34th &6th- Culinary wasteland?

[Rainbowthespian]

I have therapy there every Wednesday. So far we've explored and found every fast food option plus one of those sandwich/salad/pastry places that's more expensive than I think it should be.

Help! Cheap but not nasty?

[vicious knishes]

I posted something similar to this recently and nobody responded. I work on 8th ave between 33rd and 34th and agree there isnt much around. I agree with the other posters about Woorijip though I have grown tired of korean food. As far as gourmet deli's go I prefer Amici on 34th and 8th. Its pretty big and the breakfast is actually a bargain. If you're in the mood for something more indulgent try D'aiuto bakery on 8th by 32nd or 31st (not sure)... Otherwise I'm still experimenting nothing I can reccomend at this time.

[Lau]

here's a good thread on ktown:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/442795

i put a fairly comprehensive review of ktown in it, i also like madangsui on 35th for the best bbq in ktown

agree on minar as another good rec

[keith]

How about heading to 32nd St for Korean, Korean-influenced Chinese, Korean-influced Vietnamese, or Korean Fried Chicken (Baaden Baaden is my favorite). You could also head west for Japanese Curry at Go Go Curry (38th near 7th). Or, if you want to treat yourself, Keens Steakhouse on 36th and 6th. Finally, for authentic Israeli/Kebabs, try Olympic Pita on 38th and 6th. There's a lot more, but that should get you started. PLEASE don't settle for the fast food options!

[scooter]

I like Minar for no-frills Indian food counter service. Slightly challenging for me because I don't know anything about Indian food and the staff isn't super-friendly, but still fun (and rewarding) to go in and point to something.

Also Woorijip is a self-serve Korean food shop. Another good place to experiment (though I've basically proven to myself that I don't like a lot of Korean dishes.)

-----
Woorijip
12 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001

Minar
5 W 31st St, New York, NY 10016

[bethanyj]

I love Mandoo on 32nd between Broadway and 5th Ave. Great dumplings, great kimchi, good seafood dishes not expensive and fast service....

[David W]

I like all the dumplings at Mandoo Bar, but I love the kimchee dumplings. And the space is pretty pleasant as well.

http://www.menupages.com/restaurantde...

[chowmeow]

Thanks to CH, I tried Szechuan Gourmet yesterday on 39th between 5th & 6th. Amazing Chinese food. 5 blocks from where you are, but worth the walk if you have the time.

[RGR]

You don't say what kind of therapy you are undergoing. If you are not having difficulty walking, how about going 2 blocks south to "Little Korea"?

[Rainbowthespian]

Our budget really doesn't accommodate most of the places in Ktown. Unless there are cheaper options I don't know about. I'll check out the ktown thread.

[Lau]

what is your budget? i can probably tell u which places to go to on the post below

[Peter Cuce]

Practically every Koreatown restaurant has a lunch menu with items below $10 or even $8 and usually great value for the money. My current faves are Madangsui and Seoul Garden. Woorijip has super-cheap stuff, sort of like a Korean Cafe Zaiya. There's a new branch of FayDa Chinese bakery on 34th between 7th and 8th that has lots of cheap buns and so forth, and Ying Du on 38th near 8th is a Chinese steam table operation with pretty good food where you choose two or three things for around $4. At night before closing they convert to a bun shop.

[Miss Needle]

Ah! Good call on the Fay Day and Ying Du. I always forget about those.

There's Olympic Pita on 38th between 5th and 6th. For $6.50, you can get a falafel on laffa (big enough for two) that comes with a container where you can help yourself to their salad bar (includes hummus).

And Szechuan Gourmet on 39th between 5th and 6th has a lunch special for 6.95.

[Pan]

I love Madangsui, but for a really filling, cheap lunch, I'd recommend the possibility of walking a bit less east of 6th on 35 St. and getting the Hyaemul Dolsot Bibimbap at Han Bat. It comes with a 6-dish banchan which is admittedly not as delicious as the 8-dish plus dwaenjang jigae banchan I've had for dinner at Madangsui (not sure if things are different at lunch), but is still good and filling, and they'll give you more if you run out.

Also, to the original poster, don't overlook Woo Chon on 36 St. just west of 5th.

[mahalan]

I don't mean to be rude but I'm not sure there's much food in NYC that's cheaper than Ktown other than fast food.