Pricing: Cheap
Venue: Take Out
Cuisine: Japanese Snack Food
Favorite Dish(es): Okonomiyaki ($6), Takoyaki ($5)

This is real Japanese street food. This tiny food stand on the original Japantown (9th St), nestled between the Cloister Cafe’s outdoor areas, serves two drunkfood faves.

1) Okonomiyaki (oh-ko-no-mee-yah-kee) – a battered pancake made with veggies and protein of your choice, either squid, chicken, or beef.

2) Takoyaki (tah-ko-yah-kee) – small round balls using the same batter with bits of octopus, commonly referred to as “octopus balls”, although they are not actual octopus testicles (sorry Andrew Zimmern, keep lookin!).

Both are topped with healthy squeezings of Japanese sweet mayo (Kewpie) and a sweet and tangy dark sauce that is similar to tonkatsu or plum sauce, and then covered in bonito flakes, which are sweet, dried, smoky fish flakes. Notice the sweet theme. They’re made hot, fresh to order, and are perfect as a mid-day anti-starvation treat while wandering the St Marks area, or even better as a hold-me-over till the next bar mini-meal. Either way, totally worth the 5 minute wait, and if there’s a long line, hold out and come back later.

Don't fear the fish flakes! Takoyaki Octopus Balls waiting underneath...

Tehuitzingo Mexican Deli
695 10th Ave (btw 47th & 48th Sts)
(212) 397-5956

Pricing: Cheap
Venue: Take Out / Sit Down
Cuisine: Mexican
Favorite Dish(es): Bisteck (beef) Taco $2.50

Everyone north of the border knows that the best, most authentic Mexican food is found in the cheapest, most unassuming of places, be it from a truck or a hole in the wall. Well, if “hole in the wall” means knocking out the back of a bodega, adding a few stools and a walk-up counter, then this is the quintessential Mexican food find, at least in Manhattan. Tehuitzingo is simply a typical NYC deli/convenience store that serves tacos, tortas, and other typical Mexican fast food in the back. Think of it as a taco truck upgraded with seating, a bathroom, and access to all the soda and beer you want from the front bodega. At $2.50 as pop, the tacos are mighty fine – of course not quite as good as LA or the motherland, but sure tastes like somebody’s aunt put some extra special loving in the seasoning. I’m gonna hit this spot up anytime I venture into Hell’s Kitchen for a quick taco fix.

follow the white rabbit...

be nice to the lady and she'll treat you right.

one of these is tongue, and i assure you it's good in the mouth as well.

Online Menu

Pricing: Not Cheap
Venue: Take Out (truck)
Cuisine: American, Ice Cream, Dessert, Coffee
Favorite Dish(es): Ginger $6

This is one ice cream truck that doesn’t need a jingle. Labeling themselves as purveyors of artisan hand-crafted ice cream, the Van Leeuwen truck whips up small batches of a select list of simple gourmet flavors from Peppermint and Chip, to a bit more less traditional ingredients such as Red Currant and Gianduja, chocolate with hazelnut and almond paste. Their ice cream is luscious and creamy, softer than a hard ice cream but much thicker than a gelato. The flavors are clean, delicate, and not overbearing, so it’s easy to eat a lot. It’s definitely on the sweet and smooth side, and one of the best consistencies that I’ve found in NYC. Some of the best food in a city is often found in its street food, so don’t be surprised when there are huge lines waiting for food from a truck, and in the summertime, this yellow cream-mobile gets quite popular.

They have two trucks which can often be found at 22nd & 6th ave, and 15th & 5th ave, but they are often on the move, so you can keep track of their whereabouts on their Twitter feed. Sometimes they even carry coffee and pastries at the truck, so keep a lookout on the way to work. Scoops are available at select locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, and pints are now available at various places including Whole Foods. Check out their nifty site for more information on their craft. Bring a friend, and don’t feel bad about asking for an extra spoon – they even use sustainable, biodegradable dishware.

Keep an eye out for this yellow vehicle and you're in for a treat.

You get just what it says. Ginger. Sweet, lovely ginger.

Online Menu

Pricing: Cheap
Venue: Take-Out
Cuisine: American, Italian (Pizza)
Favorite Dish(es): Margarita Slice ($3.50)

Artichoke Pizza is a fairly recent newcomer to the NY gourmet pizza scene.  They offer two signature pizzas that you won’t find anywhere else – Artichoke (of course) and, of all things, Crab.  But for our first visit, we opted for the traditional Margarita slice: mozzarella, fresh basil, and fresh tomato sauce. One word describes this pizza that makes it stand out from the rest of NYC’s many gourmet slices – “CRISPY.” This crust is super crispy, almost cracker-like and crunchy like melba toast, with very little bending or doughiness. It’s not the kind of pizza you can just fold in half and walk around with. It deserves your full attention, from tip to crust. They use quality ingredients, and don’t skimp on the cheese. We’re anxiously waiting to try the Artichoke and Crab slices next time. The Artichoke slice is a white pizza without tomato sauce, with a bit thicker, softer crust embedded with bits of artichoke and spinach.  Can’t wait to go back and test them out.

The famed Artichoke slice.

Margarita slice, as they call it. I think it's actually spelled "Margherita".

Online Menu

Pricing: Not Cheap
Venue: Take Out
Cuisine: French Bakery, Dessert, Coffee
Favorite Dish(es): Blueberry Macaron ($2.95), Bacon Chive Scone, Red Velvet Cupcake

Fancy bakeries are pretty commonplace in NYC, but this one on the top floor of the uberposh “mall” at Columbus Circle sets itself apart with a few notable offerings. Most obvious are the colorful, oversized macarons (not to be confused with macaroons) and bakery-made Oreos behind the glass. Don’t even get her started on the macarons. Definitely try the blueberry one- it’s blueberry and cream cheese heaven. I also liked the chocolate and our friend is a huge fan of the vanilla ones. Just get one of each and try them all to find your favorite. I doubt any will be left uneaten.

But in my opinioin, the hidden gem that isn’t a sweet treat at all is the Bacon Chive Scone.

It may sound odd to some, but it’s really a good pairing of flavors and textures, meat and carbs. Crunchy bits of bacon embedded in between flaky layers of buttery pastry that are more like puff pastry than “scone”, but who cares? When i think of scones i think of a rock. This is firm but not crumbly. Its almost like a super gussied up hot pocket, without the freezer burn and oozing fake cheese. I almost thought for a moment that it could be even better with a coat of crispy cheese on top, but the butter and bacon are plenty salty and savory enough on their own. It’s a good thing I don’t work near Columbus Circle or I’d be eating these for breakfast on a regular basis.

The other sweet nothing whispering in my ear was a huge Red Velvet Cupcake. Really though, at the size of a large beefsteak tomato, it was shouting at me, “Take me home.” So I did. It was the perfect size to share, like a mini cake. The interesting thing about it was that it actually tasted chocolatey, unlike most other red velvets. (Red velvet, for those who don’t know, is simply just red food coloring added to a cocoa-based cake mix.)  The chocolate flavor is strong but not overpowering. The frosting is a thick rich cream cheese and butter base. Think chocolate cream cheese muffin. Mmmm. The packaging was also fancy, albeit wasteful. I felt like I had just bought a Coach bag – it is, Columbus Circle after all.

I’ll be back here for sure. after I work off the 2 lbs of butter from the first trip!

Crayola Macaroni!

macarons, not little hamburgers.

chocolate, meet blueberry and cheese

Beggin' for Bacon...Scones

fancy schmancy

mega cupcake, not sure what the red crunchies on top are...

Online Menu

Viet-Nam Banh Mi So
369 Broome Street (between Elizabeth St & Mott St)
(212) 219-8341

Located on the fringes of Chinatown on the Little Italy side, this is a tiny deli specializing in Banh Mi, an extraordinary Vietnamese sandwich quickly rising in popularity across the city, with good reason. It takes classic elements of Vietnamese cuisine, BBQ meats and both fresh and pickled veggies, and puts them into a sub / hero roll – perfect for eatwalking around downtown on a nice day. There are many combinations of Banh Mi and each place has its own special rendition, but the basic banh mi fillings usually consist of: 1) a main seasoned meat, 2) Vietnamese “salami”, thin slices of something like a fish hotdog (e.g. Japanese “oden”), 3) pickled slaw-type salad of julienned carrots and radish, 4) cucumber slices, 5) a few sprigs of cilantro, and 6) an optional spicy element – either fresh slices of jalapeno or some Sriracha-based sauce. On our first visit, we opted for the chicken version, which was marinated in a sweet and salty BBQ sauce, similar to the kind typically used for Vietnamese pork chops. We ordered it spicy, and I believe this place used straight Sriracha sauce, which goes well with just about anything from eggs to pizza, and went perfectly with this sandwich. The roll was soft, fresh, and chewy, like the kind used in a Philly cheesesteak sandwich (not quite an authentic D’Amoroso roll, but still great for this purpose). The pairing of the sweet and sour pickled slaw with sweet-savory meats is quite a powerful combo that makes this sandwich disappear rather quickly. We’ll post pics of the pork sandwich, the flagship standard, next time we go back. Which, after seeing this pic again, makes me think will be sooner than later.

100 Mott Street, between Canal and Hester Sts
(212) 966-3988‎

Pricing: Cheap
Venue: Sit Down
Cuisine: Chinese
Favorite Dish(es): Crab and Pork Soup Dumplings ($8.95), Spicy Beef Stew Noodle Soup ($8.95)

This is a pretty cheap and clean place on the Soho side of Canal that has pretty much everything Chinatown has to offer, from really good fresh soup dumplings to noodle soups and roast meats over rice. Everything we’ve ever ordered has been pretty good here, even the Kung Pao Chicken for more common tastes. We’re no experts on Shanghai cuisine, but this place seems to do it just fine.

Crab and Pork Soup Dumplings

Crab and Pork Soup Dumpling

Beef Noodle Soup

Bayan Cafe
212 E 45th St, between 2nd and 3rd Aves
(212) 450-8260

Pricing: Cheap
Venue: Sit Down / Take Out
Cuisine: Filipino
Favorite Dish(es): Chicken Adobo ($11.95), Lumpia Shanghai ($8.95)

For our first introduction to Filipino cuisine, Bayan Cafe definitely made a good impression. It’s more of a take-out spot than a real restaurant, so most of the food is already prepared in advance. We ordered an appetizer and an entree, and they both came out lightning fast in under 5 minutes. The Lumpia Shanghai are mini fried spring rolls filled with meat and veggies, and they’re addictively greasy. They’re served in a pile big enough to share with sweet and sour sauce on the side. We also had the traditional Chicken Adobo, which was also generously portioned. It was very tender and marinated in a pungent vinegar-based sauce with zesty spices. It was a bit on the salty side, but it was good with the long-grain white rice that it was served with. We’re excited to go back, and we’ll make sure to go hungry so we can sample more dishes.

Online Menu

Shake Shack
366 Columbus Ave at 77th St

Pricing: Cheap
Venue: Sit Down / Take Out
Cuisine: Burger Joint
Favorite Dish(es): Strawberry Milkshake ($5.25), French Fries ($2.75)

People have been waiting for the opening of the new uptown Shake Shack for, well… as long as they typically wait in line at the original location in Madison Square Park. The Upper West side location boasts some meager indoor seating in a fast food style setup, with some New York touches. There is still usually a line, but there are two cashiers and they keep it moving. They give you a buzzer to let you know when your order is ready, which is a nice touch. They serve some good local draft and bottled beers, and wine, but you’ll want to make sure to save some room for a milkshake, which is, in our opinion, their best offering. Their burgers are ok, but too greasy – they’re the small, picnic bbq size kind on a potato roll that is either buttered or soaked in extra burger grease. They’re made of decent ground beef, juicy and cooked right, but nothing to write home about. The “Shack burger” ($4.75) comes with yellow american cheese and their special sauce, which I guess is something akin to McDonald’s orange special sauce. Their burgers just left us wanting more [J.G. Melon's perhaps?]. The fries, however, were really good, crispy, and well salted, which is usually hard to find in the crinkle cut variety. This brings us to the piece-de-resistance of the meal, the strawberry milkshake. It’s SUPER suck-your-brains-out thick, with some malt to add some texture and more flavor, and tastes a bit salty for that deadly salty/sweet combination. We will definitely come back for their milkshakes, but your doctor would probably not recommend more than one a week. They also serve frozen custards, a different flavor every day, but we were too sugared out from the milkshake to try anything else. Overall, for burgers Shake Shack is decent but we’ve had better in the city – stay tuned for our upcoming post rounding up the best burger spots in NYC.
Online Menu

Pricing: Cheap
Venue: Sit Down or Take Out
Cuisine: Chinese
Favorite Dish(es): Sesame pancake sandwich w/ Roast Pork ($2.99), Chives and Pork Dumplings Boiled (8 pcs $3.49)

It’s one huge room- packed w/ people standing in a semi-line waiting to order. Others crowded around the cooking station waiting for their order. Others standing around w/ trays waiting to snatch a table when someone leaves. It’s chaotic- but when you’ve finally ordered, picked up your food, and found a seat- you’ll enjoy a piping hot, delicious meal. The dumplings are tasty and obviously handmade w/ its thick wrap and seasoned meat inside. We thought the real winner of this place, despite the name, was their sesame pancake sandwich. The sesame pancake “bread wrap” thing was so good, we’d eat anything in there just to eat that pancake. It’s slightly seasoned, slightly salty, slightly crunchy, slightly chewy, and very oily.
You have to try one.
They also have soups, congee, noodles, teriyaki, and rolls.