Puerto Rico: Mofongo, Mofongo, Mofongo

Just like Maine, Puerto Rico is a great trip for a long ...

Mainely Lobster Rolls

Maine is a great place for a quick trip, mixing breathtaking coastlines, lush ...

SINGAPORE: Guide to Sweating Through Hawker Stalls and Markets (lah)

As part of my quest to make it to every country around ...

A sampling of Food with a side of Culture: SEOUL

As part of my quest to make it to every country around the ...

Blue Ribbon Brasserie: Bone Marrow + Oxtail = Best Dish Around

Blue Ribbon Brasserie 97 Sullivan St [Sullivan btw Spring St & Prince St) ...

Artisanal: Cheeeeeese (Yea, I got out)

Artisanal 2 Park Ave [32nd btw Park and Madison] New York, NY ...

Seo: Only Tokyo Would Be More Authentic (+ Late Night Ramen)

Seo Japanese Restaurant 249 E 49th St [49th btw 2nd & 3rd] ...

Fish: Great Seafood – Try the $20 Lobster Feast

Fish 280 Bleecker St. [Bleecker & Jones] New York, NY http://www.fishrestaurantnyc.com/ Should ...

HIT Deli & Korean Food: A Hidden Gem, Emphasis on Hidden

HIT Deli & Korean Food 150 W28th St. [28th btw 6th & ...

[Update] No. 7 Sub: A must try

No. 7 Sub 1188 Broadway [29th & Broadway; Ace Hotel] New York, ...

Faicco’s Italian Specialties: Awesome Italian Deli

Faicco’s Italian Specialties 260 Bleecker St [Bleecker & Cornelia] New York, NY ...

Banh Mi Saigon: Best banh mi in the city

Banh Mi Saigon 198 Grand Street [Grand btw Mott & Mulberry] New ...

BALI

As part of my quest to make it to every country around the world, one of my latest trips was to Asia.   In particular – Seoul, Singapore, Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) and Bali (Indonesia). WHAT TO DO? Ubud Cycling Tour: Worth getting out of the resort or city and getting to the mountains and local villages. […]

Tanzania

   

Guest Post by Gastronome Gypsy — Marea

MAREA 240 Central Park South [btw 7th Ave. and 8th Ave.] New York, NY http://www.marea-nyc.com/ Post Author – A fellow foodie, Gastronome Gypsy. You can catch her at GastronomeGypsy.tumblr.com. Should You Try? No you shouldn’t because it’s too good & I wouldn’t want to wait the next time I’m there. I should probably preface this […]

Big, Bold and Fatty Crab

Fatty Crab 643 Hudson Street [between Horatio and Gansevoort] New York, NY http://www.fattycrab.com/home/ You Should Try: The Watermelon Pickle and Crispy Pork I have to say, I really like what the Fatty Crew has done with their restaurants, which also includes Pig and Khao.  Their restaurants serve a mix of traditional Asian dishes with twists, and the […]

Maharlika

Maharlika 111 1st Ave [17th & 1st] New York, NY http://maharlikanyc.com/ You should try: Go with a group and try everything.  Seriously, it was all very tasty. Tip: Definitely make reservations before you go since its packed during brunch on weekends. Maharlika brings a modern take on Filipino food, mixing traditional Filipino staples with American […]

Pescatore: 50% off (up to $20)

Pescatore  955 2nd Ave. [2nd btw 50th and 51th] New York, NY http://www.pescatorerestaurant.com/ Should you try? The best dish by far is the Fettucini D’Aragosta so stick with that. Tip: 50% off (up to $20) on Scoutmob. Although I’ve found the food at Pescatore to be generally pretty good, there are two main reasons to go […]

Thanksgiving Special: Filipino Food from Pig and Khao

First off, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone both enjoyed and appreciated their time with family and friends. And you better have used Thanksgiving as an excuse to act like a glutton and eat six huge plates of food…because when else can you use a holiday as an excuse to overindulge yourself in all the delicious food […]

SUSHI YOU should try

Sushi You 246 E 51st St (51st btw 2nd & 3rd) New York, NY http://www.sushi-you.com/ Should you try? As the title says, you should try Sushi You I’ve found my new go-to spot for sushi/sashimi in Midtown East – Sushi You (for an all around Japanese meal? Seo). The restaurant hides below street level on […]

Puerto Rico: Mofongo, Mofongo, Mofongo

Just like Maine, Puerto Rico is a great trip for a long weekend.  A 4hr flight will bring you to Puerto Rico, with its nice beaches, historic city, rain forest and biobays (bays filled with bioluminescent microorganisms; only a few in the world). I definitely recommend doing a tour of the rainforest and the biobay. […]

Amma: For when you’re craving Indian food

Amma 246 E 51st St New York, NY http://www.ammanyc.com/ Should you try? Yes.  Very tasty Indian food with great service. Indian food is always flavorful (actually I think it’s the most flavorful cuisine), but if you’re looking for a good spot in Midtown East definitely check out Amma.  All of the dishes are extremely tasty, […]

Mainely Lobster Rolls

Maine is a great place for a quick trip, mixing breathtaking coastlines, lush forests, and of course LOBSTER!!!!  I’ll get to the lobster later. Wanting to pack in Portland, Bar Harbor, and Acadia National Park into a three day vacation, we probably spent 2/3rd of our trip traveling.  If you’ve never been to Maine and plan […]

CIA – As in Culinary Institute of America

Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, NY http://www.ciachef.edu/ If you’re ever in “Upstate NY”, love food and want an interesting experience, check out the Culinary Institute of America (CIA).  We went to Escoffier, the school’s French restaurant. It was a really interesting experience, with basically all the “employees” either students or professors. The Maitre d’ […]

Toum: New Lebanese Food Truck Making the Rounds

Toum Food Truck – Location Varies New York, NY Should you try? I’ve only been once, but will most likely try Toum again….So yes. I tried the Kafta sandwich ($7), which is worth trying. It comes on a giant pita that is cut in half and grilled, then stuffed with beef, parsley, tomato, pickles, onions […]

SINGAPORE: Guide to Sweating Through Hawker Stalls and Markets (lah)

As part of my quest to make it to every country around the world, my latest trip was to Asia.   In particular – Seoul, Singapore, Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) and Bali (Indonesia). Singapore is THE food mecca, plain and simple. Singapore flat out has the best food I’ve ever had. And how can you not […]

A sampling of Food with a side of Culture: SEOUL

As part of my quest to make it to every country around the world, my latest trip was to Asia.   In particular – Seoul, Singapore, Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) and Bali (Indonesia). Although it is similar to other major cities, the culture and food make Seoul a great place to visit. The locals are obsessed with food […]

Seoul Garden: Great All-Around Ktown Restaurant

Seoul Garden 34 W 32nd St [32nd btw 5th & Madison] Second Floor New York, NY http://seoulgarden32.com/ Should you try? It doesn’t specialize in any one dish, but a great restaurant overall.  So yes. If I’m looking for a solid Korean meal (ie not BBQ at Don’s Bogam or Noodle Soup at Arirang), I come to […]

Mexico Blvd: Fancy Food Truck Serving Tasty (Albeit Sloppy) Tortas

Mexico Blvd Food Truck – Location Varies New York, NY http://mexicoblvd.com/ Should you try? Both the food and story of how it started are great so give it a try. Mexico Blvd was by my office the other day so I decided to give it a try. If you work/live around 21st and 5th, apparently […]

Don’s Bogam: Trendy Korean BBQ Spot

Don’s Bogam 17 E 32nd St [32nd btw 5th & Madison] New York, NY http://www.donsbogam.com/ Should you try? Good food, and I would say come here especially if you’re into trendy restaurants/atmosphere. I’ve been to Don’s Bogam several times, and I’ve enjoyed the food each time. I think what separates this place from other Korean […]

Mercadito: All You Can Eat Tacos [Recommendation: Stock up on Tums]

Mercadito 179 Ave B [Ave B btw 11th & 12th St.] Also location in the West Village [7th & Grove] New York, NY http://www.mercaditorestaurants.com/aveb/ Should you try? Not necessarily my favorite tacos, but they have a good All You Can Eat taco special I went to Mercadito on a Sunday night, and it was still […]

Cambodian Cuisine Torsu: Delicious, Huge Portions, and Dirt Cheap

Cambodian Cuisine Torsu Food Truck – Location Varies New York, NY http://www.cambodiancuisinetorsu.com/main.html?src=%2F Should you try? Definitely Apparently 5th ave around 20th st has become the new go-to spot for food trucks, as I’ve recently seen Mexico Blvd, Mexicue, The Cinnamon Snail and weekly stalwart Taim Mobile. Now add Cambodian Cuisine Torsu to the list. Owner […]

Oaxaca Taqueria: Another Greenwich Ave Gem

Oaxaca Taqueria 48 Greenwich Ave [btwn Charles St & Perry St] New York, NY http://www.oaxacatacos.com Greenwich Ave has somewhat recently turned into a great food street, with TOSS, the Meatball Shop, and Yerba Buena Perry. Now add Oaxaca Taqueira to that list. The small taqueria uses locally sourced food, which always tastes better. It can get crowded […]

Tweat.it: New Go-To Food Truck Finder

Tweat.It http://tweat.it/ So I had been using Edible City to find food trucks in the city, but after getting punk’d by Edible City several times, it’s time to move on. There were multiple times where Edible City would show a truck nearby, but when I went out to the truck, lo and behold the truck […]

Ichi Umi: Contrary to Popular Belief, Sushi Buffet is Not the Best Idea

Ichi Umi 6 East 32nd St. [32nd btw Madison & 5th] New York, NY http://www.ichiumi.com/Home Should you try? Stick to non-buffet restaurants in the city Buffets, particularly sushi buffets, ALWAYS sound like the best idea ever. That is until you finish your 6th plate of food, and you immediately regret your gluttonous moment. Buffets are […]

Blue Ribbon Brasserie: Bone Marrow + Oxtail = Best Dish Around

Blue Ribbon Brasserie 97 Sullivan St [Sullivan btw Spring St & Prince St) New York, NY http://www.blueribbonrestaurants.com/rests_brass_man_main.htm Should you try? Absolutely I finally made it out to Blue Ribbon Brasserie (Note: There are several restaurants under the Blue Ribbon name) and came away very impressed. A lot of new restaurants are taking unique approaches to food […]

Artisanal: Cheeeeeese (Yea, I got out)

Artisanal 2 Park Ave [32nd btw Park and Madison] New York, NY http://www.artisanalbistro.com/ Should you try? One of my favorite restaurants in the city…So Yes Artisinal is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. It may be a little pricey, but it’s definitely worth it. Artisinal specializes in cheese and ages the cheese in-house, so […]

Bareburger: For All Those Times You Crave Ostrich or Elk

Bareburger 153 8th Ave [8th btw 17th & 18th] Multiple locations throughout the city New York, NY http://www.bareburger.com/ Should you try? A little iffy on this one.  The burgers don’t have the most flavor, but you do get the chance to eat different meats. Barebugers have been multiplying like rabbits, sprouting up in more and […]

Uva: I Did It All For The Gnocchi

Uva 1486 2nd Ave. [2nd ave. btw 77th & 78th] New York, NY http://uvanyc.com/ Should you try? Yes, and make sure to get the Truffle Gnocchi Uva offers good Italian food, cheese, cured meats, and wine at a reasonable price.  Some dishes are better than others, but overall I’ve enjoyed my meals both times I’ve […]

Seo: Only Tokyo Would Be More Authentic (+ Late Night Ramen)

Seo Japanese Restaurant 249 E 49th St [49th btw 2nd & 3rd] New York, NY Should you try? If you want some authentic Japanese food…or late night ramen I’ve been to Seo multiple times, including past 11pm since they only serve ramen past 11pm.  It’s a fairly small restaurant with seating for around 20 in […]

Defonte’s: Get Your Roast Beef On

Defonte’s of Brooklyn 261 3rd Ave.[22nd & 3rd] New York, NY http://defontesofbrooklyn.com/ Should you try? Yes, great sandwiches The old school Brooklyn, family-run shop is now in Gramercy, and I recently made my way over there.  I tried the Hot Roast Beef (roast beef, fresh mozzarella, fried eggplant, natural jus; 11.50 + tax ~ $12.50), which […]

BonChon: Korean Fried Chicken, That’s What’s Up

BonChon 957 2nd Ave [2nd ave. btw 50th & 51st] Multiple locations including Ktown and St. Marks New York, NY http://www.bonchon.com/ Should you try? Yes for flavorful fried chicken I think Korean fried chicken is the best type of fried chicken.  It’s usually double fried and subsequently extremely crispy.  Bonchon serves up some really tasty, […]

Wahoo’s Fish Taco: Brah-tastic

Wahoo’s Fish Taco 333 Park Ave S. [Park btw 24th &25th] New York, NY http://wahoos.com/index.php Should you try? Give it a go Walk in and you’ll think you’re in California.  Or if you’ve been down the [Jersey] shore, you’ll think you’re in Surf Taco.  Either way, it has a very laid back atmosphere both from the […]

Num Pang: (Mostly) Tasty Cambodian Sandwiches

Nam Pang 21 E. 12th St. [12th btw 5th & University] Also location by Grand Central New York, NY http://www.numpangnyc.com/ Should you try? Yes Num Pang makes some really tasty Cambodian sandwiches.  Their Five-Spice Glazed Pork Belly (with pickled Asian pear; $7.75) might be the best tasting Southeast Asian sandwich I’ve ever had.  The sandwich had […]

Beecher’s New York: Amazing Cheese

Beecher’s New York 900 Broadway [Broadway & 20th St.] New York, NY http://www.beechershandmadecheese.com/Home.aspx Should you try? Sandwiches worth a try.  Definitely try the [free samples] of their Flagship Cheese. The artisan cheese shop originated in Seattle, but opened a store, café and restaurant in Flatiron in June 2011.  As you decide what to order at the […]

Taverna Kyclades: Great Greek Grub in Astoria

Taverna Kyclades 33-07 Ditmars Blvd. Astoria, Queens, NY http://www.tavernakyclades.com/ Should you try? Definitely for some authentic Greek food You always hear Manhattanites talk about the beer garden in Astoria, but it’s also known for its diverse population.  And what comes with a diverse population? Eclectic and authentic cuisine.  I’ve lived in Manhattan for several years now, […]

Radegast Hall & Biergarten: Chill Beer Hall/Garden with Great Food

Radegast Hall & Biergarten 113 N 3rd St (between Wythe Ave & Berry St) Brooklyn, NY http://www.radegasthall.com/ Should you try? Definitely.  I’ll be going back. This biergarten in Williamsburg is a great spot to grab a beer (and drink it in giant mugs) and sit with friends and strangers on their long communal tables.  The […]

Taco Bell: Doritos + Tacos = Amazing?

Taco Bell 3rd Ave btw 50th St. & 51st St. [or at any of the thousands of locations] New York, NY http://www.tacobell.com/ Should you try? Worth a try, especially if it’s only around for a limited time only. At some point in everyone’s lives, they were obsessed with Taco Bell. Don’t deny it, you know it’s […]

Sandoony: BANYA!

Sandoony 1158 Mcdonald Ave. Brooklyn, NY http://www.sandoonyusa.com/ Should you try? Come for the relaxing bathhouse and saunas, stay for the food. Prior to Sandoony, I’ve only been to the Széchenyi Bathhouse in Budapest.  Sandoony may not have the giant premise with multiple large pools, but it provides the basics and it was a great experience overall.  Friends Mike, […]

Fish: Great Seafood – Try the $20 Lobster Feast

Fish 280 Bleecker St. [Bleecker & Jones] New York, NY http://www.fishrestaurantnyc.com/ Should you try? A must try Fish is one of my favorite restaurants in the city for reasonably priced fresh seafood.  Everyone that works there is cool and friendly, and the restaurant has an all around laid back feel.  But now for the food.  I usually […]

Tebaya: Tasty Japanese Fried Chicken

Tebaya 144 W 19th St. [19th btw 6th & 7th] New York, NY Should you try? Good option if you live or work nearby. Tebaya is a good option if you’re craving really unhealthy but tasty food.  I’ve been to this place several times, most recently ordering the Japanese Style Curry ($10.62 after tax) lunch special. […]

Hide Chan: Good Ramen Without the Long Wait

Hide Chan 248 E 52nd St [52nd btw 2nd & 3rd] New York, NY Should you try? Worth a try Ramen noodle shops are still incredibly popular in the city.  And I’m not talking about the $1 packages of ramen, but large bowls of noodles, vegetables, tasty pork, and delicious rich and fatty broth.  The […]

Mamoun’s: Good Falafel for $2.50

Mamoun’s 119 MacDougal St [MacDougal & W 3rd] New York, NY Also location in St. Marks http://mamouns.com/ Should you try? Yes, especially if you’re on the go. Dating back to the early 1970s, Mamoun’s has been serving up Middle Eastern food in the heart of Greenwich Village.  I finally tried their falafel sandwich, which was simple […]

La Bellezza Pizza: Good Midtown East Lunch Option

La Bellezza Pizza 147 East 49th St. [49th btw 3rd & Lexington] New York, NY http://labellezapizza.com/ Should you try? Yes, a good lunch option in Midtown East. Midtown East lacks good food options, but if you’re looking for a good chicken parm hero, check out LA Bellezza.  Their chicken parm hero ($8) is large and […]

Vezzo: Great Thin Crust Pizza

Vezzo 178 Lexington Ave [31st & Lex] New York, NY http://www.vezzothincrust.com/ Should you try? Yes, one of my favorite pizza places in the city Whether for nostalgic reasons or simply because I love their thin crust pizza, Vezzo is one of my favorite pizza places in the city.  I always start with their Caesar Salad ($8 but […]

Korilla: Still the best of the Korean food trucks

Korilla BBQ Location Varies New York, NY http://korillabbq.com/ Should you try? Yes, still the best of the Korean food trucks. Korilla was recently around my office and having had it only once before, I jumped on the chance to try it again.  The line was maybe 10 people long, but moved very fast since they’re efficient […]

Back Forty: Good Food, Great Drinks

Back Forty 190 Ave B [Ave B btw 11th & 12th] New York, NY http://www.backfortynyc.com/ Should you try? Worth a try for good food and great drinks. The East Village joint offers rustic food, sourcing their food from local farmers.  Each of the dishes had an earthy taste and feel, often accompanied by a lot of […]

La Churreria: Tasty Traditional Spanish Sandwiches

La Churreria 284 Mulberry St. [Mulberry btw Houston & Prince] New York, NY http://lachurrerianyc.com/ Should you try? Worth a try if you’re somewhat nearby. Brought to you by the owner of Socarrat Paella Bar, La Churreria opened in December 2011.  This traditional Spanish cafe specializes in churros so naturally, I went with their sandwiches.  They […]

Tomoe Sushi: Fresh Sushi at a Reasonable Price

Tomoe Sushi 172 Thompson St [Thompson btw Bleecker & Houston] New York, NY http://tomoesushi.com/ Should you try? Yes, for large pieces of fresh sushi at a reasonable price. Tomoe Sushi has that local sushi joint feel, but being in Greenwich Village it’s extremely popular and busy.  I had mentioned in my post for En Japanese Brasserie […]

Maoz: Good Falafel, Do-It-Yourself Toppings

Maoz 38 Union Square East [Park/Union Sq E btw 16th & 17th] Also locations in Times Square, Greenwich Village, Columbia University, Upper West Side, and Theatre District New York, NY http://www.maozusa.com/restaurants/locations/nyc Should you try? Yes, good falafel and do-it-yourself toppings. The falafel at Maoz is good, but the main appeal is the buffet line of […]

HIT Deli & Korean Food: A Hidden Gem, Emphasis on Hidden

HIT Deli & Korean Food 150 W28th St. [28th btw 6th & 7th; enter office building and walk past the security guard to find the deli] New York, NY http://hitdeli.tumblr.com/ Should you try? Definitely.  Better than comparable places in Ktown. I’d consider HIT a hole-in-a-wall, as it’s not well-known and you have to enter an office […]

[Update] No. 7 Sub: A must try

No. 7 Sub 1188 Broadway [29th & Broadway; Ace Hotel] New York, NY http://www.no7sub.com/ Should you try? Definitely, and get the Zucchini Parm. No. 7 Sub is an awesome sub shop in the Ace Hotel (29th and Broadway). The staff is very friendly and although the line may be out the door sometimes, they’re usually […]