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Home > Restaurants > WaWa Canteen

WaWa Canteen

289 Mercer St., New York, NY 10003
at Waverly Pl.  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-473-6162 Send to Phone

  • Price Range: $

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  • Reader Rating:

    7.0 out of 10

    1 Reviews | Write a Review

  • Cuisine: Korean
Photo by Shanna Ravindra

Hours

Mon-Fri, 11:30am-10pm; Sat-Sun, closed

Nearby Subway Stops

N, R, W at 8th St.-NYU

Prices

$4-$11

Payment Methods

American Express, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

  • Delivery
  • Lunch

Alcohol

  • Beer and Wine Only
  • Sake and Sojou

Reservations

Not Accepted

Delivery Area

Canal St. to 14th St., Bowery to Sixth Ave.

Profile

The light-tiled WaWa (Korean for “come, come”) is sleek and stylish, with molded chairs, pressed-wood tables, and leather-cushioned benches (one of the owners is an architect). But if your vision of Korean cuisine involves clothes-permeating barbecue smoke and rice that sizzles to a delectable crunch on the bottom of its too-hot-to-touch bowl, WaWa might come as something of a newfangled surprise. The food seems lighter and cleaner, leavened with a smattering of Asian-fusion touches. Which isn’t to say dumbed down—the kimchi stew with pork and vegetables still packs a satisfyingly spicy punch. The appetizers have a particular Japanese flair, especially the block of creamy tofu garnished with bonito flakes in a sesame sauce. WaWa’s bibimbop is basically a rice bowl with a profusion of leafy greens and cooked vegetables, still tasty even without the dish-defining rice crust. Counter service and a workable inventory of interchangeable ingredients keep prices very affordable, incentive enough for NYU students and budget-conscious locals, in search of spa food and Seoul food alike, to heed WaWa’s call and beat a path to its inconspicuous door.

 

Recommended Dishes

Kimchi stew, $7.50; tofu salad, $7; bibimbop, $8.50

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