Midtown Lunch

Last week, we posted a video I made on Rookie of the Year nominee Lil Zeus Lunch Box. This is a series of videos I’ve been releasing that documents all of the nominees for the big event coming up on September 12 (tickets still available here). We thought it’d be cool to feature videos on all the ones that spend some time in Midtown.

This week the focus is Coney Shack, another nominee for the Rookie of the Year category. This truck is the newest of the rookies to Midtown, having pulled up for the first time earlier this summer after getting their feet wet on Coney Island. Their southeast Asian inspired tacos are loaded up with ingredients like 5-spice calamari and garlic glazed pork belly. They go back and forth between Midtown West and East, but for exact locations check out their Twitter feed. Click the link below to check out the video.

Coney Shack

The last post tagged “Indian” was in 2013, the last post tagged “Buffet, All You Can Eat” was in 2011, and the last post about Darbar Grill was in 2009. I think that means it’s time for a bit of a refresher…

How much I ate, after the jump!

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I never would have known Jongro existed if it wasn’t for Chris H. He let us know that the recently opened hidden Korean BBQ spot started serving a lunch menu.

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All the Vendy Award nominees are now in. Yesterday, the Street Vendor Project announced the nominees for Vendy Cup (FiDi’s Biryani House, the burger truck Hard Times Sundaes, Cantonese steamed rice noodle cart Guandong Cheong Fun, Astoria’s Souvlaki Lady, and last year’s Rookie of the Year winner Snowday).

They also announced an exciting new category which is Best Street Drink. You’ll be able to try drinks as diverse as coconut smoothies, unqiue lemonades, morir soñando, and champurrado (a hot Mexican chocolate drink).

As for the previous announced categories, we are fortunate to have many Midtown vendors represented, so over the next few weeks we’ll be showcasing them in video form. And no doubt, the videos will make you eager to attend the big event on September 12. Tickets are still on sale here.

To start with, check out this mouthwatering video on Rookie of the Year nominee Lil Zeus Lunch Box, who parks on 50th and 6th Avenue every day and grills up some mighty tasty gyros and souvlaki.

Lil Zeus Lunch Box Video>>

photo courtesy of Awesome in New York

Have you guys heard of Between the Bread? They serve ‘catering food’ (and also offer catering for office parties/lunches/etc.) at individual prices from a small storefront that is basically a cafeteria counter. The menu rotates regularly – I was there on Friday and entrees were a choice of room-temp options displayed for me – herbed salmon, cajun salmon, shrimp teriyaki, chicken paillard, another chicken dish, and then a hot dish which was “honey mustard glazed chicken with basmati rice” that day. There were also sandwiches in the glass display case, a few soups that seem to change daily, and a lot of side options for your entree.

Unfortunately, the pricing of the entrees range from $11.95 for the meats to $13.95 for seafood, putting them well above the ML $10 ‘limit’.

UNTIL NOW.

How I got a seafood entree AND an extra side, all for $10 flat, after the jump…

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Choux Box entered the Midtown East lunchscape about a month ago, offering sandwiches and little snacks. Let’s be honest — Midtown does not hurt for sandwiches, so how were they going to set themselves apart?

By putting their sandwiches on puff pastry.

What the what? What this looks like, what this costs you, but most importantly, what this tastes like… after the jump.

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Terrible attempts at 80s puns aside, looking for lunch one day we stopped at the Hyderabad Goat Kacchi Biryani cart. Boy, that’s a mouthful! Midtown Lunch is no stranger to the place, but it’s been a while so I decided to give it a whirl.

What I whirled, after the jump!

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It’s no secret that I love Hide Chan and its just over ML limit ramen and make my way over there for treat yo’self Friday afternoon lunch quite frequently. But my most recent visit revealed a new(ish) summer menu!

Prices and what I ordered after the jump…

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Do you have your tickets yet for the Vendy Awards on September 12? Yesterday the Street Vendor Project released the nominees in three of the categories to give you an idea of just how delicious this event will be.

The Rookie of the Year nominees are almost completely comprised of vendors that hang out in Midtown. Coney Shack is the new Korean-taco truck making the rounds, Lil Zeus Lunch Box has been a popular Midtown West lunch option since they opened in March, Old Traditional Polish represents an under-represented cuisine in these parts, Shuka Truck serves fresh, filling Middle Eastern egg sandwiches and platters, and Kaya NYC has made a quick appearance in Midtown with their gua bao but mostly hang out downtown and in Dumbo.

The Dessert finalists however have mostly not visited Midtown yet. Doughnuttery does have a kiosk at Broadway Bites, but Squish Marshmallows (with unqiue flavors), Butter & Scotch (boozy desserts), Booqoo Beignets (with New Orleans-inspired dipping sauces), and Play J Ice Cream (serving ice cream in a J shaped cone) all sound like they’d be an incredible addition to the dessert scene here.

And finally the Market vendors are the most diverse category yet. The nominees are Burmese Bites, Gumbo Bros, Home Frites, Karl’s Balls (takoyaki), and the recently revived Carnitas El Atorodera.

There are more nominees to still be revealed, but this is shaping up to be an exciting Vendy season. If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, you can still get them here or try your luck at entering the contest to be a Citizen Judge. Either way, you’ll want to bring your appetite to Governor’s Island on September 12.

I have to admit that I’m skeptical of grilled cheese places. Why would I pay close to $10 for some bread and cheese, especially when I can just as easily make it at home. Even if there’s meat or some special sauce, it usually comes out to being way overpriced.

Yet I can always be convinced to try tasting some grilled cheese in the name of science so when Karen reported that Croque Monsieur was expanding to Midtown, I headed over to the East Side as soon as it opened, preparing myself for disappointment.

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