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Chinatown

Chinatown, Restaurants
Exploring Across the Street at Famous Sichuan – NYC
02.22.10 | Permalink | 5 Comments

Whenever my family comes to visit me in Manhattan, we usually go to Joe’s Shanghai because we’re all addicted to their soup dumplings. Yes, I know everyone likes to hate on Joe’s Shanghai these days, but we still love their xialongbao. Sure, it’s not as delicate as the crabmeat buns at Din Tai Fung in Hong Kong, or as cheap as a million other places in Taiwan, but I have room in my heart and stomach for all kinds of xialongbao. Fill it with soup, and I will eat it. Last month, however, I told my family I wanted to go somewhere else, somewhere completely different… the place across the street from Joe’s Shanghai, Famous Sichuan! They didn’t seem very excited, but I promised them if it was bad we could always go to Joe’s, and they begrudgingly relented. I don’t believe in democracy when it comes to food. MORE »
Chinatown, Raising the Bar
Finding Venice in Chinatown at Bacaro – NYC
09.23.09 | Permalink | Comment?

I’m leaving Seoul for Beijing in a few hours, and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to go online safely to write a post, so until then, content yourself with “Raising the Bar: Finding Venice in Chinatown at Bacaro – NYC” on Serious Eats: NY. I get romantic with some cuttlefish in Chinatown.
Chinatown, Little Italy, Small Shops, Street Eats
Snacking on the Run Downtown – NYC
07.24.09 | Permalink | 6 Comments

Spicy Pork Jerky from Malaysia Beef Jerky

In the summer I get antsy. It’s hard to sit in a restaurant for too long when it’s gorgeous out, especially this year in New York when the number of sunny days are eclipsed by rainy ones. I want to be outside and feel the sun on my face. As a result, I find myself grabbing quick eats best enjoyed sitting on a park bench or lounging in the grass; a bagel here, some Mexican corn there, and when the carnivore in me demands it, jerky from Malaysia Beef Jerky. MORE »
Chinatown, Small Shops
Roast Pork at Wah Fung #1 Fast Food – NYC
06.29.09 | Permalink | 9 Comments

1) Delicious? Check.
2) Cheap? Check.
3) Abdominal Distress? Check.

Some things sound too good to be true. Like magic berries that make you lose weight without exercise, girl… you know it’s not going to happen. So when I first read about the $2.25 Roast Pork over Rice at Wah Fung on Serious Eats, I knew there had to be a catch. But I went anyway, and ordered the roast pork over rice, which by the way is now $2.50. If roast pork is not your thing, you can get chicken instead, but as you all know, pork is definitely my thing. Your protein of choice also comes with vegetables or noodles. Vegetables is either cabbage, broccoli, or yardlong beans, or some variation of whatever is available at the moment. When I ordered, a tray of broccoli was just brought out from the back, so I got broccoli and cabbage. MORE »
Chinatown, Small Shops
More Noodling at Sheng Wang – NYC
06.04.09 | Permalink | 7 Comments

With the weather so nice these days, David and I have been eating a lot of hand pulled noodles after work at Sheng Wang. It’s filling and delicious, but most importantly, it’s quick, so we still have enough time to enjoy the daylight when we’re done. Even corporate zombies need sunlight. MORE »
Chinatown, Restaurants
The Most Awesome Pineapple Bun in Chinatown…and Some Meat – NYC
04.28.09 | Permalink | 12 Comments

Exactly one month ago, I wrote about the godawful roast pork bun from Sun Say Kai. Well, I’m happy to report, Sun Say Kai has redeemed themselves with the most awesome pineapple buns (bo lo bao) in Chinatown! I kid you not, these buns are the real deal. The bread itself is soft, dense, and chewy, as Chinese pastries tend to be, but what really makes the pineapple buns at Sun Say Kai better than most, is the extra-thick crunchy topping. The sweet crumbly top is practically cookie-like, and is definitely addictive if you like thin crispy sugar cookies made with lard. MORE »
Chinatown, Restaurants
Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich) at Pho So 1 – NYC
04.13.09 | Permalink | 3 Comments

My usual go-to banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) spot is Banh Mi Saigon on Mott Street. I used to prefer the other popular shop in Alphabet City, but then last summer, I got a severe case of food poisoning one day after eating a banh mi there. After that, I’ve been a bit wary of the place, and have been sticking to the Vietnamese sandwiches in Chinatown. Because trust me, if I got sick, something must have been terribly wrong.

Last week, I got off the N train on Canal Street with a craving for a banh mi, but for some reason, I didn’t want to go above Canal Street. Instead, I ended up wandering down Mott Street when I saw the grand opening sign for Pho So 1 advertising a ten percent discount off all of their Vietnamese sandwiches (take-out only). Banh mis, usually in the $3-$4 range, are cheap as is, but a ten percent discount on top of that was pretty ridiculous. So where some people would be scared of a discount on food in Chinatown, I readily descended into the depths of Pho So 1. MORE »