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.
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.
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.
Parking in Chinatown can be a bit tricky; especially during the weekends when everyone is out and about. I prefer mass transit, for those who would rather drive, below are some helpful tips. Some of you may not be aware of the rules of parking in the neighborhood. Just because a meter space exists, that does not mean a vehicle can be parked legally. Please check the parking signs at all times. “When in doubt of the space, do not park in the space.”
What can I say? Two words: tourist trap. Kossar’s Bialys offers bland, tasteless, cold bialys served up with attitude. It’s definitely not worth the 90 cents you dish out. Don’t think just because there’s a line at this New York “institution” that their bialys and bagels are worth the wait. Their lack of customer service makes their bialys even harder to swallow. How preposterous of me to order two bialys in separate bags? The cashier looked at me like I’ve grown two heads. Well sir, I would like my bialy to go and so would my friend! Next time if I want to be treated like a human being, I need to order a dozen of these tasteless discs of crap.
The Cheapest ice coffee in town, can’t beat this bargain and yes it’s drinkable.
Don’t be scared off by the shabby storefront appearance. Inside all the pastry comes fresh out of the oven in the back room. The regular ice coffee here is only $1.25, no joke. It’s comparable to a light McDonald ice coffee. Decent size too, 16 oz cup. (more…)
Street Fighter 4 is here at your one and only local arcade “Chinatown Fair”, 8 Mott Street (between Chatham Sq & Mosco St). Japanese style sit down cabinets with 32″ bad ass hd monitors. The waiting list is long but that’s expected. A notepad is available on the side to add your name on the wait list.
The Cheapest “Hong Kong Mini Cakes” in Chinatown, $1 for 20 ping pong size cakes. While other vendors sells theirs for $1 for 15 pieces, this cart never change their price after many years. You can find this cart on the corner of Grand and Bowery Street. A great cheap and lite snack on the go.
So, remember this? Well, just to let you know, if you ever want pizza in Chinatown, you’re out of luck. Though, if you did want pizza in Chinatown, I’m not sure how I would handle that question. Anyway, the point is, Mosco Pizza has now become this:
Goodbye pizza, hello another dumpling place? We’ll soon discover and keep you posted.
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
(left)Paris Sandwich $4 (right) Saigon Sandwich $3.95
