The signs are hand-painted, colorful and quaint, but blink and you’ll miss this storefront gem on a tiny side street in the Village. Once you step inside, though, you’ll feel like Alice after she fell down the rabbit hole, leaving humdrum NYC for a hidden nook that leads through a woody front room on back into a beautiful glass covered patio—Wonderland. The food is as flavorful as the atmosphere, with a traditional southeast Asian, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Thai menu, full of fresh, well-prepared dishes in power-packed sauces that will bring a sinus-clearing, palate-pleasing tear to your eye. And don’t neglect the sides, especially the silky Chinese long bean with homemade chile and basil sauce and just enough crunch. Boisterous locals crowd the rustic back tables, picking at small plates of dumplings (try all three kinds!), so get there early: The place may be small in size, but it’s huge in value—and popularity.

Crispy shrimp, crabmeat and pea dumplings
Steamed or fried mushroom dumplings
Steamed shrimp and chives dumplings
Lemongrass crusted snapper fillet
Singaporean fried rice noodles with shrimp and Chinese sausage
view full menu here

Do your best to get a seat on the delightful back patio. It’s cozy and calm—just the right airy setting for these spicy dishes.

For such an unassuming spot, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by an ample wine list that’s as value-driven as the menu. In the warmer months, you’ll be even happier with the patio.

lunch: Mon.–Sun. 12 noon–5 PM
dinner: Sun.–Thurs. 5 PM–10:30 PM; Fri.–Sat. 5 PM–11 PM

$12.50 (vegetable tofu curry) to $18.75 (grilled sea bass)
cash only