Williamsburg restaurant serves up one of New York’s favorite traditions
For many New Yorkers, the holiday means gathering with family and friends over Chinese food, and one Williamsburg restaurant says it is experiencing its busiest day of the year.
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A beloved Christmas Day tradition is alive and well in Brooklyn, and it has nothing to do with celebrating Christmas.
For many New Yorkers, the holiday means gathering with family and friends over Chinese food, and one Williamsburg restaurant says it is experiencing its busiest day of the year.
Kings Co Imperial prepared 800 soup dumplings for Christmas Day alone, with six other varieties on the menu.
Staff say they are working at full speed to keep up with demand. The restaurant booked 500 reservations, welcomed walk‑ins and handled another 2,000 delivery orders. A second kitchen was opened just to manage delivery.
“Christmas Chinese food, it is not just a Jewish thing anymore. It has become a New York thing,” said owner Josh Grinker. “They want to celebrate, they come to a Chinese place.”
Customers say the tradition keeps them coming back.
“We come every year for the soup dumplings. It is just a great place, great time,” said Robin, who was dining with family.
The staff says the crowds grow every year as more New Yorkers embrace the tradition, with people still here on the holidays, and anyone else not celebrating, finding a home away from home to gather.
They say that since they opened, it's getting bigger every year.
"It gets hands-on, it gets crazy, but this is our Mothers' Day, our New Year's all wrapped in one, and we love it," Grinker said.
"We go to the movies, we get Chinese food, the movies are not always great, but the food always is, and it's not Jewish Christmas without a scallion pancake," said Jeremy, a customer who assures us he will be back.
