Midtown Lunch

There’s a sign outside of Soma By Nature on William (btw. John & Fulton) that I always pass by but have never investigated. That would be the $5.95 lunch specials that include curry chicken, ma po tofu, udon soup and japchae. Considering that most things there are $8 or more I feel like this is a pretty good deal, but do you get enough food to fill you up or do they stiff you in the name of a bargain? That’s what I headed inside to find out.

Make sure you ask for the lunch special because on the regular menu, all of the items are $1 to $2 more expensive. The japchae was served in what I thought was an unusual fashion with white rice mounded on the bottom, and a pile of noodles on top (but really, I am no expert on Korean food). You also get to choose a vegetable to put on top and I randomly picked mushrooms from the wide selection in what I’m going to call the “bibimbap fixin’s bar.”

This was a decent amount of food for $6, especially when you factor in the rice. I’m also going to pretend that it’s healthier than Chinese take out from Yip’s across the street despite the amount of oil pooled in the bottom on the rice. While I’m no japchae expert, I’d have to say this was good and I liked the addition of the vegetable on top to make me feel healthier and add some textural difference.

Basically, if you want to eat at Soma on the cheap the lunch specials are a good deal and probably healthier than what you’re going to get at a street cart for the same price.

Soma By Nature, 123 William St. (btw. John & Fulton), (212) 608-8850