Wo Hop

Implied by the preceding two reviewers is that while the listing here is for the Wo Hop's @ street level (15 Mott Street), the reviews are actually for the sub-terrainean Wo Hop's @ 17 Mott, as is true also of mine. Cheap, fast, Americanized Chinese food here. Tons of atmosphere if you can take the long wait, practically guaranteed @ all hours. The quality of the food--hey, it's Asian peasant food tweaked for Occidentals. As long as your stomach isn't delicate and MSG is ok by you, you've got nothing to worry about. (link)

One of my best memories of New York is eating at Wo Hop at 4 a.m., after working till midnight and drinking till 3. My five cohorts and I staggered, lurched, and yelled our way into 17 Mott Street. The waiters didn't even raise an eyebrow. The six of us ordered Budweiser with our food, so our waiter loped over to a cooler, pulled out a six-pack, and tossed it onto our table! I don't remember what else I ordered, but the egg rolls were big enough to choke a horse.

Late at night, early in the morning and all through the day, Wo Hops has a crowd! Though there is a proper diningroom at street level, people line up and cram themselves into the cafeteria-style diningroom in the basement! 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it always crowded and serving the best Chinese food around. Make sure you buy a T-shirt when you visit (at $5, it is one of NY's cheapest souveniers).