Nyonya - Malaysian - $$

Website

Nyonya has been a long-time favorite place to bring friends when visiting from out of town. This place has amazing food, tons of character, and great prices. It's ironically located in the middle of Little Italy, right next to Ferrara's. It's always funny to tell people that you're going to Little Italy for Malaysian food, but hey.

When I recently went back, I stood on Grand St., whining like a spoiled teenager that my favorite restaurant got shut down..."how could they do this to me? it was one of my favorite places, I should have gotten a warning!...waaaa" is sort-of how it went... but then, i swear it was like harps were playing in the background when I turned to see that the restaurant had only opened a new, better location across the street. Phew!

This place is always worth trying, and is a nice change from the typical asian (thai, chinese, japanese) selection.

- Roti
(this thin, flaky bread that you dip in a curry sauce. you pretty much have to get this as your appetizer)


- Chicken Satay
(delicious juicy chicken on skewers, served with a peanut dipping sauce, sooo good)


- Spicy Crispy Squid
(exactly how it's described. I don't know that I'd order this again, but it was definitely worth trying)


- Pineapple Fried Rice
(just the right amount of sweet and spicy, always good)


- Can't remember what this was, but it was good!


I think in the end, between 3 of us, we paid about $20 each.

Ravel - Asian Fusion - $$

Website (Long Island City)

I'm afraid that if I publish this, someone I know might steal the idea from me... but since I discovered this boutique hotel's rooftop, I said that this is where I'd love to have my wedding (whenever, if ever that day should arrive). It's exactly the kind of place I wanted- trendy rooftop with a view of the city. The place is such an attraction in itself, you hardly need any decoration, and it's designed just how I like, so I would hardly have to make any adjustments to fit my taste. It's a modern, small-sized hotel right on the other side of the East River in Long Island City, and it has a very sexy rooftop overlooking the entire NYC skyline. In the summer the rooftop is wide open, and in the cooler months, they cover and heat it, so you can enjoy it year-round.

I've been meaning to try their brunch, but I've only been there for an early dinner, and I have to say, I was surprised at how good their food is. But you're honestly so distracted by the view, that all you need is a drink and good company. On the weekends, this place turns into a night club, but I haven't had much desire to check that out.

- Sushi rolls
(we shared a few and they were all good)
- Sesame tuna sashimi flatbread
(Super yum)



Each with drinks, we spent about $35.

Ninja - Japanese/Sushi - $$$$

Website (Tribeca)

Ninja is a themed restaurant that is done very well, and not nearly as cheesy as the other themed restaurants in the city. It's a unique and special place, but certainly not the kind of spot that would become your regular go-to. It's actually a really great place to bring out-of-towners, or to lighten up the typical dinner-date-- just make sure that whoever you're bringing has a sense of humor. I went to Ninja 2 years ago with 2 girlfriends, and we had a great time.



Without spoiling anything, when you first arrive, you take a "journey" to get to your table, and it's pretty entertaining. The restaurant looks like it came from the set of a movie: full-on Japanese decor, dim lighting, and all the waiters are dressed up as, you guessed it, ninjas. You get seated in a private room that has paper doors (like the ones you see in Geisha houses) and sporadically throughout the dinner, you'll have a Ninja play tricks on you or pop open some secret door, and make it fun. The menu features some really tasty dishes but the portions are tiny, so it gets expensive. Whatever you end up choosing, make sure it's one of the "Ninja Art Dishes" because they all have a special way of being served. Enjoy it's a fun time!

- RIN cocktail
- Ninja Star Martini


- Floating Sashimi



- Ninja Star (Dessert)
- Rose Chocolate (Dessert)

Miss Korea BBQ - Korean BBQ - $$$

Website

This place is fantabulous. Not only is the decor really nice and earthy, (literally the walls are covered with faux-rocks) but the tables are comfortably set up for BBQ. For anyone who's never had Korean BBQ, it's a great time. You literally have these mini BBQs set up at your table where you grill your own meats. Don't worry, you are not responsible for watching it or knowing how to properly cook the meat or handle your BBQ--- the waiters will frequently come by to turn the meat for you. Once you order your meal, the waiters will come and cover your table with tapas-like dishes of kimchi and radish and all sorts of dressed and pickled things that you can either snack on or wrap up with your beef. I never actually know what everything is, but it's all worth a try. All the veggies, pickles, and tofu have such a unique and delicious flavor.

I've been to a few korean bbq places before, but this one is probably the best. I find that the quality of the meat, the service, and the kimchi are the best I've had. Better than Seoul Garden, which was my favorite... until this place came along. The marinated beef is the way to go. It tastes a little like beef teriyaki... tender, juicy, sweet, yum. But try any of it. Also definitely get the Nakji-Bokkeum - spicy noodles with squid or octopus. It is SO good!

- Marinated short rib
(Beef short rib marinated in goodness)



- Nakji-Bokkeum
(The squid is so fresh and soft, the noodles are thick and have a similar texture, and the sauce is as sweet as it is spicy, and so delicious.)



I'd be curious to know if anyone has tried other dishes. Next time I go, I will get something new.

Expect to pay about $30pp.

Ten Ren's - Bubble Tea - $

http://www.tenrenusa.com/

Ten Ren's is my favorite bubble tea spot in chinatown. Always a great pit stop after a morning of Dim Sum at Jing Fong's, this particular area of chinatown has plenty of great little bakeries with red bean-filled pastries and cheap street food. You also might need a break from faux purse shopping here. Bubble tea is always refreshing and i love love love the tapioca gummies at the bottom of the cup.

My favorite bubble tea flavor is taro, which I always describe as tasting like... purple. It is the color purple and has this aromatic, floral flavor, that really would be what purple tastes like, if purple had a flavor.

Enjoy a small for only $3!!

Haru - Japanese - $$$

Website

Haru is a chain restaurant with several locations all over the city. It's a large, dramatically decorated restaurant serving mostly sushi and some select Japanese dishes. I met my friend at the gramercy location after work one night. We were actually headed to Japonais but were soon disappointed to learn that it had shut down.

Haru was just ok. I feel like sushi is sushi; a spicy tuna roll is a spicy tuna roll. And I'm not into fancy rolls with mango this or crunchy that. So that said, I have a hard time wanting to pay a lot for sushi, when I can always go to the East Village spots that first ever introduced me to sushi during my freshman year of college.

We did order a great appetizer and I tried scallop sashimi for the first time, which was delicious. Dunno that I'd ever go back though.

- Mad Crab
(A really delicious appetizer of crab and mushroom with a chili sauce. If I did ever go back, I'd definitely get this again.)

- Assorted sushis
(Nothing to write home (or blog) about)



Expect to pay an overpriced amount of $35pp.

Ashiya - All you can eat Sushi - $$

http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/new-ashiya/?restaurantid=41940&page=2

Ashiya is notorious for its all you can eat Sushi and all you can drink Sake/Beer specials. For 2 hours, your table can eat as much sushi as you can digest after sake-bombing yourselves stupid. The sushi is actually pretty decent, but you're going there for a great time- not the sushi. The place gets packed on the weekends and everyone in there is banging their way to sake-bombs all night long. It's basically NYC's version of an Asian flavored frat party. You can order all the sushi that you want, but you must eat what you order. They say that they'll charge you for leftovers, but I don't know if that's fact or fiction- we've never had any.



I've had many great nights as a result of an Ashiya pregame.

Sake-bomb, Sake-bomb, Sake-Sake-Sake-BOMB!

$40pp.

Jing Fong - Dim Sum - $

http://www.jingfongny.com/eng/

Is there a better Dim Sum place in NYC? I think not. Every time I have a visitor from out of town, I always take them to Dim Sum. It's a delicious, fun, unique experience. Jing Fong is the largest of Dim Sum restaurants in Chinatown, and it gets super crowded on the weekends, but even the wait is an experience. You wait in the lobby, packed in with hundreds of other people while the host calls out numbers on a microphone, in both Chinese and English. It's like bingo for brunch. When your number is finally called, you ascend a very steep escalator to the large banquet hall (often used as a Chinese wedding venue) and if you thought the wait was chaotic, you will quickly change your mind. Busy.

The basic idea of Dim Sum is that back in the day, the Emperor had all the restaurants serve him little dishes of food- allowing him to sample all the different foods. So here at Jing Fong, you get these women parading around the room with carts filled with Chinese dishes. They pass by your table, you choose what you like, she stamps your card. At the end of your meal, they count up the stamps, and you pay.

The food may be foreign, but be adventurous and try it all.

- Chicken feet
(Yeah, everyone "ewws" but they're so delicious, I have an entire dish to myself)


- Tripe
(Don't get the tripe off the cart, get the tripe that's at the table counter in the center of the room)
- Chinese broccoli
- Shrimp wrapped in rice noodle


- Egg custard
- Any of the desserts


You will eat until you're stuffed and walk out with a $20 bill.