Midtown Lunch

Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

Sometimes a ML post is purely selfish. This is one of those posts, because I love Mooncake Foods. Specifically, the spicy Thai steak salad. So yes, this post could be about just a steak salad. Considering ML contributors have already written extensively (at least for ML having written about 10 dishes tried), I held off on this post since it isn’t new territory.

Granted, not everyone might realize that we have our own Mooncake Foods in Flatiron (although at 30th Street and 7th Avenue, it’s questionable if it is really Flatiron). Additionally, it is spacious inside, and the laid-back vibe reminded me of tbsp.

With $2.50 Sapporo on tap, I like Mooncake as a good place to meet up with friends during lunch or afterwork. When I was in during lunch, they were playing The Eagles, which also speaks highly of Mooncake, in my opinion.

Back to that spicy Thai steak salad. Having had this salad several times over the past year, the steak has been consistently delicious. I have theories that the steak is well marinated in citrus to make it so consistently tender. Beyond the steak itself, I was impressed with the cilantro and the sliced jalapenos. Who else puts thick slices of jalapenos on a salad? And the green dressing is awesome.

Another time when my office was ordering delivery (which I should mention took at least an hour), I decided to branch out to the steak peppers hero. This sandwich was basically the cousin of my beloved salad with the addition of garlic mayo I would strongly recommend both.

After reading that Gothamist ranked Mooncake’s pulled pork sandwich as one of the best dishes of Choice Eats 2011, I had to give it a try. With a hefty serving of pork, tasty sauce (although it was sparse) and a good bun, the only downside for me was the coleslaw on the sandwich. I prefer my coleslaw on the side, or not at all. But given that we lost R.U.B. earlier this year, I would take this pulled pork as a replacement.

THE + (What people who like this place will say)

• I can’t believe that Mooncake has never served a bad meal.
• Mooncake has me in love with a salad.
• $2.50 Sapporo Pints.

THE – (What people who don’t like this place will say)

• Let’s not go crazy over a salad, people. It is just a salad.
• Was it necessary to put coleslaw on the sandwich and on the side?
• Delivery from Mooncake is slow.

Mooncake Foods, 263 West 30th Street (btwn 7th and 8th Avenues), (212) 268-2888