The Short List, Vol 2: How About Asian?
By: Todd Shaw
Let’s be clear on one thing SALTers, I could devote the next 20 TSL’s to just Asian cuisine in NYC and not come close to capturing the immense amount of delicious options available to all of us. We are a spoiled and lucky bunch. Dim sum, ramen, soup dumplings, scallion pancakes, sushi, Peking duck, fried rice. Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Korean. The lists are endless but the point is succinct: New York City has some damn good Asian food. So for Vol. 2, we are recommending five distinct places that will each give you a different taste of what the best city in the world has to offer from far off lands.
BAR GOTO: 245 Eldridge St., New York, New York
Lists to Add to: Lower East Side, Japanese, Cocktails, Bar Bites, Date Night
For the educational portion of The Short List, Bar Goto is an izakaya, or what is essentially a Japanese gastropub. The menu is probably a little small to make it your entire dinner, but you’re going to Bar Goto because it is a perfect spot for pre-or-post dinner cocktails and Japanese inspired snacks. Get the Gobo French Fries, the Miso Wings and any of the Okonomiyaki pancakes. Oh, and the Improved Shochu Cocktail is delicious and is served in a cedar box that is both beautiful to admire and delightfully fun to slowly sip.
THE ORIGINAL NOM WAH TEA PARLOR: 13 Doyers St., New York, New York
Lists to Add to: Chinatown, Dim Sum, Cheap Eats, Dumplings, Cure My Hangover
Nom Wah now has multiple locations, but head down to Doyers Street for the experience that has existed since the 1920s. Doyers Street itself has that feel of a block you could only stumble upon by chance. But you’re going to look for it because Nom (first name basis now) is on it. Nom is the quintessential no frills and all thrills joint. Literally check off several items on their menu and they will arrive in incredibly short order. Try the soup dumplings, the Original Egg Roll, pan-fried dumplings, and some fried rice . . . to start.
Save THE ORIGINAL NOM WAH TEA PARLOR to SALT
NAN XIANG LONG BAO: 38–12 Prince St., Flushing, New York
Lists to Add to: Flushing, Chinese, Dumplings, Cheap Eats, Dim Sum
Let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room: for many of us, Flushing is far. I just don’t want that to deter you. If you’re living in NYC, and you like to enjoy the best the world has to offer, you just have to make this trip. Nan Xiang is not fancy and it’s not expensive (hard to find a dish for more than $10). It’s just damn good. Whatever you do, make sure to get the steamed pork buns and the scallion pancakes with sliced beef. And I mean your own order of scallion pancakes with sliced beef because Joey doesn’t share food!
DECOY: 529 ½ Hudson St., New York New York 10014
Lists to Add to: West Village, Chinese, Date Night, Communal Dining
Everything at Decoy is very good, but you’re going to Decoy to get excellent Peking Duck. Wrap a perfectly cooked piece of duck with extra crispy skin in a thin pancake, add a dollop of hoison sauce, and enjoy a perfect bite of food. The cocktail menu is fun and the atmosphere is perfect for both a date or to kick off a night out with friends.
FISH CHEEKS: 55 Bond St., New York, New York
Lists to Add to: NoHo, Thai, Seafood, Good for Groups, Family Style, Spicy
Fish Cheeks is anything but your typical Thai place. The food is unique, the drinks are fun, and the atmosphere is great. Be forewarned, if you’re the sort of person who turns bright red from a mild order of chicken wings, you’ll need to carefully select what you order because some of these dishes are SPICY. Make sure to try the perfectly fried calamari, the coconut crab curry and the Tom Yum Pla. All of their dishes are great for sharing, so go with as many people as you can round up so you can sample as much as possible.
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