Hwa Yuan

We came here to celebrate a birthday with my father and when we came in they were very respectful of him. The service was good and the maitre'd was attentive as I am sure they recognize my father from a bygone era of folk who used to work in chinatown kitchens. Even though this is considered a high end establishment that is even frequented by celebrities, we received good service that wasn't lacking or inattentive or overbearing. The food came out timely. I did call and ask for a duck in advance and made a reservation on a weekend afternoon.Its location on East Broadway is also very convenient if you are meeting with others in Chinatown without venturing too far into the bustling areas near Mott Street.The portions could have been more generous and it is a bit more pricey than the other places. Mostly Szechuan fare is served here so its not your regular run of the mill cantonese dishes. It was a bit difficult reaching the food across the table but despite all of that we had a good meal here. There were a lot of interesting dishes to try so we ordered the Peking duck and of course the cold noodles because of Shorty Tang whose family opened this restaurant.We enjoyed the lions head meatballs and the fried fish in a sweet sauce and the stewed beef but this portion was a bit smaller.However still a good choice for a special occasion with family or after work dinner and drinks. It is slightly pricier for Chinatown but the restaurant and service just gives it that extra touch of old school elegance.

Pro-tips: I heard the pricing for lunch is a lot more reasonable, so don't make my mistake and come for dinner.Highlights: It's a huge restaurant so there's lots of seating and the service is really good and attentive. I thought the duck was done very well and I've never seen Beijing duck served with pear slices so that was a fun add. I liked the pork soup dumplings too.Lowlights: At this price point, I was expecting more. I thought most of the items were average at best. In flavor, portion, quality, or presentation, nothing stood out about the majority of the meal.

Honestly, it is super expensive for Chinese food but the service was good and there are plenty of tables and reservations. 1. Ginger and Scallion Lobster (8/10): Very expensive, kinda oily but solid2. Beijing Duck (10/10): Probably the only thing I'd go back for, it was delicious and crispy and had great flavor3. Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger and Scallion (8/10): Solid, fish was very fresh and it was a pretty big portion4. String Beans (8/10): Solid and probably the best vegetable you can get at a Chinese restaurant5. Beef Rice Noodles (7/10): Beef was tough but the rice noodles and flavors were really good but a bit greasy and the portion wasn't that bigOverall, it's a great place to host a dinner but for the price point it would definitely have to be a fancy meal.

A visit to NYC is never complete without a trip to Chinatown for Peking duck. A quick search and not wanting to wait online for ever we opted to try Hwa Yuan. We decided to visit early in the afternoon and we were pleasantly surprised that the restaurant was clean, nicely decorated and we actually did not need to make a reservation even though we were a total of 8 people. We ordered a couple of appetizers, scallion pancakes, cold sesame noodles and some of the best crispy beef strips I have ever had. I could easily eat a plate full with some steamed rice. But soon after the ducks appeared with handmade pancakes, hoisin sauce and garnishes. Nicely carved at the table by expert waiters. Flavor and tenderness of the duck was amazing. Everyone really enjoyed it along with the sides. Dry sautéed string beans with pork, snow peas sprouts and vegetable fried rice. All of which were a perfect accompaniment to the duck. I strongly recommend this place. A clean and attentive restaurant in Chinatown with very good food.

What a great find! It's a nice upper scale Chinese spot on a very unassuming street in the middle of Chinatown. We made a reservation but it didn't really seem necessary - had plenty of open tables. Our favorites were the Peking duck (but warning - the skins are terrible - way too thick - one table sent them back and managed to get thinner ones I believe), the cold sesame noodles, and the Dungeness crab with ginger and scallions. Honestly the crab was some of the best we have ever had and we have had a lot. Was very disappointed with the spinach and tofu sheets - definitely skip that.They also had a decent drinks list compared to most Chinese restaurants. I really loved the Sancerre I ordered.The menu is also pretty extensive. Plenty more I am excited to try. Can't wait to return!

Hwa Yuan sort of feels like a Chinatown classic with its white table clothes, tableside service, and classic menu. To be honest, I wish I liked it more but there are still some standouts. The restaurant feels a bit old-fashioned and is a little more formal than some of the other restaurants you'd find in Chinatown.First, the service here is great. The waiters were super attentive and gave some good suggestions from the pretty large menu. Hwa Yuan is a Sichuan restaurant and the menu reflects that. I thought the food was a bit inconsistent. It started out great with the cold sesame noodles, which was nutty and refreshing. The grilled salmon with chilies was also a solid dish. However, the Peking duck was a bit lackluster and it was served with pancakes that were overly thick and borderline undercooked. Not sure if it was an off day, but it was underwhelming and there are much better options in the city. The mapo tofu was also a bit underwhelming and felt underseasoned.

(Overall: A) - Overall, I think Hwa Yuan is an authentic Chinese restaurant with tasty food and a good location to host large events as the venue is quite spacious and can support a crowd. The ambience was quite comfy as well and besides the bathroom being a bit slippery, it is otherwise nice. The service was likewise good for the most part with the staff being considerate to ask if anyone want to take pictures while some of the larger items like the fish and duck are still intact, although they did make some mistakes like mixing bottles of wine in a wine glass. (Sesame Noodles: B) - A cold appetizer that is well flavored to kick off the night. It is a bit modest and stripped down with room to captivate, but nevertheless a reasomable dish.(Sliced Pork Belly: C) - The pork belly is well flavored and tender and the chili oil gives a pleasant kick without being overly spicy. I did find the dish sloppy and difficult to eat though.(Pickled Wood Ear: B) - I found these wood ear to be pickled nicely with acidity without being overpowered by spice, although likewise a bit sloppy.(Okra: B) - This okra was pleasantly tender and did a good job infusing some meaty spice into the flavor. The presentation remains on the backburner though.(Peking Duck: B) - The duck meat was moist and tasted relatively fresh, although the skin lost its crispiness. The pairings were also classic and quite nice, and I liked the addition of the pickled radish; however, the pancakes were too thick and dry. Our group ordered three ducks and it was quite interesting to watch all three being cut in parallel, and all differently too. (Spicy Fish Soup: D) - I personally did not like this dish as I felt like there was a variety of a lot of different ingredients without it being clear which ones are intended to be eaten; the only thing that was clear from my bowl was that there was little fish.(Black Truffle Lobster: A+) - I found a 4lb lobster at $98 to be reasonably priced for such prized shellfish, and the presentation is reflected in that. The restaurant also did a fantastic job with by frying the exterior of the lobster to be crispy whilest jeepinh the interior tender. The scallion flavor pairs well, and I love the elevated take with the black truffle flavor which comes through well.(Snow Pea Shoots: C) - The pea shoots are pleasantly tender and sweet. However, it would be nice to see flavor development by bringing that garlic flavor more foreward.(Pork Bao Bun: C) - The pork is roasted nicely with lots of fat to create the tender melt in your mouth lusciousness. However, the presentation is rather sloppy and I'm not sure the intention of the bok choy as it is a bit large to put inside the bun whole.(Sizzling Scallop and Beef: A) - Love the execution of the scallop -- crispy on the outside and tender on the inside; it pairs well with the beef as a chinese take on surf and turf.--Food: +1Presentation: EPrice: EAtmosphere: +1Service: +1Menu: +1Overall: +4 AInsta/Beli: @amei_eats

This place is sooo good! All the meat we tried from the pork to the duck was so tender! The pancake wraps with the peking duck and the sauce were excellent pairings and additions to dish. Very flavorful! All the servers and hosts were very sweet. The place is quiet and intimate which is great for a romantic dinner :)

Horrible Service, we have 4 people here, and three of them are out of water, no one refill it , until I asked for refill. The waitress only refill one cup of water, we asked for second time, the waitress refilled for another cup only. And food is kind of over price.Really won't recommend.

When one need a Chinese fix and not wanting to train/uber out to Flushings/Jersey, Hwa Yuan does the trick.Solid food. Great service every time. Love the decor.Peking duck, Lobster with Green Onion Sauce, any fried rice and seasonal veggie and it's a complete meal.Review/photo is posted late, dined earlier this year.