"From the people who brought you Laut and Singlish, Wau is one of the few options on the UWS with a full range of Southeast Asian dishes (not just Thai). Sure, you’ll find good Thai curries if you want them, but why go with the dish you can get elsewhere in the neighborhood when Wau also makes rendang with caramelized beef and Balinese-style ribs that smack you with tangy Indonesian soy sauce? Walk in easily with one or two other people, and get a seat inside if you like to stretch your legs—the covered sidewalk section is a tight squeeze." - bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja, hannah albertine, will hartman