Midtown Lunch

It looks like Street Sweets isn’t the only truck getting a makeover… on Monday we reported that the NYC Cravings truck would be closing up for the rest of the winter at the end of the week.  But that was only part of the story. They are actually about to rebrand themselves as Bian Dang: Taiwanese Lunch Box- both on the truck and in their new brick and mortar store in the new Food Gallery 32 in Koreatown.  In fact, opening inside the Koreatown food court is part of the reason why they’re closing up the truck for the winter… and we’re hearing that’s happening in two weeks!  So, fear not Cravings fans.  You’ll be able to get your Taiwanese pork chops and fried chicken through the winter after all.

It’s always a good day for eating street food, but today is an especially good day. City Harvest, the non profit organization dedicated to rescuing food and using it to feed the hungry in NYC, has gotten over 20 food trucks to single out a delicious menu item today to benefit their cause. In other words, if you go to any of the participating street vendors today and buy the designated item, the proceeds will go to benefit City Harvest. The event is taking place at trucks and carts all over the city, but more than half will be right here in Midtown, like the Biryani Cart, Kwik Meal, Jamaican Dutchy, Treats Truck, Jiannetto’s, the Steak Truck, and Korilla. Here’s the entire list of participating vendors, and what they plan on selling for the benefit, and as always you can track the trucks individually on the ML Twitter Tracker.

• Beware of falling lampshades at Tad’s Steak! [Midtown Eating]
• Midtown East expense account dream list?  [Midtown Eating]
• You can eat food from the Trini Paki cart in the atrium across the street [Midtown Eating]
• Is McDonald’s “Holiday Pie” the new shamrock shake? [Midtown Eating]

Last week Grub Street reported that a new Bon Chon will be opening on 51st and 2nd Ave., and this morning Lunch’er “Joyce” was kind enough to send along these photos.  It may be technically out of bounds, but if you work in Midtown East it means no more trekking down to K-Town for fried chicken!  Unlike the two locations in south Midtown (on 38th btw. 7+8th, and 5th btw. 32+33rd) this new location is actually owned by a former manager of the Bon Chon on John Street (not to be confused with the one on Chambers which recently lost its “Chon”.)  Our Downtown site always had good things to say about that location, so we’re guessing this one should be just as good.

They’ve launched a website at http://www.bonchonmidtown.com, and you can track their construction progress on this WordPress blog they set up.  They’re hoping to open in early 2011.

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 Rich, a 26 year old radio guy who wishes he was in L.A. (gee, that sounds familiar!)  To be completely honest, as a longtime radio vet who quit his job to do this craziness full time, I have to say I’m kind of shocked somebody under 30 even knows what “radio” is!

Name: Rich

Age: 26

Occupation: Radio

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 46th and 6th

Favorite Kind of Food: I have an unhealthy obsession with Korean Fried Chicken.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Spent too much time on this question. I don’t think I have one.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Liege with spekaloos and bananas at Wafels and Dinges, Pork Sandwich with spicey mayo and that garlic/ginger relish at Schnitzel n’ Things, Chicken and Lamb over rice at both Kwik Meal (on 45th and 6th) and Famous Halal Guys (on 53rd and 6th), Cuban Sandwich at Margon (on 46th btw. 6+7th), Falafel w/ Hummus at Kosher Deluxe (on 46th btw. 5+6th), Taiwanese Chicken at the Cravings Truck, Fried Whiting at Kim’s Aunt Kitchen (on 46th and 6th), Shack Burger at Shake Shack (on 8th and 44th), both the hot and soy garlic drumsticks at Bonchon….OK, I need to stop typing. I’m getting hungry.

Read more »

I don’t know about you, but Blondie and Chris’ respective holiday market eats posts made me jealous and hungry. So yesterday I headed over to Bryant Park to get in on some of that holiday market action.

Read more »