Midtown Lunch

Whenever I want cheap and quick Chinese food, Fuji Bakery (35th btw 7+8th) is my to go spot. Where else am I going to get shumai in Midtown for $2 and a good mix of possible 2 item lunch combinations for $4.75 that actually tastes good?

On a number of my recent trips, I noticed a piece of paper that was taped to the wall with the words “Lamb Over Rice” written on it (why is it that the best stuff at Chinese restaurants is always on weird wall signs?) I was intrigued every time I saw it but was always distracted by the pork belly dish on the steamed table. Finally I decided to try the lamb over rice dish (sorry my precious pork belly… next time.)  Sichuan style cumin lamb?  Fuji Bakery’s version of halal street meat?  I seriously had no idea what Fuji Bakery’s version of lamb over rice was going to be, and was surprised (in a good way) when I saw it. Check it out after the jump.

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The ML Twitter Tracker has brought some especially great news today… the long awaited Kimchi Truck, which has been spending a lot of time Downtown and in LIC since its launch last week, will be parked on 52nd and 6th today.  Curious what it’s like?  Our Downtown site posted a first look at the truck on Monday. Not in the mood for kimchi tacos? Papa Perrone is back on 55th and serving pizza rustica for lent will have pizza rustica soon (but not today), Taim Mobile is on 51st btw. 6+7th, Rickshaw is on 50th btw. 6+7th, Comme Ci Comme Ca is on 55th and Lex, Eddie’s Pizza is on 46th and 6th, and Sweetery is on 52nd and Lex.

After reading luncher “GreeZeyFreezey’s” second rave about the White & Hot Halal Truck last week, I decided to finally check it out. It’s been a while since I’ve had any street meat and the time seemed right for a chicken and lamb over rice. I was just about to order when I noticed that they offered kofte over rice as well. You don’t see that nearly as often as ‘lamb’ or whatever’s in that gyro loaf. Given how well reviewed these guys were, I decided to try it out.

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Two days ago Cupcake Stop, which owns multiple trucks and 2 brick and mortar stores, announced via Twitter and Facebook that they were shutting down. Last night, those messages were deleted from Twitter and Facebook and www.cupcakestop.com came back online with a message that they are “currently on hiatus”.  We haven’t talked to the owner Lev directly, but we did hear secondhand from a tipster that he was planning to “pursue other opportunities.”  So… what does this new twist mean?  Did Lev get pushed out by investors?  Maybe after the closing announcement somebody offered to buy the business?  We don’t know for sure (our emails have gone unanswered) but one thing seems certain, the Cupcake Stop brand might not be dead after all.

• Has anybody seen the sombrero cart lately? [Midtown Eating]
• Pio Pio has a great lunch special [Midtown Eating]
• Anybody know where to find paczkis? [Midtown Eating]
• Plans for the March happy hour meetup are under way! [Connections]

Photo courtesy of Robyn Lee/SENY

Back in January FeastNY gave us all a look at the 7 brand new seasonal sandwiches introduced by ‘wichcraft.  We especially liked the pork loin and kale and the new potato and leek fritatta sandwiches, and today Serious Eats: New York finally got around to weighing in. For those of you who don’t feel like clicking through the whole slideshow, we’ll just tell you… their favorite was the shrimp salad.

Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Nicholas, a former Midtown Lunch’er with some good recs for those he left behind on the west side.

Name: Nicholas

Age: 23

Occupation: Usher at the Angelika Film Center

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Now downtown, but used to be in Midtown back when I had a “real” film job over on 45th between 9th and 10th

Favorite Kind of Food: Indian Lunch Buffet, Bubble Tea!

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Sushi (sorry, bros)

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Chicken “Taco” w/Mixed Vegetables from Good N’ Plenty to Go (Crazy good take-out run by two elderly theater-loving gay men and their all Latino crew on 43rd bet. 9th and 10th.) Cream of Tomato w/Chicken+Orzo Soup w/ Small Baby Spinach/Sundried Tomatoes Salad combo from Hale+Hearty Soups. Chicken Bulgur Wheat Platter w/ Tsatziki, Garlic Sauce, Tahini and Hot Sauce from Meze Grill (on 8th Ave. btw. 55+56th). Grilled Chicken Sandwich w/Mixed Greens, Red Pepper Sauce, Fries from Chicken Bar (guilty pleasure on 8th Ave. btw. 45+46th)

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Sapporo on 49th btw 6+7th holds a soft spot for me. This was THE very first place I had a good meal at when I first moved to the city (from Los Angeles.) I even remember walking down to Times Square to see Terminator 3 (I know I know after my meal there, and I’ve eaten there a few more times since then.  But every time I would get the ramen.  So when Chef Bill Telepan said he liked the cha-han last week and I saw that Amy preferred the tonkatsu curry rice dish over the ramen I realized I had never tried any of their rice dishes before.  Clearly I needed to change that.
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