Midtown Lunch

Well before Haru Hana, Izakaya Moku and now Sake Bar Kirakuya started ‘Japanifying’ Koreatown, Arang was offering up a hybrid Japanese/Korean menu. It’s changed a lot since Zach first wrote about its buffet way back in 2006. For a while they closed up the buffet and went lunch-less, but as Zach reported after I wrote about it on my blog, they reopened with full table service and an interesting mix of Korean and Japanese dishes.

Some of my favorite dishes require a slight splurge out of the ML Price range, but there are plenty of great options under $10. Check them out after the jump.

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There were more than a few Anita Lo fans at last year’s Vendy Awards who wondered how the amazing and talented chef (of the newly reopened Anissa) could be behind the just ok food from the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck.  Answer? She’s not… anymore that is.  The Chef told FloFab yesterday that she will not be renewing her contract with the 5 year old company. Eater, for one, is not surprised.  “Her star is rising once again and the dumplings are not exactly the city’s best.” Ouch.  For the record, we’ve always seen the good (and the bad) in Rickshaw.  The ML faithful?  Not so much.

Good news for Bouchon Bakery fans who work closer to Rock Center than to Columbus Circle.  Today the New York ‘Times reported that a new Bouchon Bakery will be taking over the Dean & Deluca that faces the rink in Rock Center. It makes sense, since they have another location right around the corner (on 48th btw. 5+6th).  The new Bouchon Bakery will have outside seating when it’s nice, but no waiter service- and according to the article everything will be made in house.

You’ve only got 30 minutes to score a free People’s Pop (on 47th btw. 2+3rd).  The line is long, but it’s moving quick (about 5 mins to score your free popsicle) and the flavors are blueberry lavender & raspberry peach.  Don’t think you can make it by 1:30pm?  You have an extra 30 minutes to score the free mister softee being handed out on 40th and 2nd (They’ll be there until 2pm.)

The day has come! The first (of many) Hello Pastas opened on Lexington btw. 54+55th this morning. As they promised, it’s kinda like the Chipotle of pasta, with a similar set-up to make for maximum ordering efficiency. You queue up, pick your pasta (choice between farfalle, conchiglie, fusilli, whole wheat fusilli, or gluten free penne), sauce, size (14 oz. “Handy” vs. 19 oz. “Handful”), and you’re out! The checkout counter also reminds me of the sweets section at every Pret A Manger counter stacked with last minute temptations in case hot pasta on a sweltering city day brings you down. For those hesitant to commit, don’t forget there’s an 8coupons deal for TOMORROW that gets you any pasta with any sauce for just 88 cents! Easy to hate aspiring empire-builders, but even 88 cent lunches are hard to resist. For those who can’t fathom eating steaming fusilli bolognese in this weather (like I am right now), they offer cold pasta salads and regular green salads too.

Check out our first taste, and the menu, after the jump… Read more »

Peoples pops isn’t the only thing being given away for free today in Midtown. For the third year in a row, Maxwell Medical will be promoting their 30 minute medical massages by giving away free Mister Softee all summer long.  Today is the first giveaway, and it’s going down on 40th 42nd Street and 2nd Ave. from Noon to 2pm.  Just make sure you grab one of the fliers being handed out by the Maxwell Medical reps in the area… you can’t get a free ice cream without them.  (Don’t worry too much, we’re pretty sure they stand right in front of the truck with them.)

Shuttered Korean barbecue spot Chung Moo Ro was never really in the ML price range, so we didn’t really mourn it when they closed up shop over the winter. Miss Korea Barbecue has just opened in its place. Both the new look of the space inside and the menu look remarkably similar to Haru Hana just down the block, so it may be the same owners.

Get a glimpse of the menu after the jump.
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