Downtown Lunch: By the Lb. Korean Chicken Wings at Park Lane Deli
Midtown workers shouldn’t have all the fun, so to even the score, I’ve brought on Daniel Krieger as an official Downtown Lunch Correspondent to write up some of the tasty stuff you can get in the lower half of Manhattan. He’s a great photographer (ensuring good food porn), but more importantly he is a lover of cheap, unique and delicious eats (or as I like to call it- Midtown Lunch’ish food.) Today he clues us in to secret Korean chicken wings, from a by the lb. buffet inside a generic deli.
Park Lane Deli is situated at 56 Reade Street and to the curious passerby would appear to be a typical sandwich slinging deli with a hot/cold buffet for the lunch crowd. Go inside, and wait on line for the buffet- and at the end of it you’ll be greeted with large trays filled with some of the best fried chicken in NYC. Fat little drumsticks and wings, heavily coated and perfectly seasoned, the meat is tender and juicy in the middle. Also available are sticky hot and sweet wings, equally irresistible.
I can’t tell if these things look good or gross from the photos but boyo let me tell you this chicken ain’t no joke. I thought Bon Bon around the block had some amazing chicken but I think Park Lane might take the prize. The recipe actually comes from the matriarch of the Korean family who owns the store, but when asked if it was specifically considered “Korean Fried Chicken” there was no definitive answer given. I know what Zach says about taking bone in chicken from a by the lb. buffet- but this is one case where an exception can be made!
The rest of the buffet is populated with items having more of a “Southern” influence, like their good looking mac-n-cheese, and candied yams made with a bit of pineapple (deliciously sweet). You can also get regular salads, including a nice Mediterranean with feta and grape leaves- but the kicker might just be the price. Most bacteria buffets (which I generally steer clear from) come in around $6 but everything at Park Lane Deli is a pretty cheap $5.19 per pound. They also have coffee for 85 cents! I don’t remember the last time seeing coffee for under $1.
I probably don’t have to say this, but skip the sandwiches and salads. The chicken wings is why you’re there. Ask any person on line who looks like a regular and they’ll tell you that’s why they come. And you’ll know this when you look around and see fried chicken wings on everyones trays while waiting on line for the register. And try not be tempted by the catering portion… a huge tray of wings for $28. Seriously? Next time I’m having a party I’m getting some.
Oh who am I kidding I don’t ever have parties.
Park Lane Deli, 56 Reade Street (btw. Broadway and Church), 212-608-1528
Photos and post by Daniel Krieger
Posted by Daniel Krieger at 10:30 am, November 7th, 2008 under Jury Duty Lunch.
26 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
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26 Comments
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“Bacteria Buffet” – Daniel, you crack me up. And still too far out of my reachhhhh!
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@Bossman,
she should keep both of them shut?
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One wears lipstick?….. I have no idea
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Only some of the things that come out of her vagina are retarded.
Ba-dum-dum
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Bossman, I know that punchline and if you utter it, it will bring down this thread, the ML site and possibly all of western civilization.
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Too late….
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glad you guys liked my post so much *rolls eyes*
Yvo – you gotta go there and try the wings.. I’m telling you!
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Hey bossman, why won’t Obama laugh at himself?
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Because it would be racist
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hey downtowners… that’s not traditional Korean fried chicken.. ala Bon Chon.. Korean fried chicken is battered then fried… imagine eating a piece of chicken inside of a Krispy Kreme… yep that good…
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We are getting dangerously close to a new commenting policy…
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Freaking bossman, you made Zach yell at us
again
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Horrific news form the Japanese Banks..
The Origami Bank has Folded.
The Bonsai Bank if Cutting back Branches.
The Sumo Bank has gone Belly Up.
Theres something fishy going on at the Sushi Bank.
The the Kamikaze bank has nosedived.
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HA!!!! keepin it classy, rudy. nice.
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Is that watermelon? Do I see fried chicken, mac n’ cheese, and watermelon? that’s like my entire diet until the age of 12, when i got sick of watermelon.
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Daniel, excellent post. Thanks for putting your cholesterol and stomach on the line for us. Now I want some fried chicken. I guess I’ll have to settle for Pescado Sarandeado, a dish from Nayarit, Mexico
http://www.mariscoslabahia.com/images/pescado%20sarandeado_JPG.jpg
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I used to work around the block and the wings are delicious but definately not korean fried chicken. It’s more like fried buffalo wings without the sauce coating…
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Mc Beagle
I see you are taking a break from delivering Perfect Sleepers to amuse us with the sheer inanity of your post.
Why anyone would risk eating fried chicken from a vermin-infested deli when it is maybe the easiest thing in the world to make yourself, I don’t know.
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Is it really that easy to make at home? I’ve never tried.
Hey Wayne, what’s the difference betwen Sarah Palin’s mouth and her vagina?