A-Wah

Opened in 2010, A-Wah, a hole-in the wall restaurant in Manhattan quickly gained fame through rave accolades from the The New York Times, New York Magazine, and The Village Voice, followed by glowing reviews in Yelp, ChowHound, and other websites. Foodies have sampled and commented on every item on its menu, turning A-Wah into the talk of the town. One dish that has captured the hearts of New Yorkers is Bao Zai Fan (Rice in Clay Pot), a Hong Kong comfort food classic that is a must-try dish at A-Wah.

Of the 300+ menu items on the two-page menu, the “World Famous Rice in Casserole” is a big draw. Twenty five varieties are served; featuring toppings such as Chinese sausage, preserved duck, minced pork patties, beef, spareribs, salted chicken leg, and seafood, including lobster, crab sticky, and eel. For health-conscious foodies, Three Kinds of Mushroom and Buddha’s Delight are a must-try.

House Special Chinese Sausage and Minced Pork (Hua Zai Bao Zai Fan in Chinese) receives the loudest applause.

Aside from the featured Bao Zai Fan, there are a bevy of choices, ranging from congee, Lo Mein, fried rice, Bar-B-Q, and pan fried noodles, to curry and sautéed dishes, such as Sautéed Crab.

As a little eatery, A-Wah is unpretentious and its appearance is nothing to write home about. But, stepping inside you will find it to be quite cozy—the creamy yellow color theme, green and white checked tablecloth, and framed art pieces hanging around the restaurant give it a chic vibe that gets foodies in the mood to chow down.