Wo Hop
When my friend told me to meet him at "wilhaupt" I was picturing this German place that served sausage. What's a German restaurant doing in Chinatown? Then as the cell phone message got clearer and he informed me of dumplings and cheap Chinese food, I noticed a sign that read "WO HOP." What we were about to experience was authentic Chinese food in the heart of Chinatown....
The entrance to the restaurant is down a narrow staircase..and the restaurant is about 12ft by 12ft...very tiny and cramped. This is why the line overflows up the staircase and around the corner, as if you're waiting in line opening night of the latest Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt/Jennifer Aniston flick. Luckily my friends had been in line and were now the next ones to be INSIDE the restaurant and next to be seated...
The menu is extensive, and going only once can't even do it justice. Just be sure to get the egg rolls, the pad thai (to die for), and some other noodle dishes I can't remember or pronounce. The turnover is quick, so don't plan on spending a long afternoon and catching up with friends you haven't seen in a while. But for great food or a break from shopping, check the HOP out.
The entrance to the restaurant is down a narrow staircase..and the restaurant is about 12ft by 12ft...very tiny and cramped. This is why the line overflows up the staircase and around the corner, as if you're waiting in line opening night of the latest Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt/Jennifer Aniston flick. Luckily my friends had been in line and were now the next ones to be INSIDE the restaurant and next to be seated...
The menu is extensive, and going only once can't even do it justice. Just be sure to get the egg rolls, the pad thai (to die for), and some other noodle dishes I can't remember or pronounce. The turnover is quick, so don't plan on spending a long afternoon and catching up with friends you haven't seen in a while. But for great food or a break from shopping, check the HOP out.
posted by Mona at 3:10 PM
4 Comments:
Try Wo Hop's Hot and Sour Soup. It's what I judge all other Hot and Sour Soups against and so far most don't measure up very well.
Been going there since '68 as an impoverished grad student when 80% of the patrons were chinese and the menu consisted of strips of paper written in chinese taped to the wall. The food's pretty good, inexpensive and comes in LARGE portions. The 24 x 7 operation doesn't hurt either. Cops & Firemen in full regalia (still damp from the most recent fire) regulary troop in for takeout. Lot's of badges from 9/11 workers on the wall. Good test of someone's NYC street smarts - they know about Wo Hop.
Hey Ed, thanks for commenting. You probably won't see my response but what the heck. It's funny reading my early early posts about restaurants. I barely give any info here! I have to go back to Wo Hop and give it another go :) I didn't realize it's a 24/7 operation. That is very good to know!
Oh lord. Wo Hop is the worst excuse for a Chinese restaurant there is. Just because there's a ton of Chinese people eating there doesn't mean it's good. There's a ton of "American" people eating at Olive Garden and Applebee's. Does that mean they serve great cuisine?
Try Cantoon Garden, Dim Sum Go Go, Amazing 66 or Great NY Noodletown for some decent Cantonese.
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