Midtown Lunch

Totally forgot to post this last week…  when I was back in Midtown a few weeks ago I saw something I had never seen before in all the years I worked in Midtown.  The lunchtime Famous Halal Guys Cart on the SE Corner of 53rd and 6th had a longer line than the “Imposter” Cart on the SW corner of 53rd and 6th.  Even though the imposters proved themselves to be a delicious street food option in Street Meat Palooza 3, they still can’t deny that they are trying to trick people into thinking they are the same cart as the super famous cart that parks in that spot at night (they have even added logos to their yellow sweaters!)   It makes me a tear up a bit to see that people are finally getting the message, and lining up on the SE corner in greater numbers.  Now we have to get the word out to those people that the line-less cart on the NW corner of 52nd and 6th serves the exact same food as the famous cart on 53rd, with no wait!  (Our work is never done…)

Related:
Are Lunchers Finally Getting the Message About the Halal Carts on 53rd & 6th?

Before the lunch-pocalypse last Friday, there was a discussion in the forums about an out-of-bounds Mexican cart on 9th ave. btw 58+59th. I’d never heard of this cart before and I’m extremely grateful that I noticed this discussion before it was swallowed by the internet for all eternity. I’m happy to report that the Tacos y Quesadillas Mexico cart is very much in the mold of the excellent El Rey del Sabor carts and is bringing some very good Mexican food (and a wide variety of items) to the far reaches of northwest Midtown.

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Back in April FeastNY reported that the much loved West Village fancy falafel joint Taim would be opening up a food truck.  Not all trucks come to Midtown, so we kept our excitement in check- hoping not to get burned.  Well, after seeing this yesterday we allowed ourselves to get a little pumped.  Not only is the Taim Truck set to open at the beginning of next month, but Midtown is on their radar. You can track their progress on their Facebook Page.

• Need places to meet for lunch in Times Sq… [Midtown Eating]
• … here are some pizza suggestions [Midtown Eating]
• Looking for a vodka slice in Midtown East [Midtown Eating]
• Anybody know what happened to Kwik Pasta? [Midtown Eating]

Last month it appeared as if 48th btw. 6+7th might be permanently off limits to food trucks, and today 46th Street btw. 5+6th is looking like it might meet the same fate. Both Schnitzel & Things and Street Sweets were kicked out of their spots on 46th today and told not to come back. We’re not sure if it was an isolated incident, or a permanent directive- but we’ve heard from tipsters that it was a police big wig (i.e. a Lieutenant) and not just a beat cop or the peddlers unit (who make it a daily ritual to hassle street vendors.) Schnitzel moved downtown, and Street Sweets moved over to 52nd and Lex. I guess we’ll see what happens tomorrow if and when Eddie’s Pizza tries to park in the same spot.

There’s an interesting article in this week’s New York Mag about how fancy pants restauranteurs have given up on opening 3 star restaurants in favor of burger joints. Shake Shack and Bill’s Bar & Burger are mentioned (natch), and Stephen Hanson had interesting theory: “Burger places, unlike any other food concept, can exist on every corner, and they will all do well… This isn’t true of Mexican restaurants or pizza places.” Oh yeah? Tell that to these guys!

Every Tuesday we 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 Donny, a jack of all trades who wishes he was working in Tokyo.

Name: Donny

Age: 32

Occupation: Digital Video Coordinator/Freelance Photographer/Food Blogger

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 7th Ave or Penn Plaza & 32nd St

Favorite Kind of Food: Carbs! Noodles, rice, bread, pizza. More specific? Wonton noodles, pho, chicken and broccoli over rice, soup dumplings, burgers, fried chicken (any kind), pork belly, fried pork chop over rice, schnitzel, mac n cheese, dumplings/mandoo, sushi, fried chicken skin on a skewer, meatballs/lion’s head, rice and beans, hainam chicken rice, beef tongue taco, ramen, sandwiches from Cafe Zaiya, tater tots, french fries, duck confit, fish tacos, dim sum (especially chicken feet, shrimp dumplings, char siu baos, and turnip cakes), beef tendons, hanpan cheese (fish cakes stuffed with kraft singles wrapped in seaweed and coated with panko crumbs then deep fried), curry and…..kimchi fried rice.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Eggplant and tofu, blah! Unless they’re deep fried and served with some tempura sauce. I think I hate the texture more than anything.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: It’s always a treat when Wednesday rolls in and the Schnitzel Truck parks near the Madison Square Park. When its nice out I would get a chicken schnitzel platter with potato and cucumber salad and eat it in the park. When I’m in the mood for sandwiches I walk over to No.7 Sub (on B’way btw. 28+29th). So far they have not disappointed me yet. For some REAL deal on lunch I go to Salt & Pepper (on 33rd btw. 5+6th). For $7 I get baked chicken with rice and lentils. That plate fills me up with deliciousness every time. Sometimes they charge me $6 sometimes $6.50, it’s weird! It’s so sad to think about it but the roast beef sandwich with fried onions at Cafe Express was SOOOO GOOD. Part of me died when I found out it was replaced by a Pret Manager. Pret Manager I will never forgive you!!!

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