Wo Hop Restaurant
(212) 566-3841
15 Mott St
New York,
NY
10013
40.7141
-73.9988
Neighborhoods: Civic Center, Downtown
What People Are Saying About Wo Hop Restaurant
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
Wo Hop's fluorescent-and-linoleum grotto is pure time-machine New York. Droll blue-jacketed waiters dispense schtick and fortune cookies to tables of raucous eaters, while streams of New York's finest line up for takeout. Glossy photos of unknown "celebrities" adorn the back wall. Weary of duck feet and fermented tofu? Put down those chopsticks, and brandish your fork proudly as you plow through the unregenerate Cantonese-American classics that have been served here for years. Don't expect culinary magic, though: Flavors harken back to the era when the two main varieties of Chinese restaurant food were Gummy and Fried. But if you give in to the pull of nostalgia, a good time can be had. Sauces are mucilaginously comforting; the fried stuff is actually tasty. Go ahead--order sweet-and-sour pork. We won't tell.
User Reviews
JoFinkle
February 25, 2009
Do not be fooled by the upstairs Wo Hop. I went there once and deeply regretted it. The downstairs Wo Hop is the quintessential American Style Chinese food in New York City. Wo Hop and Hop Kee are widely regarded as the two best in the City. They are right down the street from each other, but after going to Wo Hop, I've simply never felt the need to even try Hop Kee. It couldn't possibly be any better. (I'm going this weekend though, so I may eat my words.) The walls are filled with pictures of people who look vaguely like famous people, but it's not actually them. It's an ironic statement (probably unintended) about the Carnagie Deli and other tourist traps with good but not unsurpassed food. It says that you don't need actual celebrities to endorse your greatness. There is nothing special about Wo Hop except the food and with food like that, it needs nothing else. Don't be intimidated by the occasional long lines, they move deceptively quickly. And don't expect anything fancy, just everything that's right about what Americans refer to as "Chinese Food".
read full review
Anonymous
January 06, 2009
this is the best chinese resturant in NYC!! I have been eating here since I was about 10 and it is always the highlight of my trip back home. There is often a long line to wait but it is well worth it. The employees are always super nice and friendly with my kids. DELICIOUS!!!
read full review
sunara
November 06, 2008
I decided to go for dinner with my husband and son tonight but I couldn't imagine I was making a mistake. After reading the reviews here we headed to Wo Hop. When we got there they told us to choose a table but most of them were still dirty from the previous people. Anyway we sited and ordered the follow: Steamed Dumplings: The meat inside was still frozen and the tips were dry as if they were froze unpacked and then after 1 month taken from there and dumped in boiled water for 2 seconds. We didn't eat them. Chicken Fried Rice: a little burned and too much soy sauce. Chicken with Cashew Nuts: The chicken was rare and the only thing i could eat was the cashews. Beef with garlic Sauce: My husband ate the broccoli only. Chicken Lo Mein: I asked my son to eat only the noodles because i didn't trust the chicken freshness. We left place after 20 minutes and got some slices of pizza from Little Italy.
read full reviewThe Details on Wo Hop Restaurant
Know Before You Go:
There's another Wo Hop down the stairs that's owned by the same owner (it's address is 17 Mott Street).
Know Before You Go:
There's another Wo Hop down the stairs that's run by the same owner (it's address is 17 Mott Street).
The Extras:
If both Wo Hops are full, Hop Kee next door is exactly the same in every way.
What to Drink:
Coke in a can--always!
