Midtown Lunch

One of the best parts about the Midtown Lunch Challenge is how many street vendors are getting in on the act.  There was El Rey Del Sabor’s spicy Mexican cheesesteak, I hear rumors that the Jamaican Dutchy is introducing two sandwiches today, the Biryani Cart has something in the works, and there is this… from the 100% Healthy and Halal Cart on the NW corner of 55th and Park.  You may remember this cart for making one of the few salads I will actually eat in Midtown, and now with the help of Wined and Dined, he’s created a special sandwich just for us.

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Who knows how long ago this happened but I noticed today that Yorganic, the Froyo place in the Crystal Pavillion Food Court on 3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th, has closed. A combination of weather, the economy, and oversaturated market place could spell trouble for a lot of the Pinkberry knockoffs over the next few months. As long as they don’t touch my Red Mango on 8th Ave. and 45th I’ll be ok. (Yes, I like Red Mango. Sue me, it’s freakin’ good. I won’t go near Pinkberry though. Does that make up for it?)

Thanks to Lunch’er Chris for the Photo

I was pretty excited to get this email in the old ML Inbox recently, since the fried pork and plantains sandwich from Sophie’s was one of the inspirations for the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge:

“Today I noticed that Sophie’s has a new ‘Special’ sandwich called the ‘Pernil with a Kick’.  It is almost the same as the infamous Fried Pork w/plantain sandwich but uses the roast pork (pernil) and they add their green sauce.  The pernil is more moist than the fried pork version and the green sauce does have a nice kick.  It was good.  Very good.” 

Awww yeah. Bring it on.

Sophie’s Cuban (Multiple Locations)

• Crystal Pavillion Basement Food Court on 3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th)
• Lexington btw. 40+41st

This has been an awesome week for Midtown lovers of Korean fried chicken… this was just posted to the comments, and confirmed by a phone call: “BonChon (the Korean fried chicken place on 5th Ave. just south of 32nd Street) actually IS open for lunch now. I just got some takeout there around 12:45 about 2 weeks ago.” For as long as they have been open, the Koreatown location of Bon Chon didn’t open until 4pm- but apparently a few months ago they started opening at noon. Between this, and the Kyochon news, my Korean fried chicken loving head is about to explode. I know where I’m eating lunch tomorrow…

Bon Chon, 314 5th Ave 2nd Floor (btw. 31+32nd), New York, NY 10001, 212-221-2222

These two sites have nothing to do with finding lunch in Midtown, but my sense is you will like them anyway.  If a french fry covered corn dog or a corn dog topped pizza sounds good to you, you have to check out the amazingly awesome “This is Why You’re Fat”.  (I have my own personal version of that website, and it is the site you are on right now.)  I was thinking of submitting a photo of my own… any suggestions? Also, for the person who loves adding bacon to everything: http://bacolicio.us/ will add a strip of bacon to your favorite websites. (How could that be bad?)  [TiWYF via Eater; Bacolicio via Lunch’er Liz]

Every Tuesday I 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 Steve a guy who wishes that Midtown were a little more like New Orleans.  (Don’t we all…)

Name: Steve

Age: 22

Occupation: Paralegal on my way to law school in the fall. (I hope)

Where in Midtown do you Work?: MetLife Building — 44th and Park

Favorite Kind of Food: Cajun/Creole (The only type of food where every bite of a single dish tastes different than the bite before it and progressively becomes more delicious), Indian, Shawarma, Mexican (my favorite comes out of trucks along the Southern border of the US), Sushi, Butternut Squash (so delicious), bread pudding, tongue

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Grilled eggplant (eggplant is the only food I prefer fried over grilled), Whitefish salad, pineapple, licorice, pickles that aren’t as sour as it gets

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Taam Tov (on 47th btw. 5+6th): lamb kabob and chicken kabob over rice with an appetizer that I’m utterly unable to pronounce. It is kind of like a meat pie. Authentic Bukharian food served by a friendly and helpful staff. Newsstand Indian (aka Khodiar Lunch Services on 6th Ave. btw. 38+39th): I choose a different chaat every time and never ask any questions about contents. 60th St. Taco Cart (aka El Rey del Sabor on 3rd Ave. & 60th St.): This cart saved my life. When I first came to Midtown I thought Qdoba and Chipotle were the only places that would service my burrito cravings. I’d probably have relocated long ago if my triumphant awakening in the form of a ML post never came to be. It is of the utmost importance to have a reliable burrito establishment that is actually good. Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart (on 46th & 6th): the Flounder Platter is unbelievable! I was so skeptical at first, but after trying it a few weeks ago I can truly say that this is about as good a meal as you can get for $6. Even though I’m not huge on fried foods, this really hit the spot. It doesn’t hurt that the lo mein is plentiful and addicting. Also, contrary to some reports I’ve read, no fishiness to speak of in taste or smell. I’m a recent convert, so maybe the quality has improved.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? Naples 45 (on 45th Park+Mad): It is 23 seconds from my elevator bank and truly outstanding. I find myself eating lunch from 1-2 and then stopping into Naples for a slice on the way back to my desk simply because, at $1.90 including tax, I can’t justify not taking advantage. Cucina & Co: Another MetLife building spot. I’ve only entered a few times for a bagel in the morning, but many coworkers seem to retrieve lunch from this place regularly. Not awful, but as unadventurous as it gets in terms of finding a meal.

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The Jamaican Dutchy Cart (on 51st and 7th) has hopped on the “recession special” bandwagon sweeping the city. They have reduced the price of their stewed chicken and curry chicken mini-meals from $6 to $5. “Mini-Meal” is kind of misnomer; they stuff rice, peas, veggies and plantains (plus the meat) into one of those smaller 6″ x 6″ styrofoam containers. It’s a good amount of food for a normal size human being, and for $5 a nice alternative to their $9 to $11 regular size, gut busting portions.

Photo by bionicgrrrl

Shredded Duck Noodle Soup from Hing Won (on 48th btw. 5+6th). “Not pretty, but oh so good. i ate this every day for lunch for 2 months.” –bionicgrrrl

Photo by Lunch’er Wayne

The Duck Pastrami Reuben from FreeFoods NYC. “Just…. wow. It’s like they were saving that duck pastrami as a secret weapon for just such an occasion. As the first sandwich in your challenge, this will be a really tough one to beat. And if every ML Challenge sandwich is like this we will all be obese by March.” -Wayne

Ok, so there’s no goose… but there’s some Swedish meatballs, quiche, and baked apples w/ whipped cream, after the jump.

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