May Wah Fast Food
Chinese restaurant · Little Italy ·

May Wah Fast Food

Chinese restaurant · Little Italy ·

Iconic Taiwanese comfort food: pork chop & chicken leg rice bowls

May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by Robert Sietsema/Eater NY
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null
May Wah Fast Food by null

Information

190 Hester St, New York, NY 10013 Get directions

$1–10

Order delivery
See Menu
payment cash only

Information

Static Map

190 Hester St, New York, NY 10013 Get directions

+1 212 925 6428
@maywaheats

$1–10 · Menu

Features

payment cash only
reservations

Last updated

Nov 30, 2025

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390,870 Postcards · 10,986 Cities

14 Exceptional Taiwanese Restaurants in NYC - Eater NY

"This modest carryout offers homestyle Taiwanese dishes: The black pepper pork chops are prodigal, massive, perfectly cooked so that they’re still moist, and drenched in an agreeable brown gravy. Thick, udon-like noodles are heaped with big beef chunks, with a wad of pickled mustard greens on top, in an exemplary version of the fabled beef noodles. Food is abundant and inexpensive." - Robert Sietsema

https://ny.eater.com/maps/best-taiwanese-food-nyc-brooklyn-queens-manhattan
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY
May Wah Fast Food
@davidcho
1,856 Postcards · 215 Cities

Pork chop

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May Wah Fast Food

Jenny L.

Google
Food was delicious, fast, packed & cheap!! 2 meals for $18, $1 extra for an egg each!! Cash only!! Fried pork chop & chicken leg were both sooooo yummy & still tastes the same after over 20+ years later!! Service was quick, friendly & excellent!! Lady even told me that if I can't find parking that she would be happy to bring it to the car!!! Definitely recommended!!! Thanks!!

Serena

Google
If you haven’t had May Wah Fast Food you haven’t have AUTHENTIC food in Chinatown. This is a no frills restaurant with quick and efficient service. The food, however, is DELICIOUS. Their chicken leg over rice is always perfectly cooked and marinated in the perfect umami to pair with the fluffy rice. I highly recommend anyone looking for a delicious and filling meal to check out May Wah as they’re such a Chinatown staple with over 30 years of business under their belt.

Chu L.

Google
If you're dining, go to the left side. Don't expect 5 star service, this isn't that type of place. The service isn't bad, it's just not that kind of place. The food is good overall. The pork chop over minced meat sauced rice with sour vegetables, it eats like Taiwanese style. It probably is, I didn't ask. It was pretty good. I would like the pork chop to to be breaded a little, but it is still tasty. For the price it can't be beat. The belle of the ball was actually the fried chicken leg. I really wasn't expecting it to be so tasty. The skin is so thin, and crispy while the meat tender. The right amount of salt and pepper. Don't let the decor fool you, May Wah is a hit, especially at it's prices

Rovik R.

Google
Grab and go only spot with a generous portion of food for between $8-10. Pork chop is huge and tasty, and goes well with the meat sauce and pickled vegetables. Tea egg is also a good accompaniment. Can get a bit messy.

Patt D.

Google
Chicken over rice came out in less than a minute. The sauce on it is kind of a gravy, with pickled vegetables. Add egg for $1. Solid

A L

Google
The restaurant has been around for at least 30 years as I've heard. I've been there many times the food is always consistent. And the service is quick and employees are nice. And the prices are reasonable. It's a rake out place but they took over the little store front next to it and created a little dine-in space.

J B

Google
Old school no frills fare with some good flavors. Had the pork chop over rice, and I have to say I was quite satisfied. The service was pretty quick, and the food was pretty good. Glad I crossed this place off my 'want to go' list

Jason Carlos C.

Google
This place is must-visit if you're in NYC, hidden hole in the wall. If you live here this is the kind of place you go out of your way to visit when you can. Pork chop over white rice for $7.50. Add an egg for a dollar. Can't beat that deal. Easy fast service, very clean and fresh food.
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Mely Y.

Yelp
Still my favorite hole in the wall, no frills, simplistic NY food spot. So glad they're still around with the ever changing Chinatown dynamics. Service is still quick and friendly even with their lines out the door. Food is still bangingggggg! Pork chop over rice with the sauce & steamed cabbage for the win! Add the egg too! Big portion, good enough to share for two.
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Chun M.

Yelp
We've been coming to May Wah, literally for decades. I even went to the elementary school across the street when May Wah first opened. It was always a good deal for lunch or don't-feel-like-cooking take-home dinner. But ballooning food prices has hit everybody hard. The Fried Pork Chop & Fried Chicken Leg over rice are now $8 each plus $1 to add a hard boiled tea egg. My son's pork chop was decent sized, but when I opened my take out container expecting a full chicken leg quarter like dozens of times before, all I got was a thigh! What happened to the drumstick?! How did I get an amputated chicken? Shrinkflation sucks!
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Emily C.

Yelp
This is one of my childhood comfort foods. The taste of the food and amount has not changed, and prices are still cheaper than a lof of places. I never sat in here to eat, always order for take out. Service is fast and its the typically Chinese places. Not the cleaners but the convenience and comfort of something familiar. The staff is a hit or miss, sometimes the lady who takes more order is nice, other times I am questioning if my Chinese was that bad. Haha. Must try if youre in Chinatown.
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Jenny L.

Yelp
Food was delicious, cheap, jammed packed!!! 2 meals for $18, normally $8 each but I added an egg each!! Pork chop & chicken leg over rice tastes like it was 20+ years ago!!! Definitely recommend!!! Yummy!!! Service was quick & friendly!!! Thanks!!
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rich c.

Yelp
Tried the chicken leg, pork chop, rice cakes, and shrimp dish. Stick with the chicken leg. The rest was only ok but the chicken leg was pretty awesome.
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Simon P.

Yelp
A classic, no frills eatery with two classic dishes - pork chop and chicken leg. Back in Hong Kong there are similar dishes around served on rice or spaghetti so this is really nostalgic. The chicken leg is juicy, crispy and seasoned well. Pork chop is a bit salty for me but it surely is flavorful. Not a fan of the marinated hard boiled egg. The herbal tea is a nice healthy drink to go with the lunch. At a price of $9 this is a really decent meal and would definitely go back!
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Sarah A.

Yelp
I've only gotten take out from here. Usually it's the chicken leg over rice. It's a big piece of juicy leg meat and together with the radish and sauce and rice just makes it the perfect bite. The place is small, dark and dingy, no seating. But they've been around forever and food tastes great. They are always quick to make my order during lunch time and the staff there are so nice.
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David H.

Yelp
I remember this being one of my family's takeout place back in the days when we used to have to drive to Chinatown for grocery shopping. It's been a few decades and it's still here! The establishment still look dumpy. The menu is a lot bigger, but to be honest, we have never order anything other than pork chops here, maybe chicken leg once. We had an underwhelming and unfulfilling noodle soup lunch at Noodle Village and were in need of more calories. On our way to our car we passed by Mai Wah. We had to try that signature pork chop rice box again, if not for nostalgic reason! The $7.50 Pork Chop Over Rice was ready in no time. It's as standard as it gets for lunchbox as I remembered, growing up in Taiwan - pork chop over rice and stir-fried cabbage, with pickled mustard green of course. It was satisfying. Pork chop is definitely better than the Taiwan Pork Chop House on Doyers St. Texture of rice could be better though. This is a reliable place for a grab and go quick meal.
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Mei C.

Yelp
3.5 Stars to be exact; Placed an ordered of Fried Rice and Fried Chicken leg; Waited about ten minutes for my ordered, it looked yummy and couldn't wait to devour this greasy meal. My yung-chow Fried rice was basically kind of bland; it felt lackluster a bit. The fried chicken was also lacking a bit of flavor as well; albeit it was deep fried and the meat was tender. My I should've ordered the popular fried pork-chop instead, but this time around it was just not hitting the mark for me. Will give this place another try next time
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Andrew K.

Yelp
No frills, simple options, quick service. We walked right in and received food within probably 2 minutes. Grabbed the pork chop over rice and this was really nice. Particularly enjoyed the sauce with the rice. And the price is great for the amount of food. I'm not sure where the seating featured in the pictures is because this place really is just counter service. Pleasant service.
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Shirley H.

Yelp
I'm not sure what else they have besides their famous fried pork chop and fried chicken. It really depends what protein is preferred. The cabbage and pickled mustard greens are tasty and matches so well with the rice (which is mushier), but goes well with the five spice sauce. Add a tea egg to get extra protein and texture. The service is super quick and more of an in and out place and can probably fit 2 people max at a time.
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Allen L.

Yelp
Finally made it back after all these years. Still looks the same inside. We use to eat here back when a chicken leg rice was $3.25 lol! It's a bit more than double that now but still pretty darn cheap in this economy. The chicken leg rice with extra gravy with an added egg still tastes as good as I remember!
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Sandy D.

Yelp
The new joints had too long of a queue, but luckily this local spot was both quick and had seating. There is a takeout area through one door and a dine-in through the other. The lady managing the place took our order and received our meals from next door. My Chicken Leg Over Rice w/ egg add-on came so fast. The leg was soft, tender, and lightly crisp to make for an addicting bite. The sauce slurry was unfortunately too salty, but at least the rice subsides that a bit. If you're looking for quick comforting food in the area, May Wah got you covered.
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Jeff D.

Yelp
Quick and fast service especially during the feast of San Genaro plus the order was made fresh

Akire L.

Yelp
Pork over rice!! Sooo good. The price, the portion and the flavoring amazing. Me encantó
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Ken W.

Yelp
May Wah Fast Food is officially my *favorite* hidden gem hole-in-the-wall within NYC Chinatown. The food is wildly delicious, the macros you can get I assume are great, and all at a wallet friendly price point. I have eaten here a handful of times now and always have to get the Pork over rice. The delicious fried pork is served with a generous portion of well cooked sticky white rice, some type of unexplainable savory gravy, green veggies for fiber, and pickled veggies all at less than $8. This is definitely enough to be a full meal. For 3 quarters I also add a soft boiled egg for extra protein, and if I'm extra hungry that day, I'll add an extra fried chicken leg for a few bucks and change. Looking forward to trying more things here, and would like to try the shrimp sometime. However it is hard for me to navigate away from the delicious pork entry.
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Christy Y.

Yelp
May Wah Fast Food is my go-to spot for a quick meal in Chinatown. My usual order is the chicken leg over rice with one tea egg and extra sauce, and it never disappoints. The chicken leg is always crispy on the outside and super tender inside. They give a good amount of rice, plus a side of vegetables, pickled cabbage, and their special sauce, which ties everything together. You can also add a tea egg for just 75 cents. Definitely worth it.
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Esther T.

Yelp
This place is an institution offering good cheap eats for ages. I've only had their chicken leg and pork chop over rice. They're both delicious. I do love the pork chop just a bit more so that's my go to. Absolutely love that gravy in there. I've never dined in, only gotten takeout. You really can't go wrong when you want something delicious and cheap. Highly recommend!
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Jackie S.

Yelp
great spot for a cheap and delicious meal. it's 7.75 for a filling and yummy bowl of noodles. the pork chop was a little dry but super flavorful. the sauce has pickled mustard greens so it's slightly tangy - i really like it. half of the shop is dine in and half of it is grab & go so it's convenient for whatever mood you're in.
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Cristopher R.

Yelp
Don't skip this small hole in the wall. Their rice bowls are on point. Communicating with them was a bit difficult and they don't take card so i had to order takeout from INSIDE the restaurant. If it weren't for those two things, this would get 5 stars.
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Ming C.

Yelp
May Wah Fast Food is a no-frills comfort food spot in Chinatown where you can get a whole meal for $7.50, plus an extra $0.75 for an egg. When you visit, you must get their iconic chicken leg over rice. & If you like it extra saucy like me, ask for extra sauce so you can mix it in with the rice. Left side entrance is for dining in, right side entrance is for takeout. We were in and out in under two minutes. We got their chicken leg over rice, with egg, a whole lot of sauce, cabbage, and pickled vegetables. The chicken is juicy, savory, and it slides right off the bone. Like the name suggests, May Wah Fast Food is somewhere you can pick up a quick, filling meal. This is nostalgic comfort food with generous portions. The price cannot be beat!
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Meng Z.

Yelp
Affordable and good! Got the pork chop over rice, Shanghai fried rice cake, fish ball soup, and a side of fried chicken legs and a side of eggs. Definitely a spot to get some quick dinner take out for a comfy meal.
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Qiongqiong M.

Yelp
Very mediocre food. My fav was the boiled veggies with meat sauce on the top. Service was meh. One waitress for the whole dining area. Food portion was fair for the price. I do with ~$8 you can get some really good food in Chinatown

David R.

Yelp
Food is amazing, very affordable prices. Nice staff. Small but amazing restaurant. Nice area.
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Ruby N.

Yelp
May Wah is my FAVORITE spot to go to whenever I'm craving something delicious and affordable. It's super quick and they have one entrance for people who want to dine in. The entrance next door is for takeouts. I usually get the iconic fried chicken leg over rice however, I've been loving their noodle soup with the chicken leg as well. They give complimentary tea and it's a nice spot to relax and get in a quick meal. The noodle soup is warm and you can select which noodle type you want. It comes with bean sprouts, and preserved vegetables. The chicken leg is savory, juicy, and crispy! Definitely check it out!
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Joe G.

Yelp
I was a little underwhelmed it was still good just not imo as good as other places near here. My specific order was beef over rice and it was good just not great.
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Jamie L.

Yelp
May Wah is another Chinatown classic, offering affordable eats and speedy service. While their fried pork chop over rice is a fan favorite, my personal pick is the fried chicken leg over rice. Perfectly seasoned with irresistibly crispy skin, it's an absolute delight. I love it!
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Alan N.

Yelp
Food still slaps. Delicious. The sauce seems a bit different. Doesn't seem as dark or the flavor as intense. Still a great Chinatown value though !
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Steven H.

Yelp
This place was the perfect hole in the wall spot for a quick bite. My friend brought me here and told me this was his childhood restaurant and that he came here everyday after school just for this chicken and rice. Definitely did not disappoint, I can honestly say that this was the best thing I ate in new York during my stay. Even though it may look very simple but it was definitely packed with flavor. You have to add the egg. When I entered I was greeted immediately and seated right away. We ordered promptly and the food came right out. I swear I was in and out in less than 20 minutes.
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Elaine W.

Yelp
The pork chop and fried rice here is delicious. Just be careful that the pork comes out flaming hot so if you don't leave it to cool for a hot second you'll probably burn yourself haha. Definitely a great place to stop by for a quick, cheap, and delicious lunch.

Calvin C.

Yelp
Have been going to May Wah since I was a little kid. Great value and the quality is still delicious. Must try!
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Charlie N.

Yelp
The food was very good! Similar to most places that have pork chop over rice but the difference is in the sauce! The other main difference is the size of the pork chop! They did not cheap on the protein for sure! Price was 7.50 pretty amazing for NYC pricing! Service was fast, I just pointed what I wanted and they had it out within 5 min or less. Ambiance can use a lot of work but if you're interested in cheap food that's is amazing and also a hidden ma and pa shop. I would recommend. Will probably come back to try other things on the menu and update on here!
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Sofyan S.

Yelp
Food (4/5): We got the #3 chicken leg over rice. It was pretty good but the chicken wasn't the most tender unfortunately. Also, the dish lacked some sauce and had too much rice. Service (3/5): Not the friendliest service but they got the food out fast. Ambiance (3/5): Basic shop that looks like an authentic place. It could be better maintained but gets the job done for pick up orders.
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Annie Y.

Yelp
It hurts me to give May Wah 3 stars. I was a regular patron about 15-20 years ago. We ate here all the time or do late night take-out. It was fast, affordable and delicious. I heard the original Taiwanese owner sold the business. I got the Chicken Leg Over Rice with add-on egg. This is one of their most popular item, besides the Pork Chop Over Rice. The sauce is overly salty and has been thicken by too much cornstarch or something. The chicken leg tasted okay but on the salty side. Perhaps my taste bud changed and matured. It's just not the same :-(
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Catherine Y.

Yelp
We stopped in on a early Saturday morning and picked up a whole bunch of takeout. I haven't been there for at least a decade. My sister insisted that the food is still delicious so I went with her. The servers were friendly and efficient. We got seven orders within minutes. I opted for the pork chop over rice and it was really really good. That meat sauce is delicious, you can eat it out of the container with a spoon. But driving all the way down to Chinatown good? Probably not. However, I will be tacking onto her order the next time she goes.
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Tiffany C.

Yelp
Just tried their beef over rice-- tender juicy and tasty! Somehow I never thought to try something other than their two staples. This definitely hit the spot and at $8.25 it's filling. FYI egg is an additional 0.75.
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albert c.

Yelp
4.5 half stars. Legit place. Sauce on the pork chop fried rice is a bit unusual but tasty. Never had sauce on such dish before. All this for $10!
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Nora W.

Yelp
Like the other patrons, stick with the chicken over rice and pork chop over rice. Delicious and generous portions. Hot. Ready. Delicious. Quick on a cold 36 degree night. Very kind people. No frills and cash only. Some say they are not polite. Smile and say "Thank you" and it does wonders. I also tip because with a mom-and-pop store, I want to support their survival of the pandemic challenges.
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Valentina D.

Yelp
We ended up here after the craziness of the lunar new year parade forced us to look to less obvious locations for a place to eat. This place is tiny (maybe 10 tables), but they are super fast so people move through very quickly. The menu was small but everything we ordered was tasty. Our friend got the shrimp noodle soup, my kids and I got the shrimp noodles pan fried, and my husband got the pork on rice. The best part was when we got the bill and 4 orders totaled only $32! What a deal! I'll definitely remember this place when I'm looking for a cheap eat!
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Alex B.

Yelp
tried 5 diff things on their menu to get a little overall feel of the place. the only item i didnt enjoy was the steamed vegetables in meat sauce, but it was all well made. the beef over rice was light on the beef, but expected for the price. next time ill ask for extra marinade/sauce from the beef to drench the rice a bit more to compensate. the fried chicken leg and pork chop were SO good. prices are low and the flavors are good.
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Sally l.

Yelp
Def cheap eats place. Can't ever go wrong with picking up a plate of chicken or pork chop over rice!
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Damon R.

Yelp
Enjoy the food! Will go again. The service was quick. The pork chop was tasty. The chicken are good.
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MA G.

Yelp
Good for the price, MWFF fills you up, there are better options for sure, but not this affordable & quick - be aware it is CASH ONLY! Go for the #PorkChopOverRice it's a solid bet & does not disappoint
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Helen M.

Yelp
Cheap, delicious, affordable Taiwanese food - mushrooms rice cakes - hot & sour soup the soup was ok more on the sour taste than spicy - fried chicken leg It all came out to be 14 bucks Nearby trains RQWJ6 to canal st Cash only Street parking Restrooms available for customers One side is for take out only and the other side for dine in.
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Tia K.

Yelp
BEST SPOT IN CHINATOWN & NYC!!!! Cash only!!This is a locals hot spot. Super cheap food. Super quick service and soooooo delicious. Pork chop with egg, veggies, & sauce over rice is $8.25!!! Hot and sour soup for $3!!! This place always hits the spot. Food is always hot, ready, and delicious. Workers are very sweet, and speak Cantonese & English. This a hole in the wall spot where you walk in & order to go. They also have a next door indoor seating area, or standing area with a bar outside if you want to eat outside. Don't forget your cash
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Jimmy N.

Yelp
Finally gave this place a try after my good friend that lives here highly recommended it. She said if you like the Taiwanese traditional pork chop over rice, this place is the go to! For $7 you can get either fried pork chop or fried chicken leg over rice, steamed cabbage, pickled veggies, and a whole egg ($.50 extra). She said TIP, always ask for EXTRA SAUCE. She wasn't kidding. Their sauce is so addicting. It's well seasoned. It's the perfect gravy over your rice. I can't believe this is only $7! I wish we had this back in Boston. Highly recommend this place for lunch if you work near by.
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Wen D.

Yelp
I am not Taiwanese and know nothing about the cuisine outside of May Wah but let me assure you - It is absolutely Fire. Portions for Lunch is awesome, not heavy. Add the Soy braised Egg. Add another Chicken Leg or Pork Chop. Have a seat next door if there is room, and bring your niece or nephew with you. Like a hamburger from McD or a Hot Dog, May Wah is a comfort food resto. Post Pandemic, i'm just glad the Doors are still open. TY

Albert L.

Yelp
Good quick and cheap bite! Pork chop was very tender and flavorful. The vegetables were a little too salty for my taste but overall good.

Judy W.

Yelp
Mah Wah is a NYC local secret. This little dive restaurant may have changed hands a few times in my 40 years of coming here but the recipes taste the same. When I started coming in my teens it was only a take out but not sure how long ago there is now a little sit in area. The food is pretty great and tasty. My favorite is the pork chop and rice but they have others. LOL when I use to work in MetLife building above Grand Central we use to order and they would deliver like 20 orders to us. It was great. And lastly the price is still moderately low. I want everyone to try it but hope they don't explode cause I want to be able to get my Pork chop rice when I have my craving. Thanks Mah Wah