Midtown Lunch

Since I didn’t solve my seafood cravings at Snocky’s, I sought out some seafood over rice at Tampopo, a small Japanese restaurant on 21st Street. Bibimbap and donburi bowls take up most of the menu, which is great for gluten free  dining, or you can try a bento box or their udon and soba noodles.  There was one dish in particular that I knew I had to have.

The tuna bibimbap is what I came here for.  Luncher Shao mentioned it in her lunch profile and Foodzings also checked it out, it sounded too good that I refused to let any other dish on the menu sway me from ordering it. On top of my brown rice was a layer of sauce followed by a mound of pink raw tuna and  neat piles of cabbage, cucumber, and asian pear. The sweet asian pear is a brilliant, sweet and crunchy addition. The smooth tuna pieces feel very luxurious, but this $9 bowl meets the budget. The color of the tuna was so appealing, I would purchase a nail polish of that same shade. Tuna by OPI? Looking at the pile of the tuna at first, it appeared like a small amount, but after it was all mixed up I was satisfied with how many bites of tuna I got. Once I has halfway though, I realized that the sauce was pretty spicy, but the flavors of the rest of the ingredients were only enhanced rather than masked by the spice, very impressive.

The hot spicy squid donburi bowl is simple, but another good way to go. A nice portion of grilled squid bodies and tentacles in spicy sauce are accompanied by rice for $7.

And if its that egg over rice mix that you are seeking, the egg and beef bibimbap is a straightforward rendition, with a savory, less spicy sauce than the squid or tuna bows.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• Fresh tuna and asian pear sounds like something I must try
• I can choose chicken, meat, seafood, tofu, or veggies and it’s all healthy

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• I don’t want rice or noodles

Tampopo, 104 S 21st St (@ Sansom St), 215 557-9593