Attosa C.

This is just barely a 4 star. It's such a shame the food here isn't good because the service and the ambiance are fantastic. The menu said the mapo tofu is the best- it was probably the worst mapo tofu we had ever had... and I was dining with two food experts. The noodles were spaghetti noodles which left much to be desired. Green beans were good.

Wendy T.

Sharing a funky update to Fujianese cuisine, Nin Hao puts a twist on traditional dishes in a modern setting. Food was high quality, setting and presentation were pretty, and it was fun to try-- most of the plates were tasty! Favorites: ** beef ban ban rice noodles-- very peanut buttery, savory, and flavorful despite its simple presentation. ** Thai basil salt and pepper calamari-- fragrant 5 spice flavor. Really tasty, and I've never seen fried celery but it was yummy! ** sautéed egg and tomato shrimp-- shrimp were big, fresh, and cooked well. The creamy, eggy sauce begged to be served on rice :) good amount of peppers, tomatoes, and green onions too. ** braised pork belly-- didn't personally love this one, but the meat lovers and kids all enjoyed the meatiness and fatty layer, especially sandwiched in the steamed buns. The sauce is super concentrated and flavorful. Pretty good: ** seafood fried rice-- Scrumptious fried rice without drowning in soy sauce. The shrimp an scallop were nice, although didn't find any crab as described on the menu ** Fujianese steamed whole fish-- for fish (and tofu)lovers! All the taste of the traditional steamed fish with juicy plump pieces without the bones. ** Fujianese spicy rouyan wonton-- flavorful and big enough for a bite. Nothing super fancy but tasty nonetheless. Wouldn't recommend: ** coco snow crab laoganma glass noodles-- despite its nice presentation, all of us agreed there wasn't much flavor in this one at all. ** pan fried beef dumplings-- not too much flavor by itself, meat was probably lean and on the drier side but the kids enjoyed them The staff were very nice and friendly. Plates were swapped out for clean ones, and waters were refilled timely. They also comped our desserts which was a nice gesture-- thank you! While I wouldn't be rushing back (I also live far, far away), we enjoyed the meal and its freshness. The food is high quality; I can see this being a fun date night place or family meal for people seeking something new.

Amy W.

Loved the interior and overall service was attentive and kind. For the food, it's founded on an inspiration from fuzhounese cuisine. The menu wasn't wildly unique or innovative but the food was tasty as a whole. Got the wonton soup (the most direct and classic dish - but had to ask for rice vinegar as it wasn't offered with), Dan Dan inspired noodles, green beans, "beef Wellington", and tomato and egg curry shrimp. The tomato and egg wasn't very curry like but gave a healthy portion of shrimps! Would get the noodles again, a mix between peanut butter and Dan Dan noodles. They had interesting cocktails as well, we had the fuzhou and it had a slight kick to it. Overall, would come back to try any new menu items they may come up with.

Allen L.

Won't lie: I've been a skeptic every time that I walked by and had zero intention of dining here. But on the whim of finding somewhere to eat nearby, we walked in to grab a table and I was pleasantly impressed. The space overall new, fun, and modestly upscale (yet not to the point of fine dining). Great place for a date, meal with friends, or even taking a meeting. Onto the food, across three people, ordering around six dishes made us all full. When you read the menu or talk to the staff, they'll say the Mountain Jelly Salad feels like pop rocks. I don't agree with that characterization, but who cares. It tasted good, with a bit of crunchiness and mild flavoring. All the dishes were generally tasty, although not as dense in oils and seasoning as other traditional places. The fish was soft and had the most flavoring across the different dishes that we had. Staff were down to earth and pretty cool to talk with. I can see myself coming back here!

Matteo R.

I recently organized a dinner at Nin Hao with a group of friends, and we had a wonderful dinner. The restaurant has a contemporary decor, occupying a large room with massive ceiling and concrete pillars on the ground floor of an otherwise non-descriptive building. There are some interesting touches, like mini mahjong tiles being used as chopstick holders, the large mural on the back wall showing green surgical masks alongside hands cupping a bunch of newborns and two owls riding a dragon, and the mesmerizing large aquarium behind the bar. The menu is extensive. Best way to enjoy your experience at Nin Hao is to pick a lot of dishes to share. Come with friends[1] and order as much as you can; everything is delicious! This is what we had: - Mountain Jelly Salad[2]: Refreshing and slightly spicy with a satisfying crunch. We all loved this dish. - Cold Noodle: Light, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. A nice balance of tang, heat, and umami. - Chicken Wonton Soup: The broth was clear and very tasty, with tender, plump, wontons that practically melted in my mouth. - Seafood Fried Rice: Great all-round dish with shrimp, scallop, crab, egg. - Coco Vancouver Crab Noodle: This dish was the star, with chunks of crab and slippery noodles. Indulgent yet delicate. - Braised Pork Belly: Melt-in-your-mouth tender, served with pickled greens and lotus-leaf-steamed buns. The glaze was slightly sweet and deeply savory, perfectly balanced. Another dish great for sharing. - Mapo Tofu: Bold and spicy, with that signature numbing Szechuan heat. It had the perfect level of spice that built gradually without overwhelming the dish - Ban Ban Rice Noodle: Fujianese version of Dan Dan noodle; we had the vegetarian version. Hearty and satisfying. The texture of the rice noodles was spot on, and the toppings brought it all together. Starters are $12 to $18 while main dishes are in the $30 to $62 range. Extensive cocktail list too. This place is fantastic. ------------------------------ [1] Plenty of space for groups. [2] Not actual jelly, but celtuce or celery lettuce.

I didn't expect to find a restaurant that brings Fujian culture to life so beautifully outside of China -- but this place truly does. Unlike many "Asian" restaurants that blend regional flavors together, this one is proudly city-specific. It focuses on authentic Fujian cuisine, and you can feel that intention in every dish. This isn't generic Chinese food -- it's deeply rooted in local tradition and identity. The shrimp appetizer was absolutely killing it -- fresh, perfectly seasoned, and incredibly addictive. My kid finished the entire plate by himself, so we immediately ordered it again. That rarely happens. The cold chicken was just as impressive -- tender, clean in flavor, and very true to Fujian-style preparation. The steamed fish was excellent and noticeably different from the more common Cantonese-style steamed fish. The seasoning felt lighter yet more layered, highlighting freshness in a uniquely Fujian way. The rice cake tasted exactly like the ones I had when visiting Fujian, China -- soft, chewy, and nostalgic. The noodles and fried dumplings are true Fujian snack staples, not the usual Americanized versions. It really felt like eating local street food from a specific city, not a broad "Asian" menu. The Wellington beef was incredibly tender -- it literally melted in the mouth. What really stood out was the way they served it. It came with bun bread, which traditionally is paired with condensed milk for dipping. But here, instead of condensed milk, they paired the bun bread with rich crab sauce from the dish. That creative twist completely elevated it. The savory crab sauce soaking into the soft bun created a perfect balance -- indulgent, unexpected, and so well thought out. This restaurant isn't just serving food -- it's promoting Fujian culinary culture to the world. It celebrates a city's identity through its flavors. If you're looking for something truly different from the usual Asian restaurant experience, this is it. Authentic, nostalgic, creative -- and unforgettable.

Max B.

Came in skeptical. Left impressed. This place looks like it's going to be one of those vibey spots where the food's an afterthought, you know, where everything arrives in color-coded trays within minutes and tastes like... the concept of food? Nope. MáLà actually brings it. Asian Chili Shredded Beef, shockingly good. Tender, savory, with real wok flavor. I was side-eyeing the speed it came out, but every bite shut me up. Rouyan Wontons: spicy, silky, delicious. They call them Wuhan-style, but the real headline is that chili oil. A deep, soulful burn. Watermelon Radish Salad: unexpectedly punchy. A little heat, a little crunch, and a lot more personality than you'd expect from a salad. Hot & Sour Soup: eh. The one weak link. Not bad, just kind of... there. Like someone followed the recipe too literally and forgot the soul. The Lychee Cocktail: fine. Floral, safe, very lychee-forward. Won't blow your mind, but it gets the job done. Only real complaint: the menu online doesn't match what's in-store, so ordering felt like trying to sync subtitles to the wrong movie. Mildly annoying. Bottom line: This place moves fast, but it's not phoning it in. It's a solid, spicy lunch or dinner that feels way better than it has to. Just maybe skip the soup.

Sally X.

We stopped in on a Thursday evening for Happy Hour (M-F from 5-7pm) which they recently added. I was impressed by the choices on the HH menu! We each had a cocktail. He had the mezcal based and I had the gin. Both were delicious. For food, we ordered the spicy Rouyan wonton, fried beef dumplings and Szechuan spicy popcorn chicken. The wonton was the best appetizer but the popcorn chicken and the dumplings were good too. Service was excellent. We got there at 6:15pm on a Thursday and we were the only ones. The decor is really impressive. Plants and flowers are well thought out. The mural on one of the main walls caught our eye! Fun! We would definitely go back for HH.

Jenna I.

Lovely and refreshingly interesting restaurant that's not only beautiful looking but has real substance too! (In our modern Brooklyn? Who knew it was possible?) Nin Hao is full of intrigue -- color pop place settings, a giant mural, fish tank bar and a type of cool abstract charm that reminds me of the pages of the MoMA store catalog. The folks here are friendly and helpful where the menu is coy, and they all seem to be having a good time (at least on the dining floor) which is a welcome vibe. The food is reflective of that playful spirit. Everything we had was jam packed with flavor flavor flavor -- and thankfully not in an exhausting way. Loved the simplicity of the mountain jelly salad (which had a great crunch and no jelly), and the spicy cold noodles. The cumin lamb chops were also a stand out. I also happened to have gotten the Xin Jiang cocktail that tastes almost exactly like it but with a candy sweeteness to it -- maybe a little too much of a meal for me, but it was certainly interesting. (The little Beef Jerky garnish was DELICIOUS.) All in all a memorable dining experience and a great setting. Would absolutely go out of my way to come here again, especially if I wanted to impress some guests with how cool NYC can still be.

Tiffany T.

Ninhao is a wonderful spot for tasty Chinese food with a touch of charm. We ordered the Thai basil calamari, spinach wonton, ban ban rice noodle, egg tomato curry shrimp, string beans, and seafood fried rice. All were excellent. The green beans were crisp and flavorful, the dumplings were juicy and filling. I would highly recommend everything that we ordered. The dishes are on the smaller side so I'd recommend ordering a few and doing family style. The restaurant is nicely decorated with Chinese details that make the experience feel special. A fun touch is the mahjong tile used as a chopstick holder. The drinks are a must! We had the year of the snake, uncle's story, and auntie's gossip. I'd recommend all of them.

Erin C.

Overall the experience was seamless with really beautifully aesthetic cocktails, plate settings and glasses. I especially loved the mahjong chopsticks holders! We sat in the window corner seat that felt very private where we each could people watch. I enjoyed my view of the mural on the back wall. We ordered the Husband and Wife beef cold noodle, the beef bam bam rice noodle and mapo tofu. All of them were on the spicier side, for those sensitive to spice. Service was attentive and friendly.

Amy W.

inventive cocktails, extra points for the creativity in the menu. the drinks are strong, and our bartender, Dylan, was fantastic and super friendly. the food takes a spin on chinese classics like tomato egg, braised beef, etc and prices are on the higher end. I tried the mapo tofu, which was very spicy and flavorful. I highly recommend the fu zhou cocktail (peanut noodle inspired, savory and sweet) and the xinjiang (cumin flavored). restaurant ambience is top notch too, and we were seated at the bar (which had a very cool fish tank) without an issue on a Friday evening. would come back again!

Katie C.

Decided to check out Nin Hao after it was listed on the Resy Hit List recently. The restaurant itself is very pretty, a large concrete space that feels open and inviting. I think my favorite aspects of this meal were the friendly service and the cocktails. The food itself was not anything super special, leaving me to wonder if maybe we just ordered the wrong dishes? Fujianese Wonton in Chicken Broth was lacking flavor (both broth and dumpling). Seafood Pancake was a little different than expected - but actually fresh and pretty tasty (best food item we had IMO). The "Wellington" style short rib, might've been deep fried? The coating around it felt heavy and fried. Meat itself was not the best and looked unappealing. I had to try it, being a fan of the classic dish but it was not my favorite. Beef Ban Ban Rice Noodle I believe was supposed to be their version of Dan Dan noodle but lacked any spice (it's also suggested to order to pair with the wonton soup, but I don't really see how they go together at all). Sautéed Mixed Mushrooms were OK. Has little tasty pieces of pork. Ahh yes, and the drinks! I tried the Hai Nan which is a light and sweet lychee-leaning bubbly, drink with rum and rosé. My husband had the Xin Jiang which is bourbon based with cumin, walnut coffee, vermouth, and sherry. And again, shout out to the servers and staff who were all super nice and helpful despite the restaurant being pretty crowded and busy. (Apologies for the mid-bite/drink photos! We were hungry hahaha)