yabadabadaba's Profile
Hakata Ippudo NY- 1 thumb up, 1 thumb down
Ajisen is overlooked and under appreciated because of their bad reputaion in the early days. Some people just can't judge their ramen fairly because of bad memory. Also, Minca is very good for tonkotsu (pig bone broth) ramen. However, I often get stomach ache after eating there. I don't know why. Menchanko have nice hakata style tonkotsu ramen too.
Moving from NYC, some last sushi before i go
Can't beat owner / chef sushi places. Sushi chef's commitment level will be low in hired chief sushi chef situation. Maybe you can apply that in any type of restaurant. Owner / chef establishment are the best.
Relatively cheap dinner for 40 people?
Just go to the Madison Square park and have great burgers and shakes at Shake Shack! Great for summer outdoor.
Looking for a real salumeria
Love DiPalo's. They don't make their salami's at all, but have great selection. Never been to Biellese, got check it out.
Moving from NYC, some last sushi before i go
Tomoe Sushi is my favorite. Original owner sushi chef guy is back now and quality is back again. David Blaine is a regular there. Saw him once lunch time before close. He was eating a bunch of tuna hand roll (might be negi toro). David's buddy Leo DiCaprio also goes there. Good sushi restaurant always have good tamago (egg). They know what they are doing.
Best Chinatown Restaurant
When I ate Roast Duck over Rice at a restaurant on Canal St. east of Broadway, I thought that was the most delicious thing I had ever had. Try that one!
Relatively cheap eats & drinks near Central Park?
Landmarc at the Time Warner building. Try "Bone Marrow", for real though.
Dinner near 37th & Lex?
Blarney Stone on around 44th is my choice. Irish have a very important role in New York City history. Loved their roast beef and mashed potatoes.
Tokyo hound in NYC for 4th of July. A few ?'s.
Try chicken rice from street cart vendors. That's the quintessential New York food equivalent of Isobeyaki in roppongi winter. Little Italy Italians should be avoided.
1 meal in chinatown - where?
That's a very good question. If you like quthentic Sichuan food, I would go straight to the Grand Sichuan (大四川）near the Bridge at 125 Canal Street. I never had bad food there. Everything is very good. Fuleen （富臨）is very good too. Just order what other chinese people are eating, but daily soup is a must. 11 Division St is the address. Better yet, a bus ride from chinatown to boston is only $15 or so. For Dim Sum, I would go for Hee Win Lai （喜運来）at 28 Pell St .
Best Chicken Rice Cart in Manhattan?
My most favorite is the one on 43rd & 6th Ave. SE corner. Their chicken rice is more Indo-Pak-Bhangra than middle eastern. I think you can choose either basmati rice or American rice. I always choose basmati rice. Their hot sauce is very hot and spicy, but adds great flavor to it.
Sun Say Kai - my official replacement for Mei Lai Wah
It's ”新世界”. I never tried there, but seems very popular and good location too.
Hot Sauce/Taptio?
My favorite is Yucateco Green Habanero. It's very hot, but flavor of Habanero is very appetizing. You only need a drop or two.
http://www.amazon.com/El-Yucateco-Green-Chile-Habanero/dp/B0000GLL7A/ref=pd_sim_gf_img_2
You can buy it in any real Mexican neiborhood I guess. I buy at a supermarket in Astoria called "Trade Fair" right near the 30th Ave. station on N or W train. It's on the west side of the station on 30th Ave. They also have Tapatio I guess. A lot of mexicans also use "Valentina" hot sauce which is similar to Tapatio but cheaper.
http://www.mexgrocer.com/brand-valentina.html
Mexicans use this Valentina hot sauce on sliced Mango. It actually taste good. You can try it under the #7 train Jackson Heights 82nd St. station.
Hakata Ippudo NY- 1 thumb up, 1 thumb down
I went there once. Soup was alright, but the noodles were soft. Charshu was sliced very thin and very small, only 2 pcs. For $13, it's a rip off. You are paying $5 for the fancy decor. I will never go there unless they reduce the price to $7.50 or somebody else paying for it. For that price, I prefer Ajisen. Minca is much better too, but I almost always get a stomach ache after eating there. Right now, Setaga-ya is the best ramen spot for me. Menkuitei and Menchanko are reliable too.
