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Wah Fung No.1 Fast Food
Master Critic Reviews (3 Lists)
Wah Fung No.1 Fast Food
8.3
Wah Fung No. 1 serves overflowing styrofoam boxes of char siu, roast duck, and rice that draw constant lines to its tiny Chrystie Street storefront. Locals and visitors alike treat it as a benchmark for Cantonese roast meats on a serious budget.
Must-Try Dishes:
Roast Pork over Rice, Roast Duck over Rice, Roast Pork and Duck Combo Plate
Scores:
Value: 9.5
Service: 7.2
Consistency: 8.7
Food Quality: 8.8
Atmosphere: 6.7
Cultural Relevance: 8.6
What makes it special: Legendary Chinatown roast meats piled high over rice for cash-only prices.
Who should go: Anyone chasing maximum flavor on a tight budget.
When to visit: Off-peak afternoons to avoid the longest sidewalk lines.
What to order: Roast pork over rice, roast duck, combo meat plate.
Insider tip: Know your order before you reach the counter; lines move fast.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking only; expect competition in Chinatown, especially evenings and weekends.
Dress code: Completely casual—streetwear, gym clothes, and everyday outfits are all normal.
Noise level: Moderate-to-loud outdoors due to sidewalk lines; no real indoor seating for conversation.
Weekend wait: 10–20 minutes depending on the line; service moves fast once you’re at the counter.
Weekday lunch: Usually under 10 minutes, but expect a steady line.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Very limited—most dishes center on roast meats; a few plain rice or vegetable sides exist but aren’t the focus.
Vegan options: Not recommended—no meaningful vegan entrées, and cross-contact is unavoidable.
Gluten-free options: Limited—rice is gluten-free, but soy-sauce-based marinades and shared prep surfaces make cross-contact likely.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Only if your date appreciates street-style Chinatown eats and doesn’t mind standing or taking food to go. It’s more about value and flavor than ambiance.
Can I get a table without a reservation? There are no tables and no reservations. Most guests take their food to go or eat outside nearby.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes for quick, affordable meals, but note the fast-moving line, small space, and lack of seating. Best for older kids who can handle takeout-style dining.
Best For
Better for: Massive portions of Cantonese roast pork and duck at the lowest prices in the neighborhood, served faster than most sit-down spots.
Skip if: You want seating, a quieter environment, or a wider menu of non-meat dishes—look to nearby full-service Cantonese or dim sum restaurants instead.
Wah Fung No.1 Fast Food
8.5
Wah Fung No.1 Fast Food is a takeout-only Chinatown staple where roast pork, duck, and other Chinese BBQ meats are carved to order and piled over rice for a few dollars. Lines form early for boxes of crackling-skinned pork, sweet char siu, and duck with cabbage that can easily feed two. It’s pure throughput: no seating, cash-only, and all about getting a heavy, smoky BBQ plate into your hands fast.
Must-Try Dishes:
Roast pork over rice, Roast duck over rice, Three-meat BBQ combo plate
Scores:
Value: 9.5
Service: 6.4
Consistency: 8.7
Food Quality: 8.8
Atmosphere: 6.2
Cultural Relevance: 8.8
What makes it special: Classic Chinatown roast-pork counter serving huge Chinese BBQ boxes for cheap.
Who should go: Budget-minded diners craving roast pork, duck, and rice.
When to visit: Late morning or mid-afternoon to dodge the longest line.
What to order: Roast pork over rice, duck over rice, three-meat combo.
Insider tip: Bring cash and walk your box to nearby parks to eat.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking only; expect limited availability on Bayard and Chrystie, especially midday. Best bet is nearby paid garages on Hester or Grand.
Dress code: No dress code at all — entirely come-as-you-are, built for grab-and-go.
Noise level: High at the counter due to crowds and ordering churn, but since it’s takeout-only, you’ll eat elsewhere and control your own noise environment.
Weekend wait: 25–45 minutes depending on the line; peak hours can push longer on Saturdays.
Weekday lunch: 10–20 minutes; the line moves quickly thanks to high-volume service.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Extremely limited — the menu centers on BBQ meats; only simple sides like cabbage or rice qualify.
Vegan options: Not suitable for vegan diners; no dedicated vegan dishes or protein alternatives.
Gluten-free options: Some items may be gluten-free by ingredient, but sauces and cross-contact are not controlled; not recommended for strict gluten-free diets.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? No — it’s takeout-only, crowded, and focused on speed, not ambiance. Use it for a quick shared meal outdoors, not a date-night setting.
Can I get a table without a reservation? There is no seating and no reservations. Plan to walk your box to nearby parks like Columbus Park or Sara D. Roosevelt Park.
Is it kid-friendly? Kid-friendly in terms of food (sweet char siu, mild flavors), but the cramped, fast-moving line isn’t ideal for strollers or very young children.
Best For
Better for: Best for enormous value, speed, and Chinatown-style roast pork and duck at ultra-low prices.
Skip if: Skip if you want dine-in seating, a leisurely meal, or vegetarian/vegan options — look elsewhere for those needs.
Wah Fung No.1 Fast Food
8.7
Wah Fung is a Chinatown counter legend where roast meats and sweet-and-sour pork ribs are piled over rice for a few dollars. Lines move quickly, and regulars come for the charred edges, fatty bits, and smoky-sweet lacquer that make the ribs and roast pork especially satisfying.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs over Rice, Roast Pork over Rice, Roast Duck over Rice
Scores:
Value: 9.4
Service: 7.4
Consistency: 9.1
Food Quality: 8.7
Atmosphere: 6.5
Cultural Relevance: 8.8
What makes it special: A Chinatown staple where roast meats and ribs draw daily lines.
Who should go: Diners wanting ultra-affordable roast meats and ribs.
When to visit: Late morning or mid-afternoon to avoid the longest lines.
What to order: Sweet and sour pork ribs over rice, roast pork, roast duck.
Insider tip: Bring cash and order multiple meat combinations on one rice plate for the best value.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking in Chinatown is limited and highly competitive; expect to circle or use nearby paid garages on Elizabeth or Bowery.
Dress code: Completely casual—this is a counter-service spot where everyday streetwear is the norm.
Noise level: Moderate to lively, with kitchen sounds and quick-moving lines; fine for short conversations but not ideal for lingering.
Weekend wait: 15–25 minutes during peak hours, mainly due to the steady line.
Weekday lunch: 5–10 minutes depending on the rush; the line moves quickly.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Extremely limited—this is a roast-meat-focused shop with few vegetarian sides.
Vegan options: Not suitable for vegan diners, as nearly all signature items are meat-based.
Gluten-free options: No gluten-free guarantees; sauces and marinades may contain soy sauce and other gluten sources.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Not ideal unless your date loves Chinatown counter joints—it's fast, crowded, and very casual. Great for adventurous eaters but not for ambiance.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Yes—no reservations are accepted. Limited seating is available, but most diners take food to-go; expect to wait briefly for a seat or eat standing.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes for quick meals with older kids who enjoy roast meats. There are no high chairs or stroller-friendly spaces, and the fast-moving line may be hectic for toddlers.
Best For
Better for: Ultra-affordable roast meats and ribs with smoky-sweet flavor and generous portions at a price point few competitors can match.
Skip if: You want a sit-down meal, quieter ambiance, or meaningful vegetarian or gluten-free options.