Ho Foods
Taiwanese · East Village, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Short-Menu Taiwanese Precision
Chef
Various
Dress
Casual
Why go
Ho Foods is a focused Taiwanese spot in the East Village, ranked on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats list two years running (#419 in 2025). The menu is short; beef noodle soup, radish cakes, fan tuan, housemade soy milk; and that discipline is exactly what makes it worth returning to. Easy to book, open for daytime and evening service Thursday through Sunday.
About Ho Foods
Verdict
Ho Foods has ranked on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America list two years running; #419 in 2025 and #409 in 2024; which tells you most of what you need to know. This is a short-menu Taiwanese spot on East 7th Street in the East Village that earns its reputation through a focused, well-executed lineup rather than ambition for ambition's sake. If you want Taiwanese comfort food done with care in a neighbourhood that has no shortage of options, book it. If you want a long tasting menu or a splashy occasion restaurant, look elsewhere.
About Ho Foods
The menu at Ho Foods is deliberately tight. That restraint is the point. A short menu at a Taiwanese spot in this price tier signals confidence in sourcing and preparation rather than a lack of ambition. The dishes OAD calls out specifically, radish cakes with crisp edges, fan tuan, housemade soy milk, beef noodle soup, are the kind of preparations where the quality of the base ingredients is immediately apparent. Radish cakes that hold their shape and develop a proper crust at the edge require good daikon and careful technique. Housemade soy milk is a sourcing statement in itself: most spots in this category pour from cartons. The fact that Ho Foods makes it in-house signals a kitchen that cares about what goes into the food, not just what comes out on the plate.
Beef noodle soup is one of Taiwan's most scrutinised comfort dishes, doing it well in New York means sourcing beef that can hold a long braise without turning chalky. OAD's characterisation, "soul-warming" and worthy of bathing in, is the kind of language that only lands when the broth is genuinely deep. That kind of depth comes from ingredients, time, not cutting corners on either.
The hours split into daytime and evening service on most days, with Tuesday closed entirely. Thursday through Sunday offer both a morning-to-afternoon window and an evening sitting, making Ho Foods one of the more accessible Taiwanese options in Manhattan for either a weekend brunch or a weeknight dinner. The East Village address puts it within easy reach of the L and 6 trains.
For someone who has visited once, the practical advice is to work through the full menu on your next visit. The lineup is short enough that ordering broadly is both feasible and the right call. If you came for beef noodle soup the first time, add the radish cake and the soy milk. They are not sides that prop up a main event, they are separate reasons to return.
Ho Foods sits in a strong peer group for Taiwanese food in New York City. 886 in Midtown East runs a longer, more contemporary Taiwanese-American menu at a higher price point. Taiwanese Gourmet skews toward the older, family-style format and covers more regional breadth. Wenwen in Brooklyn brings a bar-forward, modern take on the cuisine. Ho Foods is none of those things: it is a focused, neighbourhood-anchored spot where the sourcing discipline shows up directly in the food. That is a different kind of value proposition, for the right visit, it is the better one.
For context on how Taiwanese cooking at its most formal operates, Fujin Tree Taiwanese Cuisine & Champagne (Songshan) and Golden Formosa in Taipei represent the high-end reference point. Ho Foods is operating in an entirely different tier and register, but knowing what the cuisine looks like at full stretch helps calibrate what makes the East Village version worth seeking out.
Ratings at a Glance
- Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats, North America: Ranked #419 (2025), #409 (2024)
Booking
Booking difficulty at Ho Foods is easy. No reservation system data is available in our records, so check directly at the restaurant or walk in, particularly for the daytime service windows. Evening sittings on weekends are more likely to fill, so arriving early or checking ahead is sensible for Friday and Saturday dinner. Tuesday is closed.
Hours
- Monday: 5–10 pm
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 5–10 pm
- Thursday: 9 am–3 pm, 5–10 pm
- Friday: 9 am–3 pm, 5–10 pm
- Saturday: 10:30 am–3:30 pm, 5–10 pm
- Sunday: 10:30 am–3:30 pm, 5–9 pm
Practical Details
| Detail | Ho Foods | 886 | Wenwen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisine | Taiwanese | Taiwanese-American | Taiwanese |
| Price tier | Budget-friendly | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Booking difficulty | Easy | Easy–Moderate | Easy–Moderate |
| OAD Cheap Eats ranked | Yes (#419, 2025) | ||
| Daytime service | Thu–Sun | No | No |
| Location | East Village, Manhattan | Midtown East, Manhattan | Greenpoint, Brooklyn |
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Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 5–10 pm · Tuesday: Closed
- Location
- 110 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009
- Website
- hofoodsnyc.com
- Phone
- (347) 788-0682
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Ho Foods reads like a classic East Village lunch-and-dinner room: small, focused and unpretentious. The writing places it squarely on the traditional end of Taiwanese cooking, favoring time-tested techniques — soy-braised proteins and slow-cooked beef soups — over trend-driven theatrics. Physical cues (compact dining room, no reservations, lines before opening) reinforce a cozy, no-frills atmosphere where the food does the talking. It feels like a neighborhood place that trades on discipline and clarity rather than bells and whistles, appealing to diners who prize authentic execution at modest prices.
Best For
This is a spot built for straightforward, affordable enjoyment rather than formal celebrations. The short, opinionated menu and compact dining room make it a natural stop for solo meals or casual meetups with friends who appreciate focused Taiwanese cooking. Because there are no reservations and lines commonly form, it’s best for people comfortable with walk-in dining and quick, satisfying plates rather than lengthy multi-course service. The restaurant rewards repeat visits from those who want reliably executed classics — especially the slow-cooked soups and braised items.
Ordering Tips
The menu is deliberately brief, so pick a signature that signals the kitchen’s strengths — the beef noodle soup is a defining dish. Expect to queue at peak times: there are no reservations, and lines often form before the door opens, so arriving early or off-peak will minimize waiting. Given the focused menu and traditional preparations, opt for the house specialties rather than searching for novelty; the format is designed for a few very well-made items that invite repeat orders.
Venue details
Ambiance
Casual and minimalist with quick turnover in a very small dining area featuring just a few tables and a counter.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Quick Bite
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
beef noodle soup
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 5–10 pm
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- 5–10 pm
- Thursday
- 9 am–3 pm, 5–10 pm
- Friday
- 9 am–3 pm, 5–10 pm
- Saturday
- 10:30 am–3:30 pm, 5–10 pm
- Sunday
- 10:30 am–3:30 pm, 5–9 pm
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Le Bernardin; French, Seafood, $$$$
- Atomix; Modern Korean, Korean, $$$$
- Per Se; French, Contemporary, $$$$
- Masa; Sushi, Japanese, $$$$
- Eleven Madison Park; French, Vegan, $$$$
Restaurant context
Ho Foods and New York City's $$$$ fine dining landmarks are not competing for the same occasion. Le Bernardin, Atomix, Per Se, Masa, and Eleven Madison Park are all four-price-tier commitments with advance booking requirements and occasion-dinner expectations. Ho Foods operates at the other end of the spectrum: budget-friendly, easy to book, built around a handful of Taiwanese dishes done with sourcing discipline. The comparison is useful precisely because it clarifies when each is the right call.
If you are spending the night at a Manhattan hotel and want one genuinely great meal that justifies the trip, the $$$$ tier is where to look. Atomix delivers the most technically refined experience in that set for a tasting-menu format. Le Bernardin is the call if seafood is the priority and you want the most consistent kitchen in that price bracket. But if your evening is lower-stakes; a weeknight dinner in the East Village, a solo lunch, or a first introduction to Taiwanese comfort food in New York; Ho Foods delivers more value per dollar than anything in the $$$$ group, you do not need to plan weeks ahead to get a table.
Within the Taiwanese category specifically, Ho Foods is the most accessible and most affordable option with an OAD credential behind it. 886 is the right choice if you want a longer, more contemporary menu and a livelier room. Wenwen in Brooklyn suits a drinks-led evening with Taiwanese food as the backbone. Ho Foods is the one to pick when the food itself is the point and you want to spend as little time planning as possible.
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Unlock the full Ho Foods guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Ho Foods
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ho Foods | New York City | Taiwanese | 2026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #892026 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Recommended2025 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #4192025 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City2024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #409 | ; |
| Le Bernardin | New York City | French, Seafood | 2026 Eater NY 38 Best Restaurants in New York City · #82026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #132026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #212026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #342026 Forbes 5-Star2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2025 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #3 | $$$$ |
| Atomix | New York City | Modern Korean, Korean | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #62026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #72026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #7Star Wine Lists 20262026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #12025 James Beard Awards · #12025 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #2 | $$$$ |
| Per Se | New York City | French, Contemporary | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #292026 Forbes 5-Star2026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #102025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #922025 Relais Chateaux Award | $$$$ |
| Masa | New York City | Sushi, Japanese | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #922026 Forbes 5-Star2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #672025 Michelin 2 Stars2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Forbes 5-Star2025 Michelin 3 Stars | $$$$ |
| Eleven Madison Park | New York City | French, Vegan | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #12026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #472026 Forbes 5-Star2026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #32025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #218 | $$$$ |
How Ho Foods NYC compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ho Foods good for a special occasion?
Not in the traditional sense. Ho Foods is a short-menu Taiwanese spot ranked on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats list, not a destination for milestone dinners. That said, if your idea of a special occasion is a genuinely good bowl of beef noodle soup with someone you like, it delivers. For a formal celebration, look elsewhere in the East Village.
What should I wear to Ho Foods?
Wear whatever you showed up in. Ho Foods is a casual East Village Taiwanese spot; jeans, sneakers, a jacket if it's cold. No dress code applies at a place ranked for cheap eats.
What are alternatives to Ho Foods in New York City?
For Taiwanese specifically, the East Village and Flushing both have options worth comparing; Flushing in particular runs deeper on regional variety. If you want a step up in formality without leaving the neighbourhood, the East Village has no shortage of chef-driven spots. Ho Foods holds its own for value and consistency, backed by two consecutive OAD Cheap Eats rankings.
What should a first-timer know about Ho Foods?
The menu is short by design; that is not a limitation, it is the format. Ho Foods is closed Tuesdays, opens for dinner most nights from 5 pm, adds a morning service Thursday through Sunday. No reservation data is available, so walk-in is your best approach, particularly for lunch on weekends. It is at 110 E 7th St in the East Village.
What should I order at Ho Foods?
Opinionated About Dining specifically calls out the radish cakes, fan tuan, housemade soy milk, beef noodle soup as the reasons to be here. The menu is short enough that ordering broadly is a reasonable strategy. If you are coming for brunch, the morning service Thursday through Sunday is when the soy milk and fan tuan make the most sense.
