Midtown Lunch

So it’s not a Panda Express, but I suppose we’re getting closer.  Chuan Garden (on 46th btw. 5+6th) is finally reopening as “Panda Restaurant”.  Thanks to Profiled Midtown Lunch’er Josh from NYCFoodie, who sent along the photo above.  No word on whether or not it is the same owners, same food, or when it’s going to be reopening… but we know it’s still Chinese food- and as far as I’m concerned, the more Chinese food in Midtown the better.

Back when I was on my quest for a real deal Greek gyro (not a Middle Eastern shawarma sandwich, or a chopped up gyro from a cart), a number of commenters mentioned Akdeniz.  Sure it’s Turkish, and not Greek, and the place is a sit down restaurant- but their gyro sandwich is under $10 (one of the few things on the menu that is) and came highly recommended.  Well I finally got around to trying the thing, which is only available during the day, and although it wasn’t what I initially was asking for, it is definitely a tasty sandwich.

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El Tequilazo (on 46th btw. 5+6th) has always been a bit too expensive, and… “bright”… for my tastes (well, the sign anyway) but I passed by yesterday and noticed their sandwich board is advertising lunch specials that are well within the Midtown Lunch price range.  I’m pretty sure they never had anything for this cheap before, so I’m guessing this is some sort of recession special?  Anybody tried this Colombian/Mexican place before?  I’m a little wary, but kind of curious if it’s worth it at the cheaper price.

El Tequilazo, 43 W 46th Street (btw. 5+6th),  212-768-0770

After almost 3 years of doing Midtown Lunch, I feel like I’ve walked down every single block of Midtown (multiple times.)  And while the site would be nothing without your recommendations, and tips about new places, I thought there weren’t very many older places I didn’t know about. So imagine my surprise last week, when (based on a recommendation in the comments) I walked into Nino’s to discover a pretty cool, old school Italian place that I somehow managed to avoid in over 1000 days of Midtown Lunch’ing.  So embarrassing.  Even my wife was like “oh… you went to Nino’s?  I’ve been to that place a million times.” How did I miss this? Aside from the obvious… it’s not Asian food. 

I can’t even blame it on the location somehow being a random hidden block… it’s on 46th btw. 5+6th (!!!) the same block as Cafe Cello, Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart, Moshe’s Falafel, Kosher Deluxe, Ranch 1, and (at one time) Rangole & House of Pita. I’ve walked down this street one or two times…  

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Midtown Lunch Flickr friend The Flooz has been tracking the fried fish sandwich at the Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart on 46th btw. 5+6th for over a year now. The first photo was taken back in November of 2007, and TF had this to say:

I finally got a chance to visit Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart on 46th btw. 5+6th (right next to Moishe’s) and i have to say- i’m so glad i did! I ordered the fried flounder on a hero. Yeah everyone else in front of me was getting lettuce and tomato on white bread, but why bother? Slap on some tartar and hot sauce and we’re good to go. Also because of the quantity of fish (so much!) I went for the toasted hero so as to enjoy every last morsel. Wow- $4.50 never tasted so good!!!

But then, things went wrong back in September…

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“Imposter” Waffle Truck Spotted Near the West Side Highway

Been getting tons of waffle truck sightings in the inbox lately, and Blondie & Brownie confirm. The OG Waffels & Dinges truck has been parked on 46th btw. 5+6th the past two days, and plans on being there again today (and probably tomorrow) until 3:30-4 pm. The rain looks like it may keep them off the street today, but one thing is clear- W&D appears here to stay. You can check their twitter page for updates.

I also spotted the “Imposter” Waffle Truck parked in Midtown West the past two nights. Many carts and trucks have parking spaces near the West Side Highway, and it doesn’t necessarily mean they are setting up shop in Midtown, but it would seem like a convenient option. We may even end up with our own Truck War, like the one brewing in Union Square.

Waffle truck sightings are totally welcome in the comments…

“How can I not?” was the first thing that went through my head when I read about the off the menu “Special Vegetarian” sandwich being served at the Blimpie on 46th btw. 5+6th on the Village Voice blog.  Doritos?  Spicy green chutney?  Off the menu?  At a Blimpie?  How… can… I… not.  I posted a quick link to share the info with you people (I’m unselfish like that) and headed straight over to this gross sandwich chain, which had decided to buck the Latin food trend that other Blimpieowners seem to be impressed with, and instead make something for the Indian population working in the area. 

Since I know some of you were probably holding off, waiting for the visual proof of this sandwich’s existence- I present, the foot long crime-against-nature, after the jump… Read more »

We all know about Latin food inside a Blimpie, but Fork in the Road brings word of the latest shenanigans going on inside the Blimpie on 46th btw. 5+6th where you can order a not-on-the-menu “Special Vegetarian” sandwich involving doritos and a spicy green chile chutney.  This sandwich is definitely on my list for this week.  Midtown Lunch early adopters, feel free to comment below…

Prefer the Spanish food?  The Latin food that used to be in the Blimpie on 6th Ave. btw. 37+38th is now next door sharing space with the Gujarati Indian Steam table and newly opened Taj Delhi Chat.  Or there is another Blimpie with Latin food on 35th btw. 7+8th.

I admit it’s not for everybody, but I love eating food off the street, here and abroad.  Meat on a stick in Bali, everything in Thailand, raw clams in Chile… I could go on and on.  There’s something about eating on the sidewalk that is fun and exciting to me, and here in Midtown we have some amazing food carts.  But there is also that step below food cart that pops up every once awhile- like the lady selling tamales in front of the Mexican Embassy, or the Japanese delivery guys selling bento boxes on 50th St. btw. 6+7th.  These are my favorite discoveries, and last week I finally tried a new one on 46th btw. 5+6th. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked by this lady standing on 46th St. with a grocery pushcart filled with styrofoam packages.  Usually out there around 1pm, she sells containers of Ecuadorian food to workers in the area for $6-7.  I don’t know where she comes from, or where she goes when she’s done, but I can tell you this:  if there is a random lady, selling homemade food in styrofoam containers on a random street in Midtown, I want to know about it.  I want to eat her food.  No matter what is…  Read more »

It’s been over a year a half since I originally visited Cafe Cello (46th btw. 5+6th), and wrote about their roast pork.  (I loved it so much, the photo of my lunch became the official Midtown Lunch photo.)  From the outside, you’d never guess that this generic looking deli would serve the best roast pork in Midtown, but it’s the truth (you may say the secret ingredient is crispy pork fat).  I returned last week to check out the scene, and I’m pleased to report that pretty much nothing has changed.  They still serve up a delicious plate of pork, and they still top it with the all important hunk of crispy pork skin.  If you are a lover of pork fat, it really can’t be beat.

But as good as the pork is, it may not be Cafe Cello’s best dish.  That title may have to be reserved for their surprisingly delicious fried chicken…  Read more »