Every bowl of the miso-fortified ramen—from the full-bodied kome to the creamy shiro—arrives looking like melted butterscotch and coats the tongue like whipped peanut butter. Go whole hog and gild your grilled cha-su pork loin and explosively flavored bits of ground pork with the marrow-rich broth, creating a Zen-like balance of pork, smoke, and sweetness. … Read more
This warm and uncharacteristically cozy deli puts out the familiar carb-filled suspects—Italian sandwiches, mayonnaise-happy salads, and meats and cheeses galore—but it also has a few un-deli-like tricks up its sleeve (kale salad?). Stick to well-executed basics, such as the gigantic muffuletta buried in juicy olives, and hop in line early because the good stuff sells … Read more
Oh, the sights you’ll see at this artfully grungy barbecue mess hall: An inebriated papier-mâché mannequin. A holographic Jesus with eyes that follow you around. Large bearded men wielding large cleavers. Crispy-skinned chicken legs. Hot links. And lusciously fatty smoked brisket—black as coal on the outside and pink as Barbie’s skirt on the inside. This … Read more
The hot dogs sound tempting: Baja Style, Mole-Q, Fundido. Cheap enough ($4.50 to $8.50), too, for wieners piled with tons of outrageous stuff. But the meal deal here is the half order of chicken a las brasas served with rice, beans, and tortillas. Talk about a juicy bird—garlic-lemon marinade permeates every bite. Order: Chicken a las brasas, … Read more
When you crave a meal from the old country, come here for the warming cream of pickle soup—all gentle sourness with a hint of marjoram. Serving meatball-shaped jumbo schnitzels (rather than patties) and brightening the plate with a colorful mound of peas and grated carrots add modern touches. Save room for the baked plums with … Read more
The delightful Setiawan family offers a menu with so many tantalizing points of entry that you could spend weeks exploring it: satays of plump tiger shrimp, hulking chicken wings in a sugary chili-ginger sauce, and rice feasts such as tender beef rendang braised in coconut milk. It’s all perfect for sharing. Or hogging. Order: Wings, $9 … Read more
Specializing in delicacies from Zigong, a city in the salt mine region, this place offers a singular adventure. The menu describes the sliced cucumber marinated in a sweet vinegary sauce as a favorite of famed military leader Zhu De. The dish goes beautifully with twice-cooked pork belly fragrant with spices, a preference of former leader … Read more
In this downright swanky setting, the moi moi (African beans blended with tomatoes and spices, steamed into a gelatinous mold) and goat pepper soup taste wonderfully authentic. Adventurous eaters should try some fufu dishes (the base is pounded yams), but for more timid souls, the jollof rice comes with a liberal serving of fried plantains. … Read more
It’s easy to get hooked on the Radler’s epic Reuben: smoked brisket stacked on house-baked rye bread. This Bierhaus-y hall drips with personality, as do the grilled wursts piled over lentils, green beans, and more. The delicate but decadent onion pie has masterpiece written all over it. Order: Reuben with fries, $14; Black Bavarian Schwarzbier, $3 2375 … Read more
PB&J ascends to real-meal status at this skilled patisserie. Match a freshly ground nut butter (from basic peanut to chocolate-hazelnut) with seasonal homemade preserves and oven-fresh bread. Add an impossibly flaky chocolate croissant for dessert, and you’ve got a surprisingly luxe meal for less than $10. ORDER: Almond butter and caramel apple jam on oatmeal bread, … Read more
