Students at Wooster know that if you want to eat something other than Lowry or Mom’s, your selection of restaurants could be, to say the least, a bit limited. Sure, there is a small selection of quaint restaurants downtown with a family-oriented or date atmosphere to them, but sometimes there is a drive for something more, the desire for something salty, sweet, crunchy and spicy all at the same time ñ I speak, of course, of one of Wooster’s finest eating establishments, Hop Hing. The small, dorm room-sized restaurant is just a short walk north up Beall Ave. It isn’t the fine aesthetics or amazing service that makes Hop Hing one of Wooster’s true gems, it’s the availability and amazing quality of the food. If you want an intimate setting, some place with candles and an actual waiter, drive up to Wild Ginger. If you are looking for the best wonton soup in town and an extremely reasonably priced menu, you can’t go wrong with Hop Hing. Personally, I have a long history and love for Asian-inspired foods, especially Chinese. And time after time, the places that serve the best lo mein with the crunchiest egg rolls are generally the hole in the wall, sketchy, single counter, take-out establishments.
Most of the time, the more neon† lights in the window promising yummy, delicious noodles or hotsoups the better. Hop Hing has three or four tables and a couple of chairs, so if you decide to eat your food there, you may do so, but don’t expect a waiter and traditional service; this is Chinese take-out at its finest.
When your order is up, one of the workers behind the counter will yell out a number and you are expected to grab your food quickly and move aside ó much like the soup-Nazi in the classic episode of Seinfeld. Politely and quietly get your food and let the massive line behind you order. This is the best part of the Hop Hing experience: sitting down, opening your bag and digging in to your tiny plastic container filled with what can only be described as foods of the gods. The majority of people I have come across are big fans of the General Tsao’s or sesame chicken, crispy, sweet and spicy all in one. If you aren’t looking for something so heavy, however, I recommend either the Kung Pao chicken or beef and broccoli; both excellent choices. If you’re going all out and get some appetizers as well, you really can’t go wrong with the crab rangoon or delicious wonton soup. So what keeps the customers coming back? Go on any Friday or Sunday evening and ask the guy waiting in a line that’s twenty people long. He’ll tell you it’s good, cheap and convenient. The next time you go to Hop Hing remember above all else that you really can’t get something bad, so try something new, something delicious, something daring, something truly Wooster.