New York City: Food Diaries

So now we know I “really like” NYC. We aren’t in love yet but maybe someday. And I feel like one of the big reasons I even moved from having zero feelings to a “I really like” with NYC is because of the food. The food is next level good and you can get nearly anything you want to eat when in the city. I made it a mission to try and eat at as many new places as possible. Most places I tried were small, real and all about the food. Being “Instagramable” may or may not (depending on the place) potentially be an unintentional outcome.

Note that for some reason I was on a weird Asian food binge but tried to squeeze in other foods as well. Also, I was in the East Village a lot and so quite a few of the restaurants I tried are in the East Village.

Below is a list of practically everywhere I ate at during my time in the city. Outside of this, there was the (not-so-occasional) stop at Chipotle and Whole Foods!

Namrata’s unintentional month long Asian food tour list:

• Food Gallery 32: A Korean and Japanese food hall in Korea town. The spicy pork buns and Korean fried chicken were worth the hot walk there. 11 W 32nd St.
• Madame Vo Kitchen: Delicious Vietnamese food. The pho was excellent as was the “Mama Ly’s Fried Rice” with a side of the spice sauce. 212 E 10th St.
• Love Mama: Predominantly Malay food. I tried their roti canai and laksa and loved both. 174 2nd Ave #5751.
• Spicy Moon: Perfect for my meatless Monday outing, this place is completely vegan and completely delicious. Dry the dan dan noodles! 328 E 6th St.
• Buddakan: This place is huge and gorgeous and feels like an art museum. Try the carrot dumplings, prawn toast and the lamb. After, you can always walk off the calories in Chelsea Market. 75 9th Ave.
• Drunken Dumpling: Only dumplings. Only meat/seafood options. Go with an appetite because you are going to want to try everything and will love everything. 137 1st Avenue.
• Sushi by M: I had the omakase (chef’s choice) which was a 12 course meal for $50. This includes fatty tuna, sea urchin, scallop, salmon – you name it! Totally worth it but make sure you make a reservation! 75 E 4th St.
• Totto Ramen: Three different locations: all good from what I have been told but I tried the one on W 52nd. They are cash only so go prepared! Midtown: 248 E 52nd St. Hell’s Kitchen: 464 W 51st St. OR 366 W 52nd St.
• Mala Project: Predominantly dry pot. You can make-your-own. Just beware of the numbing spice! I went to the one in the East Village but there is one out in Bryant Park too! East Village: 122 1st Avenue OR Bryan Park: 41 W 46th St.
• Raku: This place I went to twice, it was so damn good. Fried chicken – worth it, gyoza – worth it, udon in spicy miso – SO WORTH IT! Also, they are cash only: go prepared! East Village: 342 E 6th St OR Soho: 48 MacDougal St.
• Ivan Ramen: This place was recommended to me by a friend in NYC and then a lot of people on Instagram as well (thanks, Netflix!). It was worth the wait and the hype! Delicious food, fantastic playlist, and awesome beer! 25 Clinton St. (They also have a slurp shop (600 11th Ave) that I didn’t go to where they apparently don’t have the full menu so Clinton St. seemed like the better option).
• Ise: They are a soba noodle place. However, their lunch deal for $28 included a bowl of cold soba, sashimi and nagiri. Everything is fresh and delicious! 63 Cooper Sq.

The non-Asian delicious stops

• Los Tacos No. 1: This taqueria is very busy, has no seating room (just some standing table) and sometimes has a line out the door. But it is very good and their salsas are muy rico. They have 4 locations but I went to the one at 229 W 43rd St.
• La Pecora Bianca: This place was down the street from where I was staying and I loved going her for some burrata and a glass of wine at night. Their pasta was delicious too. Oh! And their Tiramisu is the size of my face. All good things. 1133 Broadway (Nomad) OR 950 2nd Ave (Midtown).
• Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company: Hand-rolled, kettle boiled bagels that make your mornings oh-so-merry. Their choices are nuts as well. I had their fresh garden vegetable, jalapeno & their maple bacon and siracha. They were all amazing. 286 8th Ave (and three other locations in Greenwich village, Astoria and Long Island City).
• Pera Soho: Super chic and hip and all things I am not. But I AM about are lamb chops and they do them well! 54 Thompson St (and Broome St).
• Caracas Arepas: If you are an arepa fan go here. While they have only like 4-5 tables (super creative made out of crates). With two Brooklyn locations and one in Queens, their Manhattan location is small and packed but fast-moving!. Any arepa is a good choice as is their guac with homemade chips. 91 E. 7th St. 
• Simon & the Whale: Awesome brunch menu – go for the fried chicken in a biscuit sandwich. They also do good oysters. Their Bloody Mary however, is super smoky (you have been warned!). 23 Lexington Ave.
• San Marzano: You can pick the kind of pasta you want and then the kind of sauce and it’s all delicious. 117 2nd Ave.
• The Ribbon: This place is perfect for before a show or something as it’s pretty close to a lot of the theaters. Their fried chicken sandwich was also very good. Note: there are a LOT of fries that come with this sandwich. Like the amount you can’t finish. Upper West Side: 20 W 72nd St OR Midtown: 220 W 44th St.
• Casa Adela: My first outing with Puerto Rican cuisine. It’s a lot of beans and rice (delicious), fried plantains and pork. What could be bad about this? This mom and pop shop totally hits the spot! 66 Avenue C.
• Olio e Piu: Their carbonara! Molto delizioso! 3 Greenwich Ave.
• 3 Monkeys: This place has 36 beers on draft, a ridiculously delicious mac n cheese and crazy good lamb burger. All things that make me go “what diet”? 236 W 54 St.
• A Summer Day Cafe: This place was a walk and find and they had a delicious brunch. The smoked salmon benedict is served with a potato latke in place of any form of bread. Genius! 109 W Broadway.
• Haswell Greens: If you want a place with good pizza and amazing entertainment – go here. One night it was a piano bar another it was a band playing all your latest hits and people dancing the night away! 420 W 52nd St.

And then a couple of sweet treat options, just in case!

• Van Leeuwen: They are all over the city and do delicious ice-cream and what’s good is that they have a whole host of vegan ice cream options as well!
• Cupcake Market: This place smells like baked goods – only the best smell in the world. And they make cookies of famous peoples faces. And they will make one of a face you want if you give them picture. I mean, how RAD is that? 74 East 7th St.

Is NYC your jam? Where are your fav places to break bread in the city? Tell us for whenever our next trip is to the Big Apple!