Kiiroi Hana (To Go)
After snapping the picture of the new Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine set to open on 56th St. I happened upon a place that caught my interest. What appeared to be a generic middle of the road Midtown sushi joint, had placed a cooler/glass case in front of their restaurant and were selling pre-made little boxes of sushi and other Japanese food… and there was a line. I love sushi, and am always looking for good, cheap sushi at lunch, but I usually avoid the restaurant places because they are a little bit more money then I want to spend, and I don’t really eat at sit down places for lunch. I’ll make exceptions for buffets, and really good ramen places… but sushi restaurants, I tend to avoid.
But this one was selling boxes of sushi out front, and that makes it exciting! I don’t know what it is about setting up shop on a sidewalk that makes something more appetizing to me, but it just does. Sell fresh made delicious sushi (or BBQ, or falafel, or gyro or teriyaki for that matter), in a restaurant where I have to sit, order, wait and then tip, and I’ll hesitate. But take the same food, put it in a to go container, and sell it on the sidewalk for the same price- and I’ll be the first one on line.
What they’ve got, the pictures, and the +/- after the jump…
Posted by Zach at 8:59 am, November 1st, 2006 under 56th btw. 5+6th, Japanese, Sushi.
In my quest to search out the best Ramen in Midtown, I feel like I’ve gone backwards… 
Menchanko-Tei has two locations in Midtown (one on 45th btw. Lex & 3rd and the other on 55th btw. 5+6th) which have a few differences, but are essentially the same. They both have a small front room with a bar, and they both have a second small room… the one on 55th is in the back, the one on 45th is an upstairs balcony. Much like Sapporo & Men Kui Tei, you have to get there early or you are going to wait. By 12:30pm, both locations are full.
Food carts are a funny thing. Some people love them, some people hate them. They are universally accepted for some things, like hot dogs, or pretzels but seem mysterious for other things (the term “street meat” comes to mind). I’ve seen very few restaurants that specialize in the “Halal Food” you get at a cart, and there are not many carts that stray from serving some form of Gyro, Falafel, Hot Dog or Pretzels. You’ve got your breakfast carts (bagels, donuts and coffee) which are popular for their price, and the fruit carts, which offer people who love to be healthy a chance to eat at a cart. (Those people don’t tend to enjoy skillet fried lamb, covered in white sauce.)
Some carts are destinations (
I don’t think I have to say it- but there are very few destination restaurants for lunch in Midtown. You know what I’m talking about… the place you can recommend wholeheartedly, without any concern for how far the person will have to travel to eat the meal your endorsing. 
Work is tough. Work is not fun. And quite frankly, I don’t understand why more people don’t use their lunch break to relax- or even better, have some fun! Of course most people’s idea of fun is probably different from my idea of fun. My idea of fun, is lunch at Cafe Zaiya- the funnest restaurant in Midtown! (As declared by me of course… I’m clearly a very strange person.)
Cafe Zaiya is Japanese- but not in the way that probably first comes to mind. They are not a Ramen place, and they don’t specialize in sushi (although they do have sushi as an option). It’s more of a Japanese bakery, that also has a nice variety of bento boxes (or Japanese boxed lunches). Clearly their specialty is baked goods. They have Cream Puffs (or beard papas as they’re known by some) made fresh and filled right before your eyes. They also have Mochi Donuts, Yakimochi, Mont Blanc’s and other delicious looking Japanese Pastries and cakes.
Now for many of you, I’m sure delicious pastries is all you have to hear to make this place worthwhile. Lord knows I’m all for eating pastries as a substitute for real lunch. As a matter of fact, my dream lunch would be a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts if I thought I could do it without dying (either from stomach ache or sugar coma). But in reality, pastries and donuts a lunch does not make (did that make sense?).
I’m not a ramen expert. I’ve never been to Japan. But I love Asian food, and the few experiences with ramen bars I’ve had here in New York City have been positive. I’m a huge fan of Momofuku. Probably because I love pork, and they do pork pretty darn well. Reading alot of the 
In comparison to Sapporo, Men Kui Tei is definitely a more “business” environment. The decor is a little nicer (if that’s what you’re into), but it’s also a lot smaller, and fills up much easier (a big drawback if you are in a rush and don’t get there early enough). In fact, we got there at 12:15pm, and still have to wait 5 minutes for a table. By the time we left at 12:50, there were about 8-10 people lined up along the wall inside the doorway. I would definitely recommend getting there early. In fact, they even offer an Early Bird special. Get there before 12:15pm and an order of Gyoza are $2.50 (instead of $4) and the “Set Menu” Curry Rice or Fried Rice is $1.50 (instead of $3.00).
