Midtown Lunch

Shuttered Korean barbecue spot Chung Moo Ro was never really in the ML price range, so we didn’t really mourn it when they closed up shop over the winter. Miss Korea Barbecue has just opened in its place. Both the new look of the space inside and the menu look remarkably similar to Haru Hana just down the block, so it may be the same owners.

Get a glimpse of the menu after the jump.
Read more »

The burger craze is definitely in full effect in New York these days, so you knew it was only a matter of time before the fast food corporations dipped their toes into the game. Obviously we’re on high alert for the new Shake Shack opening soon on 8th Ave… but they’re not the only ones going through training right now.  Remember the Burger King on 40th and 7th that was slated to be turned into a Whopper Bar?  I walked by today and saw that the posters are up, and people are being trained inside. As far as fast food burgers go, BK’s isn’t the worst, so we might keep an eye out for this one… or not.

Paris Baguette, a huge worldwide Korean bakery chain, will be opening their first Manhattan branch on 32nd btw. B’way+5th. They do serve sandwiches, but the big deal appears to be about the breads and pastries. The first branches to open in the states were in California (of course), where it got raves from yelpers, chowhounders and bloggers alike.

I had never heard of it until seeing the sign, but it turns out that there is one branch in Queens and two in New Jersey. Anyone been to any of the local branches? What are we in for?

Now that Downtown has its very own section of the site, what are we going to post on Fridays at 10am? Answer… how about a new column devoted to those lunches just south of the ML boundaries. Every week we’ll post about a lunch in Murray Hill south, Gramercy, Flatiron, and everything in between… or as we’ll call it from now on: Flatiron Lunch.

Chinese food is everywhere in NY. It’s in tourist shops, it’s in generic deli buffets, it’s even kosher. But Indian Chinese food?  Well, that’s completely new to me.  I’ve walked past Chinese Mirch, in the middle of Curry Hill, dozens of times without thinking much of it. It’s actually been mentioned a few times on the site… but it wasn’t until Luncher ‘Steve’ told us recently about their $5.95 lunch special, that I finally made it over there to check it out. I didn’t have very high expectations, but was happily surprised with what we got.

Details on the special and food photos after the jump.
Read more »

As if Midtown didn’t already have enough new burger places popping up… yesterday, Lunch’er “Diamondjim” dropped this bomb in the comments re: the newish branch of 2 Bros. Pizza (on 46th btw. 5th+6th):

“Tucked-away signage spotted inside 2 Bros. today:

Burger Bros.
$1.50 burger
$1.75 cheeseburger
$2.75 double cheeseburger
$1.00 fries
$??? milkshake (didn’t remember the price)!!!”

$1 pizza is one thing, but burgers?  We touched based with the owner of 2 Bros. who confirmed the news…

Read more »

Newish Koreatown sake bar Kirakuya (on 32nd btw. B’way+5th, 2nd Floor) is now open for lunch and serving special sets. Options under $10 include udon and soba noodle bowls served hot or cold and rice bowls with tempura or unagi. Check out a close up of the menu after the jump…

Read more »

When I heard that Yummy Yummy Kosher Veggie Bar, the new falafel place on Lex. btw 55+56th, featured a free salad bar, I knew I wanted to give them a try. Cramming that little container at Olympic Pita (38th btw. 5th and 6th) full of pickles and cabbage is one of Midtown’s greatest pleasures as far as I’m concerned. So I headed to Yummy Yummy to check out their contribution to Midtown’s crowded falafel scene.
Read more »

We’ve been longtime fans of the Burger Bar at Beacon (on 56th btw. 5+6th) and Mamacita recently enjoyed their bar deal… but it looks like they have finally introduced something that is truly a Midtown Lunch. This week, Beacon started a little lunchtime pop up called “The Side Door”, selling a limited menu- literally from their side door.  For $10 you can get their wood grilled burger with or without cheese plus chips and a soda or bottled water. (The same burger that Mamacita got during happy hour.)

But wait, there’s more…

Read more »

From Lunch’er Jason:

Dear Midtown Lunch, I have been a loyal reader for the better part of the last 5 or 6 months, and this has been the tastiest half year of my life. I work at 51st and Park Ave, and today I saw a new truck on the corner of 50th and Park. It seemed to be a Greek style chicken/lamb and rice truck that also offered souvlaki. All of their dishes seem to come in the form of sandwiches too. I would have stopped for lunch had I not already mentally committed to a huarache from El Rey del Sabor. The attached picture is the truck in question. I’ve never seen it before and I was wondering if [anybody] may have additional information about this mysterious blue Greek truck.

We’re on the case Jason. In the meantime, has anybody already tried this cart? Let us know how it is in the comments. Turns out this truck is an oldie but goodie…

Read more »

Last week we reported that New Jersey’s QBA Cuban Kitchen truck had started making appearances in Manhattan, and according to the schedule on their website they’re hoping to make it a permanent Tuesday and Thursday thing (on  the SE corner of 48th and 6th) Excited about a new truck in the face of NYC’s coming food truck apocalypse, I immediately headed out to welcome QBA to the neighborhood, and to see what they had to offer.

Read more »