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All Reader Reviews of...

Wo Hop

17 Mott St., New York, NY, 10013
nr. Mosco St.
212-962-8617

Avg. Rating

8
Food: 8
Service: 8
Décor: 5
"Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

75% would go back.

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Wo Hop is a MUST!

By farla.knight on 11/27/2012

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 5
  • Yes, I would go back!

This restaurant, located off of the beaten path, was phenomenal. You get a real feel for Chinatown, not just the commercial Canal Street where everyone is pushing and shoving. My dining companion and I had the exquisite won ton soup, steamed veggies, lo mein and pork fried rice. Everything was fabulous. The only thing that's a little odd is they serve hot tea in water glasses. The prices are very reasonable too. You must get there early. It's extremely cozy, meaning small. We were able to get right in, get a seat and eat. Great food!

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8 out of 15 people found this review helpful.

HOT & SOUR SOUP

By johnnykick on 9/24/2012

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

3 Words , Hot & Sour Soup... For the last 25 some odd yrs. of my life . I've tried with an open mind to find some place other than Wo's , that can even come close to their H&S soup. I've been to China town in San Fran., not even close. I'm sure there are some great restaurants out there coast 2 coast. I've found 1 that comes the closest, on staten island ,called the Mandarin House. Back to Chinatown in n.y.c. , for yrs , my cousin Vincent an I (still til' today) will battle back n forth about his favorite in Chinatown. it's on Bay yard... need I say more , I think not. Yes, I've also introduced my sons to the Wo Hop experience . It just wouldn't be fair , after hearing all the stories of the 3a.m.'s waiting in line to go "Down Stairs" into this famous HOLE IN THE WALL place.Not taking them there to see for themselves, would truly be WRONG . When I told them how big the Egg roles are they didn't believe me, my sons head almost came off when he did the "Double Take " as the waiter carried them over to the table. They are now members of the line standing Regulars. Oh yeah, I , like many others don't just go there for the soup. The whole menu is unbeatable . An, REMEMBER .... "DOWN STAIRS ALWAYS"

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8 out of 16 people found this review helpful.

The Best Lobster in Black Bean Sauce (Wo Hop Downstairs)

By solisjohnson on 6/13/2012

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 6
  • Yes, I would go back!

As a little girl we would meet my father at Wo Hop because he worked at the US Post Office on Canal St for 30 years. I remeber feeling excited about going there. It was definitely a family trip at leat twice a month. Now as an adult, I still go there but now with my family. We go at least once a month. I've been going there now for 45 years and their lobster in black beans sauce still taste amazing.

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11 out of 20 people found this review helpful.

Dont pass on Wo Hop

By mikeybibbs on 2/23/2012

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 6
  • Yes, I would go back!

The not so illustrious Wo Hop restaurant is more than meets the eye. With both an upstairs restaurant and a downstairs one, it seems as if the downstairs location is simply more favorable. Wo Hop is famously known for its lack of style, with walls covered with police and fire department badges, and pictures of C-list celebrities dominating the walls, the place gives off a distinguished feel of comfort. Try and get there early on Fridays and Saturdays, for the line emitting from the restaurant seems to be an imitation of the great wall itself. Aside from all this, the most important aspect of Wo Hop seems to be its simply mouth watering Chinese cuisine. I for one was a fan of the Shrimps covered in lobster sauce, which simply had me dying for more. The pan fried dumplings are not like the dumplings you have from your local chinese take-out. Oh no no no. These dumplings are the Rolls Royce of dumplings. One order simply may not be enough. As mentioned by other reviews, the food is delivered rather quickly and the waiters are all generous and friendly. So the next time your in China town and are craving some traditional chinese meal, make sure you give Wo Hop a visit.

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16 out of 28 people found this review helpful.

Wo Hop Downstairs Review

By erdrick123 on 2/17/2012

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 5
  • Yes, I would go back!

I've eaten here on and off since the '70's and find the fare to be simply delicious! You must try the pork won ton, which has no peer, and the pork chow fun is also very good.

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16 out of 30 people found this review helpful.

Simply The Best

By cholewa on 10/2/2011

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

As a little boy my father would often load me into the car and take me on adventures into NYC. Every trip, usually on Sundays, would end in one place, Wo Hop. I remember the excitement of going there for the first time at the age of four (one of my earliest memories). My father told me stories about his father taking him there when he was my age. When we arrived I was immediately afraid. There was a long line out the door with strange looking people huddled together. Once inside, my fear turned to terror. The place was underground, crowded, and the waiter had approximately three teeth in his mouth. When I questioned my father as to why we were there he reassured me and stated "it is simply the best". I have been making the pilgrimage there with friends and family ever since. My children now proclaim it their favorite when they bring friends for the food and experience. I have traveled the world and eaten in some of the finest restaurants but if I ever had a last meal request I would be hard pressed not to list Wo Hop at the top of my list. I am often in other cities for buisness purposes and when the conversation comes around to the best NYC food, Wo Hop is the first place I mention. Many times when I break into a soliloquy about the joys of their Wonton Soup or the glory of their Chow Fun, I am interupted by my colleagues who proudly declare "been there" and "simply the best". Under the category of Decor I've given Wo Hop a 10 because it wouldnt be the same any other way.

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27 out of 43 people found this review helpful.

the baest

By josephmiller on 8/7/2011

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

I have moved away from the area. I travel over an hour to come and eat at the Hop. love it. the place even looks like old Shanhai. As far as the staff, not bad, you get your food pretty quick. OK getting my 12 yr old up and going in for some Lupper.

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25 out of 53 people found this review helpful.

Wo Hop not just your average chinese restaurant

By jguagliardo22 on 2/13/2011

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 6
  • Yes, I would go back!

When you go to a restaurant you don't want to wait 20 minutes, especially when you already have an idea about what your getting. Wo Hop is a different experience then most restaurants. Don't let the line out the door and down the block at 10pm make you shy away from this place. It moves quickly and the food arrives on your table even quicker. The waiter's are ready to take your order and some if not all of your food will be on your table in 8 minutes or less (I've timed it). But, even if I had to wait 18 minutes, this food is absolutely mouth watering. The waiter's make sure you have you food in a timely fashion. Side note: don't bother learning the waiters' names because none of them have any, they are all assigned a number and that's all you see. The appearance of the place is covered in pictures of famous and also not so famous people, it is definitely a family restaurant. Anyone who loves Chinese food will think twice about ordering from somewhere else after having their favorite dish at Wo Hop.

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50 out of 97 people found this review helpful.

tasted the Hype

By ralphebalsamo on 1/20/2011

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 4
  • Yes, I would go back!

Well my friend Jimmy carried on like a school girl that this was the place in NY for chinese. We made the trip in to china town to see what the buzz was all about. The hot and sour soup terrific and did not have that goopy corn starch finish I normally taste in other restaurants. I ordered the Shrimp and walnuts. The dish was prepared well with a cream sauce that finished off the shrimp with a hint of lemon. We ordered some Steamed dumplings that were packed with a good amount of pork. The string bean and chicken dish was huge. the string beans were cooked perfect but the chicken tasted a little gamey and mealy for me sorry Jimmy. All in all an excellent choice and well wort the road trip into China Town.

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64 out of 112 people found this review helpful.

stop crying

By brandonlaner on 1/13/2011

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 2
  • Yes, I would go back!

for typical American style Chinese food it does not get better than this. Im guessing the bad reviews are from tourists who are used to the food they get at a mall. WO-HOP 3D!! Dingy, Downstairs, and Delicious. At a place this small and with its turnover, old, or stale food is almost impossible. If not for the fresh markets up and down the block they would be out of food by 5pm. Get a grip people. almost every dish is under 6 bucks and the portions are plenty. in 25 years i have never had one bad experience, and for the record fried rice is supposed to be brown. enjoy your food in a sectional plate while buying abercrombie, and dont choke on the samples' toothpick.

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64 out of 119 people found this review helpful.

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