Wah Fung No. 1 Fast Food

West Rice Roll King

Get: Shrimp rice roll, or the curry fish ball roll if you want something different.

Watch your rice roll be made to order right in front of you (so expect a wait on the weekend). They are made of thin sheets of steamed rice noodle wrapped around fresh shrimp, finished with a drizzle of chili oil. Free toppings like scallions and bean sprouts let you customize each roll.

Tips: Cash only. Rolls run about $5 each, so it's an easy stop to grab two and split. Closed Tuesdays.

 Shu Jiao Fu Zhou

Get: Pork-and-chive dumplings (10 for $3.50) and a side of Fujian peanut noodles.

This tiny Fuzhou storefront on Grand Street has built a cult following for one reason: dumplings this good shouldn't cost this little. They're pan-fried to order with a crisp bottom, and the peanut noodles, thin noodles coated in a salty-sweet peanut sauce, are worth the extra order.

Tips: Cash only. Expect a line out the door, especially on weekends; it moves fast. Grab a bag of frozen dumplings on your way out if you want to bring the crawl home.

Mei Lai Wah

Get: The pineapple pork bun (baked, not steamed).

A Chinatown institution since 1968. The "pineapple" bun has no actual pineapple; it's named for the sweet, crackly sugar-crust topping, and it's stuffed with warm char siu roast pork. Everything's baked fresh throughout the day, so try to catch a fresh batch.

Tips: Order at the self-serve kiosk out front (card accepted) or pay cash inside for a small discount where you can usually skip the longer line. Buns run under $2.50, so grab a couple to eat on the walk to your next stop.

Joe's Ginger

Get: Pork xiao long bao (soup dumplings). Get the crab and pork version if you're splitting.

The crawl's grand finale and the only sit-down stop. These soup dumplings are filled with a rich, hot broth that bursts with the first bite, so pace yourself after four stops of street food. A basket of 8 runs about $15.

Tips: Bite off a small corner and sip the broth first. Don't pop the whole thing in at once. It's a full restaurant with table service, so budget more time here than the other stops, and expect a short wait during peak hours.

Get: Roast pork or roast duck over rice.

Tiny take-out-only window on Chrystie Street doing one thing perfectly: Cantonese roast meats, chopped to order and piled over gravy-soaked rice with a side of cabbage. No seats, no menu boards to fuss over, just point and go. Take it and eat on a bench in the park across the street.

Tips: Cash only (there's an ATM nearby if you forget). Go before 11:30am or between 2–4pm to dodge the lunch line. The duck sells out, so don't save it for last.