As I have mentioned in a number of previous articles, Mainland Chinese students studying at American universities have created a demand for authentic Chinese regional food that has resulted in many campus towns and cities across the country getting their first taste of authentic Chinese food. But these students do not get their homeland food fix solely through restaurants. Newer options are available for Mainland Chinese students longing for a taste of home. (more…)
As a whole, Los Angeles’s Chinese food scene surpassed New York’s over 20 years ago and continues to pull away. However, you’ll find some things Chinese food-wise in New York that simply don’t exist in Los Angeles, including these four restaurants.
The Chinese fine dining establishment: La Chine
Situated in the Chinese-owned Waldorf-Astoria, La Chine is the type of high-end authentic Chinese restaurant on offer in New York, along with Fung Tu, Cafe China, and Hakkasan. After the demise of Hakkasan Beverly Hills (and perhaps Chi Lin), there are no longer such posh Chinese dining options in LA. Perhaps Los Angeles is just not as much of an expense account town. Sure, it does boast the entertainment industry, but still pales in comparison to New York, with Wall Street, the investment banks, and all the corporate headquarters. (more…)
Photo by Michele Ursino / Flickr
You hear the statistic all the time – 60% of all restaurants fail in the first year, and a whopping 80% don’t make it past five years.
But is the situation even worse in New York?
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Photo by erik forsberg / Flickr
There’s a reason why everyone loves sandwiches. They’re easy to eat on the go, and pack a wallop of flavors and textures in each bite. But some sandwiches are better than others, and these 10 are famous for a reason. (more…)
Photo by cyclotourist/Flickr
Why choose one restaurant for dinner when you could choose dozens? There’s a food hall and farmer’s market renaissance happening around the country, and if you visit any of these locations, you’ll want to make sure you start with an empty stomach.
Photo by Christophe Porteneuve / Flickr
You may love checking out the latest restaurant to open in your neighborhood, but these historic inns, restaurants, and taverns beat the new kids in town any day.
Photo by Travis/Flickr
Filet mignon and roast chicken have their place, but for more adventurous diners, it’s all about the offal.
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Photo by Anne Noyes Saini, courtesy of Real Cheap Eats
Buss-Up-Shut with Pumpkin Curry and Tomato Choka
Sandy’s Deli & Roti, 12110 Liberty Avenue, South Richmond Hill, Queens
Photo by Anne Noyes Saini, courtesy of Real Cheap Eats
Buss-up-shut, a Trinidadian flatbread, resembles a tattered, busted-up shirt (or shut in West Indian parlance) — thus the name. Try pairing it with the Pumpkin Curry, seasoned lightly with onion and garlic, and a side of Tomato Choka (roasted tomatoes tossed with raw onion). It’s a soothing, filling meal.
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What the Duke’s Having. All photos by Mary Martin
Are you up for a night of dimly-lit merrymaking and great drinks to boot? Adventure across every drinking scene imaginable with me as I explore the underbelly of the New York City nightlife, checking in and drinking up all the best speakeasy bars Manhattan has to offer. (more…)
Pork chop from Excellent Pork Chop House. Photo by Robyn Lee.
I recently received a phone call from a friend of mine whose son had just started an entry-level job in the Manhattan office of our firm. He said he needed me to do a personal favor. I presumed the favor involved some kind of personnel issue, but that turned out not to be the case. Instead, he said that his son called desperately after he had gone to the office eatery downstairs and found, to his horror, that a fruit cup cost $8. At that rate, he couldn’t afford to eat out and would have to bring both his lunch and dinner to work every day.
I told my friend not to worry. The good thing about being Chinese or liking Chinese food is that the Chinese revere food so much that they believe even poor people deserve to eat delicious food, an unspoken corollary to our recent article on the lack of upscale Chinese food. Yes, the cost of living in Manhattan is very high, and Manhattan Chinatown is by far the poorest Chinese community in the United States. Nevertheless, you can get good and inexpensive Chinese food in Manhattan Chinatown, cheaper than any other Chinese community in the US, if you know where to look. (more…)
