1) Delicious? Check.
2) Cheap? Check.
3) Abdominal Distress? Check.
Some things sound too good to be true. Like magic berries that make you lose weight without exercise, girl… you know it’s not going to happen. So when I first read about the $2.25 Roast Pork over Rice at Wah Fung on Serious Eats, I knew there had to be a catch. But I went anyway, and ordered the roast pork over rice, which by the way is now $2.50. If roast pork is not your thing, you can get chicken instead, but as you all know, pork is definitely my thing. Your protein of choice also comes with vegetables or noodles. Vegetables is either cabbage, broccoli, or yardlong beans, or some variation of whatever is available at the moment. When I ordered, a tray of broccoli was just brought out from the back, so I got broccoli and cabbage.
Again, considering the roast pork was only $2.50, I wasn’t expecting much. The pork was more sweet than I would have liked and some pieces were definitely dry and not too fresh. Once in a while, I would bite into a a juicy sticky morsel, but those bites were few and far in between. The broccoli, slightly yellow around the edges, had also seen better days. Portion-wise though, I couldn’t complaint. The container was jam packed with pork. The man behind the counter makes sure to pile on the meat and then closes the baby up by pressing the plastic lid down with one hand and folding the foil edges over with the other. Overall, the meal, although not mind-blowing, was still passable at the crazy rock-bottom price of $2.50. Of course, that’s what I thought until I got sick. It wasn’t major, but I was definitely uncomfortable for the next two days. Obviously, I can’t unequivocally say it was the pork. I eat questionable foods every day, but I do know that Wah Fung was the only new place I ate at two days before the minor abdominal distress. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it.
So will I go back? Crazy enough, I bet I will. I probably won’t in the near future, but one day I may find myself hungry in Chinatown with only $2.50 in my pocket. I’ll probably try to resist, but the long line winding out the tiny shop will somehow convince me all those people can’t be wrong. If that day ever does come, I’ll let you know the outcome, two days later. Until then, remember, you’ve been warned.
Wah Fung #1 Fast Food
79 Chrystie Street (betw Canal St & Hester St)
New York, NY 10002
