Wok Wok Southeast Asian Kitchen

Ever since I moved to New York City, I’ve tried to find the perfect Central Perk esque hangout spot. Someplace cozy and clean, with great coffee and comfy couches...the perfect place for chill catch ups with friends.

Well, that was then, and this is now. Coffee shops are out, and Chinatown is in. That’s right, my days of scouring the East Village and battling hipsters for seats are over. As of last Friday, my new go-to hangout is Wok Wok Southeast Asian Kitchen (@Wokwokny), a fusion restaurant specializing in Malaysian and Thai cuisine.

At first, it’s easy to dismiss Wok Wok as a generic hole in the wall -- it’s easy to miss, located in the basement area of a nondescript building at the far end of Mott Street. But the path down the narrow stairs reveals something more: a clean, minimalist space, accented with a open pantry that gives the area a slight shophouse vibe. It’s an eclectic mix, but it works almost as well as the food, which, as it should be, is the absolute highlight of the Wok Wok experience.

My friend and I started off our meal with the Creamy Thai Iced Tea -- a staple at any Southeast Asian restaurant. Served in mason jars, the drinks were immediately to our liking -- just the right amount of sweetness, and Instagram worthy to boot.

We followed our drinks with a round of appetizers. As recommended, we dug into a variety of street snacks: Roti Cheese, Roti Rendang, Grilled Satay Chicken, Popcorn Chicken, and Fried Potstickers. While the staples were top notch, the Roti dishes especially stood out: golden, layered, and crisp, they were the perfect accompaniment to a spicy chicken and potato curry.

For my main, I ordered the Malay Kam Heung Shrimp, which was served in the Chef’s signature 18 spice house blend, while my friend opted for Malaysian Curry Chicken with Potato Over Rice. Both of us exclaimed over our respective dishes: my most repeated phrase that night was “it’s so soft!” -- in reference to the fall apart, melt in your mouth shrimp I was served, and even as someone who is notorious for avoiding chicken served on the bone (I’m definitely a breast over wing type), I found myself pulling pieces of chicken out of the curry and eating them straight up. Yes, it was that flavorful.

While there are various dessert options at Wok Wok, my friend and I finished our meal with a dish from the appetizer menu: fried buns served with condensed milk. Known as fried mantou, the dish is almost the perfect metaphor for Wok Wok as a whole: simple, yet satisfying.

So next time you’re down in Chinatown, stop in at this hidden gem and try a few or even all of their dishes. With such a huge, diverse menu and great portions, there’ll definitely be something here for even the pickiest of your crew.

The restaurant is located in the heart of chinatown: 11 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Special thanks to Roy and Marissa