Hwa Yuan Szechuan, 42 E Broadway, New York | Reviews

The Culinary Legacy of Hwa Yuan Szechuan

Located at 42 E Broadway in the heart of New York City, Hwa Yuan Szechuan stands as a significant landmark in the city's vibrant culinary landscape. This establishment is not merely a place to dine but a testament to the enduring influence of traditional Szechuan cuisine within the American gastronomic scene. For decades, the restaurant has served as a bridge between authentic regional flavors and the sophisticated palate of New York diners, maintaining a reputation for quality and consistency that is rare in such a competitive environment. The atmosphere balances the energy of its bustling neighborhood with a refined approach to hospitality, making it a destination for both long-time residents and visitors seeking a genuine taste of Szechuan heritage.

The philosophy behind Hwa Yuan Szechuan is rooted in the meticulous preparation of ingredients and a deep respect for the complex flavor profiles that define the Szechuan province. By focusing on the balance of heat, aromatics, and texture, the kitchen team ensures that every dish reflects the depth of the culinary traditions they represent. The location on East Broadway places the restaurant at the intersection of history and modern urban life, allowing it to remain a central figure in the local community while attracting food enthusiasts from across the globe who are eager to experience its storied menu.

Distinguishing Features of the Experience

Historical Significance: The restaurant is widely recognized for its deep roots in the New York dining scene, serving as a cornerstone for those interested in the evolution of Chinese cuisine in the United States. Its presence on East Broadway is a nod to the cultural history of the area.
Authentic Flavor Profiles: The kitchen prioritizes the use of traditional spices and techniques that characterize Szechuan cooking. This commitment to authenticity ensures that the bold, numbing, and spicy sensations associated with the region are preserved in every preparation.
Commitment to Quality: From the selection of fresh produce to the careful sourcing of pantry staples, the establishment maintains high standards for its ingredients. This dedication to quality is evident in the consistency of the dishes served, which have garnered a loyal following over the years.
Atmosphere and Hospitality: The dining environment is designed to be both welcoming and professional. Whether hosting a casual lunch or a more formal evening gathering, the staff focuses on providing a seamless experience that complements the complexity of the food.

A Destination for Culinary Exploration

Choosing to dine at Hwa Yuan Szechuan is an invitation to explore the nuances of a cuisine that is as much about history as it is about taste. The restaurant continues to honor its past while adapting to the contemporary needs of its guests, ensuring that it remains a relevant and respected name in the New York City restaurant scene. By focusing on the fundamentals of flavor and the importance of a well-executed meal, the team at 42 E Broadway provides a dining experience that is both memorable and grounded in tradition. For those who appreciate the artistry of Szechuan cooking, this establishment remains an essential stop, offering a window into a rich culinary heritage that continues to thrive in the heart of Manhattan.

Ultimately, the enduring appeal of Hwa Yuan Szechuan lies in its ability to remain true to its identity. It does not chase fleeting trends but instead relies on the strength of its recipes and the skill of its culinary staff. As the city around it continues to change, the restaurant stands as a steady beacon for those who value authenticity and the simple pleasure of a well-prepared meal. Whether you are a connoisseur of spicy regional dishes or simply looking for a high-quality dining experience in a historic setting, Hwa Yuan Szechuan offers a perspective on Chinese cuisine that is both profound and deeply satisfying.

Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Service options
- No-contact delivery
- Delivery
- Onsite services
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great cocktails
- Serves local specialty
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Comfort food
- Hard liquor
- Late-night food
- Private dining room
- Small plates
- Vegan options
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Quiet
- Trendy
- Upscale
Crowd
- Groups
- Tourists
Planning
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- High chairs
Parking
- Paid parking garage
- Paid street parking

Soup
- Hot & Sour Soup $16.00
- Stewed Whole Chicken With Mushroom Soup $46.00
- Home Cook Mushroom Soup $16.00
- Traditional Wonton Soup $16.00
- House Steamed Chicken Rib Soup $16.00
Beijing Duck
- Beijing Duck (Whole) $96.00
- Beijing Duck (Half) $56.00
Poultry
- Chicken With Chinese Broccoli $31.00
- Sliced Chicken With Young Ginger $31.00
- Tang's Amazing Spicy Wine Chicken $33.00
- Kung Po Chicken With Hot Pepper Sauce $31.00
- House Special Hunan Chicken $33.00
Hot Appetizers
- Pork Soup Dumpling $15.00
- Barbecued Honey Baby Back Ribs $23.00
- Homemade Wonton With Chili Sauce $15.00
- Steamed Beef Coated With Sticky Rice $17.00
- Pan Fried Dumpling $15.00
- Foie Gras With Fruit $22.00
- Shanghai Style Smoked Fish (With Bone) $21.00
- Hwa Yuan Crab Cake $23.00
- Scallion Pancake $15.00
- Dry Sauteed Tangy Crispy Beef $23.00
- Grilled Baby Squid $23.00
- Snow Pea Sprouts Dumpling $15.00
- Steamed Sparerib Coated With Sticky Rice $17.00
- Deep Fried Oyster $23.00
- Duck & Pinenut Lettuce Cups $23.00
Cold Appetizers
- Shredded Bean Curd Mixed With Vegetables $15.00
- Chicken With Spicy Pepper Sauce $21.00
- Thinly Sliced Five Spiced Beef $21.00
- Tuna Tartare With Szechuan Pepper $18.00
- Jelly Fish With Shredded Daikon $25.00
- Sliced Conch With Spicy Chili Sauce $25.00
- Sliced Pork Belly With Fresh Garlic Sauce $21.00
- Spicy Chilled Cucumber $15.00
- Cold Noodles With Sesame Sauce $15.00
- Cold Dressed Black Fungus With Frisee $15.00
Seafood
- Tiger Shrimp With Spicy Ginger Sauce $41.00
- Whole Squid Sautéed In Kung Po Sauce $41.00
- Sautéed Fresh Oyster With Chili Sauce $41.00
- Baked Chilli Sea Bass $53.00
- Braised Whole Fish In Spicy Broth $53.00
- Whole Fish With Hot Bean Sauce $53.00
- Grand Marnier Prawns $41.00
- Steamed Whole Fish With Ginger & Scallion $53.00
- Sweet & Sour Whole Fish $53.00
- Scallops With Hot Pepper Sauce $49.00
- Home Style Sea Cucumber Braised With Mushrooms $61.00
- Fresh Fillet Of Sole Sauteed Salt & Spicy Pepper $53.00
- Sea Cucumber Braised In Spicy Szechuan Sauce $61.00
- Fried Jumbo Shrimp With Garlic HongKong Style $41.00
- Dry Sautéed Fresh Shrimp With Chili Pepper $41.00
- Scallops Sautéed With Mushroom $49.00
Lamb and Beef
- Marvelous Orange Beef $41.00
- Chinese Broccoli With Beef Brisket $41.00
- Fillet Of Veal With XO Sauce $41.00
- Hwa Yuan Shell Steak With Bone Marrow $56.00
- Sliced Beef In Spicy Pickle And Vegetable Broth $43.00
- Sizzling Beef With Scallop And Vegetables $43.00
- Szechuan Style Braised Oxtail $43.00
- Rack Of Lamb Chop Szechuan Style $43.00
From the Garden
- Sautéed Brussels Sprout With Chili Pepper $23.00
- Stir Fry Spinach With Bean Curd Sheets $23.00
- Snow Pea Sprouts In Supreme Broth $23.00
- Mountain Yam In Broth $23.00
- Kung Po Baby Potatoes $23.00
- Tang's Amazing Tofu (With Pork) $23.00
- Ma Po Tofu (With Pork) $23.00
- Supreme Broth With Baby Bok Choy $23.00
- Dry Sauteed String Beans (With Pork) $23.00
- Chinese Eggplant In Garlic Sauce (With Pork) $23.00
- Okra And Chinese Broccoli With Chinese Wine Sauce $23.00
Canadian Dungeness Crab
- Ginger And Scallion Crab $99.00
- Steamed Crab With Fresh Garlic In XO Sauce $99.00
- Crab Stir Fried With Garlic & Hot Pepper Hong Kong Style $99.00
Noodles and Rice
- Kung Po Chicken Fried Rice (With Egg) $23.00
- Shredded Beef & Fresh Spicy Pepper Noodle Soup $19.00
- Braised Beef Noodle Soup $19.00
- Hot Tang Tang Noodles $15.00
- Noodles With Meat Sauce Peking Style $15.00
- Deluxe Seafood Lo Mein $23.00
- Traditional Taiwanese Mince Pork Over Rice $11.00
- Pickle & Shredded Pork With Noodle Soup $19.00
- Steamed White Rice $3.50
- Seafood Pan Fried Angel Hair Noodle $27.00
- Shredded Duck & Rice Vermicelli Noodles Stir-Fry $23.00
- Large Shrimp Fried Rice (With Egg) $23.00
Pork
- Shredded Pork With Spicy Garlic Sauce $31.00
- Tang's Style Matsuzaka Meat In Pungent Sauce $31.00
- Double Sauteed Pork Belly (With 4 Buns) $31.00
- Moo Shu Pork (With 4 Thin Pancakes) $31.00
- Pork Belly Braised With Taro Root $31.00
- Shanghai Braised Meat Ball With Bok Choy $39.00
- Dong Po Pork Belly $39.00
NEW Additions
- Spare Rib In Plum Sauce $28.00
- Chongqing Chicken $33.00
- Fresh Scallop Tartare With Chef Spicy Sauce $20.00
- Shredded Beef With Dried Bean Curd & Chinese Celery $41.00
- Tiger Shrimp With Black Bean Sauce $41.00

Jessica

30-05-2026

I had a team lunch here last month and we ordered so much food! Overall, all the items we had were all pretty tasty. The duck (the main event) was great, flavorful and the skin was so golden, crispy and fatty. The one thing that was surprisingly just ok was the double sauteed pork belly (comes with buns) only because I feel like it could have been way more flavorful compared to how everything else was tasting. However, it was super tender. Order type Dine in Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4

Macy Y3

30-05-2026

went there once with family, food was good but smaller portion, service ok but the waiter came with a very strong smell of alcohol and red face, omg could not stand it, never seen that before at a restaurant! You couldn't wait to drink at … More

Susie Su

30-05-2026

Peking duck was fatty and the crispy beef was good. Sesame noodles were okay but I wouldn’t say they are the best in New York (which … More

Matt Sweetwood

30-05-2026

Excellent table cloth throw back Chinese menu. Upgraded modern interior and efficient service. Food is 8/10 and portions are reasonable. Menu is large and has many traditional Szechuan items. The negatives are very expensive drinks ($20) and expensive entrées. Worth a visit for a special occasion but not your every day kinda place. More

Diana B

30-05-2026

Almost everything I tried was so delicious. I can't wait to return! This was probably the best duck I've ever had. 😋 the price is worth it; the service is great. We were able to eat without a reservation because of the timing on a holiday. … More

Sandy

30-05-2026

We didn’t even touch the food on this table! it was that bad. This place officially tops the list for the worst Peking duck I’ve ever encountered. The duck looked sad, dry, and like it had been cooked three days ago, then reheated in an air fryer as an afterthought. If anyone ever wanted to punish me, making me eat their so-called “house specialty duck” would be the perfect way to do it. The irony? This is what they proudly call their specialty. It tasted like old, leathery jerk duck left out for days. Honestly, you’re better off grabbing duck from Big Wong’s. At least there, it’s not pretending to be something it’s not. I’ve never seen a restaurant with such a nice atmosphere serve such overpriced, reheated, fridge-stale duck. It’s almost tragic.I genuinely feel bad for the duck having to suffer through so many levels of disrespect. Speaking of atmosphere: despite there being open tables elsewhere, walk-in guests like us were herded to a cramped 2ndfloor corner next to the kitchen. I could literally feel kitchen grease wafting through the air and sticking to my hair. To their credit, the servers acknowledged the disaster and canceled the order, which I appreciate. But still no one should be charging premium prices for something like that. Maybe they can get away with it with tourists or folks who’ve never had real Peking duck, but I feel compelled to speak up for them: this isn’t how it’s supposed to taste. The fried oysters were terrible too, tasted like scrap dough. I had high hopes, especially after seeing the glowing Resy and Google reviews.but now I can’t help but wonder how many of those were manipulated. What a letdown, Hwa Yuan. Order type Dine in Meal type Dinner Price per person $50–100 Food: 1 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 3

Aye Mon

30-05-2026

It was a terrible experience. We reserved for 16 people for my wedding dinner on upstairs. One waiter ( seems manager , tall man, around 60 of age, mean face, Chinese) was extremely arrogant and unpleasant. We all are doctors and can afford such kind of dishes but he treated with terrible and disgusting behavior. The atmosphere was off and there was chaos 3 people were serving us , one person is nice. The utensils are below standards, all are cracked and awful., how could they get 5 stars. The place might be popular and decent among white people, but not for Asian even though the servers are Chinese. Lol we are Chinese and were treated poorly. We ordered 45$ chicken soup and they did not refill even though the pot is half full left. I wonder who hire such kind of waiter. That Stupid waiter even asked to tip for at least 15% . We spent more than $ 1000 for the dinner and got such a terrible experience. How can we tip for such an arrogant waiter but we did tip due to not wanting something bad happen on my wedding. Will never go there again . Even if i could give negative stars, i will give u double triple negatives. Order type Dine in Meal type Dinner Price per person $100+ Food: 1 Service: 1 Atmosphere: 1

Tiff Chang

30-05-2026

I have been a repeat customer here, but after this visit I will not be returning... We dined the night before Lunar New Year and our bill was about $300+ Some staple dishes like the Peking duck and soup were fine. The issue was the service and how a complaint was handled. I spoke to our female waitress in Mandarin and asked her to recommend a fish dish with a bean sauce. She directed me to the hot and sour fish. What arrived was a $52 tilapia that was heavily fried, dry, and covered in an extremely sweet pineapple sauce with pineapple chunks. It was clearly a Westernized sweet and sour style dish and not what I asked for! When I raised the issue, she dismissed it immediately and said there was nothing she could do because I ordered it and that is just how the dish is. She also told me she recommended it “because of your husband is a foreigner” which was inappropriate and unprofessional. I asked to speak with the manager. The first floor staff behind the host stand told me the manager was sleeping. They later relayed that the manager said no and would not come speak with me. A male server behind the host stand then shoo'd me away. No one tried to resolve the issue or even listen. I also noticed that nearby non East Asian tables were spoken to more patiently and warmly, while my concern was brushed off quickly. The difference in tone was noticeable. I had continued to dine here in the past because I understood the business had been struggling and I wanted to support them. After this experience, I no longer will. There are many nearby Chinese restaurants at half the price with better food and far better service, and I would recommend supporting those instead. At this price level, the dismissiveness and lack of accountability is unacceptable. I left feeling talked down to and ignored, and forced to pay for a misrepresented dish that was not edible. I will not be back. Food: 1 Service: 1 Atmosphere: 2

Wenbin Liu

30-05-2026

We came to Hwa Yuan for dinner and were deeply disappointed—both by the food and, more disturbingly, the service. We ordered their signature Beijing Duck. The duck arrived with skin that was dark and lacked the glossy look of a well-prepared Peking Duck. The meat itself was quite dry, and the staff member slicing the duck left two large pieces untouched and cutting the skin into rough, uneven chunks. The duck crepes, which should have been soft and delicate, were stiff and hard to chew—almost like they hadn’t been fully cooked. Even the rice tasted stale and too firm. What really bothered us, however, was the service. It was blatantly unequal. We observed the waitstaff—who are all Chinese—being far more attentive and warm to non-Asian customers. Our table, made up of Chinese diners, was consistently ignored. No one checked in on us or even refilled our water until we flagged someone down to complain. It felt like we were being taken for granted simply because we’re Chinese, and that’s unacceptable—especially when we paid the same as everyone else. This kind of discriminatory treatment has no place in any restaurant, let alone one with Hwa Yuan’s reputation. We won’t be returning. Meal type Dinner Price per person $50–100 Food: 2 Service: 2 Atmosphere: 4 Group size 2 people