Midtown Lunch

I’m excited to welcome our newest contributor Profiled Midtown Lunch’er Amy, from the blog AmyBlogsChow (where she posts videos showing you how to make smores in the microwave.) She works in Midtown East, and will be covering that area for us. -Zach

On Zach’s first visit to Onya last fall (on 47th btw. Lex+3rd), he pointed out that the fresh noodles and mix-and-match menu at this udon joint made it a worthy alternative to nearby Udon West (on 46th btw. Lex+3rd). Five months after their opening, Onya is still one of my favorite Midtown East lunch spots, and last month, they added some nine lunch options to the original five! Even though I tend to stick with what I know (the #5 Kamatama) I figured it was time to tear myself away from the same old, same old. With thirteen similar-sounding udon varieties to choose from (there are a few rice combos, but most of the menu consists of udon prepared in different broths served either hot or cold) I basically closed my eyes and pointed at an entrée.

My finger landed on Number 14, the Mentaiko-Tororo Bukkake Udon – cold udon noodles that’s “a little bit sweet” the lady behind the counter said. Whatever, I like sweet- and while cold noodles is not exactly the best choice for a week like this I felt the need to follow the finger.

Read more »

Kwik Meal vs. Fahima, bumper against bumper, brother against brother, the side by side street cart family feud on the SW corner of 45th Street and 6th Avenue rages on! Yet in the black cloud of this Greek tragedy is there perhaps a silver lining? Out of this great turmoil might there be great rewards? With some new additions to Fahima’s menu, I certainly hoped so. Bear with me people; I’m inspired by Halal not Homer. Ehem, So then, here’s my first take.

Read more »

It’s a little out of bounds, and you know most of us aren’t really down with the vegetarian stuff (save for Zach’s weird obsession with the now shuttered Zen Burger) but if you are a vegetarian or vegan you’ll be excited to hear that a branch of the international vegan chain Loving Hut opened on 7th Ave. btw. 29+30th a few months ago.  Everything on the menu is under $10, and “all dishes are free of animal ingredients. NO MSG. NO MILK. NO EGGS. All items are 100% vegan.” [via GirlieGirlArmy]

Loving Hut, 348 7th Ave. (btw. 29+30th), 212-760-1900

I’m excited to welcome our newest contributor Clay, from the blog Ultraclay. (You might have seen him on NBC4 this morning!) He’s a great photographer, and a big eater… and is responsible for introducing me to Little Italy Pizza– which has just opened up a new branch on 7th Ave. Here’s his report. -Zach

Little Italy Pizza (on 33rd btw. Mad+5th) may not be the cheapest in the area, now that a new 99 cent place has popped up on the same block. And according to some, it may not beat out Squisito (on 34th btw. Mad+Park) for best slice in the area, but I’m a big fan of their margarita pizza– and the owners recently opened up a new, almost identical location on 33rd near 7th ave.

Read more »

With Valentine’s Day just five days away, the internets is all about cookies and sweets this week! We just told you about the Treats Truck’s new specials, plus Dorie Greenspan’s new CookieBar opened yesterday on Park Ave. btw. 59+60th (you can get a good look at it on Serious Eats New York and Fork in the Road), and Bouchon Bakery has got their roster of treats ready to go.  And we’re guessing that’s not the last of it…

Now that the Super Bowl is out of the way, you’re probably sick and tired of fried chicken wings. Here at Midtown Lunch, we never get tired of fried chicken, especially when it’s covered in a sweet and spicy sauce. Many of you probably had traditional buffalo wings for the big game, but Korean fried chicken is not like Southern fried chicken or buffalo wings. The texture contrast and sauces make Korean fried chicken a different beast. A beast that I like eating. When I heard about Bon Chon opening up on 38th, I was really ecstatic until I heard about the 2 hour wait… After waiting for the dust to settle and giving Bon Chon time to figure out a better system, I decided to go check out their famous Korean fried chicken.

Read more »

I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for a 99 cent slice of pizza.  To my way of thinking most slices in Midtown are frankly mediocre, so I’d rather not pay $2.75-$3.00 for a sub par piece of pizza when I could pay 99 cents instead.  Alas working in the Rock Center area, I’m a little cut off from the sub $1 slice love (at least until the new branch of 2 Bros rolls into the Diamond District later this spring).  When I heard that there was a deli in K-Town serving up 99 cent slices on 33rd street, just two subway stops away, I knew that I had to check it out.

Read more »

A few weeks back Always Hungry scouted out the best pizza joints around the Empire State Building. But what about those cheap bastards among us who feel that nobody should have to pay more than $1 for a slice? Lunch’er “Rachel” has just the news you were waiting for: “New deli place in (I think) the old Golden Krust spot on 33rd btw 5th and Madison advertising 99cent pizza. Haven’t tried yet, but thought you should know asap.” Nice… thanks for the heads up!

Related:
Squisito Declared Best Pizza Slice Near the Empire State Building

Monday mornings are always hellish affairs (especially when it’s rainy, windy, and sick passengered like mine was last Monday) but leave it to Joe and the Art of Coffee in Grand Central to give me a mood uplift from Tumbador Chocolates! Yes, it’s almost time for Valentine’s Day and I have fully gotten into the spirit (I already have a box of special Valentine’s Funfetti!) So when I saw the little red foil hearts in the usual Tumbador Lil’ Devils/Ring Dings jar, I was super excited to try one. Making a mental note for myself to come back during lunchtime turned out to be a near fatal move. I popped back in around 1, and more than half the jar was emptied of red hearts! But thankfully I did get one.

Read more »

Is it just me or does it seem like there are a lot of new Japanese spots popping up in Koreatown?  Haru Hana opened a month ago on 32nd btw. B’way+5th serving ramen, udon, sushi, and katsu- and now Izakaya Moku has opened on the same block.  Fork in the Road filed an early look at this new place, praising the yakitori and okonomiyaki– but the exciting news is that unlike most Izakaya (which are after work places that don’t tend to open until after 5pm) this place is open for lunch.  Plus they’re offering 20% off their lunch menu through the end of Feburary.

Check out the lunch menu after the jump…

Read more »