All posts tagged: East Village

Momofuku Mania: Indulging in Ramen & Other Delights

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Momofuku is an international group of restaurants owned by chef-founder David Chang. The collection of restaurants include Momofuku Noodle Bar, Momofuku Ssäm Bar and Momofuku Milk Bar amongst others. I had received a Momofuku gift card 2 months back and finally decided to use it on the first Momofuku restaurant that was established – Momofuku Noodle Bar. This restaurant is most famous for its ramen (surprise surprise) and flavored buns, specifically the pork belly. The noodle bar opens for dinner at 5:30pm. We arrived at 5.40pm on Saturday and waited in line for about 15 mins (which wasn’t too bad at all). This restaurant is always busy and packed so I recommend going there early to avoid the long wait. Spotlight Dishes Here are the dishes that I tried: Smoked Chicken Wings: Pickled chili, garlic, scallion sauce These tender chicken wings are coated in a delicious sweet, tangy and spicy sauce. I definitely recommend this appetizer to share, so delicious! It was probably my favorite dish of the night. Chicken Meatball Bun: Jalapeño, iceberg, paprika mayo Sumptious and tender chicken meatball sandwiched between a soft bun and coated in a tangy paprika mayo sauce, topped …

A Taste of Ippudo

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I enjoyed a wonderfully delicious lunch at Ippudo East Village today. Ippudo East Village is the first international Ippudo to introduce the world to Hakata tonkotsu pork soup. While Ippudo East Village is rooted in traditional Japanese ramen culture, they also offer a modern interpretation that is both inspired by Japan and the culture of New York. Spotlight Dishes Pork Belly Buns Two steamed buns filled with pork and served with Ippudo’s original spicy buns sauce and mayo. These are probably the BEST pork belly buns I’ve savored. The meat was so succulent and tender, the buns warm and soft and the original sauce was so tasty. I definitely recommend this appetizer! Akamaru Modern The original silky “Tonkotsu” (pork) soup noodles topped with Ippudo’s secret miso paste, pork chashu, cabbage, sesame kikurage mushrooms, scallions and fragrant garlic oil. The ingredients blend well together – simply delicious! Although there is always a wait to get seated, overall dining at Ippudo is a wonderful culinary experience! Delicious food, attentive service and a warm, soothing ambience – a neighborhood gem.

Falling in Love with East Village

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I’ve decided to start a photo series and commentary centered around the neighborhoods and cities I’ve visited. To kick off this passion project, I’ll begin with one of my favorite neighborhoods in New York – East Village. A Cultural Melting Pot of Art, History and Good Food I moved to the East Village last September. Over the past 6 months, I’ve enjoyed exploring all this eclectic neighborhood has to offer. The more I discover, the deeper my fascination. The East Village — the blocks east of the Bowery between Houston and 14th Streets, was once considered to be part of the Lower East Side, but began to develop its own unique identity and culture in the late 1960s, when a flurry of artists, musicians, students and hippies began to move into the area. The neighborhood has since emerged as a center of the counterculture in New York, and is regarded as the birthplace of several artistic movements, including punk rock and the Nuyorican literary movement. It has also been the site of protests and riots. Although in recent decades it has been argued that gentrification has transformed the character of the neighborhood, East Village is …