it's clean and functional. It's a good place for a quick bite.Service: The service is efficient and quick. The food comes out promptly, which is great for a busy morning.Uniqueness: It's a solid choice if you're craving some congee and rice rolls. Their coffee is also pretty delicious -- would recommend the rice rolls with the chinese donut inside! That and the shrimp is my two favorite (and don't forget to add the preserved egg into that congee for an umami kick)!

Always a solid choice coming here for rice rolls. They've definitely renovated the place and now even have graphic menus that are pretty nicely made. My favorites here are definitely the shrimp rice rolls and sticky rice with chicken and a hong kong milk tea. Always hits the spot.Ps. this place is still cashless.

We didn't see any dim sum on menu, nor during lunch-time. Restaurant is known for rice noodle rolls and congee; that's what most patrons were eating. Located in Chinatown. We ordered rice noodles rolls w: peanut sauce; pork; and shrimp. Plus fried chix wing, sticky rice wrap, and chix congee. The sticky rice wrap was our fave, although shrimp, and pork rice rolls were very good too. CASH ONLY, as they have posted and reminded us several times. For us, nice off the beaten path lunch

*CASH ONLY* I originally wanted to go to Tonii's but we decided to come here instead since there was seating inside and assumed it would be good since they were busy with a line outside.We waited about 15 mins to get seated. Every table was filled! Food was ok, nothing stood out. We ordered two items. The beef rice rolls and curry combo. Curry combo came out first. The rice rolls took about 20 mins later to come out. We thought they forgot about it so I had to ask if it was still coming and they said they were still working on it.... Overall, not worth the wait.

The food here is so good! Every single thing on the menu I have tried so far is always so solid, delicious and well made. They have such soft and flavorful rice rolls. The rice rolls have a really delicate texture and has the perfect amount of rice roll and filling ratio. I really love the congee too. It is so heartwarming and you really feel like you ate at your grandma's house after your meal. I love their drinks too! They are so well made and simple. The service here is quick and friendly. This is a must when you are in NYC.

Stopped here and it wasn't too busy on a rainy day at the open; lots of to-go and delivery orders waiting. Inside is a clean, spacious spot with a clean bathroom, and one counter as you enter to order; another in the back I'm not sure what they use for but it's mostly storing menus now.The tables are small but come with soy sauce and chopsticks. The chang fen (rice noodle sheets) are soft and delicious; the fried cruller didn't hold up well (too dry even with the steaming and not a great quality of fried dough). The shrimp + beef was good, had a giant sheet of the rice noodle on it, and was hard to break apart. Would do well with a knife, but was clean shrimp and while the beef was just so-so, the sweet soy sauce was just enough.The milk tea- very strong, word to the wise.Cash only. Keep that in mind, too!

We came all the way to Chinatown because I had to pick up my new glasses and my brother saw this restaurant.Atmosphere: The restaurant has a good atmosphere, and they did not make us feel unwelcome. When we walked in, they sat us at our table immediately and were friendly. Staff members: The staff here are friendly and patient. They were very helpful with taking our order. They made us feel welcomed here and smiled and thanked us as well.Roast pork with chives rice roll: This actually tasted better than I had expected. This dish had flavor, and the roast pork and rice roll were cooked to perfection.Slice pork & preserved egg congee: The sliced pork was cooked to perfection. The preserved egg tasted delicious and made me want more. The congee was all right but could have been better. The congee needs more rice and a little less water, and this was too watery for congee. Overall: My brother and I would probably come back here again to try out the other dishes and rice rolls. If they improve on their congee then we may give those dishes another try as well.

Being a big steam rice roll fan living in New York, had passed Yin Ji Chang Fen before a trip to Montreal after just having learned that this chain also had a location. This is their U.S. "flagship," which is only 1/2 block from Tonii's Fresh Rice Noodles, one of my favorite Chinatown cheap eats.Yin Ji Chang Fen's chains origin is in Guangzhou in 1958... and that location still exists! There were some differences between this NYC location and the Montreal Yin JI's as well as the next door Tonii's.First, this Bayard St. location is not only cash only (vs. the Montreal one which takes credit,) the prices were significantly higher both in absolute "dollars" and the fact that Canadian dollars are presently less than $0.75 now! Also, the Montreal location serves you complementary hot tea, while the Baxter St. Yin Ji doesn't. As well, when I asked for water, they brought me over a super tiny paper cup the size of a shot glass.The printed menu here had a great illustration of how they make rice rolls. (See pic.)I was interested in the Beef and Shrimp with Chives Rice Roll and asked the waiter about getting peanut sauce for it. Like the Montreal location, it was extra - $1.50 vs C$1. Tonii's always provide delicious hoy sin and peanut sauce with your rice rolls, which I have enjoyed on top. The waiter said the rice rolls come with soy and wouldn't recommend the peanut sauce. He did point out they have an unfilled rice roll with the peanut sauce, but I wanted some protein so I kept with just the Beef and Shrimp as it comes.Tonii's which is significantly cheaper, which does takes cards but if I remember correctly also gives a cash discount, does not have seating other than a single bench. It's really only take out.My Beef and Shrimp with Chives Rice Roll appeared to also have some ginger, which provided extra flavor. It was tasty. That being said, I prefer Tonii's which are more vibrant with its sauces! (Also, nearby West Rice Roll King and around town Joe's Steamed Rice Rolls are great too!)To add, Curry Fish Balls and Congee appears to other Yan Ji specialties, however they're not something I typically order. If you'd like those dishes and are in the neighborhood wanting to enjoy them sitting at a table, then Yin Ji is worth a try. Just remember it's cash only.

Their rice rolls are big! I got the pork and chives. They were honestly a bit disorganized as they forgot my order and then didn't follow up until prompted. However, my friends all got their orders right, the curry fish balls were great and so was their congee. Cash only!

I think this place originated in Toronto and now they're here in New York! Really exciting. I've always wanted to try rice rolls and now I'm finally getting the chance. We came here on our third stop for our Chinatown food crawl and I'm so glad that we came. Be aware that it is CASH ONLY.The food was interesting, I'm a big fan of the flavor, but the texture of the rice roll was not it for me. I definitely prefer a more firm cook, and I just think it was a little too gelatinous for me! I got the shrimp and scallion roll and my cousin got shrimp with ginger. Great staff and we had a really nice experience