The Chinese Restaurant (season 2, episode 11)

written by Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld, directed by Tom Cherones
original airdate: May 23, 1991

Before seeing the classic B-movie “Plan 9 From Outer Space,” Jerry, Elaine and George decide to get dinner without reservations at a Chinese restaurant. They spend the next thirty minutes trying to get seated by the enigmatic maitre’d.

FEATURED LOCATIONS

Jerry’s Apartment and Monk’s Café are not featured in this episode.

The Improv

Hunan 5th Ave. (NOW CLOSED)
323 Fifth Ave., New York, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: 34th Street – Herald Square (B,D,F,M,N,Q,R)
This is the site of the entire episode, where a desperately hungry Jerry, Elaine and George wait seemingly forever for a table before going to see “Plan 9 From Outer Space.”

Tatiana’s apartment
New York, NEW YORK
George tells Jerry and Elaine that her apartment has a little bathroom that’s “right there…no buffer zone.”

Park Ave., New York, NEW YORK
The maitre’d owner says that Mr. Cohen will get a table sooner than the gang, apparently because he lives on Park Avenue and is very funny.

Boston, MASSACHUSETTS (map)
In a deleted scene, George mentions he thinks he pulled his hamstring at a hotel in Boston, due to a tight tuck: “it’s too tight, I feel like a mental patient.”

Long Island, NEW YORK (map)
Jerry mentions that Lorraine will call his aunt on Long Island, who will then call his mother in Florida, who will then call Jerry in New York.

Pines Of Mar Gables, FLORIDA
Jerry mentions that his aunt will call his mother in Florida, upon realizing Jerry didn’t say hello to a mutual friend he didn’t recognize.

BERMUDA (map)
Jerry, to George and Elaine on his family’s calling chain set-up: “New York, Long Island, Florida…it’s like the Bermuda Triangle.”

Sky Burger (NOT REAL)
New York, NEW YORK
Where Elaine ends up eating her dinner that night, likely devouring a burger or two after being forced to wait while starving.