Midtown Lunch

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. Today it’s our very first librarian!!! (So exciting) Meet Rebecca… a NYPL employee who is looking for a good fish taco.

Name: Rebecca

Age: 34

Occupation: Librarian

Where in Midtown do you Work?: New York Public Library, 42nd and Fifth Avenue.

Favorite Kind of Food: Dumplings, Fish soup, Pasta, Duck, Indian food,
Pizza

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Salad Bars, Mix-em-up Salad Places, Subs/Heroes, and
“Grill Stations”.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Kati Roll on 39th btw. 5+6th (paneer roll and the chana masala roll); Szechuan Gourmet on 39th btw. 5+6th (pork dumplings, eggplant in garlic sauce, braised crispy tofu with pork), Kunjip on 32nd btw. B’way+5th (Soon Doo Boo Chigae)

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While wandering past Yakitori Totto – one of Zach’s favorite Midtown lunches of all time – in the sun yesterday, I came across this sign in front of East Japanese (W 55th btw 8th & Broadway). The rest of the banner shows a takeaway container filled with what appears to be tempura and veggies AKA an “un-ignorable and unforgettable restaurant quality to-go lunch with restaurant price!” For $5, I’ll be back to order this Hiru-Bento, but has anybody tried it yet?

Last night I swung by Kyochon at 7:30ish hoping to find it open. It wasn’t. The two ladies outside said they were still finalizing things and they were a bit non-committal about the official opening. There’s a slim chance it will be ready for lunch today, but dinner sounded more likely. So disappointing.

Still I was able to score a copy of the menu…

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Our favorite pizza site, Slice, broke the news late yesterday that Midtown’s going to get a new pizza truck from Eddie’s in New Hyde Park. What we know: pizza will be made on the truck, pies only, special toppings including the beloved clam, Midtown three days a week, late May debut, and Ed Levine likes them. What we don’t know: how they will stack up to Jiannetto’s, Papa Perrone’s, or Vinny Vincenz. I promise to do some ‘research’ at the brick-and-mortar store and report back when we know more. Until then, check out their Twitter, the true sign that they mean mobile business.

According to their blog, the Frites N Meats truck might be coming to Midtown on Wednesday. The burger truck (which features grass fed beef, and crazy toppings) was originally only permitted to park Downtown (on Greenwich and Chambers) but they recently scored a citywide permit and are looking to spread their wings. None of us have tried it, but Chris had good things to say about it on the Downtown section of ML. (And it clearly will be better than La Cense!) They haven’t decided on an exact spot yet (and it might end up being in the Flatiron) but they’re open to suggestions. You can see where they end up by following them on Twitter.

Related:
Your First Look at the Frites N Meats Burger

You might have read on Friday that the new Kyochon (on 5th Ave. btw. 32+33rd) would be opening today… but not for lunch! This was the scene around Noon, as they scramble to get the place ready for their grand opening which apparently will be happening tonight at 6pm. Anybody free for pandemonium Korean fried chicken lunch tomorrow?

Related:
Kyochon Delayed Again

I reported recently on the brotherly rivalry that is pitting cart against cart, Fahima against Kwik Meal, and now Muhammed’s pasta against Muhammed’s pasta. Yes, to confuse matters even more they both have the same first name. Someone dig up Richard Dawson because ladies and gentleman what we have here is a Family Feud!

I can only assume that the Fahima stir-fried noodles are a direct counterpoint to the Kwik Meal Pasta cart that debuted last year. Mohammed Mahbub Rahman, the owner of the Fahima cart, has the same streak of entrepreneurship as his brother. He has impressively taken on serving biriyani along with his lamb and chicken and made a good impression with this street eater. Now it was time to try these noodles and see if they are substantive, unique and, as is our M.O. here on ML, worthy of your hard earned dollars.

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Photo Courtesy of Eating in Translation

Dave Cook from Eating in Translation noticed this new spot going up a few weeks ago (on 38th btw. 5+6th). And according to Lunch’er “Leandro” they are now open and offering 50% off everything this whole week. The menu Dave photographed is a fairly generic Midtown deli menu (Salad, Deli, Tex Mex, Udon, Teriyaki) but for half off it might be worth a looksee! Early adopters, let us know how it is in the comments…

Mustang Cafe, 22 W. 38th St. (btw. 5+6th), 212-354-5522