If your idea of New York magic involves steaming white rice, glistening roast duck, and crackly pork instead of Broadway lights, Hay Hay Roasted is your next obsession. 😋
This compact Chinatown shop on historic Mott Street has built a loyal following with classic Cantonese roast meats done the old-school way, but presented with a fresh, modern edge that keeps locals coming back and hungry visitors planning detours around its mouthwatering meat-filled window. 🦆🔥
How This Chinatown BBQ Counter Turned Into a Must-Try Destination
The story of Hay Hay Roasted starts with a simple promise on its official website: a mission to keep cooking “fresh, classic Chinese dishes” and traditional roast meats for both nostalgic diners and a new generation of NYC eaters who crave those fragrant, memory-triggering flavors.
With roots in Guangzhou-style Chinese barbecue and a focus on roasted meats, house special dishes, and tight-seal packaging, this Chinatown spot carved out a niche as the place to go for expertly prepared soy sauce chicken, roast duck, and crispy pork, all showcased on a detailed Chinatown menu that lets guests build their dream combos. 😍
After longtime favorite Hoy Wong closed at this address, husband-and-wife team David and Sindy stepped in, continuing the neighborhood roast-meat legacy while giving it a modern twist, as told in this Chinatown small-business spotlight on Mott Street Girls.
Part of the appeal is just how customizable the experience is: the Chinatown menu lays out one-, two-, and three-meat rice combos, pork bone broth soups, fried rice, noodle dishes, and a full slate of roast meats by the pound, so you can build anything from a quick solo lunch to a platter-lined family feast.
The shop also pops up in community chatter—Redditors in threads like this roast duck discussion and Too Good To Go users in posts like this Hay Hay Roasted box share swap tips on the best meats and deals—cementing it as a go-to option among NYC roast-meat diehards.
With a growing presence across Facebook, delivery apps, and neighborhood guides, this little roast-meat shop has become one of those places visiting food lovers stumble upon online—then immediately add to their must-eat lists. 😋
Food Highlights
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Roasted Duck 烧鴨: Their roasted duck, offered as half or whole birds and in rice or combo plates on the Chinatown menu, delivers glossy skin, juicy meat, and a deeply seasoned, Hong Kong–style flavor that makes diners feel like they’ve scored a classic Chinatown roast shop experience in one generous plate. 🦆
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Soy Sauce Chicken 豉油鸡: The soy sauce chicken, available by the half, whole, or sliced for combos, is braised in a savory-sweet soy blend that leaves the meat silky and tender, giving guests a comforting, homestyle experience that’s perfect for those who love richly seasoned chicken over simple white rice. 🍗
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Scallion Chicken 葱油鸡: Scallion chicken pairs poached-style meat with an aromatic hot scallion oil, creating a lighter but intensely fragrant dish that offers guests a clean, soothing experience accented by bursts of oniony flavor in every bite.
- Char Siu 蜜汁叉烧 (Honey Roasted Pork): Their char siu honey roasted pork, woven throughout the menu in combos, fried rice, and noodle dishes, brings a sweet-glazed, caramelized edge and tender bite that offers guests a nostalgic, street-food style experience with every glossy, red-tinged slice.
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Crispy Skin Roasted Pork 烧肉: The crispy skin roasted pork, sold by the pound and in popular rice combos, layers shatter-crisp crackling over rich, juicy pork, giving customers that deeply satisfying, crunchy-salty experience roast-meat fans travel specifically to Chinatown to chase. 🐷
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Hay Hay Trio 黯然销魂饭 (R100): The Hay Hay Trio, highlighted under Popular Dishes on the Chinatown menu, piles barbecued pork, an over-easy egg, and choy sum over rice, giving newcomers a “greatest hits” experience that shows off multiple house specialties in a single, soul-satisfying bowl. 😋
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House Signature Fried Rice 特色猪油炒飯 (E81): The House Signature Fried Rice, cooked with pork fat and customizable with add-ons like beef, chicken, char siu, or shrimp, offers guests a rich, wok-kissed experience that works both as a shared side and as a hearty, one-bowl comfort meal.
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Hay Hay Fried Rice 逍魂炒飯 (E80): The Hay Hay Fried Rice, also listed among popular items, comes generously loaded with mix-ins, delivering a flavorful, filling experience for visitors who want something more substantial than a simple rice plate but still crave the signature roast-meat taste in every bite.
Atmosphere
Hay Hay Roasted channels the energy of a busy Chinatown roast shop, with hanging rows of duck, chicken, and pork greeting you at the entrance and a steady flow of customers lining up for combos.
The vibe is bright, compact, and focused on speed, making it ideal for quick, flavor-packed meals or casual bites during a Chinatown stroll.
Simple, functional seating puts the spotlight squarely on the food, so your main “view” is your own pile of duck, chicken, and pork arriving hot on a tray.
It’s exactly the kind of spot you tack onto an afternoon of Chinatown sightseeing, dessert runs, or noodle missions nearby, using Google Maps–style listings to weave it seamlessly into your route. 😄
Bottom Line
Visit for expert Cantonese roast meats, flexible rice and noodle combos, budget-friendly prices, comforting pork bone broth and fried rice dishes, and a Chinatown stop that feels both rooted in tradition and refreshingly current. ✨
Address:
81 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
📞 +1 917-675-6651
🕔 Open daily; Mon-Sun, 9 AM–9 PM