Mei Lai Wah | Wonton Noodle Garden

Went to Mei Lai Wah with my dad for an old school, no nonsense afternoon lunch. Had the beef chow fun and mini wontons. They were both good and it hits the spot. Don't forget to add some of their homemade chili sauce to take it up a notch. Restaurant is clean but it's not fancy and service was prompt.

This noodle spot is exceptional, and I’ll definitely be back for the wonton noodles. I came for a Monday lunch and found the space very clean, spacious, and welcoming. The staff were friendly and attentive, and my food came out fresh and piping hot.<br><br>The pig feet were perfectly seasoned, and the wontons were juicy and plump with shrimp and pork. I especially appreciated the chili oil — so flavorful that I bought a jar to take home ($15). I did end up in a little food coma afterward, likely from the MSG in the chili oil I enjoyed so much, but that’s not going to stop me from returning.<br><br>Note: this place is transparent with automatically including the 18% gratuity in your total amount on your receipt, which I appreciate!<br><br>A great meal all around. Enjoy!

Walked right in right before lunch and the place quickly started to fill up. I ordered what their know for which is the shrimp and pork wonton noodle soup and it was incredible!! I would definitely stop back in on my next Chinatown trip.

I came here with my girlfriend because we love noodles and dumplings, so we were really excited to try the noodle and dumpling soup. Unfortunately, our experience was very disappointing.<br><br>When the soup arrived, we immediately noticed a strong smell that resembled ammonia. I tried to ignore it and take a bite, but the odor was overwhelming. We also order dumpling separate that also taste spoiled. As soon as I started eating the noodles, I felt sick, began gasping for air, and had to run outside to vomit. The staff saw this happen but didn’t check on me or offer any assistance or even water. Which was concerning.<br><br>We ended up ordering other dishes beef fried rice and General Tso’s chicken which were actually good. However, when I spoke to the person in charge about the soup, she insisted nothing was wrong with it. I explained the strong smell and why I couldn’t eat it, but then she said the noodles are shipped in and still refused to remove the soups from our bill.<br><br>Overall, I felt the situation was handled poorly. Given what happened, I don’t think it was unreasonable to expect those dishes to be taken off the bill. Better communication and customer service would have made a big difference.

Ordered take out and picked it up in person! Really cute interior. I’d say it probably seats about 30 people at most. Service could have been a bit more friendly in my opinion but hey, the food is really great and the portion too. This lasted us 2 meals and we were 2 people total spent was approx $40 USD

Mei Lai Wah has been a Chinatown icon since 1968, when it first opened on Bayard Street. The beloved bakery has expanded to Mott Street and now brings its flavors together with Wonton Noodle Garden on Pell Street. Their wontons and dumplings are among the best in New York, especially when drizzled with Mei Lai Wah’s secret homemade XO sauce that takes six hours to prepare and adds the perfect kick to any dish. The menu is vast and filled with authentic Cantonese favorites, making it easy to start planning your next visit even before you finish your first. Come experience what local Chinese diners love and enjoy the warm hospitality of Mei Lai Wah’s longtime staff in the heart of NYC’s Chinatown.

While there’s always a long line down the block for their famous roast pork pineapple buns, this wonton noodle branch keeps a much lower profile, tucked away on the quieter Pell Street.<br><br>They offer wontons with a variety of fillings, and in different styles too, from regular and mini wontons to crispy fried ones. Tbh I might prefer their wontons even more than their pineapple buns.<br><br>＊Wonton Noodle Soup 雲吞麵 $10.2 *<br>＊Mini Wonton 迷你雲吞 *<br>The wontons are freshly made every day. The regular ones are filled with pork and shrimp, while the mini wontons have a pork and mushroom filling. I was pleasantly surprised by how springy the wheat noodles (鹼水麵) were! The shrimp wonton was well-seasoned with a thin wrapper.<br><br>The mini wonton is a new item, and I enjoyed them even more than I expected. The mushroom filling really brought out a rich umami flavor.<br><br>Also, don’t sleep on their housemade chili oil! It’s made with XO sauce and dried shrimp. So fragrant with a spicy kick. I’m honestly considering buying a jar lol.<br><br>＊Fried Wonton 炸雲吞 $7.5 *<br>I didn’t expect the fried wontons to become one of my favorites! It reminds me of 錦滷雲吞, a nostalgic canto dish that you no longer see them often even in Hong Kong. They’re seriously addictive, especially dipped in the tangy sweet and sour sauce.<br><br>＊Beef Stew and Tendon 牛腩牛筋 $21.5 *<br>I highly recommend getting the wonton and beef tendon noodle soup! The beef tendon was tender and jelly-like. The sauce was rich and paired perfectly with the noodles.<br><br>＊Young Chow Fried Rice 揚州炒飯 $16<br>Packed with wok hei and loaded with char siu, shrimp, and ham. The portion was massive!

(06/03/2026) Stopped here for a quick bite after a stroll around Chinatown to keep me going before an evening show. Was seated straightaway. The place is popular, with pretty fast turnover and a small queue by the time I’d finished - apparently waiting for my table!<br><br>I just had a prawn and noodles dish. Very tasty and very reasonably priced. A decent number of prawns buried away in the noodles.<br><br>There was plenty of choice on the menu, with lots of helpful illustrations. People around me were much more adventurous in their selections, with some interesting ramen-like dishes favoured by Chinese diners on the next table. I was going to order some pan fried dumplings, but was advised it might be too much for one person with the noodles. There was no option for a small portion.<br><br>A good choice at this price point, particularly if you’re a bit pressed for time. Everything very much as expected.

The food was great. It was steady business but the food came out pretty quick. The sweet and sour chicken was really good, thick chicken. The wonton sour with noodles 🍜,🤌🏾.<br><br>The service was good, server came by a lot to make sure all was well.<br><br>The bill was as expected, but they add on an automatic tip… I understand why but still.<br><br>Will def have to come back when we visit NYC again.

Super tasty wonton noodles with a great, comforting broth and delicious wontons. Service is friendly and efficient. There’s usually a short wait in line, but it’s totally worth it. Would definitely come back!

Mei Lai Wah is a really solid spot. They are an Authentic Chinese restaurant and they food is great. You can't leave without getting the General Tso's Chicken and the Noodles, can't wait to go back.

I ordered the dry wonton noodles dish. It wasn't in the menu but I figured if it was a traditional wonton noodle restaurant they should be able to make it. The dish really hit the spot. I enjoyed their house-made chilli oil. The were huge and I had so many of them I could barely finish all. Also some bonus soup wontons from the generous service stuff. Just FYI that while they accept credit cards, the price if you pay in cash, is lower.

Very old traditional restaurant. Food surprising good with generous serving. Beef stew wanton noodles really good with their special sauce, fried tofu, cooked perfectly. Green Veggies well seasoned and big serving even if we order small, fried dumpling really good also. Perfectly fried and seasoned their Garlic pork ribs also. Quality is comparable with that of Hong Kong.

Visited Mei Lai Wah while in the city, when I saw the great reviews, and decided to try their house special fried rice without pork. I have to say, it was delicious, flavorful, and taste fresh. The only downside is that you can not sit down and eat, and there is very limited street parking. Orders are placed from a kiosk outside and pick up the order inside once you receive a text. Cash orders are placed inside. The restaurant was very busy and had a line to order. However, the order was ready within a reasonable time and worth the wait. Highly recommended.

Great place for a cheap eat in Chinatown. Excellent Wonton Noodle soup, amazing fried tofu. They have a bunch of other standard fare you'd expect at a casual Chinese restaurant but if it's your first time I'd stick with their Wonton Noodle soup.<br><br>I personally prefer their flat egg noodles but they have a variety to choose from.<br><br>We drop by here quite often for a quick meal. Efficient service and bang for buck. Hard to go wrong here! Drop by around lunar new year if you want a cultural experience.