Don’t remember when but ramen seems to have invaded the NYC dining scene. It wasn’t a thing before Momofuku. I remember a time when Rai Rai Ken seemingly the city’s only option, and I would have to cross the river to Mitsuwa to get a decent bowl. Thanks to David Cheung, all the sudden, NYers are obsessed. Nowadays, there is always a line outside of Ippudo; Momofuku became an empire; everyone is making ramen. The Japanese slurping culture became a trend here, a hip thing to do. Ramen places keep popping up all over the city. Minca, Mr Taka are among my favorites, to name a few. And now the Iron Chef decided he can make ramen too. Well, not exactly that he is “making” ramen. Morimoto team up with Sun noodle (US-based ramen manufacture, factories in NJ, LA & Honolulu) -to deliver his vision of ramen to NYers. Their love child- Momosan open its door on an April Friday evening near Grand Central.
Category: <span>Cheap Eats</span>
It is usually packed around at this cute little cafe, a hidden gem in the chaos of Chinatown and little Italy. On a sunny Spring afternoon, it would be so nice to grab the bench chairs outdoor. But the day I stopped by, the outdoor seats are not set up yet. I stepped into the airy room with exposed brick wall painted over in white. It is dreamy, with clouds and starry lights hanging over head.
Danny Bowien- A Korean guy cooking (Americanized) Chinese food; a 2013 James Beard rising star Award winner. How does a long hair Asian dude take over down all the Italian chefs and won the pesto world champion (2008)? We are very curious.
We wanted to go to Danny Bowein’s place for quite sometime now. He made his fame in the west coast. After his move to this side of the continent, we now have Mission Chinese and Mission Cantina, both in Lower East Side.
So on a Thursday, we went for tacos. I should have done more reading before I went, apparently Mission Cantina had changed their menu to mostly burrito…. The only taco available on the day was fish taco. All those great cumin lamb taco, pork shoulder taco and mushroom tacos I’ve read so much about were “retired”, so was the chicken wings… Our server told us their menu frequently changes, and the items I mentioned were “winter season”. Disappointed but we still have high expectations about the sole taco on the menu. To be honest, there weren’t a lot of choices.
1st ave is filled with great eateries. Among countless neighborhood gems, SenYa is one of them. The place opened in march 2015, I must have passed by it more than a few thousand times and not notice. It is a small store front. Outside, plain and simple; inside, it is deep but narrow. We came across this place by word of mouth. Before our visit, I was a little skeptical. I fear that it is one of those California roll take out places. But we are so happy we did. Here is what we have—