To kill two birds with one stone

I remember promising to give a lowdown on how divine "Bibimbap" and "West 32nd Street" are ... so here it is, compact in one post that also simultaneously covers my favorite Korean restaurants in no particular order. Aren't I so multifaceted :)

A quick FYI for those who are unfamiliar with Bibimbap: it's a popular Korean dish that consists of a whole buncha sliced up veggies and meat (usu. beef) served over a steaming bowl of rice, topped with an egg - all to be mixed together in a spectacular mishmash with a red chile pepper paste before you embark on eating it. I like 'dolsot bibimbap' which is bibimbap served in a sizzling stone bowl; keeps your meal hot during its entirety and further adds a crispiness to some of the rice, yum!

1. LI HUA (171 Grand St. )

- This place serves the best bibimbap I've ever had! You must try the 'bulgogi dolsot bimbimbap' - the meat is marinated so that it's bursting with flavor. They also put shitake mushrooms, which I haven't seen as a bibimbap ingredient anywhere else; makes a great additional taste and texture. For all their bibimbaps, they offer the normal chili paste but also a home-made soy sauce concoction for those who feel adverse to any kind of spiciness. You may ask for both if the whim hits you.

- All the other foods I've tried here have not disappointed me either, for example the 'rice cakes' and the 'kalbi'.

- Great lunch deal; Good service; Minimal decoration; And you'll usually find some sort of bubbly Asian pop on the sound system.

2. KUNJIP (9 W.32nd St.)

- I find that the highlight with this place is that it's slightly cheaper than the other restaurants along 32nd.

- The food is fine, not amazing, but it's exceedingly popular nonetheless, oftentimes there's a line here that rivals that of Pinkberry.

- Service and decor are nothing special.

3. SEOUL GARDEN (34 W.32nd St.)

- They're known for their 'soon doobu' here (a savory thick stew with super-soft tofu) and there's no question why - it's heavenly! I always get the 'seafood soon doobu' with 'medium spicey'. I end up drinking a lot of water though. My fav part is cracking the raw egg into it and then eating the mushed up 1/2 cooked egg with the stew and rice.
- They have a decent amount of sidedishes, good thing is that you can ask for refills, although the service is blah, especially at dinnertime, you might have to wait a bit if you don't make reservations ahead, they're becoming more and more popular, must make a note to become friends with the hostess.

4. SHILA (37 W.32nd St.)

- Good food; soothing ambience; diligent service; lots of sidedishes; but as expected, just slightly more expensive than those mentioned above.

- I've realized that it helps if you speak Korean at these restaurants, or bring a handy Korean-speaking buddy along, so that you/they can make banter with the waitresses making them warm to your table more, haha.

5. KUM GANG SAN (Flushing, Queens: 138-28 Northern Blvd)

- My overall favorite Korean restaurant. The food tastes authentic, and finally a place that serves a proper whole lot of sidedishes. Although my fondness for this place could be biased due to some nostalgic childhood memories here.

- This place is hidden behind a building, you basically drive towards a hole-in-the-wall to find the parking lot and then you reach this massive restaurant, very surprising.

- They also have a Jpnese selection on their menu, it's so-so, I recommend sticking to the Korean stuff

- They have a location in Manhattan too (49 W.32nd St.) which I only vaguely remember going to - just some disconnected memories of a good bibimbap, an opulent waterfull and a lot of blue decor ... it's been a long time.

Notice how most of the above are located on W.32nd? Sigh, it's a great place for the stomach. So how about some delectable dessert that's also on the block?

1. PINKBERRY (7 W.32nd St.)

I love this place - see previous post on the issue. Although their recent behavior is definitely shady; a stubborn reluctance to divulge what their stuff is made of (they no longer call it fro-yo) and a mice problem with their uptown location - get your act together Pinkberry!

2. KORYODANG INC (31 W.32nd St.)
A chic, modern and spacious (at the back) Korean bakery that not only sells all sorts of pastries and cakes, but also popsicles and the best shaved ice ever - they serve it with a red bean sauce, various fruits, and really good mochi pieces!

Now, top your evening off with a heart-felt karaoke session and you're all set!

Newsflash

It's here! www.nycvisit.com/restaurantweek

Brunch Part I: LES

I wasn't a fan of the Lower East Side until last winter when I was inducted into its brilliance through a series of fine brunches. Here are some of my favs:

1. CLINTON ST. BAKING COMPANY (4 Clinton St.)

(Left: Biscuit sandwich w/ homemade tomato jam, Right: Blueberry pancakes)

We waited a whole 2 hours on a Sun. before getting seated at this joint, crazy huh? What's crazier is that it was worth the wait. Now, you may argue that no food is worth that kind of time investment, but let me wag my finger here because then you would be much mistaken my friend. Let me just say you have to try this place at least once in your lifetime, and if there just so happens to be a 2 hour wait then so be it. (This place serves up weekend brunch 7 days of the week, so if you're one of the fortunate few that do not work on weekdays I would suggest going then to avoid the massive sat/sun crowds).Voted as the 'best brunch' and 'pancakes' from Time Out NY and New York Mag respectively. What's so amazing is the perfectly honest home style cooking that is immaculate in taste and presentation. For example, the buttermilk pancakes come with a 'maple butter' dipping sauce that just warms and melts your insides with a giddy pleasure. Oh, and that homemade jam - so fresh, so perfectly balanced between sweet and tang - we ended up just eating it by the spoonful. They also sell their baked goodies at the front of the shop to takeout or to satisfy your hunger as you longingly wait in line to be seated. One of their tricksy strategies to keep us hanging around was by offering us samples of their magical deliciousness; it sure kept us hooked.

2. ALIAS (76 Clinton St.)

A charming little place with lovely decor and lovely prices. The impression I got from this place was fresh everything; the ingredients are seasonal and sometimes whipped up into slightly unconventional concoctions (I've tried the fried chicken on top of buttered cornmeal waffles combo, yummy). A truly worthwhile second choice if you get fed up with "Clinton St. Baking Company's" line. Brunch is served here on the weekends.

3. ESSEX (120 Essex St.)
This spacious loft-like restaurant used to be a part of the Essex St. Market before they renovated it into a hip loungey establishment. The brunch here (served on weekends) is decent; although the sub par food is made up by the cheap price ($16 brunch special) which comes with 3 drinks to boot, nothing like a bloody mary to nurse that hangover eh?

However, I much prefer this place at night when the food quality is generally better and when there is usually no line to be seated. Furthermore, this place is chock-full of seafood specials I love!

- Tuesday: Unlimited mussels fries $14 and 1/2 price drinks (6-9): I've been here twice for this and my my you can really utilize your 4 stomachs, if you have more than one (note the 'UNLIMITED'). The mussel soup base is nice and savory while the fries are some of the best I've had - thick, fresh, crispy on the outside and steaming soft on the inside.
- Wednesday: Whole maine lobster for $16 and 1/2 prince drinks (6-9): The lobster was surprisingly large, sweet, springy and fresh for the price - delish!
- Thursday: $1 oysters all night and 1/2 price drinks (6-9): I have yet to try the oysters.

A-ma-i, Ka-la-i, O-i-shi, Wa-ga-ma-ma

Among my looong list of foodie obsessions, ramen is one of them. And by ramen I mean a hearty hot bowl of steaming fresh Japanese noodles - not the instant/packaged kind. I have spent much of last winter looking for the perfect bowl (got close, but there's always better out there). Anyway, here's a list of some places I tried from the worst to the best (although they all have their distinct characteristics, and if you're like me, you'll need to try them all).

1. AJISEN (14 Mott St.)

The noodles have a proper 'al dente' and starchy taste (Ajisen claims that they are made from the traditional 'hand pulled' style ... although I have my doubts). The various Japanese appetizers/tapas are also worth ordering, such as the "crab meat salad". Best part are the cheap prices. However, somehow this Jpnese chain tastes better in Asia, I think it's the broth that makes all the difference (perhaps affected by the absence of msg in the States ... haha). So, I tend to order the "eel fried rice" more while in NY ... best I've had, or more honestly, I've never had it anywhere else.

2. SAPPORO (152 W. 49th St/ btwn 7th&6th Ave)
Popular noodle joint for the young professionals in mid-town area. The ramen tasted quite authentic, the prices were decent and the service quick - esp. necessary during the lunch rush hours. However, there wasn't anything to tell it apart from any other mediocre ramen establishment.

3. RAI RAI KEN (214 E. 10th St/ btwn 1st&2nd Ave)
A cosy little place in the East Village that seats only 14. The ramen isn't amazing (the broth is significantly lighter here than at other places) but the homey effect of the surroundings, the aroma & steam oozing out of the open kitchen, and the cook handing you your ramen himself lends it a nostalgic and authentic air.

4. MINCA (536 E. 5th St/ btwn A&B Ave)

At one far end of the East Village lies this little "ramen factory". Although slightly out of the way, it is worth the trek if you're looking for authentic taste & atmosphere (I've realized cramped spaces is apparently a positive thing when it comes to 'ramen' and 'authenticity'). However, the broth was almost too flavorful that it became too bitter/fishy/meaty at times; so I guess it's not the ideal type of ramen to stumble upon if you're not actively seeking it or familiar with the concept.

5. MOMOFUKU (163 1st Ave/ btwn 10th&11th St)


One of my favorite restaurants in NYC! The food never disappoints no matter what you try on the menu, and it changes occasionally too. It's always fun to try new dishes when there's a creative fusion element to them. However, you'll always be able to find the fundamental staples - the "momofuku ramen" and the "steamed buns" (photos above). Although the ramen noodles themselves are more 'noodle' than 'ramen', what I love about the dish here is the complete taste (and the perfect poached egg on top completes it). As a heads up, like many other worthwhile restaurants in manhattan, there's always a wait during dinner and the prices are more expensive - but it's worth it! The decor is plywood everything. I find the stools impractical and heavy but they do have some minimalist aesthetic appeal if you're into that kind of thing. An open kitchen is always hip, and the hidden hook to hang your bag up under the table is a nice touch (which I only found out after my 5th visit -__-).

Sidenote 1: Recently, my ramen craze has been replaced by 'bimbimbop', which I'll cover soon. (I think it was the abnormally long winter in NY that spawned my search of foods to vanquish the cold.)
Sidenote 2: If you're bored, check out the "Ramen Song" by Taiwanese boyband "Energy" ... hahaha, yeah.

HK: Summerlove

So here's a little of what I've been up to in Hong Kong:
1. HUI LAU SHAN (許留山)


I LOVE this place. Perfect for the mango maniacs - they make it in any form imaginable: diced up slices, puddings, ice-creams, ices, smoothies, etc. (There's even one mixed with 'hasmar' - a Chinese dessert ingredient made from the fallopian tubes of frogs, mmmm?) The fruit has always been fresh everytime I've had it (as verified by the countless mango crates constantly stacked outside). Especially with it being so hot in the summer, I come here on a weekly basis (and with numerous shops throughout hk's most popular locations - it's a great revitalizer during a grueling shopping session). Furthermore, it doesn't break the wallet. A typical mango dessert is about HK$22 - 28, the drinks are usually $20, but cheaper if you buy two or three.
Sidenote 1: The Chinese characters on the sign are supposed to be read from right to left, as that's how they used do it the old-school way.
Sidenote 2: Mango isn't actually a very healthy fruit. It generates a lot of "hot heat" (熱氣) in the body, like too much 'yang' over 'yin' (uhm, or the other way round, I'm not sure), which essentially dehydrates the body and leaves you more vulnerable to illness, breakouts, etc. Some "cold-air fruits" which can neutralize it include pear, watermelon, pomelo, mangosteen.

2. GOLDEN BULL (金牛苑越南茶館)

This is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants to go to for their hot dishes and curries. Even the bread is really tasty and fresh! They have them in Time Square - Causeway Bay, Grand Century Plaza - Mong Kok, Harbour city - TST (Top: Beef Brisket Curry, French Loaf; Bottom: Duck a la Orange)

3. PLEASANT PALACE (囍臨門酒家)



Dim sum - the Cantonese version of brunch. My favorite place of all time can be found in Shun Tak Centre - Sheung Wan. I've tried many and this is one is by far the best! Good quality and decent prices (especially if you go on a weekday before 12pm). For example - even the wrapper on the shrimp dumpling is properly thin, smooth and flavorful ... not the thick bland stuff you usually find. This place also has the best Cream Buns (奶油包) - the cute swirly looking things. The only negative thing is that you need to bring your own napkins. (Clockwise from top: XO Sauce Chicken Feet, Shrimp Dumplings, Century Egg/Meat Congee, Cream Buns).