First Look Inside the ‘Hwa Yuan’ Revival on East Broadway, Opening September 15 [PHOTOS]
A Chinatown classic is weeks from its high-profile reboot. The second coming of Hwa Yuan is a family affair, resuscitated by the same Tang family behind the well-regarded original.
Hwa Yuan first opened on East Broadway in 1968 and would eventually sell a quarter-ton of noodles each day. Noodle master Shorty Tang, who immigrated to the city in 1963 with his son Chen Lieh, developed recipes thought to have inspired pretty much every noodle joint in the neighborhood that followed. But its tenure came to a close in the 1980s. The building itself later became home to the Bank of China. (The Tangs own the property at 46 East Broadway.)
Now, two generations of the Tang family – Chen Lieh and his son James (Shorty’s grandson) – are reviving the legendary Hwa Yuan restaurant after three decades in the history books. And on the same spot, no less. It’ll (re)open in soft-launch mode on September 15.
According to Grub St, the massive three-level revival at 46 East Broadway will afford a stand-alone raw bar with open kitchen layout for customers to gawk at the food. There is plenty of space carved out for private and semi-private dining rooms, each with a different theme. The menu will include about 50 items, “with new dishes joining classics like Marvelous Orange Beef.” Seafood is reportedly supplied by the Lobster Place wholesaler inside the Chelsea market.
As for booze, diners can only order beer-wine options. At least for the moment. Word on the street is that ownership will likely lobby the State Liquor Authority to get the coveted full liquor license so that it can become a place for business meetings. In a Bowery Boogie op-ed earlier this month, Chinatown activist Karlin Chan claimed that Hwa Yuan’s denial at the hand of Community Board 3 was a double standard when compared to the recent approval of Japanese small-plates replacement of Le Baron.
The family also opened the Shorty Tang Noodle Shop in Chelsea back in April.
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