First, check out my Ride & Review video HERE:
That pretty much says it all. This is a classic NYC Chinese-owned Mexican joint, but with better quality food than the old ones we know and love. The tacos are gringo style, with shredded lettuce, shredded cheese and diced tomato. They taste familiar and they’re filling, for cheap.
TACO RECIPES
23 Essex St.
New York, NY 10002
First, watch my Ride & Review HERE:
I’ve been meaning to try the tacos at Tacos Ramirez for a while, but when I heard they just opened up a carnitas joint here in the LES, I jumped at the opportunity. At the same time, I knew there was a Dominican/Puerto Rican/Cuban spot around the corner, so I let myself get super hungry so I could hit them both one after the other, bang-bang style!
The tacos were incredible. I had cabeza (head), ear, and mixed. All were excellent, but I think mixed had to be my favorite. WHen I go back, I want to try tongue and snout. They were a little small, but at $5ea they are worth every penny.
El Rinconcito is a hispanic food joint on Avenue C and 5th Street that I’ve passed by a bunch of times and never stopped in. It’s a small joint, very nicely appointed and with super friendly staff. I tried the chicharrones and the cubano, and both were the best renditions of the dishes that I’ve had in the area. The cuban sandwich was packed with juicy meat, it had great cheese melt, layers of tasty pickles and ham, and it was topped with crunchy, crackling pork skin. Perfect… and huge for just $10.
The chicharrones were juicy and also had lots of crispy skin bits all over. Also a steal at $15.
I can’t wait to go back and try more shit!
CARNITAS RAMIREZ
210 E 3rd Street
New York, NY 10009
EL RINCONCITO
75 Avenue C
New York, NY 10009
First, check out my Ride & Review show HERE:
My wife and I made a last minute reservation to Omakase Sushi by No Name yesterday, and I am so glad we did. This is easily one of my favorites in the city. We did their “tare” omakase, which consists of 17 courses for $129, prepared with upgraded higher end ingredients than what they offer in the 13 course omakase (that one is just $89).
The chef and waiter were both awesome, very knowledgeable and friendly. It’s really hard to choose favorite pieces among so many really nicely prepared courses, but I’ll try.
Everything with uni was great. There were three pieces: The raw oyster was beautifully dressed and topped with Hokkaido uni and ikura.
The uni by itself on top of a fried shiso leaf was absolutely awesome. I love shiso, and the combination was wild!
Lastly, the uni atop raw scallop with caviaar was delicious.
Some other favorites: hamachi, three layer chutoro (medium fatty), and smoked sea trout (first time trying a sea trout, as opposed to fresh water).
Probably my favorite of the night was the torched wagyu topped with the chef’s secret ingredient, powdered wagyu fat! It tasted dry-aged too. It was amazing!
As you can tell, there were lots of unique items that I have never seen before. Some others were the sea ell (as opposed to fresh water). It had a really sticky fat texture and tons of favor – way better than traditional barbecued style fresh eel. There was also a fried oyster topped with squid ink foam!
There was even a tasty coconut matcha flan/custard for dessert.
The best part, after 17 courses I was stuffed! I wanted to add a Dungeness crab and uni piece, but the crab wasn’t in season, and so it wasn’t available. But usually after omakase, I am still hungry! Not this time! I will definitely be back for sure.
I will definitely be back here again – I am 100% certain of that!
OMAKASE SUSHI BY NO NAME
114 Eldridge St.
New York, NY 10002
First, check out my Ride & Review video HERE:
My wife found this place, Zensushi Omakase, which offers a 14-course omakase for just $89. Excellent deal, and excellent quality pieces!
Jeff, our chef, was an incredible host, and he was funny, informative and super nice. Ask for him!
My favorite pieces were probably the chutoro with caviar, which we added on extra at the end, and the wagyu strip with uni and caviar. I was shocked that one was included!
I highly recommend this pplace. We will definitely be back for more!
ZENSUSHI OMAKASE
235 Eldridge St.
New York, NY 10002
My wife and I just realized that a yakitori joint opened up by us late last year. we went this past weekend to try it out.
Check out the Ride & Review HERE first, then read below.
First, great beer selection! Hitachino Nest beer is one of my favorites.
On Sundays, edamame is just a buck.
We tried a bunch of skewers, obviously. I think the yuzu thighs and chicken skins were my favorite, but we also had some gizzards, cartilage, tenderloin, mushrooms, and shrimp.
This raw octopus dish with wasabi was really nice too.
The fried squid legs were our least favorite, but they were still great. I really liked that they came with a pair of scissors!
Not only will we be back here soon, but we will be regulars. I’m so happy this is in our neighborhood!
TORIYA
178 Stanton St.
New York, NY 10002
First, check out my Ride & Review HERE:
This joint, while definitely not a traditional Izakaya in appearance, still serves up some outstanding food and cocktails. Their martini is pretty much absolute perfection.
Our favorite items were the crispy pigs ears and the clams.
But really everything was awesome. The egg trio was pricey at $185.
Very nice tartare made with bluefin tuna.
The miso butterscotch Brussels were extremely unique!
The pork jowl could have used a bit more texture on the outside, but otherwise super tender and very flavorful.
And more unique goodies for dessert: soy sauce tiramisu and basil shiso sorbet.
This place is definitely a keeper.
KIN GIN
107 Rivington St
New York, NY 10002
First, check out my Ride & Review video HERE:
This joint serves up a 15-course omakase for just $89! It’s really close by, so we had to give it a try.
My favorite items were the crab handroll, the stripekack, and the scallop with uni.
Great spot! No liquor license yet, and they don’t let you BYOB, but they said the license is in the works and they should have beer and wine soon.
I can’t wait to go back to try it again. The chef said the fish can change on a daily basis, and he likes to use a lot of unique and different fish than you normally see.
YOKOX
41 Avenue B
New York, NY
First, check out my Ride & Review HERE:
A second location of the popular Williamsburg bar “The Commodore” just opened in the lower east side at Avenue C and Houston Street. My wife and I have been eagerly awaiting the open since we saw renovations going on there last year. The interior is really cool, almost like you’re aboard a yacht. They even have life fish in a tank along the right side wall, with circular portals for viewing.
We started with two frozen drinks and both were great. The winner between the Orange Julio and the frozen mojito was the mojito, however. They also serve $4 cans of Schaefer, which is a steal. During happy hour, you can get a beer and a shot for $7, which is a price that’s on par with the cheapest dives in town.
Speaking of happy hour, they offer their burger with fries for $14 (normally just the burger costs $14, but at happy hour the fries come with). The burger is a nice crumbly patty that’s well seasoned and dressed with all the fixings.
We also tried their fried chicken, which, despite saying three thighs on the menu, actually came with four. Also great biscuits, two hot sauces and a sweet honey butter. At $22 this is a great deal, especially considering how crispy outside and juicy inside the chicken was. Delicious.
We also tried their fried green tomato sandwich with slaw. I enjoyed this, and the baguette was a really nice surprice here on this sandwich. I expected it to be too hard and rough, but it was warm, soft and really nicely butter-toasted.
Definitely can’t wait to go back and try their fish items, grilled cheese and nachos.
THE COMMODORE II
14 Avenue C
New York, NY 10009
First, check out my Ride & Review HERE:
Crazy Burger is a brand new smash burger joint on Avenue C at 12th Street. Their double cheeseburger is just $9.50 and it tastes like a cross between a White Castle slider and a Big Mac.
The fries are the batter-fried style, with that great crisp on the outside of each log.
Great food at a great price. I will definitely be back.
CRAZY BURGER
193 Avenue C
New York, NY 10009
This new sandwich joint and bar slings some great sandwiches. We ordered for delivery, but it was good enough to mention as a restaurant review here.
We tried a spicy mortadella, a Korean rib sandwich, a meatloaf banh mi, and a chicken Caesar salad sandwich. They have funky names and I forget which ‘wich is which.
The bread is great here, and if I had to choose favorites, I’d go with the banh mi and the mortadella.
CLUBHOUSE SANDOS & SUDS
22 Orchard St
New York, NY 10002
