Help me convince my boyfriend we should move to Sunset Park...

[ANin]

So, after 6 years in Prospect Heights, my boyfriend and I are ready to move on. Too noisy, too popular, too many obnoxious hipsters, too many bars. It's one of my favorite places in Brooklyn, and has a lot going for it, but we're looking for something a litlle... less.

Leaving a lot of great restauarants and local bars where we have friends and feel welcome is going to be one of the hardest parts of moving away for both of us, but particularly the boyfriend who worked in the industry for a long time and highly values that type of local/favorite relationship.

So, here's the question. We're going to look at an apartment in Sunset Park this weekend. I have a really good feeling about this place. The boyfriend is a little more reserved. We'll be taking some time to walk around and explore the neighborhood after looking at the apartment, and will also stop for either lunch or dinner. Where do I take him?

[AimeeD]

We moved to Sunset Park almost 2 years ago (after 6 years in Park Slope). We moved because of all of the great food options (not to mention the cheaper rents). So far it's been great, although there are some things we miss about our old hood (specialty grocery stores, good wine store, bars, etc).
There is amazing Mexican food on 5th ave. Our go to spot for sit down or delivery is Tacos Matamoros. Everything is really good, plus they have great margaritas.
Another place opened across the street (can't remember the name). The menu is the same as Matamoros, but it's not as good. They do have a little bar you can sit at, so you can go have drinks if you want a more festive feel.
Other favs are Tacos Xochilmilco (excellent chile rellenos), Tacos el Bronco (tacos), and Puebla mini mart (tortas). On 8th Ave, we like Ba Xuyen (bahn mi and iced coffee), Mai Tai (for thai delivery), Metro cafe (chinese), Pacificana (dim sum), and Thanh Da (pho and other vietnamese dishes). That doesn't even begin to cover all the options.
Take a walk through the park- it has great views. Good luck!

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Ba Xuyen
4222 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Thanh Da
6008 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Pacificana
813 55th St, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Tacos Matamoros
4508 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Puebla Mini Market
3908 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Mai Thai
4618 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Metro Cafe
4924 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Tacos Xochimilco
4501 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Tacos El Bronco
4324 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

[Miss Needle]

How is Thanh Da compared to Nha Trang or Gia Lam?

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Gia Lam
4810 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Nha Trang Palace
5906 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

[Peter Cuce]

I haven't been to the other two in ages, but the pho I had recently at TD was completely without depth, flavor or character. It's a shame, because it's a cute space with friendly staff.

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Thanh Da
6008 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

[Miss Needle]

Hmmm, that's too bad. Though after making pho at home, it's hard to have it out. I was looking more at the banh canh cua (crab and shrimp paste pork knuckle soup). Never had it before, but it looks good!

[Peter Cuce]

Maybe it is. TD is close to the N train. Give it a shot.

[Miss Needle]

Did try Thanh Da. Wanted to get the banh beo but they were out so ended up trying their banh xeo. It was good but skimpy on the meat filling -- only four shrimp and I didn't get any pork. Perhaps it a shrimp only one?

Got the banh canh cua which was interesting. As this is my first one, I don't have any reference for comparison. The broth was sufficiently crabby and relatively mild. The bo hue was a good counterpoint to the banh canh cua as it was very spicy (actually, the spiciest thing I've had in Vietnamese cuisine) and more pungent. As this was also my first time trying bo hue, can't say whether or not it was a good one. All I can say is that I liked them both.

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Thanh Da
6008 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

[AubWah]

Tell him about Top Taste....the only Guilin restaurant in NYC

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Fei Long Market
6301 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

[jeeg]

Tacos Matamoros on 5th ave and 48th

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Tacos Matamoros
4508 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

[AimeeD]

Tacos Matamoros is on 5th between 45th and 46th.

[jen kalb]

Bas Xuyen is a great place in Sunset Hts chinatown, friendly folks. Plenty of sitdown restaurants as you go south from there along 8th Ave. Like others have said there are a lot of good ethnic places (mostly chinese (8th ave) and hispanic) (more on 5th and 4th Ave) in Sunset Hts, not so much in terms of hip modern bars and such until you get up into the 20s or so (5th Ave).

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Ba Xuyen
4222 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232

[bob96]

Jen's right as usual--the northern edge of Green-Wood Cemetery along 6th ave or so threatens to become the kind if nabe the OP seems to want to avoid, but it's along way off. There's no shortage of honest, unremarkable ethnic places in Sunset Park. Keep in mind that "Sunset Park" covers a pretty big area, by various definitions--you can touch Borough Park on one end and the South Slope on the other. Good hunting!

[chompchomp]

does he like dive-y ethnic restaurants? also, I think a new bar opened somewhere down there -- maybe in the 20s (which is maybe "Greenwood Heights"?).

[ANin]

Absolutely, yes - dive-y and ethnic are just fine as long as the food is great although I think for this particular trip sit-down would be good as we'll be walking before that. We're going to be in the 40s so the 20s might be far for us, but if anyone has bar recommendations in walking distance I'd love to hear that too. As far as I could tell from google maps there aren't really any, which could be a problem (but I have no idea how current that is).