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I probably eat in Chinatown once a week. I would never want to live there but the food is fantastic. It is generally filthy, cramped, and the throngs of people (both tourists and locals) move slower than just about any other area of the city. Trying to get somewhere quick while walking down any street in Chinatown is an exercise in futility.
I lived there for several years - never had a problem any time of day or night. Even though it's a little dirty and congested - it's a great place to live. It's near everything - Village, BK, Seaport, Wall Street, Little Italy to name a few and you can walk it if you are a walker.