Midtown Lunch

As is customary here on Midtown Lunch: Downtown, every Tuesday we’ll profile a different lunch’er and get their recommendations for places to eat in Downtown NYC. This week, we have Tam who works in the FiDi and is hooked on Korean fried chicken and BBQ ribs from a cart.

Name: Tam Nguyen

Occupation: System engineer

Where you work: Water & John streets

Age: 28

Favorite kinds of food: This is tough. If I pick one kind of favorite food, it wouldn’t be fair for the rest. But if someone pointed a gun at me, I’d say Japanese.

Least favorite foods: Fish. I can’t do fish, unless it’s salmon. Bonus points if it’s smoked and with dill.

Favorite lunches downtown: I’m very happy that BonChon chicken is now back open in the FiDi on John St. (at Cliff). Must get the lunch combo!

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The Indian food options for $10 or less within Downtown Lunch boundaries are often relegated to steam table spots frequented by cab drivers or quick service spots focusing on dishes like kati rolls or dosa. We even have an Indian version of Chipotle!

Sometimes, you want a little more class than can be found at a place with a sneeze guard where your food is served on a styrofoam plate.

A branch of Midtown’s Benares opened on Murray St. (btw. Church & W. Broadway) and they happen to have three lunch specials for $9.95 or $8.95. The cheapest takeout (or delivery) lunch option contains no meat, but they’ll give you enough food that you won’t even miss it.

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Two weeks ago some of the carts in the plaza on Broadway between Liberty and Cedar streets came to park in their usual spots, only to find there was one of the new Citi Bike stations there instead. The Biryani House cart relocated across the plaza, but a few others that park on Liberty St. were left wondering where to go, and asked the Street Vendor Project for help.

It looks like the 99% Vegetarian, A-Pou’s Taste and Luckyim Thai carts have moved to the other side of the building to Nassau St. between Liberty and Cedar. No word on whether this is a temporary or permanent relocation, but at least now you know where to find some of your favorite carts.

We got word last Friday that a new sandwich shop called Dave’s Hoagies is set to open today for lunch on Cedar St. (btw. William & Pearl). Sure enough, when I walked by finishing touches were being put on the small space that’s near some other Downtown Lunch favorites.

Prices are a little higher than what you’re used to for a sandwich, but these are probably fancier than what you’d get from the generic deli. If you love the sandwiches of Philadelphia, this is your spot. Take a look at the menu straight ahead!  Read more »

Mole and flatbread are not friends. Via FitR.

• One Cosi sandwich you don’t want to order. [FitR]
• Grab-and-go health food comes to Warren St. [Tribeca Citizen]
• A non-hipster chicken parm option in Little Italy. [SENY]

If you’ve given up BonChon Chicken on John St. (at Cliff) for dead after it was shuttered by a fire last December, you’ll be happy to know they’re back. I saw they were  on Seamless again, and when walking by yesterday afternoon the paper was off the windows and the place was open for business. Although you can get Korean fried chicken at Cafe Hanover, BonChon is more convenient for a lot of people.

I wasn’t sure what to think when I got an e-mail from Luncher Rajeev a few weeks ago telling of a new cart called Gangnam Style on Chambers St. (btw. Greenwich & West). I figured it was some young upstarts looking to capitalize on the popularity of a song that will not be mentioned here for fear of it being stuck in all our heads for two hours. It is the second  Korean food option in Downtown Lunch boundaries named for that song.

It turns out a name can be deceiving, and Gangnam Style is not an annoying marketing tool for mediocre food, but churning out some great Korean meats served by a nice couple, at prices that are hard to beat.  Read more »