You want a platter of pulled pork—brined with 7-Up, garlic, brown sugar, and jalapeños—that comes with Texas toast, garlic rice, and a side of your choice for $12? Or a platter of brisket with fermented black bean paste that packs more umami per square inch than a dry-aged rib eye for $13? This one’s for … Read more
Argyle Street doesn’t have a monopoly on great pho. This spare, bright newbie off the main drag serves up a pretty serious (and monstrous) bowl of the classic soup, with thinly shaved beef in a broth redolent of anise and five-spice. It’s heady enough to induce a meat coma, so chase with a potent chicory-laced … Read more
You could probably find cheaper tacos at your dusty corner mercado, but for a charming sit-down meal, we found none cheaper, or better, than the gems at this generous newcomer. Order a trio—perhaps choriqueso, lengua, and cochinita pibil—and a brawny Tarascan soup that melds roasted poblanos, corn, and sour cream. Finish with a slice of … Read more
Everyone loves a well-stocked gyro platter. Still, it’s what owner Dino Sakkas does with the rest of his menu that’s “Opa!”-worthy. Thick-as-chowder avgolemono. A kebab sampler that could feed a small army. And a burly loukanika sandwich with red and green peppers, grilled onions, and plenty of feta. Order: Greek sausage sandwich, $9; Dino’s Spuds, $5 … Read more
En Hakkore calls itself Korean, but the dish you’re here for hardly qualifies as such. The paratha tacos are more of an international mash-up. Spicy pork or bulgogi beef is drizzled with piquant gochujang-spiked mayo and swaddled in Indian flatbread instead of a typical tortilla—a global voyage for less than the price of a crosstown … Read more
Order at the counter, grab plasticware and boat-shaped cardboard plates, snag one of the six wooden tables, and wait 20 minutes as your meal is cooked. Ginormous wings may be the raison d’être here, but rice bowls topped with a fried egg and chock-full of veggies and pork, chicken, beef, or tofu hold their own. … Read more
This is the unusual veg-centered spot where your carnivore friends will be happy to eat. Tofu wings with sweet and spicy Asian sauce give cheese sticks and Buffalo wings a run for their money. Curry fritters make great use of creamy potatoes, corn, and jalapeños, and the barbecued seitan (protein rich, chewy, and meat-like) tastes … Read more
There’s nothing like a great salad to make you feel all virtuous about your meal—and nothing like a crêpe oozing Nutella to remind you that you’re human. This unassuming café has both. Crêpes (sweet and savory) dominate the menu, and they’re delicate, lacy edged, and totally necessary. But the abundant, ultrafresh salads steal the show. … Read more
Get a map. Buy a GPS device. Make friends up north. Just find this fast-casual joint, because 20 bucks scores you a one-pound entrée of the freshest charbroiled Scottish salmon this side of Edinburgh. And the breaded codfish hoagie on a pretzel bun is stacked so tall you’ll get a TMJ disorder looking at it. … Read more
In this tiny suburban storefront, Kaew Saengsom turns out homey-as-can-be dishes of her motherland (Thailand) and neighboring Laos. From spunky som tum tang (cucumber salad) to savory beef pad tamin (beef stir-fry), you will encounter lemongrass, lime leaves, bamboo, turmeric, basil, and impressively spicy chilies. Embrace the tastes. ORDER (SERVES 4): Spring rolls, $3.95 for 4; … Read more
