Momofuku Noodle Bar

Momofuku is one of the most famous restaurant empires in New York but it took me almost 3 years until I actually tried the noodle bar (I've been to Ssam Bar multiple times for the heavenly BO SSAM OH YEAH). The noodle bar has some traditional noodle soups along with some surprises.

Shrimp – Spicy Mayo, Pickled Red Onion, Iceberg
The shrimp patty was fresh and bouncy with a nice golden exterior. The bao was also thin but fluffy (I had excessive buns). I think the cabbage was a little soggy but overall this was great! 

Look at that patty to bun ratio! 

Chilled Spicy Noodles – Sichuan Sausage, Thai Basil, Cashews
I was a little taken aback when I first saw the green noodles smothered with nuts but one bite and I knew I would love this. The noodles were nice and chewy and the nuts added a great sweet crunchiness. It was also quite spicy with a very unique herby flavor from the thai basil. The little nuggets of sichuan sausage was also super fatty and indulgent. This is one of the most interesting flavor combinations I've had in ramen and I really enjoyed it! 

It's a great spot for a quick lunch and I really appreciated the interesting noodle combos.

Momofuku Noodle Bar

171 1st Avenue

New York

NY 10003

Samsen

Ahhhh once again I've been rubbish at updating my blog. I have over 60 backlogged restaurants from both New York and Hong Kong. I will start with some Hong Kong restaurants and hopefully get the New York ones rolled out as well!

I don't think I have ever seen such a hype of Thai food before in Hong Kong before Samsen! I noticed an incredible onslaught of pictures of the wagyu beef boat noodles on Instagram and knew I had to go try it out. It has been open for a few months now but the lines are still as long as ever! Samsen is opened by former Chachawan Chef Adam Cliff and aims to serve casual Thai street food favorites such as boat noodles and pad see ew. The restaurant is tiny and has a cute and hip decor. The wait time is always more than an hour even on weekdays so I would recommend getting a drink at Stone Nullah Tavern next door after you put your name down.

Fried Marinated Pork Collar with Tomato and Chili Sauce 
The pork was marinated well but seems a bit too tenderized and salty. This would be good with a big bowl of rice but not my favorite dish as it was a bit too greasy.

Pad See Ew
YUM! I loveeee pad see ew and this was some of the best I've had! The noodles were sooo fat and chewy and the flavors were spot on. Must order! 

Wagyu Beef Boat Noodles 
This is the dish that most people have been raving about but I was not blown away. The soup was very robustly flavored but I felt that it was a bit too salty. I think a nice big kick of acidity would help balance out this dish. I haven't had a lot of boat noodles in my life so perhaps this is what it should taste like but I much rather shove my face with the pad see ew. 

Overall the food at Samsen packed a serious flavor punch but I don't think I would be willing to wait for over an hour frequently to eat here. I definitely wouldn't mind coming back to try other dishes though.

Samsen

68 Stone Nullah Lane 

Wanchai 

Hong Kong 

Cocoron

New favorite alert! Cocoron has been around forever but unfortunately it took me this long to finally try it out. I thought the tofu serving was rather small but loved the clean fresh taste of it. I got the mera mera dip soba and added chicken meatballs and ADORED it. The soup was so flavorful and it just perfection for a chilly winter day. Everyone there was also super friendly and nice and I loved the cute decor and menu illustrations. I will definitely be back!

Cocoron

61 Delancey, #1

New York

NY 10002 

Raku

I am so incredibly excited to share this new restaurant with you guys! I met my dear friend J in Beijing and we've had many fun and crazy adventures in the motherland. He moved to NYC from Toronto a couple months ago and switched from his consulting job to opening up the best udon shop ever! I'm so happy to see all his hard work come together and hope you will all check out this place!

I initially came for the soft opening and noticed that there were some small tweaks that needed to be adjusted. I've been here twice after the official opening and everything has been STELLAR. The shop has hand pulled udon delivered from Japan 3 times a week and it's some of the best udon I've had. I know I'm not the only one who thinks so as you can see from these Yelp reviews! Apart from the delicious bowls of udon, the appetizers and rice dishes are also delicious! Please excuse the discrepancies in lighting - I combined photos from various visits!

Kiriboshi Daikon - Simmered Dried Radish 
The daikon is crunchy and seasoned perfectly. It is such a nice refreshing start to the meal with its sweetness and umami flavor. 

Chicken Tatsuta-age - Marinated Fried Chicken
The fried chicken is super juicy and the exterior is very crispy and not greasy at all. The kewpie mayo dipping sauce also has a nice kick to it! 

Agedashi Tofu - Deep-fried Tofu
An extremely Japanese appetizer done right. Soft and silky tofu inside with a fluffy and crispy coating. 

Atsugiri Bacon - Thick-cut Bacon
The bacon has such an incredible flavor. It has a lovely smokey element and also bursting with umami. I did not eat the fat but J said that it tastes great when you eat the entire piece with the fat and the leaner portions. I think it would be even better if it was grilled more to render out the fat and perhaps achieve more crispy bits (I love everything extra crispyyy)

Katsudon - Deep-fried Pork Cutlet and Egg Rice Bowl
Mmmmmmm I love this rice bowl. The onions are cooked until they are soft and sweet and the egg is creamy and perfectly incorporated into the sauce. The katsu is also able to maintain its crispy exterior and is lean but still tender. 

Niku Udon - Beef Short-ribs and Tripe 
Ok yes finally I talk about the udon. The soup for the niku udon is BOMB DOT COM. The soup for the other udons (except the egg and curry I think) is a clear dashi broth that is also delicious, but this beef soup is just next level. It is so rich without being heavy and has such depth of flavor. The short ribs are cooked over night and melts in your mouth. The udon has the ideal texture of being chewy and silky smooth. This dish is definitely a home run! 

Raku is definitely a must visit! Especially in these chilly winter months. You will be so satisfied and I can not recommend this place more!

Raku

342 E 6th Street

East Village 

New York

NY 10003