Midtown Lunch

It seems like the general consensus about Dainobu’s hot foods are just decent and you’re probably better off with their slightly cheaper sushi options. So during my most recent trip I was a little hesitant to get their newest hot food item, a mabo tofu with beef over rice ($6.50). I finally gave in when there was nothing I wanted to eat. Just by looking at it, it looked quite delicious. Maybe the mabo tofu will be different. There was only one way to find out.

This was actually not too bad. It was mostly cubes of tofu with a little bit of ground beef and a sprinkle of scallions. It could’ve used a splash of soy sauce because there wasn’t much flavor in it but at least there was a nice kick from the spicy tofu. Though obviously nowhere near the spiciness of mabo tofu from a straight up Sichuan restaurant. I can see this dish being much better if it was saltier and spicier but I think I’ll just stick with their bento boxes. Also if you’re not a fan of rice they do have a mapo tofu ramen.

Dainobu, 129 E 47th St (btw. Lex+3rd) (212) 755-7380