An exciting new Asian-fusion restaurant is making its way to the East Village, but it’s not what it sounds like. The restaurant, called The Fish Market, is hardly a fish market at all. Rather, it’s an American bar that serves Chinese/Malaysian fusion in an atmosphere that evokes a New England whaling village.
Founded by Lai Peng Yong, The Fish Market first opened up in the South Street Seaport at 111 South Street. During the recent revitalization of the seaport over the last few decades, the Fish Market played a critical role in attracting fresh faces to the former shipping district. Now the bar is a community staple, with popular bartenders referred to by name in the many glowing reviews the bar receives.
Now Yong and her team are gearing up to expand the Fish Market brand by opening up a second location at 171 Avenue A, north of Tompkins Square Park between 10th and 11th street. The new Fish Market will be replacing Chinese Graffiti, an American-Chinese fusion restaurant that opened up in 2019 as a tribute to Chinese and American street artists and the influence they had on one another.
While the Fish Market is very popular for its lobster, it’s not necessarily a seafood restaurant. In addition to their signature cocktails and cheap shots, The Fish Market also serves classics like ginger fried chicken, pork dumplings, the famous Mama’s Curried Chicken. While you wait for the new location to open up, you should consider visiting the original at the seaport to soak up its unique aesthetic. Hopefully Yong and her team will be able to recreate the atmosphere that made the original Fish market such a cult hit.
