PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Aaron”
Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Aaron, an Investment Analyst who loves to double fist soup and is looking for some good Tex-Mex.
Name: Aaron
Age: 33
Occupation: Investment Analyst
Where in Midtown do you Work?: 54th & 6th Ave.
Favorite Kind of Food: Tex-Mex. This is easily the worst part about being a Texan but living outside of Texas. I tried for a while to find great Tex-Mex in Manhattan and finally settled for Cancun (8th Ave just north of 55th), but I ate there only to get my fix. Last month, though, I discovered something far better: Ah Chihuahua on East 53rd between 1st & 2nd. It’s quite a walk for me at lunchtime, but the food is worth it. Good guacamole, great cheese enchiladas, $6 or $7 lunch combos all served with rice & refried beans, complimentary chips & salsa, $3 margaritas between noon and 3pm (I hear they’re good, but I’ve not had one).
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything bland, primarily Middle Eastern.
Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Empanada Mama (53rd & 9th) – corn empanada with ground beef, dipped in the green hot sauce, with a side of plantain chips & guacamole. Not technically within the confines of “Midtown” but they deliver.
The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Pax, or other assorted soup-and-sandwich delis. So boring.
Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Kati Roll (now on 38 btw. 5+6th), the taco cart on 50th (btw. 6+7th), the famous Chicken & Rice Cart at 53rd & 6th (a cart with its own website!), the Hallo Berlin cart, and the Daisy May’s BBQ cart.
If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Dallas – dozens of Tex-Mex and bbq choices in every direction
Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Is there any better Tex-Mex in NYC than Ah Chihuahua (on East 53rd between 1st & 2nd)?
I’ve got to admit that Tex Mex is not really my thing. I don’t mind it, and I’ll eat it- but to me, saying ”I Love Tex-Mex” is like asking ”Anybody know where I can get some American tasting Indian food?” I know there are some Texans who read this blog who are going to disagree, so have at it. And, after you are done telling me how stupid I am, recommend some good Tex Mex that will change my mind (and make Aaron happy).
As always, if you want to be the next Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er, email me at zach@midtownlunch.com
Posted: 7:39 am, October 9th, 2007 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
39 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
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39 Comments
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what the heck is bland about Middle Eastern?
If texmex is your thing check out : http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/
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How is Middle Eastern food bland?
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Aaron – what about Burrito Box on 9th ave between 57th and 58th? I used to live nearby and would take out from there once a week, always busy, big burritos, pretty cheap, quality guacamole (though not the greatest chips in the world).
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Lobo in Brooklyn does pretty good tex-mex. Maybe not good for Texas, but for up here it’s definitely good. They have locations in Cobble Hill and Park Slope.
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La Paloma on 45th between 8th and 9th, closer to 9th has tasty take out burritos, tacos, taco salads. I usually get a beef taco salad (it is fist-sized, full of freshly fried meat, cheese, onions and peppers, topped with salsa and guac) with yellow rice and red beans, and a chorizo taco – comes to $9 or so.
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Mi Nidito on Eighth Avenue around 52nd Street is also good for Tex-Mex – the only good nachos we’ve been able to find. I always get shredded beef chimichanga – spicy meat and gooey cheese inside, topped with sour cream and guac. All orders come with free chips and salsa. This sounds like what you’re looking for.
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Well glad I’m not the only one who feels that Middle Eastern isn’t bland. That’s the worst judgement call I’ve ever heard when it comes to food. What kind of Middle Eastern food are you eating? If you mean it lacks Mexican spices.. well.. go figure. Head out to Astoria and hit up Mombar or Walima’s… there is nothing bland about it.
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Middle eastern food bland?………this isnt a falafeling matter.
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Agree with Wendy that Mi Nidito is pretty good. I don’t know if it’s truly “Tex-Mex” or just “Mex.”
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There’s El Rio Grande at 38th and 3rd. The original owner lifted Ninfa’s entire menu (and recipes) so you have Houston favorites such as green sauce and tacos al carbon. They also know how to make proper nachos (individually and not a pile of chips buried under meat, beans and cheese).
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I took his “bland” comment to mean “badly made Middle Eastern.” Having had some really awful cheap falafel and gyros, I can understand what he means.
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gryos are greek not middle eastern
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Turkish actually ‘Doner’, called Gyro in Greece.
Point of much discussion and angst
Have a place in Pathos ,Cyprus. Ive seen Greek/Turk Cypriots fight over it!!
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Maybe he meant Middle Eastern foods vs. Southeast Asian/Indian? All the Afghani food I’ve ever eaten tasted like watered-down Indian. No offense.
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have to disagree with the El Rio Grande recommendation! i think that their food is awful and so is their service. Last time I went we waited about 20 minutes for a table (we even had a reservation) and they overcharged me $5 for my meal. Rip-off! Although their margaritas are really good (if you’re into that during lunch break)
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Not sure how Greek or Afgani food is middle eastern?
Lisa – I 2nd the preference for individual nachos – so much better than a pile of gooey half-cooked toppings.
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Zarela’s on 2nd has some pretty good tex-mex… Killer margaritas (which is what I’m usually there for) – and it’s even considered midtown east, if I’m not mistaken.
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I’m not a Rio Grande lover either…I’d say Rodeo Bar on 3rd and 27th(?) is better, plus you can get Shiner Bock there. It ain’t midtown really….but its good.
Just to add to the whole Gyro / Donner thing…I’ve had what was called Schwarma, Gyro and Donner and generally Donner was the ground up kind (like a big meatball), Schwarma was usually the chunks of meat kind and Gyro has been both kinds equally often.
Plus, I’ve never had a ‘bland’ falafel or gyro (or donner or schwarma for that matter)… even the bad ones.
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Maybe he meant anything “non-spicy” (ie: Middle Eastern)… I wouldn’t say it’s BLAND… but it’s definitely not tex-mex.
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I thought all NYC “mexican food” was really Tex-Mex. The better question: is there any authentic Mexican food in NYC? And by NYC I mean, parts of NYC I actually go to, like Manhattan and brownstone Brooklyn. I’m rarely in Jackson Heights, Sunset Park or Washington Heights.
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yeah, i’m kinda late to the game but just wanted to reiterate, nothing bland about middle eastern delights, aaron. hello, za’atar?!
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There’s never peace in the Middle East.
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Or Newark.
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Geography lesson for mattt: Washington Heights is IN Manhattan.
There’s a taco truck on 96th St that’s supposed to be pretty authentic, it was a finalist in the vendy awards. And don’t worry mattt, it’s still the Upper West Side up there, not Harlem.
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The best food in Rodeo Bar is the free peanuts.
My experience w/ Zarela is that the mole dishes are generally tasty, the Cochinita Pibil is good, but the barbacoa is quite bland. There are fajitas on the menu, but I don’t know what else about the place makes it Tex-Mex.
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Matt, just outside midtown you can go to Tulcingo del Valle on 10th around 47th street. At Tulcingo you can get good Pueblan Mexican food. Go with the mole or the chicken pipian.
Almost none of the ‘mexican’ food in NY is tex-mex. It’s more like Americanized tex-mex. Most of the places you’re thinking of wouldn’t stay open for a month in Texas.
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Hummus? Tabbouleh? Tahini? Stuffed grape leaves? To me these are not “stimulating or invigorating” and therefore–according to Webster’s–are bland. As Margot said, my “bland” = “not spicy.”
I heartily agree with the homesicktexan recommendation. I read it every week.
Thanks for the recommendations on Burrito Box, Lobo (been meaning to go there for months), Mi Nidito, and Rodeo Bar.
I’ll take a pass on Rio Grande (been there, too expensive/fancy) and Zarela’s (which is Mex-Mex not Tex-Mex).
I’m most excited about trying Rodeo Bar, not only for their alleged Shiner but also for their awesome menu descriptions on menupages. Inane, email me if you want to come with me–my treat.
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WE could shoot some wetbacks to make you feel at home.
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I’m a homesick Texan…but I’m going to Texas next week. Tex-Mex, chicken fried steak, collard greens, creamed corn, BBQ, Viet food, here I come!! I’ve been down that road before, searching for Tex-Mex, but I failed miserably. There’s Mexican Cafe in Park Slope that I read up on. Never tried it, but from the menu, it’s cheap, and got good reviews.
The tex-mex here doesn’t have any kick to it. By kick, I don’t mean pour half a bottle of hot sauce onto my plate of food, but…where’s the cumin, coriander, cloves, etc?
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Don’t get your hopes too high about the Shiner, Aaron. Unless something’s changed in both the Rodeo’s menu and, more importantly, Shiner’s distribution, you can’t get it anywhere in New York. Trust me, I’ve driven cases up from D.C. before.
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Only had the margaritas at Rodeo… and the peanuts of course… Aaron be careful with your offers – you might rack up a huge bill with these hungry folks
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Fat Mikey, I shared your caution about the alleged Shiner at Rodeo Bar. However, I’m happy to report that the allegations are true. I ate there last night (just couldn’t wait) and had two bottles of Shiner Bock. They’re not listed on the menu and they’re $7 each, but that’s cheaper than a drive to Maryland.
Thanks for your caution too, Margot, but after having experienced Rodeo Bar for myself, I really do owe Inane a meal.
Is there a moderator for these comments? Can we please remove Mr. McBagel’s post?
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DRed: Thanks for the suggestion, but I live in Brooklyn now, so 10th ave is a bit out of the way.
And yes I realize most of the Tex-Mex here is Americanized, but this is NY, and it’s what we’ve got.
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Matt, try fast and frest deli in Boerum Hill. It’s on Hoyt st., just off Atlantic Ave. Doesn’t look like much, but the tacos and tortas are authentic and delicious. They also do pretty good tamales on the weekends.
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Rio Grande=grossness. Last time I was there, I sat by a window and had a nice view of several (several=more than two) rats scampering around their patio. At least I’ve never seen any rats at my Midtown Lunch favorites, even if I know they’re there :)
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wait a minute, am I the only one who thinks he’s cute?
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Ld – if you think so take him up on his offer for food at rodeo bar! aww yeah midtown lunch lovin’
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To mattt:
Try Mexico Lindo on 2nd ave at 25th St in the Kips Bay area.
It’s family-run and not chi-chi at all…none of that “tableside $20 guac” that you find at Rosa or Dos caminos.
Best molé poblano I’ve had in NY.
Middle Eastern food is bland but Tex Mex is fantastic, eh? Hmmm…what are your feelings on white bread and water?