Momo Noodle or Ssam

[nyctripper]

Can you guys help me out on the prix fixe lunch prices at each as well as your recommendations on which one to visit this Friday for lunch?

[phoenikia]

Would you choose Noodle Bar or Ssam Bar if you were dining solo at lunch?

[thew]

ssam

[nyctripper]

Went to Ssam for Friday lunch. Pork buns, brisket and grapefruit pie. All really good, but the broth on the brisket was outstanding. I literally drank out of the bowl. All for $25!! Many thanks for your help.

[kathryn]

IIRC Noodle Bar's lunch prix fixe is $20 and Ssam Bar's lunch prix fixe is $30. Noodle Bar's prix fixe changes daily, so it's hard to predict what you'll get. Ssam Bar's doesn't change quite as much.

[ESNY]

Did Ssam raise the price? I thought it used to be $25 but I haven't had lunch there in a few months.

the last time I had lunch as Ssam bar, I got the pork buns, the spicy rice cakes and the dessert. Its an extraordinary amount of food. Each of the dishes is equal in size to the regular size, so you get 2 pork buns and a normal order of rice cakes. I waddled out of there.

[nyctripper]

On a scale of 1-10, how spicy are the rice cakes?

[ESNY]

Hard to say. I've never found it that spicy and would say it has varied from a 5 to a 7. but i've also had friends who said it was almost too spicy to eat. It's always been one of my favorite things on the menu

[D...DF]

Have you had them recently? I too am a long-time fan but was disappointed with them this past weekend. They used to be fluffy, toothsome, almost gnocchi or Mantou-like. This weekend they were crunchy, flavorless, and had a basically tater tot consistency.

[ESNY]

Been about 2 months. If anything, I thought they could've used a bit more crunch last time.

[UES Mayor]

Well the rice cakes ARE flavorless-its just rice BUT the delicious sauce gives it the flavor. The crunchiness is due to the pan frying I believe. The traditional way (Korean) is not crunchy at all but I love the way Momfuko does them-sort of like pan fried potstickers if you know what I mean. As for spicy-its not too spicy for anyone who likes things spicy but might be too spicy if you are basic meat and potatoes type of person-I think they are just right.

[kathryn]

I think you're right, it's $25. And the portion size is very similar to what they serve a la carte for dinner.