Note: This story has been modified to reflect conflicting information online regarding the ownership of Wu’s Wonton King.
There have been some recent changes at Wu’s Wonton King, the popular Cantonese spot at 165 East Broadway.
Derek Wu, who was a constant presence behind the counter since 2016, announced on Instagram a few days ago, “I am no longer involved with the restaurant, as it has been sold and is now under new ownership.” Wu explained that he’s working on opening a new place on the Upper West Side, which will be, “dedicated to showcasing the authentic flavors and traditions of Cantonese cuisine.”
Wu told Chris Cohen of Gourmet magazine that his departure from the Chinatown/Lower East Side restaurant was due to “personal reasons” and he said his dream has been to open a spot uptown. When we went by Wu’s for lunch this week, there were some new faces behind the counter, but no other obvious changes just yet.
Wu’s social media message was posted from the Instagram handle, @wusdynasty. Meanwhile, a competing narrative has gone up on @wuswontonkingnyc (an Instagram account apparently created just last month). Signed by Michael Wu and Wing Wu, it states:
“Recently, some information has been circulating online that may have left you wondering whether things here have changed. So we want to set the record straight, gently and clearly: nothing has changed. Wu’s Wonton King has not been sold. It remains owned and run by the same family : Michael Wu and Wing Wu just as it always has. Our core kitchen team is still here, and the dishes you’ve come to love, our signature three color dumplings, our Cantonese roast meats, and everything else, are exactly as you remember them. Any new restaurant being opened by others has no connection to us in any way. To everyone who has walked through our doors, shared a meal at our tables, and brought your families to ours , thank you. We’re not going anywhere. The same flavors, the same care, the same welcome will be waiting for you, today and for many years to come.”
Almost from the beginning, Wu’s Wonton King has been a favorite of the food critics, and Derek was a big reason why. As The New York Times noted in a 2017, “Derek suavely handles the floor and the restaurant’s Instagram account, which includes shots of guests like the chefs David Chang and Mario Batali and the occasional menacing Alaskan king crab…”
Wu’s replaced another Cantonese restaurant, Wing Shoon Seafood Restaurant. The space was once home to the legendary Garden Cafeteria, a center of Jewish intellectual life on the Lower East Side for generations until it closed in 1983.
In his Instagram post, Wu said, “I want to thank each and every one of you for your support, loyalty, and friendship over the past ten years. Whether you visited us once a week or once a year, you became part of our story. The memories we created together, the conversations we shared, and the trust you placed in me and my team mean more than words can express.”
