Midtown Lunch

The problem with Korean Fried Chicken is that it’s actually so good that you’re willing to go through a lot to get it. I discovered this a couple years ago at Mad For Chicken (a branch of Bon Chon Chicken at the time.) Both patience and the lunch hour were tested as 10, then 20, then 30 minutes went by with neither food served nor drinks refilled. But a year ago, when Zach first posted about the place, it was our only lunchtime option. It cost more than you wanted to spend and often took a lot longer than you really had time for… but oh, that chicken! Crisp, sweet and sticky, it made all the worries of time and work melt away.

That’s why when Kyochon’s ‘coming soon’ sign went up last February, I rejoiced. Korean Fried Chicken without the interminable wait? Yes, please! Or so I thought. If the year-long delay didn’t set me straight, the lines out the door after it opened certainly did. Clearly, waiting for Korean Fried Chicken is just a requirement. It’s the way it is. So, the question becomes, with Kyochon finally here, Mad For Chicken across the street and a Bon Chon a few blocks away (and another opening up on the same block as Kyochon), how do they stack up?

With the alternating hype and dog-piling on Kyochon, a clear, unbiased fried chicken smackdown was in order. I gladly stepped up (arteries be damned.)

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The Jewish holiday of Passover starts tonight at sundown, so all of the Kosher spots in Midtown will be closed from 3/29 until at least 4/5. It’s not too late for a last minute Kosher Midtown Lunch, though… Pick a Pita (on 8th btw. 39+40th) is open today. But Kosher Deluxe, Olympic Pita, and all the Diamond District spots are already closed. Strangely enough Maoz (on 40th & 7th) will stay open through Passover (I thought they were certified Kosher?) On the plus side there are some spots still open with passover lunch’ing options… Sarge’s (on 3rd btw. 36+37th) has matzoh ball soup and matzoh brie, and so does the Cafe Edison (along with a special “passover” menu starting tonight.)  But the 2nd Ave. Deli will be closed.  Have any other good tips for those Midtown Lunch’ers celebrating Passover?  Feel free to put them in the comments…

Related:
Your Last Midtown Lunch Before Passover (aka, the best bread in Midtown)

Photos courtesy of Lunch’er “nomnomnyc”

Thanks to Luncher “nomnomnyc” for posting in the forums about this new taco truck that has shown up near Penn Station (on the corner of 31st and 7th Avenue.) It’s just out of ML bounds and the selection seems to be limited, but given how woefully under-served the area is for Tacos, I’m willing to go the extra block for some carnitas that don’t come from Chipotle.

More photos, the menu, and a brief report is after the jump.

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Totally forgot to mention this… my trip to 57 Napoli Pizza e Vino wasn’t all bad. The deli downstairs sells a motley arrangement of quality baked goods: a selection of macarons from Macaron Cafe, various super-large cookies from Eleni’s, and morning pastries from Ceci-Cela. On my way out, I picked up a chocolate and salted caramel macaron that tasted fresh enough (even though the salted caramel had shamrocks on it.) A great find for sweets lovers in Midtown North…

C’est Bon Cafe, 120 E. 57th (btw. Mad+Park), 212-888-7272

With standing room only and walls the color of your bright yellow pickled daikon, E-Mo (W.32nd St. btw. 5th Ave and B’way), which means “aunt” in Korean, serves up homestyle, made-to-order kimbap from a tiny storefront in Koreatown. E-Mo is by far the most popular place to get “Korean sushi” in Ktown. A cheap, hole-in-the-wall, you’d think it would be a Midtown Lunch classic, but surprisingly hasn’t had its own coverage… ’til now. And come on Zach, it’s secretly a caloric brick.

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Grub Street reported last week that the C’est Bon Cafe (on 57th btw. Park+Lex) has opened 57 Napoli Pizza e Vino a new “pizza speakeasy” in the 2nd floor space above their cafe. Sadly the menu is mostly out of the Midtown Lunch price range, and it looks strikingly similar to the pizza offerings that have always been on the menu at C’est Bon.  But I have to say we are still kind of curious. Has anybody tried the pizza at this place?  (The new place on the 2nd floor or the original.) Let us know what you think in the comments…

Grill 44 (on 44th btw. Lex+3rd) joined the kati roll revolution back in 2008 by adding ‘Indian burritos’ to their usual stream tray assortment of samosas, curries, lamb vindaloo and tikka masala. Now 44G is packing even more into their tiny storefront by serving a South Indian menu. It’s always dubious when a restaurant adds too many different items to one menu, but 44G seem to be pulling it off. I’m not a dosa expert by any means, but my taste buds know flavorful delicious food… so I set forth to expand my horizons.

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