Matt and Cat\'s Isle of Wight Eating Out Guide
Archive review: Yan Woo Chinese & Malaysian Restaurant, Ryde Archive review: Yan Woo Chinese & Malaysian Restaurant, Ryde
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Archive review: Yan Woo Chinese & Malaysian Restaurant, Ryde

This is an archive review. Yan Woo is now closed. 

Yan Woo is on the posh side of Union Street, Ryde: the steep road where novelty shops and eateries tend to close almost as fast as they open. However Matt and Cat predict success for this interesting restaurant. It offers the only Malaysian cuisine available on the Island, so in that it cannot fail to be the best. It’s also a good restaurant all round.

Matt and Cat entered one evening and enjoyed a civilised meal in very pleasant surroundings. The modern restaurant was clean and light in style. Details such as the unusual cutlery, and a free bowl of prawn crackers to start, show that the visitor experience has been carefully considered.

Chicken chow mein, Yan Woo

Chicken chow mein, Yan Woo

Matt and Cat’s bill
King prawn with mushrooms £7.50
Nasi goreng £6.00
Fried vegetables £4.50
Egg fried rice £1.90
Tiger beer £2.80
Coke £1.30

The menu features both Chinese and Malaysian dishes. The Chinese aspect of the menu was pretty standard, and those expecting regular Chinese dishes won’t be disappointed. Cat chose king prawn with mushrooms from the traditional Chinese items. Matt ventured onto the slightly more unusual Malaysian menu, which largely featured seafood. For him, though, a bowl of Malaysian fried rice – Nasi Goreng – was a delicious new experience. With a few prawns and chicken strips, it was a great dish to share. A bowl of seasonal fried vegetables finished off the meal, which Matt and Cat shared out between them. The menu charitably gave good descriptions of the meals available – as otherwise, the diners would have been stumped. It’s probably a good job, as the polite and efficient waitress who first attended to your reviewers – though dressed in an impressive traditional Malay costume – seemed nevertheless to be from somewhere nearer Warsaw than Kuala Lumpur, and was struggling a little with the language.

A good meal well served, and a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere. Recommended.

(First reviewed January 2006 – this review was updated in June 2008, with new images in 2016)

Yan Woo offers the only Malaysian cuisine available on the Island, so in that it cannot fail to be the best. It’s also a good restaurant all round.
  • Interesting Malaysian menu
  • Standard Chinese restaurant for the less adventurous
  • Good service
  • Food presentation is simple to the point of starkness

3 of 5

3 of 5

4 of 5

3 of 5

4 of 5

  • Nikki says:

    After visiting Yan Woo when we first started house hunting on the Island, we have visited regularly ever since. Safe to say that every time without fail, with friends, with family and with kids this place never disappoints. The must haves on the menu are the authentic nasi goreng and lembu rendang that no other restaurant (including philease fogg’s) can compete with. Great food, great prices, great choices and lovely staff. A must when visiting Ryde.

  • Paul says:

    Had yet another fantastic take away from the Yan woo , I have eaten in many times and have take aways on a regular basis and the food is always fantastic.
    Possibly the best chinese on the island

  • Kate says:

    We had a lovely holiday on the Island recently and after a spot of shopping in the gorgeous shops in Ryde, we popped in for an early dinner.

    Service was friendly and efficient and the food was fresh and extremely tasty and not a sign of a day-glo sticky sauces!

    I couldn’t find a hygiene rating on the link you provide but the restaurant looked immaculate inside and the customer toilets were spotless (usually a good sign of overall hygiene).

    I would definitely go back if visiting the Island again. Delish!

  • Tilly says:

    We have eaten there a number of times and never disappointed. The chefs platter is a great starter and do try the nasi goreng. A window seat on Saturday night can provide diversionary entertainment!

  • Beautiful meal here last night with fantastic service.
    Cannot be faulted….we love it!

  • Rainbow says:

    I love this place. Having been to Malaysia I can honestly say that their satay sticks are the most authentic I have ever had since returning to England. Their Penang noodles are also gorgeous. Highly recommended.

  • Andrew says:

    Tried here just before Christmas for the first time. I found the service excellent and, as a party of 8, we wanted a varied selection which the waitress was happy to suggest a few.

    Food arrived hot and even on a busy night the atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable.

  • gav says:

    a useful addition to your site would be details of the credit/debit card types that the establishments accept

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