Yan Wo Dou Bun

Three Fried Stuffed Treasures

Yan Wo Dou Bun is a famous chain in Hong Kong with 20+ locations that started in 1936. They've also expanded internationally to locations in Toronto. They are known for being the best place to satisfy your tofu and soy craving. The first location in the United States is at Mott Street Eatery, opened by the Lu sisters from Hong Kong.

The Lu sisters immigrated to the United States at different times. The eldest sister lived in Hong Kong but decided to move to the U.S. permanently during the pandemic. The second sister immigrated to Venezuela, South America, in 1982 and moved to New York City in 1989. The youngest sister came to the U.S. in 1990.

The eldest sister could not return to Hong Kong during the pandemic because of strict COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, all three of them took this opportunity to build something together and opened the Yan Wo Dou Bun in New York City. The decision came rather quickly as word of mouth helped connect them to one of the Mott Street Eatery’s owners. Of the three sisters, the oldest sister is the main chef. The second sister helps out in the front of the store, and the youngest sister prepares the fresh ingredients daily.

Yan Wo ("人和") means harmony or good relationships, which they want to foster in the community. Their goal is to bring their staple comfort food from Hong Kong to NYC. They hope to expand to other Chinatown locations in the future. If you're looking for an affordable, healthy snack and a taste of Hong Kong, stop by their stall from 10 AM - 9:30 PM to indulge in some tofu and soybean products. We tried their homemade sweet soy milk, tofu pudding, and three fried stuffed treasure (fish paste with tofu/green bell pepper/eggplant).

📍 Yan Wo Dou Bun
98 Mott Street, New York, NY 10013