Nom Wah Tea Parlor first opened at 13–15 Doyers Street in 1920 as a bakery and tea parlor. For most of the 20th century, Nom Wah served as neighborhood staple, offering fresh Chinese pastries, steamed buns, dim sum, and tea.

After it lost its lease at 15 Doyers in 1968, the restaurant moved into a brand new kitchen next door, occupying 11-13 Doyers Street ever since. Eventually, the restaurant became most famous for its almond cookie, lotus paste, and red bean filling, which is used for moon cake during the Chinese autumn festival.

The first known owners of Nom Wah Tea Parlor, the Choy family, date back to the 1940s. It was then sold to Wally Tang in 1974. Wally has worked at the restaurant since 1950; he began working there at the age of 16, and by the time he turned 20, he was managing the restaurant. Nom Wah Tea Parlor hasn’t gone through many changes throughout the years. Its vintage looks, good food and great value has kept generations of families coming back. Throughout the years, numerous movies and TV shows have been shot at Nom Wah Tea Parlor. A few include Reversal of Fortune, Premium Rush, All Good Things, and “Law and Order.”