Midtown Lunch

On Fridays during Lent I’m always on the lookout for a good meatless lunch. While I love me a good fried fish sandwich, sometimes I’m in the mood for something a little lighter but still filling. So when I saw that O-de-ppang! at Food Gallery 32 was now offering a Sashimi Bibimbap for $9.95, I had to check it out.

The photo signage is a little misleading. My sashimi bibimbap lacked the fake crab leg and variety of fish I saw in the picture when I ordered. But the description posted above the cash register (“sashimi, sauces and spices, rice, assorted fresh greens, spices. It’s a little bit – sweet, tangy and very interesting!”) was right on target. What I got was a sizable serving of tilapia on a bed of rice and shredded lettuce, a side salad, miso soup, and plenty of gojuchang sauce on the side. The tilapia was sliced thin and covered with roe and a sprinkling of sesame seeds.

I’ve gone twice for this particular dish and I will caution that the quality of the fish pieces has varied. Some of the slices seemed better cuts than others–there were definitely a few pieces that were chewier along the edges than I was expecting. I’m not a fish expert, so I’m not sure if it was a problem in fileting it or what. But in any case, if you’re expecting Nobu grade sashimi for under $10, you’re not going to be pleased, but if you’re looking for a very filling (I started with the tilapia and didn’t even have room for the soup and salad) lunch that’s on the mildly fishy side, this is worth a look.

O-de-ppang!, Food Gallery 32, 11 W 32nd St (between 5th Ave & Broadway)