Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Red Star Sandwich Shop, Boerum Hill, NYC
Category Archives: ASIAN
Spicy Lanka, Jamaica, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $
Must try: Egg Hoppers, Pittu, Chicken Biryani, Chicken Kothu, Eggplant Mojju
The Ramen Lab, Nolita, NYC
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own
Dumpling Galaxy, Flushing, NYC
Hunan Kitchen of Grand Sichuan, Flushing, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: BBQ Fish Hunan Style, Sautéed Dry String Beans, Pan Fried Noodles with Chicken
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Mŏkbar, Chelsea, NYC
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own
Dhruv’s Kati Shack Factory, Fresh Meadows, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $
Must try: Jhal Muri, Chicken Kati Roll, Keema Kati Roll
Pure Thai Cookhouse, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆½
Cost: $$
Must try: Nakorn-Patom Duck Noodles Soup, Egg Omelette, Wok Chili Turmeric With Beef
Soda Bottle Openerwala, Gurgaon, India
Ivan Ramen, Lower East Side, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance:☆☆☆½
Cost: $$
Must try: Spicy Red Chili Ramen, Lancaster Okonomiyaki
Jade Asian, Flushing, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Dimsum, special tasting menus
Laut, Union Square/ Flatiron, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance:☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Salt and Pepper Squid, Mee Goreng
Fushimi, Williamsburg, NYC
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Wa Jeal, Upper East Side, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$ ½
Must try: Wok Roasted Diced Chicken w/ Thousand Chili
Dinner with Chopped star Ted Allen at Pok Pok Ny hosted by Pepcid/ Eater
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Nom Wah Tea Parlor, Chinatown, New York
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆ ½
Cost: $$$
Must try: Rice-noodle rolls, Shrimp and Chive Dumpling
Jaiya Thai, Murray Hill/ Yorkville, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆ ½
Ambiance: ☆☆ ½
Cost: $$
Must try: Special Sauce, Indian Curry, Laad Na
Madangsui, Midtown West, NYC
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Hakkasan, Midtown West, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆½
Cost: $$$$
Must try: Dim Sum, pumpkin-duck puffs, Chicken Sanpei
Thelewala, Greenwich Village, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $
Must try: Chicken Phall Roll
Thelewala, as its name suggests, has recreated the street food experience right here in New York City.
Situated on MacDougal Street amongst numerous tiny eateries, Thelewala offers stiff competition to Kathi Roll Company that is situated diagonally across.
The concise menu here offers uncommon variations on kati rolls which they call “Famous Nizami Rolls”. There are several fillings one can choose from with both vegetarian and non- vegetarian options. My favorite was the spicy Chicken Phall Roll.
Thelewala also offers other street style food ubiquitous in Kolkata. Do try their Jaal Moori which is a riff on the more common bhelpuri. It is prepared with puffed rice, peanuts, red onions, potatoes, lime and oil (ask for mustard oil which is the authentic version vs. olive oil)
The owner Shiva Natarajan’s who also owns Chola, Dhaba, Bhojan and more, is a native of Kolkata – where street food reigns supreme. As I too am of similar origins, I can tell you that Thelewala is the real deal.
Here is some of what we ate:
Phuchka
Jaal Moori
Chicken Malai Roll
Chicken Phall Roll
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|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Thelewala | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| West Village / Thai | |
| * Street Address | |
| 112 MacDougal St. (Between Minetta Ln. & Bleecker St.), New York, NY 10012 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 614-9100 |
Bohemian, Greenwich Village, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try:The Bohemian Tasting
Ever done the secret dining circuit in New York? If not then Bohemian is a great place to start.
There is such a thrill in going to that clandestine, unmarked restaurant with no published phone number that is hidden away behind a Japanese butchers store. I was expecting a super snobby, exclusive chic kind of atmosphere but what lies behind Bohemian’s doors totally disarms all of that.
Once you are buzzed in, the entire mystique melts away and what you are left with is a really inviting space, which feels more like being in someone’s living room. Here you are served rather remarkable fare by the nicest of people. Trust the Japanese to create the ultimate speakeasy!
At Bohemian, chef Kiyo Shinoki prepares Japanese inspired creative plates that are artful both in composition and presentation. Each dish is thoughtfully created blending Japanese cooking techniques to maximize flavors.
The Bohemian Tasting for $55 (6 courses) is a very reasonable offering which allows you to sample an array of different tastes. There also is a full bar with an assortment of Asian inspired cocktails.
Bohemian has a very a stringent reservation policy which is by phone only. They also ask for a referral when you call in.
Bohemian respectfully requests that their “secret phone number” not be published anywhere however if you visit their website at (www.playearth.jp) and write a a self-introduction to them and you might just find your way in.
Here is some of what we ate:
Farmer’s Fresh Vegetables Fondue
Washu-Beef Short Rib Sashimi
Uni Croquette
Pan Roasted Branzini
Washu-Beef Mini Burger
House Caviar Rice Bowl
Foie Gras Soba
Honey Lemon Pannacotta
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|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Bohemian | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| East Village / Japanese / Steak | |
| * Street Address | |
| 57 Great Jones St. (bet. Bowery & Lafayette St.), New York, NY 10012 | |
| * Phone | |
The Nipponista Event at Maison O hosted by Isetan, Soho, NYC
Last night I was invited by Tabélog to attend ‘Nipponista‘, an event hosted by Isetan, the largest department store in Japan. Nipponista is part of a Japanese project called ‘Cool Japan’ and was created to transmit Japanese fashion, art and food information throughout the world.
Uncle Boons, Nolita, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆½
Cost: $$$
Must try: Chicken and Banana Blossom Salad, Khao Soi, Grilled Blowfish Tails
Uncle Boons is a wonderful downtown dining spot serving uncommon Thai fare.
This eatery was opened the by husband and wife team of Ann Redding and Matt Danzer, both of ex- Per Se pedigree.
The menu here shies away from the regular Thai offerings of copious amounts of curries, noodles, satays and so on. The selection here is limited but in a thoughtful way.
Many of the recipes used in the kitchen are handed down from Redding’s family – who was born in Thailand. Where else can one try delicate dish of tender charcoal-grilled blowfish tails served with a fresh green chili sauce or chicken and banana blossom salad with several layers of flavor and texture in every bite. The Khao Soi is a must try dish consisting of a flavorful yellow curry served with both soft and crunchy noodles.
The one thing I missed at Uncle Boons was spice. The menu seems to focus more on the gentler side of Thai food which is refreshing too.
At Uncle Boons the attention seems to be on creating a culinary experience that is a little set apart from the rest and yet authentic in its core.
Here is some of what we ate:
Spicy Roasted Chicken & Banana Blossom Salad
Steamed Egg wrapped in Red Curry & Kaffir Lime
Northern Style Golden Curry (Khao Soi)
Grilled Blowfish Tails
Water Spinach with Garlic
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|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Uncle Boons | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Lower East Side / Thai | |
| * Street Address | |
| 7 Spring St. (Between Bowery & Elizabeth St.), New York, NY 10012 | |
| * Phone | |
| (646) 370-6650 |
Bún-ker, Maspeth, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆½
Cost: $$
Must try: Crab Spring Rolls, Ca Ri Ga, Cha Ca La Vong, Bahn Xeo (actually get one of everything on the menu!)
