May-Wah Vegetarian Market

New York, United States

4.5

Closed now

21 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

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Telephone:
+1 212-334-4428
Website:
www.maywahnyc.com
Address:
213 Hester St Fl 1, New York, NY, 10013
b/t Baxter St & Centre St
Little Italy, Chinatown
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
370 ftCanal Street (J,Z)
440 ftCanal Street (6)
810 ftCanal Street (N,Q,R)
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Bitcoin
No
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes

Today

Today 9:30 am – 8:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (New York) 4:22 AM Friday, November 29, 2024

Business hours

Monday 9:30 am – 8:00 pm
Tuesday 9:30 am – 8:00 pm
Wednesday 9:30 am – 8:00 pm
Thursday 9:30 am – 8:00 pm
Friday 9:30 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday 9:30 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday 9:30 am – 8:00 pm

Description

Specialties

As a company with a history of dedication to supplying people with delicious vegetarian food products, we are the exact place to get what you need to advance your business. Our line of products includes the famous Veggie Prawns, Sweet and Sour Citrus Spare Ribs, Crispy Chicken Nuggets, Delicious Chicken Legs, and Spicy Gong Bao Chicken. From tasty Smoked Chicken to Corn Burgers and Vegetable Burgers, there is nothing you cannot find in our extensive and diverse range of offerings.

Not only do we concentrate on providing outstanding services to our local retail customers, we also deliver to all over the United States by using our direct ordering service at www​.veg​ieworld​.com. Using our internet system, we are able to satisfy vegetarians with deliveries using DHL, Fed Ex, and UPS services.

Along with our on going improvements, we are motivated by our customers to continue our goal of vegetarianism with forever long lasting determination.

History

Established in 1995.

As may have already taken notice in recent years, American lifestyles are experiencing constant growth in the popularity of vegetarianism as the people’s choice for a healthy diet. There are now over 100 vegetarian restaurants and health food stores in New York City alone, with only more to come as the vegetarian market continues to expand. As vegetarian foods and supplies become more readily accessible to New Yorkers, vegetarian lovers will gain greater convenience in purchasing the necessary products for culinary dishes especially prepared to personal tastes. Therefore, we would like to represent May Wah in welcoming you to the newest trend in an increasingly health conscious culture.

Meet the Business Owner

Lee Mee N.

Business Owner

To May Wah Vegetarian Market, the rapid increase of many New Yorkers towards a health conscious diet and vegetarian lifestyles, comes as no surprise. The unfulfilled dietary needs of vegetarian lovers were what prompted entrepreneur Lee-​Mee Ng to established May Wah as such a specialty store in 1995. Customers are increasingly enlightened, particularly in regards to the quality of nutrition and unique taste derived from their dietary products. And the company continues to satisfy this emergent demand for healthier lifestyles by using UPS and USPS shipping methods to anywhere in the United States. Minimum orders are only $ 30 and shipping ranges from $ 9.95 and up.

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21 reviews of May-Wah Vegetarian Market

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Manhattan, NY
May-​Way is the best thing since sliced bread! #ican’teven!!! The sales people are unintrusive and helpful. The selection is amazing. I want to eat the drum sticks and citrus spare ribs again and again. I will never not shop here. We are so lucky to live in New York City with a gem like this in the palm of our hands! I heart May-​Wah. My next child will be named in May-Way’s honor! :)
Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY
Let me start off my saying I am not vegetarian or vegan. I tried being a vegetarian in college and only lasted about 9 months. Fast forward 12 years later I still enjoy meat, but recently decided to cut back. I came across May-​Wha products at my local grocery store while looking for another vegetarian option.
I will admit I was a bit thrown off by the packaging since it was something I’ve never seen before. Thankfully a quick google search yielded some great reviews so I decided to give the citrus spare ribs and teriyaki beef a try. And let’s just say I was NOT disappointed. I prepared it in a skillet with tons of veggies, onions and peppers and it was delicious. It honestly taste just like meat and was really flavorful. The prices at my grocery store were about $ 1 more then what is advertised online but an entire skillet of dinner for $ 6 is more then a deal.
I haven’t had a chance to visit the market, but I am making that a priority since I don’t live very far.
*Update*
I had a chance to stop by the market and it was worth the trip. The market is very small but they have plenty of yummy options. The service is super friendly which won me over. The guy behind the counter greeted me and was helpful without being annoying. Today was their 25th anniversary and everything was 10% off and if you spent $ 20 or more they gave away a few free gifts which were actually very nice. A few food products, rice noodles, vegan protein, a change purse, a calendar and a re-​usable shopping bag with the temperature control lining and zipper. Pretty nice for a freebie! Of course I will be back!
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
My favorite place to pick up all sorts of veggie meats. I have several favorites. Citrus Spare Ribs, gung pao chicken, teriyaki beef, teriyaki chicken. When I go, I load up with like ten bags that last me for a good three months. I also love to snack on the veggie strips! Yum! Plus being a Unilocaler and checking in gives you 10% off! Don’t forget! Will be back soon!
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
If you are in NYC, whether living here or visiting, and you are vegetarian or vegan, you owe it to yourself to visit this market. It is the mother lode of vegan meat analogs, and pretty much every type of Asian mock meat can be found here, everything from mock beef, chicken and fish to more off-​beat offerings like mock lobster, crab and even salmon. I have been shopping here for years and have grown very fond of certain products more than others. The Citrus Spare Ribs and Lemon Chicken are highly addictive, whereas the vegan fish sticks, while a nice try, pale in comparison to the Gardein Golden Fishes Filets, in my opinion.
A few caveats: although the package labeling has gotten much better over the years, the preparation directions are still somewhat vague, so my suggestion would be to prepare many of the products as you would their regular meat counterparts. Some of the products are delicious on their own, heated up right from the package, while others could use some veggies or a simple black bean sauce, or some other type of sauce.
One word of caution: a few of the offerings have egg (or at least did have egg), but everything is very clearly marked, so you shouldn’t have a difficult time finding vegan offerings, since almost everything in the store is vegan.
Aside from the frozen and refrigerated selections, they also carry vegan Asian condiments and sauces, vegan Ramen noodles (I know, not very good for you, but still nice once in a while) and lots of vegan noodles and other Asian staples.
All in all, if you’re looking for mock meats, most of the same ones the Asian restaurants serve in Chinatown and all over the city, there is where should should go. You’ll save a lot of money, the staff are very friendly, and you’ll be able to cook some of these same restaurant dishes at home.
Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY
A while back, I’d heard that May Wah is the source for the mock meats I’ve enjoyed so much at Red Bamboo and Foodswings (may it rest in peace), and even a local Chinese takeout. I just never got around to going there. Wow! It’s truly a treasure trove of veggie meats that will bring back some old familiar meaty flavors and textures to my home-​cooked meals and please the omnivore members of my family. The prices are very affordable. I’m just limited by my lack of freezer space! I’m impressed with how neat, clean, well-​organized and spacious the store is. I appreciate also that the staff is friendly and helpful, and English-​speaking. A word of advice to vegans or people with special diets: a few products have animal ingredients, such as egg albumen powder and whey protein in the Vegetarian Corn Burger, so read labels carefully.
Place rating: 5
Chinatown, Manhattan, NY
Their vegan fish (I’m the shape of fish) and vegan mustard greens and burdock dumplings were delicious, and I’m someone who eats meat. The store is so tidy, it doesn’t seem like Chinatown! The staff were also extraordinarily chilled out and nice. I was happy to come for their anniversary sale and got a discount on my frozen items. It was reasonably priced. I would order from here and will definitely return when in need of vegan goods.
Place rating: 5
Montgomery City, MO
inexpensive, endlessly friendly staff and such a crazy variety of goods. I’ve been a vegan for four years and had never even heard of vegan lobster, fish balls etc. to keep it short and sweet– bless this place and the people that run it. please shop here.
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
May-​Wah is a completely vegetarian destination for all assortments of imitation meats, noodles and snacks. Some things have egg, so note I said vegetarian but us vegans will find several things to our liking here.
The service is friendly, price is cheap and they had some hot food items (a rice roll ingeniously packaged) that I loved!
Although I don’t really eat much imitation meats or processed foods in general, this is a good option for when I want to binge-​eat some Chinese imported «chik’n» nuggets. (Which is always.)
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I vegan jerky! This place is vegetarians dream… Everything you can imagine and things you don’t even want to try are all available! Including vegan bacon, chicken, duck, fish, lobster and even beef jerky!
If I lived in Manhattan I would be here every week for sure… Since I live in Phoenix I stocked up and brought it home in my Carty on :)
Place rating: 4
New York, NY
Great little place for vegans and vegetarians. I’m not a huge fan of mock meat, if that’s what you’re looking for, this is the place to get it. I’ve visited a few times, and the items are hit or miss, but like I said, not a huge fan of mock meat. I’ll list a few.
* Veggie dumplings — I did not like these. I forgot what brand they were, but I just didn’t like the filling.
* May-​Wah brand «Chicken» nugget — These were ok, the spices weren’t my favorite.
* Stick Rice wrapped in banana leaf — Chinese «Zong» — This was in the freezer section, and decided to give it a try. It was ok. had rice, millet, and some seitan. Pretty basic, the flavor was there, but the texture was kind of mushy. Maybe I’m spoiled having my mom make fresh ones :)
* May-​Wah brand Spicy Vegetarian Jerky — Not bad, I think soy based. The texture reminds me of Primal Strips (veg jerky) available at Whole Foods. It was ok to snack on but go for the next item on my list!
* Chili flavor Veggie Jerky (forgot the brand, I think it was Korean lettering, with cartoon characters) — This was amazing. This is what I’ve been searching for. A spicy jerky with the right texture and taste. I’ll be back to try the other ones. It was like 4 bucks a package. Don’t get the May-​Wah ones, get this one. I think these were gluten/​seitan based, while the May-​wah brand was soy based, that probably explains the texture. I’ll definitely be back to try the other flavors!
This place gets 4 stars for being unique and creating more vegan available options. Instead of buying these mock meats, I’d rather just go buy some seitan/​soy protein and season them myself. But if you’re a fan of mock meats, you’ll definitely be a fan of this place.
Place rating: 4
London, United Kingdom
I stumbled upon this vegan heaven randomly and now its my go to place grocery shop. The frozen vegan meats are so innovative. I mean who would to think to make mock sunny side up eggs?! Beware of the samples… I was given a sample to try as I left the building only to turn around to come back to buy the product I sampled. Priced vary, if you’re looking for something more exotic look to spend a little more. Worth checking out even if you are a meat eater looking for some veggie party options.
Place rating: 5
Jersey City, NJ
The fake meat capital of NYC? I heard about this place from a friend and had to scope it out.
This place is awesome! Lots of options that you won’t find in conventional grocery stores and if you do — they are way more expensive. Prices here are totally reasonable.
I didn’t go completely crazy but spent about 30 bucks here. I liked that not all the faux meat was frozen (I have limited freezer space!) but some items did not need to be refrigerated. They carry beef, beef jerky, chicken, drumsticks, pork, shrimp, fish, goose, duck, cocktail weenies, and more! They also have some random grocery items like sauces, crackers, teas.
While I recommend checking it out in person (because it’s an excuse to eat somewhere in Chinatown, duh) all their items are available for online order.
*TIP* Check-​in here before you pay for your purchase, you’ll thank me later. I made the mistake of checking in too late.
Place rating: 4
Queens, NY
Last December I was at Cobra Club (in Bushwick, Brooklyn), and for a while they were serving veggie drumsticks brought from this place. Cobra discontinued the kitchen service, but I needed my veggie drumsticks!
Finally months later, I found the place. It’s located on a sidestreet called Hester, not far from the Unimax body piercing supply place. It’s a small store, but they had what I wanted. The vegetarian fake chicken drumsticks. Got a big bag for $ 9.99. Kinda embarrassed to say, but the whole bag was empty by the end of the night. All that was leftover was the wooden sticks that subsitutes for the bone.
There’s other items as well. Fake tuna, fish, steak, pork, duck, you got it. Fake, fake, fake. In May-​Wah terms, being fake is a good thing.
Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY
This place is definitely the holy grail of fake meat.
This is where all the restaurants get their fake meat from, so if you’re looking for it, you’ll find it here. Vegan Mutton tickle your fancy, well consider yourself tickled. This place has the most mainstream to the most obscure fake meats. They also have plenty of condiments and pantry items that one would normally have a hard time finding vegetarian or vegan.
For me, the issue is that I don’t really eat any fake meat, even though I’m a vegan. I tend to eat all organic, except when I go out to eat. For that, this place is definitely lacking. It isn’t lacking too badly though! They do have a selection of hard to find organic vegan sauces from local NY company, Wan Ja Shan, like Worcestershire and Ponzu.
Bottom line: If you’re a vegetarian or vegan and you want some fake meat and sauces, this is the place for you
Place rating: 5
Fishers, IN
UPDATE on 11⁄18 — owner addressed shipping information in message below; dry ice provided. Thanks!
I had my food delivered to New Jersey. It came via UPS in a little more than 24 hours. The temperature outside was running in the upper 50s for the week. The contents of my box were cold, but pretty much thawed.
Being familiar with vegan food, I wasn’t alarmed because I’m’ not dealing with animal flesh, eggs and dairy in the products, so I knew there was nothing to be worried about. Though, I was a little surprised there was no ice pack or dry ice for the $ 26 shipping cost.
I had to spend at least $ 50 before I could have the items delivered, so I got all different products to try. (I’ll edit my review as I try more, but so far the food is excellent). The chicken nuggets are tasty and have a real meaty texture, though, I wouldn’t order it again. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with these nuggets; they’re just not my cup of tea. The citrus ribs are excellent; the soy protein is in small pieces and covered in a sweet, tangy, savory sauce. I’m excited to try the drumsticks (which are featured on a youtube video with the Vegan Zombie — love him! — watch the video and you can see how he cooks it).
The soy-​free chicken fried steak is great. I gave it a good pan fry and served it with stuffing and gravy.
If you are familiar with the Veggie Heaven restaurants in New Jersey (Teaneck, Montclair, and Denville) — these vegan products from May-​Wah taste just like those, so I think these restaurants must order from them. I love Veggie Heaven, so I’m happy to have found this market. I researched May-​Wah via feedback from their customers on Facebook and on general Internet sites. It’s a solid, safe company in business for decades. I’m so happy to have found them. I can’t wait to try the vegan lobster!
Place rating: 4
New York, NY
Being vegetarian has a lot of health perks if you do it properly. This store seems to know their clientele & have proper knowledge about their diet.
There is so much variety at this place. The veggie pork, taro, & cabbage buns excite me so much. An veggie beef jerky? I’ve never seen before!
The shrimp makes me the happiest. Omg. An these are products from Asia (china, Japan, etc).
Being vegetarian is not limiting like close-​minded individuals believe. The possibilities are endless and may wah proves this.
Just wish the store was bigger.
The same meats that are here are being served at Buddha bodai, red bamboo, & other veggie restaurants.
Go, you won’t regret.
Place rating: 4
Chantilly, VA
I heart this place.
The employees are always welcoming and helpful. I appreciate that they offer free samples of some of their products towards the entrance. I usually end up liking it and leaving with a bag or two. Their vegan duck in the frozen aisle is excellent. Had a nice smokey flavor and worked well with some mixed veggies.
My favorite item at this store would have to be their Vegetarian Char Siu Buns. If you gave these to me and didn’t tell me they were vegetarian, I honestly would think there is meat in here. Sweet, smokey, and «meaty.» These are delicious. Steam (or microwave) them at home and enjoy.
If you spend a decent amount here, you get a free green reusable bag with the stores logo on it: D
Place rating: 4
New York, NY
May Wah Vegetarian Market located in Manhattan’s Chinatown is a Chinatown institution. It’s been there for over 18 years and is now the definitive place to go if you are looking for Chinese-​style mock/​faux meats or meat substitutes. May Wah sells two varieties: frozen, fully-​seasoned products like Gong Bao Chicken, BBQ Chunks, Faux Chicken Drum Sticks, and Vegan Pepper Beef. This type of product just needs a quick zap in the microwave and is best served on top of noodle soups, rice or eaten alone.
The second type of vegetarian product is the dried variety. These are mainly bags of faux chicken chunks or beef chunks. These need to be re-​hydrated in water for 15 minutes and then are ready to be sliced and added to any stir-​fried dish. I tried both varieties and both have excellent mouth-​feel as meat substitutes. It is just a matter of how you prefer to utilize these ingredients in your everyday cooking.
I picked up a membership card for a fee which entitles you to a 15 percent discount on the frozen products. I think a one-​year membership is about $ 15 or $ 20.
Most packages sold here are marked with important information such as gluten-​free, GMO free, etc. The store staff speaks English and can assist you in choosing your items. Other interesting items that they sell are restaurant-​sized bags of the dehydrated faux meats I described earlier, fake fish, shrimp and lobster made to look like the real thing. I tried the shrimp and it’s as snappy as the real thing. They also have plenty of faux jerky and frozen faux fish balls.
Finally, most bags of frozen faux meat are good for about 2 meal portions and are about $ 4 to $ 5 each. In the final analysis, May Wah gives you options if you need meat texture in your vegetarian diet. Remember this, May Wah food is as good as your cooking skills!
Place rating: 4
New York, NY
I’m very appreciative of the existence of this store. There is a huge selection of vegetarian food products — including instant noodles, meatless meats, very very tasty dumplings, among other things.
Even better — you can get 10% off with a Unilocal checkin!
Prices are a wee bit high, but ok really. And yes, some of the packaging is just too small — should have bigger quantities.
Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY
If you like fake meat, this place is for you. They have a wide selection of vegan meats, fake meats, meat analogs, or whatever it is you like to call it, including typical items like chicken nuggets to rare things like vegan squid. There used to be some concern over whether or not the items actually were vegan (they likely contained some egg/​milk) but I’m not sure if this is still the case.
If you go through a lot of fake meat, May Wah offers a discount club card. I joined for 2 years (because you get a better deal when you join for 2 years vs just 1), and I enjoyed the discounts but I don’t really eat as much fake meat as I used to so it ended up not being worth renewing.
Place rating: 4
New York, NY
I like this place. Lots of frozen VEGAN items. Coolness.
I was just wandering around Chinatown after a haircut and decided to finally check this place out. The market is clean and bright. And also with friendly help.
I wasn’t sure what to buy, was just browsing around. But, I found some fake spicy squid jerky and also found some millet sticky rice dumplings.
The rice dumplings are made with millet and stuffed with mushrooms and dried turnips. The package comes with 2 dumplings and easily prepared in the good old microwave.
I will definitely come back to try more of the frozen options. Nice to have a vegan place in Chinatown.