Hwa Yuan Reviews

Chef Tang’s cooking is consistently delicious. I have been there since its inception and I have introduced all my clients, friends and families there ever since. I was there five times in one week at the beginning and all my guests enjoyed their experience there very much and returned there on their own. I also enjoy the service of the staff since I have known them for many years by now. The only thing is Chef Tang’s handpicked dinnerware with special design has shown ware and tear.

This was my go to restaurant in the early 80s before they closed. The cold noodles in sesame sauce was my favorite and it didn't disappoint. Great wonton soup and pork dumplings too. This made me very happy!

Found this place by accident as we were in the area and I found a parking space in front of the restaurant. With COVID I do not eat inside but it was 2 pm and no one was there. I thought the food was excellent. The chicken in garlic sauce was phenomenal. I do t eat dark meat chicken so they used only white. Very accommodating. Want to take my daughter who lives in the area when this nightmare is over.

This place is awesome. The food is unique. Like truly, EVERY dish has its own flavor and it's equally delicious. The chef even came out to our group (we're just some late 20s married folk) and talked to us, explaining his story and how he opened the restaurant, what is vision is for the food, etc. He's SO passionate about what he does and it clearly shows because the food is ABSOLUTELY delicious. Exactly like how Chinese food should be: clean and flavorful. Thank you Hwa Yuan staff for an incredible experience. If you're visiting NYC and looking for some good and authentic Chinese food, COME HERE!!!

Great place for a family gathering. We ordered the duck and noodles and vegetables. The service was good and food also.

My family enjoyed a big dinner at Hwa Yuan. The wonton w/chili sauce was a unanimous favorite. My favorite was the Kung Po chicken, which is rightfully noted to be one of there premiere dishes. The crispy tangy beef was excellent. The hot and sour soup, cold noodles, sizzling beef w/scallops were all above average items. The scallion pancakes, chicken lo mein, bok choi, and soup dumplings were very competent. I would definitely recommend a visit.

We were tempted in by the white tablecloths and the cleanliness of the place. We weren’t disappointed. Great wine list, lovely service and good quality food. With a bottle of $55 California Chardonnay, two appetisers and three mains with rice total price was $220. So expensive compared to other places in Chinatown but worth it.

Disappointed with meal as starters arrived after main course and staff had to be prompted as to where they had got to. One starter arrived at the point of asking for the bill and one mains arrived after the rest of the party had finished theirs. Staff took away coke bottles before they had been emptied. No sides were provided or suggested and this was a very expensive and seemingly chaotic meal.

We came here for lunch on a weekday afternoon. The multi floor space is beautiful, impressive decor and ambience. You can tell how much time and money was spent on the space. The place was mostly empty though. We did find the lunch menu to be more limited. We ordered the cold sesame noodle which was good but not amazing. Our favorite dish was the Chongxing Chicken (sp?), little bits of fried crispy chicken along with spicy peppers, really delicious and authentic. They didn't have the drunken chicken we'd read so much about. Worth a visit to enjoy the space and o/s customer service.

We place an order days in advance for The New Year and they cancelled it without apology or answering their phone or email. They ruined our celebration. Buyer beware

The worst customer experience ever. Food was served so rapidly with very aggressive waiter expecting us to finish fast enough so we could have our main almost immediately. He was pushing us to order more and more and was so unhappy with minimum tip, came back to us and started yelling. He practically overwrote the tip on the bill. We were with two kids and pretty scared that he would turn violent so we just left. When we received the transcript from Amex, the tip was larger then the bill itself. The guy practically ripped us off.

This is a gorgeous restaurant with delicious food and attentive and friendly wait staff The 4 of us ordered the $85 pre fixed dinner and was encouraged to "dine". We were there for several hours discovering each delicious new dish presented in a proper time, usually 2 at a time. I believe there must have been about 12 courses. The 4 of us left very full and felt that the quality and quantity of the food was a good value for the price. This is a gem

While restaurants are closed during the Covid19 pandemic some are providing food to go. Hwa Yuan is a gift. Their food is absolutely spectacular. I ordered their set meal through Resy and added their soup dumplings to the order. I picked it up in Chinatown and I was back home in 13 minutes. Fresh. Delicious. Great service. Can’t wait for them to reopen. We will be there in a flash.

The decor and and service are lovely. The food was disappointing. We had the cold sesame noodles which were not as seasoned as I expected followed by the crispy beef which consisted of slivers of beef deep fried with little taste. I felt like I was eating french fries without ketchup. The fish was seeped in oil and again not as tasty as I expected.

Cold sesame noodles (a specialty) were quite good. Peking duck (another specialty), although delicious, was small, carved slowly at table, and cold. The pancake wrappers were dry and old. A vegetable dish was all right but had a lot of stem. Silly fanciness—two pairs of chopsticks at each place, useless extra plates—didn’t make the place seem warm and friendly, neither did the formal, perfunctory service. The high prices were just not warranted.

Upon entering this enormously spacious four-story restaurant we were surprised to see that only three tables were taken on the second floor. We were nicely greeted and escorted to a table upstairs. The service was good. Enna did a very nice job, although, at times some of the servers were "unsure". We orderes Peking duck which was carved in front of us and was crispy and delicious. Our other favorite was a dish of succulent giant shrimp or prawns. We enjoyed the cold noodles and babay back ribs as well. The chef came out and told us with pride that he has his chefs prepare the sauces to order. The freshness of the dishes is quite apparent. We left, feeling more than satisfied and will most definitely be back.

Most Chinatown decor is not much nicer than diner quality and many restaurants do not get the A cleanliness rating. The pale grey tablecloths and banquettes, lovely wall coverings, fresh flowers on each table and pleasant lighting are a lovely contrast to Hwa Yuan’s competitors. The cold noodles with sesame sauce had great texture and delicious slightly spicy sauce. The “ snow pea shoots in broth” were fresh, slightly crisp and a little garlicky, which we liked, but there was no broth. So far everything was great. The Kung Pao baby potatoes were interesting but we probably would not order them again.The whole fish with hot bean sauce was just terrible..The mushy fish sat on a deep pool of oil, the sauce tasted of oil not beans. Service was friendly and polite. Read the bill here. They overcharged us vs, menu prices but quickly corrected when we pointed out the discrepancy. Chinatown is over due for a more upscale restaurant with nice decr, good servicea and terrific food. If Hwa Yuan improves their food this could be the restaurant to fill an unmet need.

Excellent food across the board. Standouts were crispy tangy beef appetizer, dry fried string beans, Peking (Beijing) duck. All standards were above average though—wonton soup, cold sesame noodles, dumplings. This place was a bit more expensive than most but the quality and pleasant more modern ambiance made up for it. There are other and better (and grimier) places for (cheaper) authentic Szechuan but for a special occasion meal this was very satisfying and I’m glad we chose it. Service was pretty poor but very friendly. Several dishes we didn’t order showed up, one dish we ordered never made it. But everyone was friendly and the place was clearly swamped for Xmas night so this may be an anomaly that I’ll overlook for now, but diners who fly into a rage when things are sloppy may want to pass.

After eating at the owner's other restaurant, Shorty Tang's, I wanted to check out the more formal Hwa Yuan. It was the perfect venue for my daughter's 21st birthday dinner, and we had a great time. The food was amazing, as was the excellent service! As a vegetarian, I ordered the cold sesame noodles (you HAVE to try those!), along with the tofu, various veggies, and bean curd string noodle salad. My daughter ordered the chicken for herself and shared my vegetarian dishes. The string beans are another of my favorites-- seasoned and cooked perfectly. The chef will also adjust the spice and/or "heat" to your taste (for example, I don't like a lot of "heat" in my seasoning, so they made it mild for me). They also have an extensive wine list. The staff was attentive and made sure our visit was enjoyable. We will definitely eat there again! Highly recommended.

No issues with the cordial greeting and friendly and generally efficient service. But, the food did not impress, especially given expectations arising from the recent Two Star NY Times review. Sesame noodles were at first considered bland but they did grow on us. Neither the whole fish with hot bean sauce nor Tang’s Amazing Spicy Wine Chicken were hot, spicy or amazing. In fact, a mis-delivered chicken with broccoli dish (ultimately comp’d by the house) was considerably better than the rather ordinary TASWC dish when it did arrive. Sorry, we would have loved to find a new “go to” place in Manhattan. Not tonight though.

We were regulars at the old place at 40 East Broadway (next door) in the 80s. So happy to see this place back! Cold noodles as good as ever, service is awesome and new items on the menu too. Strongly recommend!

Truly authentic, top-notch Chinese cuisine (not just Szechuan), with impeccable service, and incredible value. Pleasure to Asian as well as European / American palates. We had the Beijing duck, live fish in chili sauce (wasn't too spicy), their famous cold sesame noodle, foie gras, lamb, their flagship Szechuan noodles, refreshing sautéed vegetables,... One of the most memorable (if not THE most memorable) meals that my family and I have ever had!

We visited China Town and were looking for a Chinese restaurant and this certainly did not disappoint. The meal was absolutely delicious, very fresh and lots of flavour. The only unusual aspect was that the dishes were served as they were cooked, which meant that we were eating our appetisers with our main course, although this did not bother us as everything about the food here was really nice. Would definitely recommend this restaurant.

The previous incarnation of this restaurant was my favorite Chinese restaurant in NYC. Anytime a visitor came who wanted Chinese food - that was where we went. In the years it was closed, I never found a replacement! I am so glad that the original chef's son has reopened. Finally - the original sesame noodles are back!! And another appetizer, scallion pancakes, were perfect! I have had so many disappointments at other restaurants with these two dishes, but they were perfect here. Likewise the dry sauteed string beans and the dry sauteed tangy crispy beef. I look forward to coming back for dinner to try more of the entrees. And the restaurant itself is beautifully renovated and the service was great!

Food is terrific! Even with the large table, the attentive service made sure that our plates were never empty. Dishes seem to magically arrive and they just get more delicious. Known for years as a great restaurant, it is now the third generation on the floor with the second generation in the kitchen. If you have a moment, check out the special tank they have to make perfect duck. We enjoyed sharing and comparing every treat that came to the table including some very American desserts. Yes I will absolutely return to have the DUCK.

Good, mostly familiar Szechuan dishes. Sesame noodles and seafood are the best things on the menu. Service was excellent. You pay for the decor.

Wow The Peking Duck was as good or better than any ive ever had The "must try" dried crispy beef was a family favorite and the fish was super fresh And flavorful We had other courses: Cold sesame noodles Pan fried dumplings Soup etc Everything was very very good A friend had recommended this restaurant for an excellent chinese meal thats fairly straightforward but not a reataurant thats hip or has super inspired or themed decor and thats exactly what it was Glad we made it

According to the menu, Hwa Yuan has a Bib Gourmand. That is very well possible. Extensive menu and portions, high quality food that has a very delicate balance as to the spiciness. It is a bit spicy, but not too much. For instance the sprouts with chilli pepper. The restaurant itself is not particularly inviting. Efficient yet somewhat distant staff. I would surely recommend: the balance in the dishes is of very high quality.

We went for a family birthday celebration. The food was excellent but we were disturbed by the fact that when we had finished all of the pancakes which accompanied the Peking Duck, the empty steamer was whisked away; we assumed that more pancakes would be on their way as we had only finished about half of the Peking Duck. None came, so after about ten minutes we inquired if we could please have some more. We were asked how many we would like. We said “four” and after about ten more minutes the additional pancakes were served. In the meantime, the very delicious Peking Duck had gotten cold but there did not seem to be anything we could do about that… When the check came, we were a bit surprised to find that we were charged $1.50 per pancake. Give that the Peking Duck itself had cost $80, this seemed inappropriate but we were more troubled by the hiatus in our meal than the $6 charge. Furthermore, when we made the reservation on Resy, we were asked if we were celebrating a special occasion. I had indicated that we were celebrating a birthday. Other restaurants we have gone to generally acknowledge a special occasion with a small lagniappe—a scoop of sorbet with a cookie and a candle or something like that…in this case, no acknowledgement was made of my son’s birthday. Lastly, we felt that although the service of the older servers was very professional, the younger servers just stood there, doing basically nothing, and had no idea that we we had been trying to make eye contact with them for quite a while before the issue of the pancakes had been addressed. Clearly they had not been given proper training in this regard. In conclusion, while we would probably return, we would not order the Peking Duck again. Rather, we would try to order the dishes which the other guests ordered and discussed at length with the servers who seemed much more interested in pleasing Chinese-speaking patrons rather than ourselves.

We had 6 dishes and every single one was good. My favorite one was Australian sea bass that was steamed and then cooked in this sea of spices and the hot oil. I would highly recommend this dish. It is one of their specialty. I can't wait to eat there again. What a gem!

In the 1980's we ate at Hwa Yuan (then 40 East Broadway) all the time. It was great. This reincarnation with a chef who is relative of the original Chef Tang is a much larger and ritzier place. The food, however, is fabulous.

It all started many years ago when I was working as a temp paralegal at night. The conference room table in the huge law firm was filled with Chinese take-out containers, some plastic, filled with ice cold noodles and a sauce to put on. Tried it for the first time 30 plus years ago and went ever since (also recall a great soft shelled crab in brown Hunan sauce. Wept when it closed. Followed leads like an addict for places owned by ex employees that purportedly made the noodles the same. Fast forward to the present-when I found out it was reopened. This is much more upscale-no cold metal mixing bowls here. The dining room is quite beautifully decorated and everything is served and presented perfectly. The cold sesame noodles were, as advertised, and could serve as a "Madeline" for those times passed-we went from one order to three in a hurry-there were no leftovers. We had some other great dishes- do not pass up the Tiger Shrimp with Ginger Sauce-make sure you have rice for the sauce.The double sauteed sliced Pork was also quite good. Make your way-and enjoy the then and now.

Back in the long-ago 1960s, the Hwa Yuan Szechuan Inn at 40 East Broadway introduced cold sesame noodles to the United States. As one who had them there then, I can attest that they were terrific—as was everything else on the menu of that always busy restaurant. I was surprised and dismayed when it closed in the early 1980s, and even more surprised when it was recently reopened by the son of the original owner, and in the same place (nearly: it’s now at 42 East Broadway). This is the happiest possible comeback: the food is just as good if not better, a superb Peking duck has joined the menu (order it a day in advance or you may be out of luck), and there are many fresh additions to the original menu. Try, for instance, the tofu salad—cool, delicate, and infinitely more appealing than its name might suggest. And the Hwa Yuan has added a degree of elegance to its reincarnation: it has bespoke linen and chinaware, and a nice wine list. And it is the only Chinese restaurant I know where the friendly chef and owner will emerge from the kitchen to see how things are going. He will find that they are going very well indeed.

This is not an average restaurant, Chinese or otherwise. The “Greeter”, Victor, was charming and professional. The wait staff were competent and pleasant, and the vibe is serene and elegant. Decor is mono chromatic earth tones. Garish dragons are nowhere to be found. I have eaten Sichuan cuisine three times this month at different locations, this was by far the best. I particularly enjoyed the snow pea shoot dumplings. Be prepared, this sort of meal is not inexpensive, but for a top notch dinner it is certainly worth it.

One of the best Beijing Ducks I have eaten in my life, fresh, not excessively fatty, delicious taste! The restaurant is bright, the tables well spaced, the noise level reasonable, the welcome good. The dishes offered by this restaurant are all delicious, made with high quality products (duck, shrimp, chicken, etc.). There were 7 of us and everything we ate was perfect.

My wife and I went to Hwa Yuan regularly years ago. It was one of our favorite restaurants with truly distinctive dishes. We're thrilled that it has been revived. I'm sorry to say that it is very much not the same . . . but it is very good. The cold noodles are still delicious. It is much more upscale and some of the old classics are gone (bring back dried beef szechuan style and chicken with pine nuts). But it is really good. And a rare nice environment in Chinatown. Not what it used to be but I still highly recommend it. Service was very friendly and welcoming.

We were 6 people for dinner around 6 and we were seated upstairs in the square room to the right as you exit the stairs. There were 2 other groups, one quite large- 8 people, maybe. It was very loud and we could hear each other only when we spoke very loudly, bordering on yelling. The duck was very good, excellent. The accompanying wraps weren't hot. Not sure how it is priced elsewhere, but it is an expensive entree here, at $45 for half, $80 for whole. We ordered Kung Pao Chicken at $30- very small serving. The rest of the dishes were in the $30 category too, all quite small. The sesame noodles were delicious as was the Scallion pancake. Much less impressed with the vegetable fried rice.

We went to this restaurant with high expectations because of a favorable New York Times review earlier in the week. But although we limited ourselves to dishes the review had recommended, the dining experience was a big disappointment. Tang’s Amazing Spicy Wine Chicken was to our palate as bland as airplane food, the advertised spice and wine being indiscernible. The signature cold sesame noodles also lacked zing, prompting a head scratch as to why the review had elevated the dish to must-order status. Pan-fried dumplings were fine but indistinguishable from renditions available elsewhere. The one standout dish was the kung pao baby potatoes – toothsome baby potatoes that had been transformed into chestnut-like delicacies, surrounded by crunchy peanuts. Service at the restaurant was spotty, although to her credit our server did apologize for slowness, citing a large private party at the restaurant. An overlooked order of pan-fried dumplings morphed that dish into our “dessert.” As to Gewürztraminer transits from ice bucket to wine glass and back again, it was clear from the outset that we were on our own. While our harried server was friendly, the stony-faced gentlemen who checked us in and who later delivered our check was quite the opposite – no smiles, no greeting, no “thank you,” no “good-bye.” Verging on hostile. In a display of chutzpah that astonished even this jaded New Yorker, the restaurant bill’s pre-calculated tip “suggestions” ranged from a low of 20% (the cheapskate level, apparently) to a high of 30%. And these percentages had been applied to the gross amount inclusive of sales tax; when expressed as a percentage of the actual bill (without taxes), the highest suggested gratuity equated to an eye-popping 33%. Evidently the restaurant is betting that a subset of its customers will be clueless, insecure out-of-towners who will be snookered by these “guidelines” into leaving a ludicrously outsized tip. As a proud New Yorker, it pains me whenever I see sleazy tactics designed to fleece unsuspecting visitors to my city.

Second time here..very popular, good service, solid menu. The pluses - hot and sour soup was A+, crispy beef was spectacular, light not greasy, best in a long time, sesame noodles were solid, snow pea dumplings yummy, Peking duck was good, not great. Scallops with hot peppers was 5 delicious scallops over a ton of hot peppers - for $38 a bit pricey. Overall good creative dishes on the spicey side. No duck sauce or hot mustard which is a good sign.

My family and I went here last night and could not have been happier! We had the cold sesame noodles to start which were by far the best I have ever had. Then the Peking duck, which was absolute perfection. We also had the snow pea leaves in broth which was also perfectly prepared. The service was very good and attentive. The owner was warm and gracious and came to our table to see how we enjoyed the meal and told us about the restaurants history and his family. After we finished the meal they sent a complimentary lovely fresh mango pudding which was a perfect compliment to our meal. My wife and daughters loved everything, and we all highly recommend this restaurant, it is a little pricier then some in Chinatown but in my opinion well worth the difference. We will certainly be back, and very soon!!

No frills tasty food. I especially enjoyed the cold sesame noodles but the dry sautéed crispy tangy beef was very unique and tasty too. Wonton with chili sauce my least favorite dish and I liked it too.

We have eaten here several times in the past, but not for some time, and it seems that the standards have dropped. We've had such lovely experiences before! This meal produced a very mixed result, but was sad in the end. First, they have always had lovely plates, but several had very big chips on them but were used in service anyway. On the food front, the Dry Sauteed Tangy Crispy Beef was tasty as always, although I swear the portion was smaller, but the Pan Fried Pork Dumpling filling was clunky and didn't have much flavor. The Dry Sauteed String Beans were wonderful (we ordered them without the pork). But the massive disappointment was the Peking Duck, (which they call "Beijing Duck"). We've had this on each previous occasion and were very upset this time. First of all, the duck, while extremely tasty, was cut in much thicker pieces than usual, making it harder to eat. And the cucumbers and asian pear were sliced in thick, clunky pieces. All of the vegetables had obviously been cut long before being delivered to the table as they were dry and wilting and the asian pear was brown. Finally, and worst, were the pancakes. Pancakes for Peking Duck are usually hot, thin, moist and very stretchy, making is easy to wrap up all the wonderful duck, crispy skin, vegetables and hoisin sauce. And that is how they have always been at Hwa Yuan in the past. But today they were thick, cold, floury and dry as a bone. And when we sent them back (waiting while our duck got cold) they brought another batch that were obviously not fresh. They had just put steam on the old ones, hardening all the edges. Then, to add insult to injury, they tried to convince us that it was just a different chef's style of cooking! Unbelieveable! In the end they brought us some buns instead (which were soft, pillowy and hot - wonderful replacement), but it never should have come to that. And I really didn't appreciate the repeated efforts they made to make excuses for the pancakes and the old vegetables. Just fix the problem with courtesy and as much speed as possible. We weren't rude about our complaints, but we were firm. After all, we know how good it usually is at Hwa Yuan! To apologize they gave us a free piece of cheesecake. Hmmm. Not sure we'll go back.

Great meal and wonderful service. Peking duck awesome, noodles with duck and pork snow pea buns also excellent.

On a rainy night, we met up with friends who had been to Hwa Yuan before, and they suggested we meet for a Beijing Duck dinner. With that great suggestion, we went to Hwa Yuan for a delightful dinner of absolutely perfectly prepared food. We enjoyed the duck, with rice pancakes, sautéed string beans, sesame noodles, and beef. The evening special addition were the staff-(special note for Alice)--- from the moment we walked in, till our last step out, people truly went out of their way with care and attention. We even had the pleasure of meeting Chef Tang who quickly revealed his passion for his culinary endeavors. We will most definitely go back! Could not have been better!

An elegant restaurant with good, attentive staff, and a menu that is sufficiently extensive without being overbroad. The restaurant is famous for its cold sesame noodles and deservedly so. They are delicious. You should certainly order them as an appetizer. The hot dumplings (snow pea sprouts dumpling; pork soup dumpling - xiao long bao) were pleasant bit not extraordinary. Grilled baby squid was spicy enough to be interesting but the texture would have been more interesting if actually grilled. The dry sauteed crispy beef was really excellent and one of our top choices. The Peking Duck was OK but not the best I've had. A bit too fatty in parts but generally OK. Adequate but not exciting. Chinese eggplant with garlic was enjoyable as was Tang's Amazing Tofu, which did have a lovely silky tofu and very full flavor. Hunan chicken was enjoyable and can be recommended. The wine list offers a number of sakes at somewhat steep prices. Combined with po lei or pu ehr tea, the sake can be a very pleasant accompaniment to the food.

The freshest most delicious fried rice and noodle dishes. On the pricey side but it’s well worth it. Our servers were all fantastic.

This restaurant caters to mostly non-Chinese so that sort of gives you an idea about the food... The Duck, 7/10. The skin was a bit under cooked and unfortunately the very important pancakes were dry and floury. The condiments of cucumbers, scallions was pretty lame. The price... way on the high side. The appetizers were very good. The dishes were refreshing and well made. The entrees... 5/10 at best. All dishes were fairly bland. The ma-po tofu was so-so. The pork belly was just poorly made, flat out but the shrimp was ok but for the price, it better be. The service was very good but if you want real Peking Duck in Chinatown, NYC, we are still looking... The Peking Duck House on Mott was also a bit disappointing the last time we went. I think these Duck restaurants started to cater to mostly tourists so prices go up and when the locals don't go, then the quality goes down. Not sure, can't figure it out...

My first time here and I have to say it’s probably the best Chinese food I’ve ever had. Service was tops!!!!

Was in town from DC for a birthday weekend. My friend wanted to have Peking Duck for dinner. So we found Hwa Yuan that would serve half duck.We had homemade wonton with chili sauce, the cold dressed black fungus with Frisee and the Pear with Chicken soup as appetizers. Then Half Peking duck and a Whole fish with hot bean sauce. The bean sauce was exceptional tasty and yummy. The food was delicious. No MSG! The attentive service, the beautiful decor and ambiance gave you good appetite too. The chinaware is pretty. We really enjoyed the food and the place. I highly recommended it. Of course one can have Chinese dinner for half of the price somewhere else or even less but not the same kind of food. I'm from Hong Kong so I know what is good Chinese food!!

Terrible service and poor quality food. The only positive is that portion sizes are large. Other than that I was extremely disappointed. Vegetable dishes were poorly seasoned. Service was not helpful when trying to edit dishes (adding ingredients on the menu, and taking away ingredient to accommodate for dietary requirements)

As soon as you enter Hwa Yuan, you'll know that this is not your 'usual' Chinatown restaurant. The restaurant is comfortable, spacious (again, not your usual Chinatown restaurant) and beautiful with classy and clean decor. We were seated upstairs. Service was attentive and friendly. Server was knowledgeable about the menu, and would take time to check/confirm with the kitchen as one of us has severe peanut allergy. Peking duck is the reason you come to Hwa Yuan: I would say it's even better than DaDong's (and I've been to DaDong three times now)....and ofc, much cheaper. Wine list has a good selection of very reasonable bottles. Other dishes: xiao-lung bao, lamb chops, whole fish with hot bean sauce, Dry Sauteed Fresh Shrimp with Chili Pepper are equally good. At one point, chef came out himself and talked enthusiastically about how his dry sauteed shrimp was sourced from China (you know food must be good when chef takes so much pride in describing sourcing of his dishes!) Will be back!

No one out does Chen Lee Tang when it comes to inovating and yet authentic Chinese cooking.Try Kumpao chicken made with dark meat only with out intruding vegitables..or splurge and get a large lobster out od the shell with fingee and scalliona. You will be amazed. Wine rivals some of the best in the city.

We enjoyed our meal at Hwa Yuan. We shared the cold sesame noodles and the crispy beef; along with the pork belly entree. All were very good. My main comment is that we wished that the pork belly came with more vegetables, it came with only 4 small pieces of bok choy. For the large portion of pork belly, it simply was not enough. The ambiance of the restaurant is amazing! A very beautiful space. The wait staff was very attentive, and for us they did not hover over us. We arrived at just the right time; we were able to secure a table without reservations, food served promptly, and then we were on our way. We would recommend this restaurant to others; yet as we continue to try other restaurants in the area, not sure we would return. There's a lot of great restaurants in New York!

New incarnation of famous Chinese restaurant that helped popularize cold sesame noodles. Their version is terrific. Also liked the whole fish with spicy bean sauce and pea shoots with garlic

Outstanding venue, service and food. Host David and Chef Chen Lien Tang most gracious. Lovely atmosphere, impeccable surroundings, a high end experience all around. Peking Duck, prawns grand marnier, tangy crispy beef, soup dumplings - all excellent. Friendly staff ensures lovely dining experience. Highly recommend.

Possibly the best restaurant in NYC Chinatown Very nice decor, ambience and setup Food was freshly cooked and of very good quality Go for the Peking Duck after some appetizers / soups

Amazing Peking duck was the highlight! We enjoyed a delicious meal of green pea shoot dumplings, spicy beef, fried baby squid, whole duckling with pancakes and plum sauce, duck soup and a crisp white wine,

Everything we had for lunch on a Sunday was FLAWLESS. Cold sesame noodles, xiao long bao, dry sautéed crispy tangy beef, hot and sour soup, and wine chicken!!! Super Friendly and attentive service and a great room... the kind of place it’s a problem to live too close to...

Three of us went here because the cold sesame noodles were said to be the best in New York. They were the worst cold sesame noodles I've ever had. The pasta was incredibly soft and the sauce basically tasted of soy, so boring. There was no hint of sesame oil, garlic, peanuts, or any green garnish. The shrimp dim sum had tough rubbery dumpling dough. Chicken with Chinese broccoli was a meager portion with the chicken pieces floating in oil. There was no other taste, simply chicken, broccoli and oil. The Szichuan eggplant also lacked flavor, not even a hint of spice. The waiters are hovering and trying to sell you Beijing duck or additions to your order. We didn't finish our food and were asked if we'd like to take the leftovers. We told the waiter that we didn't like the food because everything was very bland. He laughed and said he would remove the eggplant from the check. I think we got a different menu from the Asian diners. There is a star on the menu with the words Michelin guide. Being in the Michelin guide does not mean you have a Michelin star. In addition to the blah food, the prices are high for Chinatown. This place is a hoax. I felt ripped off when I left. It's the worst Chinese restaurant I've ever been to in NY.

Great food and people. We loved every meal we ordered but the duck and the crispy beef are must try when at the Resturant. We enjoyed the wonderful team work. Clean and pleasant atmosphere. Many smily faces as you walk in to the Resturant.

Little did we know what a food experience we would encounter when walking into Hwa Yuan. We had tried to do some research before heading to Chinatown on the sea of restaurants. This one seemed to have good reviews so we gave it a go. When we arrived outside the restaurant, it looked very quiet (although it was only about 6pm) so we hesitated entering. That was foolish on our part! Upon entering, we felt a little under-dressed, it's quite plush - especially compared to most other places in Chinatown. I would avoid trainers/shorts/tracksuit bottoms in here. Smart jeans are acceptable. We were seated at the back of the restaurant in a separate area, the atmosphere in the room was relaxed, but the service was very formal - a little over the top in my opinion. However if you like silver-service then you'll love it. Great choice of dishes on the menu - it is expensive for the area, but you get what you pay for. The baby-back ribs & crispy beef were insanely nice! The portion sizes were big for starters, but we finished them (too nice not to). The Peking Duck is expensive (compared to the UK), but it is 100% worth it. I would go as far to say it is one of, if not, the best duck I have ever tasted! juicy, with a little crisp and so tender - exquisite! The servers were very helpful when asked for recommendations. Although it did feel like they were almost suggesting how I should eat my meal which was a little off-putting. Overall this was one of the best meals we had in NYC and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great Chinese restaurant in Chinatown!!

We ended up with too many dishes, at the encouragement of the waiter. We ordered the Beijing Duck, Crispy Beef and Hot & Sour Soup for two people, and he advised that we didn't have enough dishes, and encouraged us to order 2 more. It ended up being way too much food for just two people, which was wasted since we couldn't take it with us. Crispy beef was excellent. Tangs Amazing chicken was so-so. Beijing Duck was good.

I do not know Too many questions Tell the best, the worst and the rest Imagine that you are telling your friends about your experience Add some tips and recommendations

Amazing cold sesame noodles! Service was top notch! Couldn’t ask for a better dining experience! The prices were very reasonable! Walk from the subway leaves you feeling a little sketched out, but man o man walking through china town at night was absolutely beautiful on the way back!!

The place is beautifully decorated and the place setting are quite elegant. However, given the pedigree of this restaurant, the food was very disappointing. Menu was a hodgepodge of dishes from classic Szechuan to Cantonese to Peking and even to western cuisine. Our food was of acceptable quality but definitely not up to the hype and the price. The most insulting was the $10 for a pot of very nondescript jasmine tea, very nice pot but a tea bag??? The final straw was the loud shouting emanating from the kitchen.

We had gone to this restaurant in the early 80's, when it was very nice but not fancy. It is now REALLY fancy. The food is fabulous, but it is much more expensive than when I was younger. Phenomenal food, very friendly service.

Mixed review, restaurant clean. One of the very expensive cooktails (20 dollars) for a minimum dose of alcohol and very quickly made. The dishes are good but not exceptional as shown on many sites. We can find much better and for less, everything is excessive. The friendly staff but FAR too present, we were two friends who had not seen each other for 8 years, we tried to talk but the staff came every 5 min to check that it was okay but also rid a plate or a napkin as soon as it was used, a little annoying (on a 2h meal can be a 15/20 interventions from them). On the contrary everything is very clean from the dishes, to the kitchen through the toilet. Once the payment is expected to 18% tips MANDATORY (I know it is a common thing in the usa but rarely a minimum mandatory).

The people at this restaurant seems not reliable. I was tricked when I used my bank card. Gave tip and thanks for that, they tricked me on the triple amount. So beware of the thieves, moreover, the food is not worth the price.

This restaurant should be considered a fine dining option. My friend and I ordered the cold noodles with peanut butter sauce and prawn with scallion and garlic. Food was very delicious. Waiters and manager were very kind. As of March 2018, phone and Internet services weren't available due to a technical problem in the entire neighborhood. Guests may only need to walk in without a prior reservation.

The Infatuation website came out with its list of best restaurants in Chinatown today and after reading through all of the potential choices, i decided to go for “the absolute best.” The absolute best comes with a high price tag (for Chinese food) and i will admit that my expectations were instantly raised. I decided to have it delivered from postmates since it was raining and i was being enormously lazy. There is something about Chinese food being delivered on a rainy day in New York that makes me love living in this city, but this time the price i paid for that laziness left me with a bitter taste in my mouth and no matter how much i tried to like the food i just couldn’t muster up much enthusiasm. I ordered food at 5:15 and was promised delivery by 7:00. By 7:35, i felt like a rabid dog and called the restaurant asking where my food was. The woman on the phone was outraged that i was mad even after I explained that I had just paid about $40 in fees and taxes and had ordered almost 3 hours ago. Ultimately, she disclaimed any knowledge of these fees and told me it simply wasnt her problem. She repeatedly stated that the food would be there soon. We definitely were not off to a good start with this dinner. The food finally arrived at about 7:50 and between the food and the tip for the delivery person we had reached a whopping bill of $130.00. Here’s what we ordered: Cold Sesame Noodles, Fried Dumplings, Half order of Peking Duck, Dry Crispy Beef and Fried Rice. I have paid a lot for meals in New York, and granted the food only totaled $88.00, which is probably too much for Chinese food, but at $130.00 this one just seemed insulting. As for the review of the food, the Peking duck was admittedly delicious, it truly was, although I’m not sure that I haven’t had that same delicious duck in many other places in Chinatown. It was old school and a taste that was familiar to me, and i will eat it again and again in a ton of places, but probably never again here. The dry beef was interesting, very crispy, more like a sweet coated beef jerky, but nonetheless it was tasty. As for the cold sesame noodles, I don’t know who at the infatuation website wrote that article, but i have to disagree, there is a world of sesame noodle out there that is much, much better. I can say the same for the fried dumpling as well, which was simply nothing special. The fried rice wasnt fried, which was good since this place doesnt give you white rice with your $130 order, the only thing remarkable about it was that it had a few quality shrimp in it otherwise it tasted like plain white rice with egg. For a restaurant that is trying to reinvent its image i was shocked that they couldn’t care less if they had delivery problems or how much you pay to get their food. I think for the level they are at they should at least look into who they are partnering with. Ultimately i will never know who charged all of the fees associated with this meal, but i am done with postmates and Hwa Yuan. Had this delivery issue not occurred with this restaurant would i have thought more kindly about the food? Probably not, Chinese food from New York’s Chinatown is so good in so many venues and i can pay half the price for it anywhere else. While i admit it may have been a better idea to go enjoy the service in the restaurant and maybe that would have made the high prices more palatable, but ultimately the meal just wasnt that good. Save your money, go find Peking duck at some of the great, no-frills restaurants in Chinatown and enjoy that old time taste that made New York’s Chinatown so famous. For me, i will leave this place to the rich people who don’t care if the value of a meal is commensurate with what they pay.

This is just high quality food and I'm guessing only available for delivery due to the sad state of pandemic. Get it while you can. Awesome soup dumplings that held together without having a grossly thick wrapper. Great wine chicken. The best sesame noodles. Thank you for continuing to serve delicious food!

Went for super quick lunch prior to catching a flight with 2 children. Loved the food.Kid friendly. Expensive but very nice . Had scallops with mushrooms and the kids had chicken lo mein. Super clean . The kids spilled juice over the table. They were nice about it.

Hwa Yuan was our favorite Chinese restaurant in the early 70,s when we lived in Manhatten. A few years ago we noticed it had reopened as a more upscale version of itself. So when we were in to catch a matinee in early oct we decided to see if the food was still wonderful---and it was! Great cold noodles,great dried sauteed green beans,great soup dumplings,great tiger shrimp. We loved it as much as we had almost 50 years ago!!!

Quasi NORMAL Staff still in masks. Hopefully by choice and not being forced. Did a business dinner with 4 very full tables upstairs. They accommodated us nicely. We did so many courses. Everything was amazing. They even sliced duck table side. Great Chinatown experience.

Unfriendly hostess , waiters Waited half an hour for water Waited half an hour for plain jasmine rice after the mains arrived- no apologies offered No one came to ask how the meal was We were very happy to leave and can safely say this was the worst dining experience ever

We never experienced service like it, it wasn’t lacking, it was overkill. The food was good, I’m not in the habit of writing bad reviews but this was exceptionally bad, so bad we just laughed & laughed.. again the food was good but the staff never left us alone! Arms/elbows were coming in left right & literally centre.. and they were pushy about what to order ... but genuinely not worth is. The most surreal part of the night was the fact that it was obscenely expensive & the staff couldn’t give a damn.

We visited Hwa Yuan Szechuan as a family of four, including two adults and two children. I requested that they put together a menu for us. Instead, we were served enough food for eight adults, not for a family with children. The duck was not tasty, clearly overcooked long ago and just reheated. It was served in a way that scared and upset our children, which is not how it should be done. The service was poor, and the staff's English was not good. In a half-empty restaurant, we were seated under the air conditioner and close to the toilets, despite there being many nicer tables available. We stayed for half an hour, paid an exorbitant amount, and ended up going to McDonald's. They need to improve their English and customer satisfaction. It is not logical to serve such a large amount of food to a family with two children. This approach might bring short-term profit, but they have lost us as customers forever.

For a restaurant with this kind of "history" eating here is a disappointment. Yes, the cold sesame noodles are good but they are just as good in other Asian places in New York and much cheaper. Tea is just tea and not worth $10 a pot. Peking duck or "Beijing" duck as called here, is not the best by far and most expensive. Also a hodgepodge of several Chinese regional dishes. Bottom line: not worth the fanfare.

We have enjoyed Hwa Yuan in the past, but this evening was a much less enjoyable experience. It was Christmas, but if you accept reservations, you should honor them. We arrived at the restaurant to find a long line out the door of other people who also had reservations. It turned out it didn't matter if you did or not since when you got the the head of the line, which took 30 minutes, no one asked if you had a reservation. Once we finally got seated, it was better, but it wasn't up to their usual standards. Most of the food was pretty good, although $20 for four small spare ribs is a bit much. We didn't think the Peking duck was as good as usual and the carving of the duck was atrocious. Most pieces were way too large and it was generally sloppy. Our waiter was also a bit surly. I don't know what service and food would be like when not so busy, but I probably will not be back to find out.

... but a number of issues are obstacles. If you want to eat the best cold noodles of your life, by all means, come here. But know the portion is relatively small for $12, and other items, as well, are priced through the roof. $10 for a pot of jasmine tea. Really? And the check comes complete with calculations for 20/25/30% tip on food, drink — and TAX. Tacky.

The real deal! The food is as good or better than ever. Great service. Yummy duck, eggplant, and sesame noodles. Can't wait to go again!

Hwa Yuan is a fine dining restaurant in Chinatown. Located on East Broadway, there are three levels. The rooms are beautifully laid out with tables covered in white tablecloths, fine china, glassware and paintings. On entering a hostess greets customers. The wait staff are very polite and knowledgeable about the cuisine. Whenever I dream of Hwa Yuan, I imagine a glistening duck being presented by a server which is then carved tableside. A plate of crispy melt-in-your-mouth skin and another of tender aromatic slices of duck are placed on the table. Hwa Yuan is celebrated for Beijing Duck and also for top notch Sichuan cuisine. Chef Chen Lien Tang is the son of the renown Chef Tommy Tang who helmed Hwa Yuan in the 80s. It has now been brought back and has had excellent reviews. In five visits including my birthday dinner, I have enjoyed sampling different dishes. The cold noodles with sesame sauce is mouthwatering and much better than at other restaurants. Dry sautéed tangy crispy beef is memorably addictive. Pan fried dumplings are tasty. Ordering half ($35) or a whole duck ($65) is more reasonable compared to the one at Da Dong and far tastier. With half the duck, it is best to pace oneself with accompanying dishes otherwise it is easy to overdo it. Scallion pancakes are also tasty. On the other hand, the spinach with sheets of bean curd was a touch watery and the Kung Po Baby Mix potato dish, though unusual, had far too many chillies to be edible. The soup dumplings were too doughy. Being a fine dining restaurant the prices are on the high side. There is an elevator that can take customers up and down. There are two restrooms on the second floor. The music is not too loud. Reservations can be made via Resy.com. This is the one restaurant that I dream about going to every week but then I would need well padded pockets! Highly recommended!

The worst Beijing duck we've ever tasted. Came for her and were very disappointed. The meat is tough, the skin is completely uncharacteristic of Beijing duck, fried and more like deep fried. The tortillas are worth mentioning: thick, uneven in thickness, unbaked/steamed (you can see pieces of flour). The first time we didn't finish, we took the leftovers with us and left them outside the restaurant door in the trash. Valuations are clearly purchased. We don't advise anyone.

Last Friday we held my wife’s birthday party at Hwa Yuan Szechuan in China Town. I was simply amazed ! To start we ordered the Beijing (Peking) duck for the table. This is a sight to see and a real delight to eat. After the presentation to our group the waiter took the plate and carved it for us table side. What a pleasure to enjoy with a group. We ordered a large number of assorted dishes and shared everything around the table. My wife and I came from our hotel in a cab and that saved a lot of time. Family came by car and found parking nearby. Friends came by train and that also worked well. Our friend brought a beautiful cake from a French bakery that was enjoyed by all. As we prepared to leave the owner brought out a bottle of cold sake and everyone enjoyed multiple shots. What a terrific surprise! I will always remember the whole restaurant singing to my wife. A birthday to remember. Pricing was extremely fair and the service was extra special. I highly recommend Hwa Yuan Szechuan. We will certainly be returning when we visit Manhattan. A real find. Many thanks to the entire staff and the generous owner.

Hands down the best cold sesame noodles on the planet. The family has re-opened after 30 years - and yes they still serve the best cold sesame noodles noodles on the planet. Will make this a must whenever in NYC.

Like everyone else in NYC, we'd heard about the resurrection of this restaurant, especially the cold sesame noodles. Getting a reservation was no issue and it was actually quite quiet when we visited (Tuesday night at 7pm). We ordered the "greatest hits" dishes we'd heard about in the various reviews and they were all excellent. As others have noted, it's not your typical shotgun blast of searing chili heat but a more balanced palate of flavors, though some dishes are fairly spicy (the fish, the Hunan chicken). At the end of the meal, the owner and head chef, Chen Lien Tang, came by our table to ask how thing were. Unprompted, he decided that we needed to try his Suzhou noodles, so he went back to the kitchen, made up an order, and then came out and served us. It was awesome - one of the highlights. Hopefully he'll add it to the menu. All told, a great experience and highly recommended.

On the basis of a New York Times feature, we picked up two of their 'specialities": Cold Noodles in Sesame Sauce and Beijing Duck. Both favorites of ours. Both here were extremely disappointing. The noodles were flaccid and were tasteless instead of pungent and spicy. The duck was a very poor imitation of the delicacy we have enjoyed so often elsewhere. The duck meat itself was fatty. The duck legs not crispy at all. The skin also lacked every semblance of the crisp, inimitable most featured element of this dish. The pancakes also were stiff and flavorless. We would never go back to this restaurant!

Attended a party here. The preordained menu we were served was fantastically balanced. At first I wondered why they started with the Peking Duck but after a taste I understood why they would open the show with their best performance. The duck was amazing, and my children now ask for duck every time I start thinking "Maybe Chinese tonight." Didn't have anything to eat at Hwa Yuan I wouldn't be interested in having again. The staff was delightful. Very attentive, accommodating, patient (lots of youngsters at party) and friendly. Thoroughly enjoyed the meal there. Can't speak on prices. It was covered.

This place has the best Chinese food in the city. The chef is fantastic with many dishes that are his own creations. The shredded duck in garlic is the best.

Enjoyed dinner with a colleague. Both of us enjoyed the meal from start to finish. From the greeting at the door to the thank you from the owner and chef, the experience was great; it is nice to be treated so well. We started with the excellent cold sesame noodles and grilled squid, cooked just right. Then we had the Crispy Tangy Beef and Kung Po Chicken Fried Rice. The beef dish was crispy, succulent and well flavored and the chicken fried rice was full of tasty goodies served hot and moist. My colleague said I introduced him to a new place to bring a date!

Upscale, refreshed HWA YUAN SZECHUAN chinese restaurant delights family, friend food sharing. Owner brought us special dishes to introduce spices and tastes not had previously. Terrific spices.

I had been a frequent customer of the original Hwa Yuan, one of Chinatown's most popular restaurants until Szechuan cuisine seemed to go out of fashion. I was delighted to learn that it had reopened but was unprepared for the transformation. Mr. Tang, son of the original owner (famous chef Shorty Tang), has actually improved on his father's gem. Decor is the most elegant in Chinatown, service is impeccable, and the cuisine is outstanding. The Peking duck is better than I had in Beijing, and the bouse specialty of cold noodles was delighful.Only thing I missed was the shredded pig's ear from the original menu. Prices were remarkably reasonable for such a special experience. Go|

This is an upscale Chinese restaurant the food is amazing!! I went to a holiday dinner with a group of friends we were there for hours the dishes kept coming out one dish better than the other omg the service was awesome, Bobby a professional server, Chef Tang a legendary chef wow. from the apps to the dessert we were so happy, I can't wait to go back, This place is a must, if you love duck don't walk run to Hwa Yuan Szechuan. Thank you Hana A.

I’m not really sure what to say here to be honest … overwhelming…. Crazy…. Manic…. Pushy … noisy … so over priced …. I left almost crying it was insane …. The noise was beyond belief … four staff serving seven trying to sell upgrades and extras at every available chance .. impossible to enjoy just too much . Food was excellent and I will say that but my god it’s actually hard to put into words the experience .

We've ordered takeout from them several times. The food is always excellent. It is our go-to spot for Chinese takeout.

We started off with the jasmine flower tea and some Tsingtao, for our shared meals we ordered the sesame peanut noodle, Kung pao chicken, soup dumplings, whole fish with hot bean sauce, supreme broth baby bok choy. The cold sesame noodles was cool and refreshing, the Kung pao chicken tasted nice but the meat was a bit fatty. The whole fish in bean sauce and the bok choy were good, the soup dumplings tasted decent but would have preferred chicken dumplings over pork. The service was outstanding, attentive and quick.

Went here on recommendation from our hotel and glad we did. Staff were very friendly and helpful and well presented setting. Cold sesame oil noodles were a hit and shredded chillie beef best we’ve had. The duck was fine but slightly underwhelming after the presentation and preparation to serve it. Was more than we would normally pay for a Chinese meal but we were on holiday so no quibbles there for a nice enjoyable evening out after a long day walking around NYC.

It’s a very nice atmosphere in the middle of a really gross part of Chinatown so it is a haven. The food is beautifully presented but it was good .. not exceptional.

Walked in and were seated promptly. Decor is elegant and welcoming. Staff is very friendly and attentive. We shared the crispy beef, the scallion "pancake", a bowl of hot and sour, an order of soup dumplings, and the crispy chicken. All done very nicely, and tasted good. The soup was more "peppery" than I am used to back home, but it still had a great taste. Place is a bit pricey, but I came for ambience, and I found a very nice version of it here.They seated us on the second floor (there's an elevator! Yay!) by the window for a street view. With tip, was just a little over $100.00. Not bad for a Saturday night in Manhattan!

Hwa Yuan exceeded what we could even expect. As soon as we walked in the door with were welcomed by the most friendly staff and the chef as we walked to our table. Everyone was so delightful and open to provide their(and the chefs) recommendations. We got the house wontons, pork soup dumplings (oh my god these were delicious), shrimp dumplings, vegetable friend rice, fish special (I forget what kind of fish it was) and of course the Beijing duck! Every. Single. Bite. Was insane. The Beijing duck with the crepes was so amazing, they cut it up at your table for the full experience - and the fish in the bean sauce really blew our minds. I absolutely will be back for this again next time I’m in NYC. If I can give any advice - get what the staff recommends ;) you won’t be disappointed :)

We had a great multi-course meal with friends & family. Peking duck, dumplings, eggplant, chicken fried rice, bok choi, noodles,… it feels like we had most of the menu. It was great as was the service.

Great traditional Szechuan food served by attentive staff. We were a large group and did not encounter any of the negatives cited in prior reviews. Authentic Peking Duck and lots of vegetarian and seafood options. Also, remarkably attentive to gluten free diet, willing to adapt most dishes with gluten free spy sauce, etc.

Enjoyed the Sesame Chicken and the Sweet & Sour sauces. Enjoyed the ease of ordering and the speed of service.