Wo Hop

This is pretty authentic chinese food. Great experience. Some of the waiters are a little rough on the English but be sure you explain what you want and use Google translate if you must. Everything is made to order so be prepared to wait if it's busy. It's a small place with only 10 tables but it didn't seem to be very loud. I ate the Buddha's Delight for my main dish and it was without hesitation, the best I've ever had anywhere. The vegetables were 100% on point and bursting with flavor.

UPDATE: I thought that we were going to the ACTUAL WO HOP RESTAURANT. We were actually at THE WO HOP NEXT DOOR. Which is at 15 Mott st. THEY ARE DIFFERENT. Now I see why no one was hardly in the restaurant and they rushed to get us in the door and seated. SHAME ON WO HOP NEXT DOOR FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CUSTOMER WHO Don’t KNOW THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. ***Changed my review from 1-star. 1/12/26 @ 5pm So let me start off by saying that my parents use to take me here as a child to eat. This is the first time I have been back since childhood. I live in another state now, 10 hours away, but I am in NY this week visiting family and thought I would eat here to bring back good memories. The staff is very friendly, attentive and welcoming. The restaurant is very clean. I’m giving 1-stars because the food had no flavor. And I have a few other concerns. The food came out hot and fresh and looking great. But it was disappointing. Also, they are way overpriced for the quality of food you get and the lack of taste. I don’t mind paying more money if the food is good. But you’re better off to go to your local corner store Chinese restaurant for better food. Also, everything is A La carte. Lastly, it was strange that when they gave us our bill. They crossed out the TOTAL with a pen and wrote in and extra $10. That made no sense. We have no idea what the write-in fee was for. But maybe it was for the TIP??? And they did not do this to Everyone. It was like they targeted certain people, and added a tip/ fee to their bill. I think that they think that certain people will not leave tips, so they use a pen to write in the tip on the bill. We were going to tip anyway, so I kind of feel like they have dishonest/ discriminatory practices. It hurts that a place that brings back so many good childhood memories is now very questionable.

Upstairs vs. Downstairs? Now I’ve done both! ✅ On a previous NYC trip, I dined in the upstairs expansion for a more "authentic" menu, but this time it was all about the history. We headed down to the legendary basement at Wo Hop for that 1938, old-school vibe. We chatted in Cantonese with the wonderful staff, who confirmed the local secret: go upstairs for authentic Cantonese, but stay downstairs for the nostalgic "American-Chinese" classics. We decided to stay put in the basement! My husband even took charge and customized a dish that turned out absolutely yummy. 🥡🥢. I haven't seen fortune cookie in since I was little :). So fun! Being from Vancouver, I’m lucky to have access to world-class Chinese food, so I have high standards—but Wo Hop definitely holds its own for flavour and atmosphere. A must-visit for the history alone! Secretly, I wanted to dine here as I loved the show, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, where Midge Maisel and Lenny Bruce share a scene sitting at a booth with the American bills taped on the wall, like a wall paper.

They have a first floor and basement, we hit the basement. Staff friendly, they seem to have great system serving dishes, staff is friendly and efficient. Food was real good, comfort food went with egg foo young and squid. It was delicious, will go back and try other dishes. Can get real busy. Flavor was on point. Left very satisfied and full.

This is a legacy Chinatown basement spot with real history and an undeniably authentic setup. The underground, cash-only, no-frills environment sets expectations for something exceptional. Unfortunately, execution does not match the brand equity. Nostalgia carries this place further than the food does. Ambiance & Experience The basement location delivers on character. It feels gritty, old-school, and unapologetically local the kind of place that signals hidden gem potential. That atmosphere creates anticipation. The problem is that the food never capitalizes on it. Wonton Soup (Standout Item) This was the clear win. A proper wonton soup should feature a clean, savory broth with depth not greasy or over salted paired with delicate wrappers and well-seasoned pork filling that holds structure without being dense. The broth here was comforting and balanced, the wontons tender, and the overall dish felt intentional. If you order one thing, this is it. Fried Dumplings Serviceable but forgettable. Crisp exterior, acceptable filling, but nothing that differentiates it from dozens of better versions across the city. Chicken Chow Fun Underperformed. The dish lacked seasoning, and the chicken was dry and tough, suggesting overcooking or low-quality cuts. Chow fun should be smoky, savory, and cohesive. This version landed flat. Chicken Curry Another miss. The curry was muted and one-dimensional, with the same chewy chicken issue as the chow fun. The noodle base instead of rice further diluted the dish rather than enhancing it. No payoff here. Service, Pricing & Logistics Service was efficient and professional. Prices were reasonable given the location and portion sizes. Cash-only is worth noting but not a dealbreaker. Bottom Line 17 Wo Hop trades heavily on reputation and ambiance. While the wonton soup delivers, the main dishes fall short of expectations. This is a place to visit once for the experience not somewhere you prioritize for food quality alone.