Margon Makes Aziz Ansari’s Favorite Cuban Sandwich
The Village Voice doesn’t branch out into Midtown too often (and quite frankly, do you blame them?), but I still love their blog Eat For Victory, and -of course- Robert Sietsema’s “Counter Culture” column. They always have great recs, especially for inexpensive and authentic eats, and we’re clearly not the only ones who think so. Last week, in response to a challenge from the owner of Casa Havana, Eat for Victory launched a best Cuban sandwich contest- and Comedian Aziz Ansari from Human Giant, posted this nominee in the comments:
My favorite cubano in the city hands down is at Margon on 46th btw 6th and 7th ave. They throw in a slice of salami that takes the whole thing to another level. I’m not sure that raw garlic can compete with that as far as genius.
Midtown represent! That piece of salami actually makes it more of a Dominican style “Cuban” sandwich- but why bother getting technical? It’s freakin’ Aziz Ansari! (Sorry, I’m a huge Human Giant fan. That dude is freakin’ hilarious.) You may remember Human Giant from such informative films as this K.C. Rib Ticklers video I posted a link to a few months ago.
To nominate your favorite Cuban Sandwich, go to Eat For Victory. You have until tomorrow.
Posted by Zach Brooks at 3:14 pm, February 13th, 2008 under Latin, Village Voice.
In the pantheon of great foods, rotisserie chicken has got to be towards the top, somewhere just below fried chicken and above every other kind of chicken imaginable. You may say the secret ingredient is the chicken fat waterfall, created by rotating chickens stacked one on top of another. Now that’s some Chinese water torture I can get into.
Golden brown skin is the key to what makes rotisserie chicken so great, but once you add super cheap prices, Latin style side dishes, and Peruvian aji (green sauce), you’ve got a real winner. Sound good? Well then head to Tio Pio West (the original is in Brooklyn) on 36th btw. 5+6th, where $7.50 will buy you half a chicken, rice, beans, and plantains. Oh, and not to mention a fairly big cup of aji.
Hidden gems are possibly my favorite part of Midtown Lunch’ing. There are varying degrees of hidden of course. The 
Latin food (and Korean food) seems to pop up in the strangest places in Midtown. Delis (like Utopia Cafe on 56th btw. 5+6th), Pizza parlors like 
Am I in the minority of people by not getting excited about IHOP coming to Times Square? To me it just seems like another addition to an area that is quickly becoming an Epcot’ish oversize chain restaurant pavilion. In all the excitement, I did however notice a little interesting nugget in this little posting by NY Mag’s Blog “Grub St.”
Latin food is one thing that Midtown has in great abundance, and for the most part your work location will determine where you eat. No sense in trekking all the way cross town if you work next door to 
It’s set up the way most of these places are set up. The food is out on steam tables and $6 to $7 buys you one meat, and two sides. The menu changes every day, but usually it’s all the regulars… roast pork, roasted chicken, steak, chicharones, pork chops, oxtails on special days, and more. Rice, beans and fried plantains are the requisite side dishes, and although “Pizza” is the first thing listed on the sign outside, the guy who served me said they haven’t sold a pizza in forever. Pretty awesome.
You might be surprised to realize that I have never actually given Sophie’s a proper +/- on MidtownLunch. There was a mention of the Lexington location months and months ago, the reporting about the new 56th St. location, and then the live-blogging of the Grand Opening, but never a proper page that people could refer to for locations and a real +/-. So… here it is- in pictures (the best way to enjoy a place like Sophie’s).
Every day I have to think about what defines a Midtown Lunch. There are definitely rules that I have set up for myself, but not all places fit exactly into the guidelines. I don’t usually eat at fast food chains, but my love of New Orleans gives me a soft spot for Popeyes. I almost never write about delis, but if there is one that is willing to stuff a burrito with fried plantains, then I’m there. All my lunches are under $10, but for good ramen, or an all you can eat buffet I’ve been known to go up to $12.
But that is just one end of the spectrum. The other end is the place that fits every rule. Weighing the positives and negatives isn’t necessary, because it is the perfect Midtown Lunch spot. El Rincon del Sabor is one of those places. Cheap. Check. Something different (it’s Ecuadorian food). Check. Authentic. Check. Homemade. Check. Not a chain (owned by real people). Check. Hidden (it’s on the fourth floor of a Diamond District building with a paper sign that you wouldn’t notice unless you were looking for it). Check. And best of all, it’s got history. 
El Rincon del Sabor has spent the past 12 years dishing out delicious Ecuadorian food on 46th St. btw. 5th & 6th. A few months ago, they moved to a new location (47th St. btw. 5th & 6th), but the food is still the same. There is a rotating menu of dishes every single day, and even though there is a printed menu a breakdown of the week, it doesn’t always match exactly. The best way to find out what’s being served is to give them a call. I went last Wednesday with 3 co-workers and we sampled four of the 10 or so dishes they had available.