UWS - Best Places in 90's and 100's?
Hello all...new to the area and wanted to poll the crowd on what the best local haunts are to fill a food fix. As a long time lurker, first time poster, I am confident that this crowd will provide better suggestions than other review sites. We are looking for all spots in the area -- from trucks, dives to "nicer" places. While I understand the urge to recommend places further south (sometimes much further south), we are really only trying to gather spots in the 90's and 100's as we are excited about trying places in the new neighborhood. So far we have tried:
Buceo 95 - so far two very good meals for a local place
A Cafe - love the idea of BYOB, and food was pretty good
Gabriela's - exactly what we thought it would be.
Cafe Frida - we thought it was passable, but not great.
Places people have suggested include:
Gennaro's
Mama Mexico
Community Food & Juice (bit of a hike for a neighborhood spot for us)
Malecon
Pio Pio
Are there others out there that are must tries? Looking for anything delicious...thanks so much!
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Gabriela's
688 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10025
El Malecon
764 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
Mama Mexico
2672 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Gennaro
665 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
Community Food & Juice
2893 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Buceo 95
201 W 95th St, New York, NY 10025
A Cafe
973 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10025
Pio Pio
210 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016
Cafe Frida
768 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
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In the last couple days I've eaten at Thai Market and at Warique. Both were good, although, dining alone, I sampled small portions of the menus.
At Thai Market, I had the raw shrimp appetizer - spicy, lime-y and tangy and the raw shrimp had an unusual meaty but chewy texture. A little like raw squid (ika) in Japanese places - not so much the sushi kind as that served in a dish I've had a few times of marinated squid. For my main, I had the pork salad (nam sod). It was good, but not very different from other good versions of this dish.
At Warique, I had the anticucho (broiled veal hearts) - quite tasty; somewhat like other organ meats I've had, with a nice spicy white sauce, and the ceviche de pescado, which had a nice balance of onion, lime, and spice.
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Thai Market
960 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025 -
Last night I had dinner at Regional, on Broadway and 99th or so; it was quite nice. Nothing amazing, but more than decent. I had the frito misto (mixed fried fish and seafood), and the braesola (air cured beef) and the sweet/sour peppers. That, along with 2 glasses of wine, was about $50. They have a limited but diverse menu
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Regional
2607 Broadway, New York, NY 10025›2 Replies-
re: plf515
Just included some suggestions to someone looking for dinner for parents weekend at Columbia:
Gennaro's (Italian) on 93rd & Amsterdam. aged (steak, continental) on 89th & Broadway. Regional (Italian) 98th & Broadway. Gabriella's (mexican) 93rd & Columbus. Turkuaz (greek/mediterranean) 100th & Broadway - they have belly dancers!
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Gabriela's
688 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10025Turkuaz
2637 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Gennaro
665 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Regional
2607 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Aged
2398 Broadway, New York, NY 10024
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Tacqueria y Fonda is the name of the fantastic Mexican place a few people have mentioned on Amsterdam and 107/108 streets. I used to go here during my college days after a roommate took me there once, and there were Mexican people eating there next to the students, which is always a good sign. The people who cook are also Mexican and man they make some serious tacos! Very authentic food and pretty cheap too. The cheese is really gooey and good. Caveat: go easy on that sauce they always give with the chips- it is spicy! I once ate it too fast and my mouth was brining for an hour!
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Taqueria y Fonda La Mexicana
968 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025›1 Reply -
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im a big fan of the espresso/gelato bar on 94 and amsterdam, the name escapes me now, ill remember shortly and post it
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Calling the food at Mama Mexico simply terrible, is a compliment- it's actually beyond terrible - way beyond terrible.
That said:
rack and Soul's fried chicken is Great- but only go on weekends. That's because Charles Gabriel, the absolutle master of fried chicken in NY (of Charles Southern in Harlem) does the chicken on the weekend. Call first to make sure he's in the kitchen.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Sun Chan, a real neighborhood favorite. it's a Japanese yakatori place on B'way and 103. The yakatori is charcoal grilled (I'm particularly fond of the bacon wrapped enoki mushroom). They also make terrific Nagoya style chicken wings, great eel casseroles and some pretty good sushi. It's always filled with Japanese students from Columbia. Very reasonable.
Second recs for Indus Valley -very good Indian in any neighborhood, For cheap Mexican I prefer Tacqueria Y Fonda over Noche (very good tacos, not so good gucamole) - but know that it's a real hole in the wall) so if you're looking for something more comfortable Cascabel is a good choice.
Too bad you don't want to venture a bit further north. I think Community Food and Juice serves some of the best food in the neighborhood.
Love Silver Moon and Ansolute, but also keep in mind that the Garden of Eden on B'way and 107 has a great bread counter that gets bread and other baked goods from some of the best bakeries
in the city-----
Rack & Soul
258 West 109th St., New York, NY 10025Sun-Chan
2707 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Mama Mexico
2672 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Silver Moon Bakery
2740 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Community Food & Juice
2893 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Taqueria y Fonda La Mexicana
968 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Absolute Bagels
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Indus Valley
2636 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Garden of Eden
2780 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Noche Mexicana
849 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Cascabel
2799 Broadway, New York, NY 10025›2 Replies-
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re: kevin
rose water
Oct 23, 2011 07:20 PM
Yup. It's great.
As for the OP--I've been excited to discover the Park West deli, on CPW at 108th St. From the outside it looks like a straightforward NYC bodega. But they have wonderful rotating mix of Turkish foods. Their zucchini pancakes are awesome (best crisped up at home in a toaster oven rather than microwaved there).
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Park West Foods
477 Central Park W, New York, NY 10025
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I like Buca on 103rd though it's tiny and not comfortable for a long dinner out.
Silver Moon and Absolute Bagels would be treasures in any neighborhood.
Cafe du Soleil is a fun atmosphere and their Moule Frites are very good. Their hamburgers are also excellent.
Henrys on 105th and B'dwy is very comfortable to sit in and they have a fabulous tuna burger which is available for lunch and after 11 PM....I really wish it was available at dinner time as I would go MUCH more often...My question though is, is there any decent chinese restaurant in the neighborhood....not asking for excellent, just reasonable. Thoughts? I keep thinking if someone were to open something like Szechuan Gourmet in the 90's or 100's it would be such a hit.
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Henry's
2745 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Cafe du Soleil
2723 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Absolute Bagels
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Buca
201 W 103rd St, New York, NY 10025›3 Replies-
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re: FattyDumplin
LNG212
Sep 21, 2011 10:15 AM
Hey, great tip, thanks! We've been there only a couple of times and enjoyed what we ate. But we didn't even think to look at the delivery menu because we're up on 96th and just assumed they wouldn't come up this far. That's good to know that they will.
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Long Grain Thai at 95th is good for standard Americanized Thai.
Agree with the Hummus Place suggestion.
Lisca is great.
Cafe Frida is overpriced and mediocre.
Absolute Bagels is fantastic.
Great gelato at Screme on 94th and Amsterdam.
Jerusalem for excellent falafel and schwarma.-----
Lisca
660 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Absolute Bagels
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Jerusalem Restaurant
2715 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Hummus Place
2608 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Screme
2030 Broadway, New York, NY 10023Cafe Frida
768 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Long Grain
2534 Broadway, New York, NY 10025›1 Reply -
rteplow
Sep 16, 2011 05:22 AM
Taco place on west side of Amsterdam near 107th (sorry, can't remember name).
Awash for Ethiopian on Amsterdam near 106th (east side of street)
Sip, a nice coffee bar (with food, I think) on west side of Amsterdam near 109th
How far uptown: heard great things about Pasticcio (did I get the name right?) on LaSalle west of Broadway (?)
Krik Krak, a Haitian place on Amsterdam near 102nd: don't know if it's good, but in case you're looking for that cuisineBon appetit!
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Pisticci
125 La Salle St, New York, NY 10027Awash
947 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Krik Krak
844 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Sip
998 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025›6 Replies-
re: rteplow
Thanks for the reply. I should have been more specific on the 100s...I meant up to 110 or so, as we are looking for places that are walking distance from the apartment. Need to find new locales to become regulars at in the new neighborhood...
And for everyone that has recommended Cascabel, we'd agree that it's pretty good if it's anything like the UES location. Does anyone have any suggestions for a really good burger in the area? And has anyone tried Lido or Zoma (or any of the other places in Harlem along FDB there...we've tried Bier International for a beer and some of its food...we thought it was pretty good).
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Zoma
2084 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026Bier International
2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026Lido
2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026-
re: Pago77
LNG212
Sep 16, 2011 09:01 AM
Well, I guess it depends on your definition of "walking distance" as we walk to Pisticci all the time.
Zoma is the best Ethiopian in the city. And it is far far better than Awash.
I'll second or third or whatever:
Noche Mexicana (good and way, way better than Mama Mexico which is just awful unless you too have screaming children that you want to drown out with incredibly loud mariachi bands)
Gennaro (we like to sit at the bar for drinks and smaller plates)
Silver Moon (the best croissants)
Rack & Soul is fun (but go to Dinosaur BBQ which is much better, though further away)
Charm Thai (we like it fine but we prefer Land Thai further south)
Cafe Frida (we like the rear garden; the food is fine; the drinks are quite good)I'd also add:
Gabriela's - we like their brunch
Lisca - we've only been twice for pasta but the food was very good (and the wait is usually much shorter than Gennaro)
Malecon - dominican chicken which DH likes better than the Peruvian chicken at Pio Pio
Buca - the new pizza that we have not been to but have been meaning to try
Buceo 95 - I think someone mentioned this. we love it.
Dive Bar - really good beer selection and eclectic food (some really good for bar food, some not so much)
Sal & Carmine's is probably considered the best (generic) slice in the nabe
Hummus Place - pretty good spot for lunch-----
Zoma
2084 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026Dive Bar
732 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Charm Thai
722 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Rack & Soul
258 West 109th St., New York, NY 10025Gabriela's
688 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10025El Malecon
764 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Pio Pio Salon
702 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Mama Mexico
2672 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Silver Moon Bakery
2740 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Pisticci
125 La Salle St, New York, NY 10027Lisca
660 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Gennaro
665 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Sal & Carmine's
2671 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Land Thai
450 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024Buceo 95
201 W 95th St, New York, NY 10025Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
777 W. 125th Street, New York, NY 10027Hummus Place
2608 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Cafe Frida
768 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Buca
201 W 103rd St, New York, NY 10025Noche Mexicana
849 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025 -
re: Pago77
You can get a good burger at 5 Guys. Bway & 110.
http://www.chow.com/food-news/89994/i...-----
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
2847 Broadway, New York, NY 10025 -
re: Pago77
Lido is pretty good, but it's not cheap and so it's not a regular destination for me.
Zoma is terrific.
Have you tried the new beergarden that opened on 116th and FDB? It attracts a pretty sizable crowd and I always see people chowing down. A friend went for brunch and recommended it.
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Zoma
2084 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026-
re: gloriousfood
You are talking about Harlem Tavern - it's not really a beer garden. The food is okay but not good. It's a friendly place, prices are reasonable, service is harried but they are trying. The outdoor space is fun, haven't been inside.
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Harlem Tavern
2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026
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re: Pago77
I second LNG212 that Zoma is the best Ethiopian in the city. Awash doesn't compare. Out of your zone but totally worth your trip.
Can't go wrong with Silver Moon Bakery and Absolute Bagels. I also like Indus Valley, Malecon, Noche Mexicana. Some prefer Taqueria Y Fonda - I'm not a Mexican food fan and only have it once in a while so I don't know which one is better. That's probably the taco place on Amsterdam that rteplow is talking about.
Sip is cool 'cause their kitchen is open till 4 a.m. Used to be anyway - haven't been in a while. Food is just decent though, but you can't be too picky at 2 a.m. in this neighborhood. Turkuaz is another place that I remember being solid but again I haven't been in years.
I used to like Rack & Soul for that occasional BBQ craving, but I have to say I was really disappointed with my latest delivery a few months ago and honestly don't think I'll return. I was also disappointed with Cafe Frida, unfortunately.
I guess I should try Thai Market again - we tried it shortly after their opening years ago and it was so bad that we've never gone back since. We will give it another try though, seeing how many people like them. I also love Land Thai, but that's out of your zone.
Mama Mexico is terrible. Downright terrible.
I am sorry to say there's no good Chinese, Japanese, or Korean to recommend in the neighborhood.
Welcome to the neighborhood!
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Zoma
2084 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026Thai Market
960 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Rack & Soul
258 West 109th St., New York, NY 10025El Malecon
764 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Mama Mexico
2672 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Silver Moon Bakery
2740 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Turkuaz
2637 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Taqueria y Fonda La Mexicana
968 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Land Thai
450 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024Awash
947 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Absolute Bagels
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Indus Valley
2636 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Sip
998 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Cafe Frida
768 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Noche Mexicana
849 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
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These are v good suggestions; two additions: Bistro Ten 18 (www.bistroten18.com) right on A'dam and 110th. v decent, not-too-expensive tabs. When they have a special wine tasting night, it is worth going! Also, Terrace in the Sky (www.terraceinthesky.com) on the rooftop at 119th and A'dam. 360 views of Manhattan; can sit outside, but plenty of space under cover; try the Sunday brunch some really sunny day; tough to beat the view.
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Terrace in the Sky
400 West 119th Street, New York, NY 10027Bistro Ten 18
1018 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025 -
Kouzan at 93rd & Amsterdam for delicious sushi etc. Cafe Frida is on 77th so why not try Mermaid Inn for great fish and seafood on 88th & Amsterdam
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Mermaid Inn
568 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10024Kouzan
685 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025Cafe Frida
768 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025›5 Replies-
re: trav
There is a Cafe Frida on Amsterdam @ 97th. We're very familiar with Mermaid Inn and spots south, but not so much with places in our new neighborhood...hence the post. Thanks for the reply!
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Mermaid Inn
568 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10024Cafe Frida
768 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025 -
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re: strangemd
i view it as decent neighborhood sushi, but not even close to destination worthy.
i enjoyed the newish taqueria on 106ish and broadway - I think it was called cascaval?
dean's pizzeria is decent as well, although just a bit south of your desired target area
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Dean's Pizzeria
215 W 85th St, New York, NY 10024Cascabel
2799 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
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Silver Moon Bakery on 105th and Broadway is a must.
Gennaro's is solid but probably not worth a long wait.
I've heard good things about Wondee Siam V on 108th and Amsterdam but haven't tried it yet.
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Silver Moon Bakery
2740 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Gennaro
665 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Wondee Siam V
969 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025›20 Replies-
re: Riverman500
strangemd
Sep 15, 2011 07:49 AM
I'd be a little more enthusiastic about Gennaro's--for a neighborhood Italian place, it's excellent.
Silver Moon is indeed fantastic.
Would add Absolute Bagels on Bwy/107th as among the best in the city.
Would vote for Noche (Amsterdam and 101) as far more authentic and cheaper than Mama Mexico (and its screaming mariachis) or Gabriella's
New Peruvian place called Warique is also worth a try.
Little French bistro called Allouette (Bwy/98th) is good and kind of romantic.
Cafe du Soleil (Bwy/104th) has good brasserie-type food
Rack and Soul on 109th has excellent ribs/bbq chicken
Sook (Bw//103rd) has decent Thai
Enough to get started.-----
Rack & Soul
258 West 109th St., New York, NY 10025Gabriela's
688 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10025Mama Mexico
2672 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Silver Moon Bakery
2740 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Cafe du Soleil
2723 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Gennaro
665 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Alouette
2588 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Noche Mexicana
852 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Absolute Bagels
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Sookk
2686 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Warique Peruvian Kitchen
852 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025-
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re: nmprisons
+1 on:
Silver Moon
Absolute Bagels
Noche Mexicana (enjoyable, but very greasy)
Cafe du Soleil (pretty good coq au vin)
Rack and Soul
Thai MarketAlso add Turkuaz and Charm Thai, which, while not amazing, are solid. And the Sobre Ruedas taco truck at 97th and Amsterdam for tongue tacos.
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Thai Market
960 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Charm Thai
722 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Turkuaz
2637 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Cafe du Soleil
2723 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Absolute Bagels
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Super Tacos Sobre Ruedes
254 W 96th St, New York, NY 10025Noche Mexicana
849 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025-
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re: michelleats
Thanks for all the suggestions! We tried Cafe du Soleil on Saturday and enjoyed it. Very solid for what it is (although we'd put Buceo ahead of it). Service was very good. Looking forward to trying the others. Thanks again to everyone who has posted!
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Cafe du Soleil
2723 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
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re: strangemd
strongly agree with strangemd and uwsister on the noche mexicana over mama mexico endorsement. no question about it! as uwsister and ann900 stated, "mama mexico is downright terrible" ... "beyond terrible ". very, very true.
love absolute, silver moon and i'd also like to endorse pisticci: http://www.pisticcinyc.com as rteplow recommended below. also,indus valley is not bad.
please report back to us. thanks!
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re: nativeNYer
Thanks again to all those who recommended places to try. This weekend we made it to Noche for some cheap Mexican food. We need to try Tacqueria Y Fonda, but I have to say Noche was more enjoyable than Gabriela's considering the bill at the end (and way more enjoyable -- sans back patio atmosphere -- than Cafe Frida. Why is it so hard to find great Mexican in this city? Mystery continues.
Anyway, we also tried Absolute Bagels. Huge thank you for this recommendation. Some of the best bagels we have had in the city. We also popped out heads into Silver Moon. While plans stopped us from getting anything, we agreed that it was a place we needed to investigate further.
Oh, and the week prior we tried Dive Bar while watching some football. I had been there before, but never for the food. Was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the bar food. So the list of places we have tried is growing...still put Buceo at the top (but def enjoyed Cafe du Soleil and the other so far).
Again, thanks to all that have posted!
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Dive Bar
732 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025Cafe du Soleil
2723 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Absolute Bagels
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Cafe Frida
768 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025-
re: Pago77
Thanks for reporting back! I'm not a big fan of Tacqueria but I know others who love it. Mill Korean was one of my favorites in that nabe many years ago but, although never authentic, the food quality has declined over the past 10 years. Still worth a try if you are interested in Korean food as there's nothing similar in the area. Enjoy!
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The Mill
2895 Broadway, New York, NY 10025-
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re: nativeNYer
No worries. I really think it used to be better a few years ago. Never good, but edible and passable. No longer! BTW if you still have that craving for dukbokkee, go to Woorijip and grab a prepackaged one in a hot food section. It's surprisingly good, and cheap! As all dukbokkee should be.
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re: uwsister
ahhhh, i've been to Woorijip several times. since i was somehow once hooked on the dukbokkee sauce at mill, the woorijip dukbokkee didn't win me over. it wasn't at all that it was bad, of course, but it didn't make me want to run back. i think it is just a matter of the taste i had grown accustomed to (for better and worse) and,obviously, not b/c i know any better. do you know of any restaurants where they serve great dukbokkee? i know it's basic street food in korea and not served everywhere.
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Woorijip
12 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001-
re: nativeNYer
Yeah, it's mostly street food in Korea and doesn't cost more than $2-3 a plate, if that. So it's not something I order often here since it'll cost me $10 and up from what I've seen. You know where I'd try though? The new food court that opened on 32nd St. I know there's a stall that serves boonsik (Korean street food) - that's probably worth a shot.
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Food Gallery 32
11 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001
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