NYC food moments: a shortlist of my favorite NYC eateries
a mini guide to living NYC style — Episode II
It feels like New York City has about a trillion restaurants. Well according to the Huff Post, it has a bit more than 51 thousand, and that’s something like 24 restaurants per 10'000… Is that a lot? Not sure this question can be definitively answered. But we all agree NYC offers a lot of choice. Choice means exhilaration, but it also means confusion. Can we untangle the confusion? Sure! Here’s a list of some of my favourite restaurants across the city. While there are plenty of really good NYC restaurant lists out there that are a good mix of all cuisines (Infatuation, Thrillist etc.), my list skews Asian — wonder why that is…?
The Japanese
Tsuru Ton Tan ($$ — Union Square): my favorite Japanese in town, BEST Udon (always go for the thick noodles, try the Sukiyaki and sizzling Sukiyaki), also very good sushi (including a special sushi edition with Wagyu beef), and a great Umeshu cocktail called “Umeshu Highball”
Momofuku ($$ — East Village): Momofuku -a mix of Korean and Japanese actually- has an empire of NYC restaurants (and a couple of others around the world). However to the NYC visitor, disentangling the different Momofuku restaurants can be a challenge. So here are the ones worth going to: Momofuku Noodle Bar (1st Av between 1oth and 11th St — $$) is the original Momofuku restaurant that has the Momofuku Ramen as well as the buns that are awesome (I also recommend their Soju slushies). If you are feeling more upscale, head to Momofuku Ssäm Bar (2nd av & 13th St-$$$), and get a lot of their tapas-style dishes to share, or of course the Korean Ssäm (bbqd meat wrapped in a leaf)
Ippudo ($$ — East Village, 4th Av): talking about Ramen, there is at least one other place that is great for Ramen. Ippudo has 2 locations — I can recommend that one the East Village, not far from Union Square. All their Ramen are great, and I would recommend a couple of bottles of sparkling Sake to accompany them
Izakaya ($$ — East Village): East 6th Street is probably the epicenter of Little Tokyo. This little place is a lot like the proper Izakaya in Japan: great Sake and delicious food — try the black sugar fried chicken and the Edamame
Raku ($$ — East Village): a few steps from Izakaya is Raku, another tiny Japanese eatary, with delicious Udon. Try the Chikara Udon and get a bottle of my favorite Mio sparkling Sake
Beronberon ($$ — East Village): another great unpretentious little Japanese in the East Village is Beronberon. Their menu includes anything Japanese, from sushi to donkatsu and the place is always packed
Villago Yokocho ($ — East Village): this little Izakaya is an awesome low-key spot for yakitori and other Japanese delights (ask for the monthly specials). It also has a door that connects to the a speakeasy called Angel’s Share hidden away behind the restaurant
The Chinese
Mala Project ($$ — East Village): if you like Mala Xiang Guo (Chinese spicy dry hotpot), I highly recommend this place. A cute brickstone interior and a perfectly customisable hotpot with your selection of meat, vegetables and level of spiciness (adjusted to Western tongues)
Nom Wah Tea Parlor ($$ — Soho): if you’re in the mood for dim sum in a more European setting, head to this Cantonese diner in the lower part of Soho. Nom Wah has been around for a long time and comes with great atmosphere and all the traditional Cantonese dishes (head to Apotheke next door for a drink after dinner)
The Bao ($$ — East Village): The Bao is the perfect little Chinese restaurant on crowded St.Marks Place. No matter what Chinese dish you’re in the mood for, Bao has it all: Mapo Dofu, Xiao Long Bao, dry hotpot… you name it
Drunken Dumpling ($$ — East Village): speaking of of Xiao Long Bao, if you develop this sudden craving for the little pork soup dumplings (wait… you’ve never had that?), this place has really good Xiao Long Bao. A word of caution: you may be lured by their specialty dish, the XL xiao long bao, which is served with a straw to sip the broth. Though eating/drinking the XL xiao long bao, is an adventure in itself, I would recommend the traditional small soup dumplings
The Korean
Korean BBQ (K — Town): while the Japanese cuisine has its base in the East Village’s “Little Tokyo”, the Korean cuisine has an entire part of the city named after it: K-Town (around West 32nd St between 5th and 6th Av). Going to a Korean BBQ in K-Town is somewhat of a must when in NYC. Two places that I can recommend: Jongro ($$)is supposed to be the best bbq in K-Town, and you will feel just like in Seoul sitting at their wooden tables (no reservations, so be prepared for anything up to a 1.5hr wait). And just down the road is Baekjeong ($$$), which does take reservations and seats larger groups in their own seperated rooms.
Her Name is Han ($$ — K-Town): another pearl in K-Town, and a more modern Korean restaurant, Her Name is Han has the best Soju cocktails (I love the Rosemary-Lemon one) and a great selection of different “home-cooked” style Korean dishes. Next door to Han is Take 31 which is operated by the same owners and is open for drinks until 3am.
Oiji ($$$ — East Village): there are a couple of exceptions to K-Town: Korean restaurants in other parts of town. This one is particularly cool: just opposite Mala Project, there is a modern Korean restaurant — Oiji. It has a changing menu of Korean tapas-style dishes to share. Can recommend the fried chicken, the dumplings and
The Italian-ish
Aria ($$ — West Village): Aria (along with its sister restaurants Terra in Tribeca and Briciola in Hells’ Kitchen) is my favorite Italian in the city. It’s a small place, always packed with an Italian menu of dishes designed to share. Get everything to share: pasta, salumi, and of course the desserts
Perla ($$ — West Village): Perla and Fedora (both part of the Happy Cooking family of restaurants) are not classical Italians, but their menus are let’s say American-Fusion-Italian. Perla is fun any time of day, also check it out for lunch.
Fedora ($$$ — West Village): Fedora is a bit chicer than Perla, and I would say a bit more intimate as well. The food here is really to die for, absolutely try the Ricotta Gnocchi.
Bar Primi ($$$ — Bowery): Bar Primi will always make for a great Italian dinner with a group. The pasta is really good as is their chicken al limone. Head to the lobby of the Bowery hotel next door to have a drink after dinner.
Bar Pitti ($$ — Greenwich Village): Bar Pitti is a great walk-in Italian place, especially in the summer, when you can sit outside on their terrace
Dante ($$ — Greenwich Village): another address in the village with really good Negronis (and other cocktails) as well as a food menu with a couple of light apero-style dishes: an around-the-clock address
The Others
Spotted Pig ($$$ — West Village): the Spotted Pig’s burger with shoestring fries is definitely up there among the best burgers in town (from what I’ve heard, the list of the top burgers includes J.G. Melon, Corner and maybe the Burger Joint at Le Meridien). Apart from that the gastro-pub co-owned by Jay-Z is just a fun place for a nice hearty dinner in the Village
Cafe Select ($$ — Soho): this is for all the homesick Swissies out there. Cafe Select has Rivella (although they seem to be constantly out of stock), Fondue and Raclette in the winter, Gschnetzlets, Spaetzli and anything else the Swiss heart is fond of. It is also a favorite hang-out of the Soho cool kids
Rintintin ($$ — Soho): Not surprisingly Cafe Select’s sister restaurant Rintintin is another hipster favorite in Soho. The menu here is very mediterranean non-Swiss: the grilled Octopus and their Tagines are amazing
Saigon Shack ($ — Greenwich Village): this little Vietnamese in the Village always has people queuing for their super delicious Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), the best easy dinner
Meme ($$ — West Village): Meme Mediterranean’s West Village restaurant is great for lunch or dinner, and has a super healthy Moroccan-medierranean menu
Butcher’s Daughter ($$ — West Village & Nolita): Meme’s neigbour in the West Village — Butcher’s Daughter is another healthy option with really good juices, salads and soups
Peter Luger ($$$$ — Brooklyn): Everyone knows Peter Luger. Its’s THE steakhouse in the city. Well, if you’ve had enough of all the healthy options listed above, it’s time to have a steak, a Brooklyn Lager and cheesecake with plenty of Schlag (Luger’s whipped cream) for dessert
The Pre-party dinner places
Tao Downtown ($$$ — Chelsea): when you come to New York all your friends will tell you Tao is a must. It’s a the Buddha-bar style place that is great for a birthday or a night out with a group of friends. With the additional benefit that the food (lots of seafood) is really delicious
Beauty & Essex ($$$ — Lower East Side): the Tao group also operates this restaurant-behind-a-pawnshop place on the Lower East Side. Another fun place for a large group, with really good food and cocktails
Sake Bar Decibel ($$ — East Village): this place is one of my favorite NY restaurants. It serves food all night (the kitchen only starts making the daily specials at 11pm) and it has a super broad selection of Sakes. If you walk down the stairs on E 9th Street get ready for total immersion into a dark-yet-funky Izakaya style place
Insa ($$ — Brooklyn): another place that’s fun with a group is Insa — a fun, yet not entirely authentic (as there are no Korean staff) Korean bbq place in Brooklyn. The bbq is really good and the place has a couple of Karaoke rooms that you can book for after dinner
The Sweets
Big Gay Icecream (East Village, West Village): if instead of partying you just want to get some dessert — often my case — Big Gay Icecream is definitely a place to try. Its oversize combo icecream cones are so American, way over-the-top, yet so delicious (The “salty pimp” is their classic, and I love it)
Milk Bar (Several locations): Momofuku’s milk bar is also a great place to stop on your way home. The original one is right next to Ssäm bar in the East Village, and there is also one in Nolita (Mott St). The birthday cake truffles are the absolute best
Frost Factory (Greenwich Village): This Taiwanese icecream place is also worth a stop. Go for the matcha icecream or something more classical and top it off with some flavored Bobas
Chinatown Icecream Factory (Soho / Chinatown): another cannot-get-at-home iceream place is this fabulous icecream shop in Chinatown. They have a crazy selection of flavors and all of them come with their matching little monster
