I’ve mentioned both Wah Mei and NYC Cravings before, but I had to go back and do a full comparison.
Pork chop over rice with one tea egg, pork sauce, and veggies, from Wah Mei – $4.90
Chicken leg over rice with one tea egg, pork sauce, and veggies, also from Wah Mei – $4.90 (it’s normally one big chicken leg, but as this one was on the small side, they threw in that little wing piece – no, I didn’t ask for it, they did it on their own)
Porken (one pork chop, one chicken leg) with one tea egg over rice with pork sauce and some pickled mustard greens, from NYC Cravings – $7
Honestly, they are all very similar and very delicious. I think each place has its pros and cons – let’s face it, when it’s cold out, and I’m feeling a bit lazy or perhaps have to study, and the NYC Cravings truck is parked almost right outside my office building… that’s where I’m going. On the other hand, in nicer weather, when I don’t mind doing a little running around, or I want to pick up some stuff for dinner from around Chinatown, too, or my wallet is feeling a bit light, I will totally make the run over to Chinatown for Wah Mei. Bear in mind, however, though I am close enough to Wah Mei to go during my lunch hour, if you factor in the cost of your train fare, it isn’t actually cheaper – $4.90 + $4.50 (round trip train on a pay-per-ride MetroCard) = $9.40. So for those naysayers that hate on NYC Cravings all the time for prices, and screech that it’s SO much cheaper in Chinatown – yes, it is, if you’re already there, or if you don’t factor in the transit price. For convenience and taste, I think NYC Cravings is perfectly suitable for lunch, and is a reasonable price as well.
***Please note: I have taken two coworkers to try each. One of them likes Cravings better; that was the first place he’d ever had this sort of dish, and he said Wah Mei is too salty for his tastes. My other coworker actually likes Wah Mei better, and has had this dish at other places all around the world before. Take that for what you will.
Yvo says: I like both places for what they are – and nothing more, nothing less. I’m not claiming either is the best of its kind – because people have already told me that I need to check out 2 other places in Chinatown for this specific dish before I make any final conclusions! – but rather, that each is very tasty and very worth their respective prices, with a list of their own pros and cons. Yumm!
recommended
www.nyccravings.com
Check Twitter to see where they are that day!
Aimee S. says
That looks like some good rib sticking food.
Hungry says
That’s making me drool.
T.C. says
RT on Metrocard? No monthly unlimited??? Otherwise, It would be worth it to do Wah Mei since you already gotta use the darn card anyway.
Dave says
I’ve tried both and I like Wah Mei better. Cravings sauce is actually a little on the sour side I think. Wah Mei’s sauce is tastier, the rice uses different grains and tastes better too. I do like Cravings chicken legs slightly more, though its a tad too salty. Some have said that Cravings is more convient. Unless you are right near where they are on a certain day then you gotta walk to them then you gotta wait on line for 10 to 25 mins cause the service is really slow sometimes at the Craving truck. Afterwards you’ll need to walk back to the office….too much trouble for me, I’d just call up Wah Mei for a delivery. Even after we pay the delivery guy tip its still cheaper then Cravings. Its still similar enough where i’d sometimes get Cravings whenever they’re near us in Midtown, otherwise I’m ordering Wah Mei chicken leg over rice!