Yo! NYC

This dingy, steamy cart serves only one thing and that is rice noodle roll. They do it quite well and it’s made to order so it’s always fresh and piping hot. But if you want to try this cheap eats ($1.25 an order!), you need to be here early from 7am to 1pm. There are 5 varieties: pork, beef, chicken, dry shrimp, and plain. All are made by steaming in their special pan with the above mentioned ingredients. They are perfectly soft and practically melts in your mouth. The light soy sauce and scallions brighten this savory treat. I like mine with a little hot sauce on the side. Just remember to eat it right away and it’s perfectly fine to do so on the street.

(in front of 157 Hester st, Hong Kong Supermarket)
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There are two big Vietnamese sandwich shop in Chinatown, Paris Sandwich and Banh Mi Saigon, both well known for their fresh delicious sandwiches but which one has the BEST Vietnamese sandwich(Bánh mì)? My judging criteria are on presentation, ingredients, and taste.

1. Presentation:

(left)Paris Sandwich $4  (right) Saigon Sandwich $3.95

The Paris Sandwich took maybe less than 5 minutes from order to pick up. The Saigon Sandwich took about 20 minutes with close to 15 people waiting on line.

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Greetings!

Shanghai Cafe, located on 100 Mott Street, is a good eat for several reasons. It is cheap, colorful, and tasty.

The ambiance of the place makes it a good restaurant to bring friends, especially those of the Caucasian Persuasion. You know, it is not easy sometimes when figuring out where to bring such friends because they may not be as comfortable or accepting of the level of hygiene or taste of decor as you. You may feel right at home at a place whose walls are covered in dollar bills, where there is poor lighting or where the waitress/waiter throws, literally throws, you the bill when you’ve only just begun eating. But when you plan on going to Shanghai Cafe, cast aside your anxieties. Pastel colored lights line the walls and ceilings and the chairs and tables are modern metal.

In terms of food, I highly recommend the steamed pork buns; they are either number 1 or 2 on the menu. Get the cheaper ones, don’t get the ones with crab meat, it’s fake anyway. Below you will find a tutorial on just how to devour a steamed pork bun. It is rather like an art. ALSO, order the scallion pancakes; it’s simply divine and everyone likes them. They’re akin to French fries or mozzarella sticks in that they have a universal appeal.

Pronounced like you’re giving out a sneeze, “A Chau”, the only place in chinatown that just sells authentic Vietnamese sandwiches. A menu of 10 different sandwiches to choose from, each costing no more than $3.50, definitely a great place for a cheap tasty meal on the go. I typically prefer the classic Vietnamese Cold Cuts with Pate Sandwich which consist of Pâté(meat paste), Vietnamese ham, roasted ground pork, pickled carrots, cucumber, cilantro, and mayo on a toasted French baguette. The sandwich hit the spot and filled me up nicely.

A Chau Deli
82A Mulberry Street
(212) 766-3332
9am-7pm

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L’asso
192 Motts Street @ Kenmore Street
212-219-2353
http://lassonyc.com
Hours:
Sunday – Wedmesday 12pm – 12am
Thursday – Saturday 12pm – 3:00 am Happy Hour 5-7 pm
$3 beers on tap
$1 slices <—- Awesome F$%*@#ing deal

It’s been a pizza eating weekend for me, I had Grimaldis the other day and had Torcellos while I was at Northport but nothing compares to Lasso’s pizza. I’ve been dreaming all day of L’asso : )

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144 2nd Ave (@ 9th Street)
New York, NY 10003-8305
Phone: (212) 228-9682
veselka.com
Open 24 hours
I had my eyes on this place a long time ago but never stood for the perpetually jammed wait. Luckily today it wasn’t too packed; I was seated right when I got in. Veselka is a Ukrainian cuisine coffee house that serves a wide variety of dishes. Known for their famous handmade pierogis, the menu consist of meat (especially pork), potatoes, fruit, mushrooms, berries, and herbs play a major part in many dishes.

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