Tag: chinatown

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asian chinese

Excellent Pork Chop House

Yoshie took the Ramen and Friends crew to Excellent Pork Chop House in Chinatown for some excellent Taiwanese Fried Pork Chops.

I really dug the Wonton in Chili Sauce. I bought an order to share with the table (which we had split into girls and boys tables), but I ended up hogging them to myself.

Instead of getting the traditional Pork Chop over rice ($5.25), I got the Herbal Soup with Lo Mein ($7) and a Pork Chop ($2.50) on the side. The Herbal Soup tasted like Chinese medicine, but not as bad as that sounds. I asked the waitress what this Herbal Soup was good for, but she wouldn’t tell me. I somehow got the feeling from the guys that it had to do with my privates.

I put that pork chop over the noodles that had ground pork and pickled cucumber –mixed it up with some of the leftover wonton chili sauce. That was awesome. I was kind of full only a few bites into those noodles, but somehow I finished that big bowl.

Afterwards, we went ahead and ordered a Taiwanese Ice with a ton of crap on it. I think it was a deal on the menu, but we couldn’t read it because it was in Chinese –like $4.50 for whatever they want to put on it. It had a bunch of different color beans, different color jellys, fruit, tapioca balls and I think corn. We didn’t eat much of it. But I can’t remember if it was because we were stuffed or because I thought the yellow jelly was pig foot gelatin.

This place is great. It’s cheap and the pork chops are excellent. I like how they made a big point to advertise the MSG on their menu.

Excellent Pork Chop House - 3 Doyers St (btwn Bowery & Chatham Sq) New York, NY 10013
Ramen and Friends’ post

Categories
chinese

New Malaysia Restaurant

I met up with friends for pre-partying dinner on New Years Eve at New Malaysian Restaurant (where I’ve had Ducks Blood) in the Chinatown Arcade on Bowery. Yes, start off with Roti Canai. I like it! …pancake roti bread with lovely curry chicken sauce.

I also ordered the Ipoh Rojak appetizer, which I was thinking was this Malaysian Popiah. Turned out totally different, but really good. It was cucumbers and butternut squash with peanut and some kind of sauce that made it taste a little sweet.

Marcellus ordered the Indian Mee Goreng. He asked the waitress if there was meat in it. She said no. When he got it, there was shrimp all in it. He asked the waitress again. “I thought this had no meat?” She said, “Yeah, no meat. Just seafood.” That’s funny. That reminds me how some restaurants you order Vegetable Fried Rice or Lo Mein and there is no vegetable in it. They just call it that because there is no meat.

I liked my Curry Hainanese Chicken Noodle Soup. Great creamy broth. Took a long time to get. I think they forgot.

The prices are good if you stick with the Noodle Soups, Fried Noodles and Lunch menu (which you can still order at night).

New Malaysia Restaurant - 48 Bowery (btwn Bayard & Canal St in the Chinatown Arcade) New York, NY 10013

After dinner, we made our way to separate parties. Some of us headed to my friends Dave and Janet’s party. That was a lot of fun. I saw a black and white movie on the TV and I asked if it was “My So Called Life,” when you know I meant “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

After the party, we went downstairs to the bar where I came across the Williamsburg Empanada guy. I couldn’t believe he was out on doing his thing on New Years Eve. I guess it’s a good night for business, but I hope he got some partying in himself. I got a beef empanada with hot sauce ($2). It did good.

On my way home, I passed by a couple of groups where there was one drunk asshole who seemed to try to harass me for either being a hipster or Chinese. That’s weird. Don’t they know they’re partying in Williamsburg, Brooklyn?

When I got home, I looked in the mirror and noticed I was wearing a stupid glow necklace that whole time. Shit. I would’ve harassed me too.

Another thing happened when I was walking home that night. I don’t know if it’s appropriate to talk about on a food blog, but it’s been in running through my head the last couple of days and you guys know this website is pretty much my Livejournal. Here goes…

As I passed by this garage, I heard someone talking, like whispering. Then I saw a guy on all fours, back turned to me, in a corner next to a car. I thought that was weird. So I walked back and this time, the guy turned around to look at me. I had to walk back again to get home and he was still looking at me.

I thought that was just weird. Then I heard some more talking. I knew in my gut something wasn’t right. Like maybe there was a girl under him? It took a few seconds to get the nerve to walk back again, but it felt like minutes.

This time, the guy and a girl were standing up. Okay, there was a girl there. I asked, “Everything all cool?” The guy said, “Yeah, it’s all cool.” I wanted the girl to respond, but she said to the guy what sounded like, “Can’t I just get a hug?” …as if they were having an argument and she just wanted it to be over. From that point, I assumed they knew each other and left.

It still bothered me that night and the next day when I told Rusty. Then he went out to the bodega and called to tell me that there is crime tape and police guarding that very spot in the garage. I went to talk to the cops and detective. I don’t know the whole story, but it seems like the girl is telling a story that doesn’t quite fit with mine. Actually, they don’t know who the guys is, which is weird to me because I thought they knew each other, like they were a couple.

So it still bothers me that there was an incident and I don’t know if I could have done more or what. The cops and detective seemed to be very thankful that I came forward. I know my friends think I did a lot more than what a lot of people would do in that situation. I get that. But it still bothers me.

[Update: The TV News said the guy had a gun.]

Categories
chinese

Flushing Golden Mall

The last place I took my family was the Golden Mall in Flushing. We pretty much ate all the same great food I had with Brian and Jimmy. Beef Tripe with Hot Pepper Sauce and the best Dumplings in Chili Sauce from the Cheng Du Tian Fu stall, Lamb Burger and Qi Noodles from Xian Famous Foods and a bowl of Hand-pulled noodles from the Lan Zhou stall.

I think this was a winner with my family, even though I don’t think we were supposed to feed my parents so much spicy food.

Oh and we took one of those Chinatown to Chinatown busses. Only $2.75 per person. The trip was around 20-30mins from Manhattan Chinatown to Flushing. Sure beats the long ass train.

Golden Mall – 41-28 Main St. Flushing, NY 11355

Categories
chinese

East Market Restaurant Dim Sum

I took my family to the place where I take my friends almost every Chinese New Year. At that day, most places are super packed. But not so much here underneath the Manhattan Bridge at East Broadway and Market Street. I think it’s because there’s no real English sign marking it as a dim sum place.

So this place will be good. I get to show off this place that mostly only Chinese people know about and we won’t have to wait long for a table like at Jing Fong. We got there at 10am. I was absolutely correct …no line. Actually no customers at all. It was empty as fuck.

They were serving and we did get food rather quick. However, it was really weird eating in a huge empty banquet hall. I don’t recommend it.

When we left, my dad told me that that place was really bad. Then I blew up. I already felt like shit for picking the previous two places that I felt like they didn’t totally enjoy. I said to him, “Shit. If we went to the good restaurant, you’d complain that there was too many white people.” And that’s a point I realized –I don’t think there really are any hidden authentic gems left in this city that white folk don’t know about. And when I say white, I include myself in that group.

All the good authentic places have already been discovered. People know them about through such things as Anthony Bourdain, Yelp and food blogs (which a lot seem to be Asian bloggers). Foodies and non-foodies want to eat at these places too. Again, myself included. So I don’t think you can say that too many white people eating at an ethnic restaurant is bad. It probably means it’s the place to eat.

Hey, I can’t totally blame my dad. I’m just as guilty for skipping the food trucks that have super long lines, because I don’t think of them as being the real deal –like they are too hipster …and I’m the fucking hipster. But I’m wrong. They have long lines probably because the food is good …or people just like to stand in lines.

As a side note: I do notice that real Chinese-Chinese people still go to places like Big Wong and Great NY Noodletown. They just don’t often stay there to eat. They get the BBQ to-go.

What does it matter who is the one eating the food anyway? In 50 years, everyone’s going to speak English and there will be only one race …Chinese people.

East Market Restaurant –  75 East Broadway (next to the playground, underneath the Manhattan Bridge on the Market St. side), New York 10002

Categories
chinese

Great NY Noodletown

2nd night of hanging out with my family in NYC. We end up going to Great NY Noodletown. My older sister had a hankering for Soy Sauce Chicken. I remember that they have really good Baby Pig, so let’s try here.

Shit. All the customers are white. What will my family think of my choice? Well, whatever. We’re seated …and I know about the Baby Pig.

We’re not sure if my sister really wanted the Soy Sauce Chicken or the Poached Chicken in Ginger Scallion Sauce. So we ordered both. I think we were all looking for the Ginger Scallion sauce. But the way they had it here, the Soy Sauce Chicken had the real Ginger Scallion dipping sauce and the the Poached Chicken in Ginger Scallion sauce had some weird gravy …the opposite of what it should be. Or maybe they cooked it this way because they thought we seemed white.

Soy Sauce Chicken was awesome because the Ginger Scallion dipping sauce rules. I don’t understand why they made the Poached Chicken in Ginger Scallion sauce/gravy that way …what up?

Baby Pig was crispy on the outside. Fatty and juicy on the inside.

My other sister looked up what the NY Times recommended at this place –Noodles with Ginger Scallion sauce. It ended up being the least favorite dish. Noodles with Oyster Sauce drizzled over it.

On a separate thought: I’m not sure if it’s because I write about food, people like to tell me what food sucks. I guess people also go out of their way to tell me what rules. I guess I rather hear about what rules …mmm Baby Pig.

Great NY Noodletown - 28 Bowery (@ Bayard) New York, NY 10013

Categories
chinese

Big Wong King

My family came in to town to the big city …from Orlando, Birmingham and Seattle. It was my choice to pick a place for dinner. I figured a Big Wong King would be a great choice. I like the roast meats and congee there.

It was raining all day, so that probably explained that the restaurant wasn’t crowded at all. And I felt like everything was a representation of myself as you’ll learn from my upcoming posts. …what does it mean if it’s mostly white people eating? Not enough Chinese people in the place. Why is the place empty? I felt like I picked poorly. Yeah, a lot of regular non-Chinese people know about it this place on Yelp. But it is one of the better places in my opinion.

We got the Lobster special –two lobsters in Cantonese sauce for $20, 2 big bowls of Congee, Fried Cruller Bread, Wonton Noodle Soup, Kai-Lan (Chinese Broccoli) and Roast Pork. I thought it all pretty good food.

But still again, I felt like I was being judged for any criticism about the restaurant. The floor too greasy. The service too rude (…that’s just the way Chinatown people are). And that we were cheated on our bill. All night, my family thought they got ripped off after adding it up in the head. I met up with them the next day and they told me that and that place is very bad. I stopped them. How can a $57 bill be a rip-off for 5 people in NYC …especially when we got lobsters. (Granted, $10 does sound a lot for Chinese Broccoli. But I know that most of those restaurants do charge that much for vegetables.) I help them add it up again, including the beers I drank when I was waiting for them for 40 minutes to take a 8 min cab ride over and other stuff they forgot we ordered. It worked out. Big Wong didn’t rip us off. If anything, they forgot to add a couple of small things.

Shit. Next meal is based on my suggestion again.

Big Wong King - 67 Mott St (btw Bayard & Canal St) New York, NY 10013

Categories
chinese

Kien Tuong’s Bitter Melon and Congee

I had extra time to kill until the next Chinatown bus to Boston (for my buddy John’s wedding). I sat down at Kien Tuong (also known as New Kim Tuong). The pick 3 items with rice and soup is still $3.50.

I ordered Congee with Pork, Pork Belly and Liver ($2.75) and a plate of Bitter Melon with Beef  ($3.75) from the menu. Super cheap. The food was alright. Just needed some salt and for the food to cool down.

The BBQ meats (Roast Pork, Baby Pig, Duck) looks really good. I’d go for that next time.

As far as the Chinatown bus, the line at Lucky Star had a ton of hot girls. None at Fung Wah. I don’t know why that is, but I guess you can imagine which bus I took.

Kien Tuong Restaurant - 83 Chrystie St (btw Canal & Hester St) New York, NY 10002

Categories
chinese

Nom Wah Tea Parlor – Dim Sum Dinner

Yoshie’s Ramen and Friends took this outing to Nom Wah Tea Parlor (claims to be the oldest dim sum parlor in NY). Renovated earlier this year and now under the management of the family’s younger generation.

When I used to pass by this place years ago, I could never tell if they were opened. The doors would be wide open, but the lights off and Chinese newspapers laid out as if they were under construction. I love Robyn Lee’s pre-renovation account of Nom Wah. I like how the waiter/chef didn’t take their order, but just made food based on the number of people. Sounds like I would’ve love this place.

Now they have a menu to order ala carte and not from a cart (like a lot of dim sum places). Prices might be a little more than those other places, but this dim sum is available at night and cooked individually to order. I really like the Turnip Cake with XO Sauce …different than just regular Turnip Cakes. Also a good Steamed Pork Bun, Spareribs and Fried Soft Shell Crab.

I’ve been on a particular diet this past week (which I’ll write about soon) and this was on the one mandatory binge eating day per week to spike my caloric intake. I tried to eat and drink as much as I could. It was tough. I had to force myself to eat ice cream from Chinatown Ice Cream Factory afterwards. I know, poor me. Well I don’t know if I ate enough this day, because I haven’t lost any weight since.

Nom Wah Tea Parlor – 13 Doyers St (btwn Bowery & Chatham Sq) NYC 10013
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory – 65 Bayard St (btwn Elizabeth & Mott) NYC 10013
Ramen and Friends’ review