Spicy Village

For Chinatown restaurants like Wendy’s, the impact of Covid-19 will soon become too much to bear. Business took a spike in February 2020—and not just because of a lack of foot traffic. Racism and xenophobia have threatened these places’ survival, too, with anti-Asian sentiment on the rise. Spicy Village’s future is under threat. They desperately need a show of support from New York’s noodle-lovers.

Spicy Village is a New York Chinatown institution, a hole-in-the-wall spot renowned for its hand-pulled noodles, meat-filled buns, and famous “big tray chicken.” The restaurant’s owner, Wendy Li, runs the cult favorite with her husband and two children; they’ve earned accolades from the likes of celebrity chefs, the Village Voice, and the Michelin Guide. Before the pandemic, the line went out the door virtually every night.

This short film from cross-cultural documentary collective HiLo offers a glimpse behind the scenes at Spicy Village, on one of the few days they take time off: Chinese New Year. A time for celebration and togetherness with family, hindered by the pandemic for the second year running.

Directed by Jia Li
Camera by Jia Li, Yiwei Chen, Stevie Borrello, Kristofer Rios
Produced by Joshua Frank, Kristofer Rios
Edited by Yiwei Chen
Sound mix by Kristofer Rios
Special thanks Carver Audain

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