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- Neighborhoods:
- Downtown, Civic Center
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- Restaurants
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- $
- Cuisine:
- Chinese
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At a Glance
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87% ambiance
“upstairs is more comfortable & ordering is quick (they do want turnover).”
100% drinks
“Where else can you order your takeout and be served a Tsing Tao beer on the house while you wait?”
85% food quality
“This is without a doubt the BEST Chinese food for the money.”
100% menu variety
“Price, taste, variety - like to eat chinese then you must go.”
100% overall
“would also say that this isnt the best place to go with more than 4 people and certainly not if you are looking for any ambiance.”
81% service
“The other places may have more space, better lighting, and nicer staff, but Wo Hop's has the best food.”
88% value
“The portions are HUGE and the prices are very, very reasonable!”
100% wait time
“upstairs is more comfortable & ordering is quick (they do want turnover).”
Write a Tip for
Wo Hop Restaurant
What Our Expert Scouts Say
November 28, 2012
Chinatown offers some of the most authentic regional food to be found in America. But you won't find it at Wo Hop, possibly the greatest remaining bastion of old-school, Cantonese-American working class food left in New York. Here still may be found the chow mein, lobster cantonese, spare ribs, and egg foo yung which defined Chinese food to four generations of New Yorkers. You can make that a fifth, as the young people still drink and get an urge late at night for the Chinese food of childhoods.
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Tips for Wo Hop Restaurant
May 26, 2012
If you like your Chinese food late at night with MSG and reckless abandon, then iconic Wo Hop could be for you. Try the scallion beef
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April 16, 2010
Still great after three decades.
I first went to Wo Hop as a young 20 something back in the early 80s. It was a favorite for a late night bite. I went back again last week when I took my kids to the City. They loved it. I still love it. I've never had bad food there. Always delicious. The chicken wings are awesome. My entree last week was pork with string beans. I couldn't eat enough. At some point I had to stop, but I didn't want to. My daughter raved about her chicken with French mushrooms.
The general ambiance would be characterized as "memento clutter". There are photographs, shirt patches, business cards and notes covering the walls. Some new, some old. It's always interesting.
There is a sign in the restaurant that says they've been there since 1938. Success lives on. It's a different, but great dining experience. I'll be back the next time I make it to NYC.
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August 24, 2009
Great Chinese at a Great Cost. Unbelievable Chinese food at an affordable price. The store is located in the heart of Chinatown on Mott St. Prices are equivalent to that of a McDonalds. Two can eat great food for just about $20.00. Highly recommended from someone who sees themselves as a conuesser of Chinese restaurants in the NY Metropolitan area.
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February 25, 2009
Wo Hop and Hop Kee, Best American Style Chinese Food in New York. (Downstairs Wo Hop only, not the upstairs one).
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".
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November 06, 2008
Worst Chinese Restaurant I've ever been.
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.
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September 09, 2008
Once and a life time experience, great environement and service.. Last Saturday night was my first experience at Wo Hop, and it definitely wont be my last. We ordered a ton of food and everything was amazing. I have been craving chicken kow in bb sauce. with a side of broad noodles since I have walked out of the restaurant. I was pretty much shoveling the food in my mouth with my hands. The food kept coming and the service was friendly and fast. I would recommend this place to anyone hands down. Anyone who wrote anything bad about this place needs to grow up. Wo Hop All Day!!!!
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June 19, 2008
TIP FRAUD. FOODS GOOD. BE CAREFUL USING A CREDIT/DEBIT CARD AS SERVERS TEND TO ADD EXTRA TIP AT THE END OF THE TRANSACTION.
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March 28, 2008
Already hooked! (This review is for the downstairs Wo Hop - 17 Mott Street). After hearing about Wo Hop from several friends I decided I had to check it out. At first I was disappointed by the cramped and almost dirty looking basement cafeteria, but after devouring my first fried dumpling I completely forgot about the lack of decor. As far as cheap Chinese food goes, Wo Hop is the best I've had in a long time. It's a great spot to go after partying because it's open very late at night. I've already had to return there after having an extreme Wo Hop craving at 4am.
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February 27, 2008
Best Chinese Food in Manhattan. I live on Upper West Side, and even though Wo Hop is so far away, I still go only there when I want some good Chinese food. They have the best fried dumplings and spare ribs, also they serve real big plates - all the food you can eat! Their service is fast, people there are friendly, and they have lots of visitors' pictures on the walls - that's something nice too.
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Wo Hop Restaurant
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