Midtown Lunch

I walk down 35th Street from 6th Ave to 5th Ave pretty much every day on the way to work. About a month ago, a new Halal cart popped up and caught my eye. After the yellow halal truck on 33rd showed up and then disappeared a few weeks later, I hesitated to write this new cart up for fear that it would wander off before too long. At this point, it’s been around long enough that it’s worth mentioning, which is good since the guy who runs it has an interesting trick or two that absolutely makes it worth a visit. See why after the jump.
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Websites and Twitter accounts have become an invaluable tool to many mobile food vendors. The internet is generally the playground of new school vendors with fusion-y menus, gourmet ingredients, and (mostly) smart, aggressive marketing campaigns. But every once in a while, an old school vendor decides to step into the cyber-arena with amusing/confounding results. Such is the case of Kimo Food (aka the self-proclaimed best street food in NYC), a cart whose site actually makes them harder to locate (and features picture of other people’s food, lifted directly from Midtown Lunch!)
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The plywood has been up on the old Red Mango space in K-town for months now, and it seems like renovations are now nearing completion. The new restaurant is called Korea Spoon, and based on a reliable source, the menu will focus on seolleongtang, which puts it in direct competition with its next door neighbor, Gahm Mi Oak. According to my sources (although not confirmed), Korea Spoon’s owner is also the same individual who owns slick looking newcomers, Food Gallery 32, Izakaya Moku, and Miss Korea.

I’ve noticed that Gahm Mi Oak’s quality has been slipping lately, so this isn’t an unwelcome change, but I’m a little sad to see K-town undergoing such gentrification. However, only time will tell who’s seolleongtang reigns supreme.

Yesterday Lunch’er Mala tipped us off about a new taco truck just outside the Mexican embassy consulate, Tacos Mexicana Juquilita on 39th and Madison- which if you remember is the same spot where the tamale lady hangs out. So will there be a battle of Mexican street food outside the Mexican embassy or like Lunch’er Ike suggested, could they possibly be the same people.

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After heading out of Keen’s the other day, I passed by the pizza shop on the corner and discovered a brand new snack option: A gelato stand up and running just in time for summer. I didn’t have a chance to try it out, but check out the price list after the jump.

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Every Friday our man UltraClay goes 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.

Today may be the last week day of Madison Square Eats, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t going to be at least one food option left in Worth Square after it’s all over. Calexico, the California-style Mexican cart that won a Vendy back in ’08 and got a rave from Andrea a year ago, is sticking around for at least the next year. They’ll be serving from 11am to 9pm every day – and according to one of the staffers, including a beer license, presumably using the same boundaries as have been in place for Madison Square Eats. I’ve stopped in at Calexico a few times since they arrived in Flatiron bounds, see what it’s all about after the jump.
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Photo courtesy of Gothamist

Really?  Famous Famiglia Pizzeria! That’s the best you can do?  Urgh…

I first became aware of Shamas Deli (on 38th btw. Broadway+7th) when I noticed their many signs boldly proclaiming that they had the best sandwiches in NYC. It was laughable to me that this tiny little deli could event claim to have the best sandwiches in all of the 5 boroughs. For one thing, the sheer variety and number of sandwiches available in NYC makes any such blanket distinction pretty much arbitrary. And even if we did agree that a winner could be crowned, I’d bet just about anything it wouldn’t be this place. But I kind of liked their hubris, and tourist-baiting (although I absolutely do not approve of bodegas that claim to have the best coffee in NYC; that’s just stupid). So, I decided to give Shamas Deli a chance, and I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.
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With so many food trucks roaming the streets of NYC, I still manage to get excited when I read about a new truck hitting the streets- especially when that new truck serves oxtail. Last week Lunch’er Hengde reported that Sunrise Grill (37th btw. B’way+6th), a new Jamaican truck, was serving delicious oxtail with rice and beans. Just knowing a truck was serving oxtail was enough for me to trek out into the rain for lunch.

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I was pretty bummed back in March when Luncher “Matt” told us that Negi-ya (37th btwn Mad and 5th), the Japanese spot formerly known as Washoku Cafe closed its doors. They were the closest place to my office that served a proper bowl of tonkotsu, not to mention all the off the menu snacks in the display case.

Well, Matt wrote back with some good news. Apparently they’ve reopened as “Ronin” – complete with pictures of Robert DeNiro and Jean Reno in the window.

From Matt:

Update on Negi-Ya. They’ve reopened under the name “Ronin.” Same cute, pleasant Japanese lady (who I presume is the manager). Same sushi chef. Takeout is now ordered in front. Waiter service with a red-bearded white guy who also may or may be the owner.
 
Friend and I ordered “Rice Burgers” — Japanese lady said they’re the only ones in the city to have it. $8. The “buns” are made of grilled rice and hold a filling of your choice. I got sliced pork and ginger and friend got chicken sukiyaki. Served with very good steak fries. Burger itself holds together surprisingly well, filling is well-flavored but a little salty.
 
They still have ricebowls, noodles, etc. More expensive (chicken teriyaki don is now $8 but organic). Also now a full tap beer selection in the back. Half-price happy hour 5-7.

I stopped by to get a photo and noticed that they’ll be hosting a grand re-opening party on the evening of May 25th (next Wednesday). Check out the flyer after the jump (it’s mostly in Japanese, so if anyone can translate, let us know what it says in the comments.
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