I Just Want To Eat! 2/17/23 I Just Want To Eat! 2/17/23

Jue Lan Club in NYC, NY

Earlier this year, we went to Ju Lan Club, a restaurant located where the Limelight used to be that serves upscale Chinese cuisine in an incredible setting. This place is huge and we only saw the main dining room that was beautiful, especially the murals on the walls that added to the aesthetic of the place.

The menu there is quite overwhelming, with specialty dishes marked with a crown. But there are so many that ordering each of them would be a gargantuan meal. They have classic Chinese dishes like…

Earlier this year, we went to Jue Lan Club, a restaurant located where the Limelight used to be that serves upscale Chinese cuisine in an incredible setting. This place is huge and we only saw the main dining room that was beautiful, especially the murals on the walls that added to the aesthetic of the place.

The menu there is quite overwhelming, with specialty dishes marked with a crown. But there are so many that ordering each of them would be a gargantuan meal. They have classic Chinese dishes like the Spring rolls that you can either get vegetarian, with duck or lobster (we had the former), their crispy scallion pancakes that are exactly what the name says and some of the best we had, or vegetable dim sum. But, an elevated version is their edamame dumplings that were served with a truffle miso broth giving a delicate touch to a very tasty dumpling.

Vegetable Spring rolls at Jue Lan Club in NYC, NY

Scallion pancakes at Jue Lan Club in NYC, NY

Edamame dumplings at Jue Lan Club in NYC, NY

Of course, I could not not try some of their non-vegetarian dishes and started with their honey maple glazed spare ribs that, although not falling off the bone were delicious, smothered by this superb glaze that had a nice sweetness to it.

Glazed spare ribs at Jue Lan Club in NYC, NY

And then, for the entree, I went for the Jue Lan Lo mein that is one of their specialties made with lobster, shrimp and chicken. This is one of their signature dishes that I highly recommend: with lots of protein, the lobster being the elevating element, it was really tasty and I had to restrain myself from not eating the whole dish that can be shared.

But I wanted dessert also and after much hesitation, we decided to go with their warm apple donuts that were served with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. What you would never guess about these donuts is that they are like a croissant bread pudding stuffed with an apple cinnamon filling. Quite big, they were piping hot, slightly crispy on the outside. I highly recommend this!

Warm apple donuts at Jue Lan Club in NYC, NY

I should mention their cocktails: I got their Smoky Samurai that is one of their signature cocktails made with Hibiki Suntory whiskey, homemade Demerara syrup, angostura bitters, an orange peel for decoration, that was smoked with apple wood chips.

Smoky Samurai cocktail at Ju Lan Club in NYC, NY

Overall, we had a wonderful meal at Jue Lan Club: the food there is amazing and I cannot wait to go back and try some other dishes that seem fantastic!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Jue Lan Club - 49 W 20th St, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 2/15/23 I Just Want To Eat! 2/15/23

Awe Sum Dimsum in NYC, NY

The heart of Times Square have seen quite a lot of Asian restaurants opening and the last one I tried is Awe Sum Dimsum (pronounce “awesome” dimsum). This casual place is very similar to Dim Sum Sam that I tried few months ago: you order at the counter or on their POS, from a quite large menu and they will tell you when your meal is ready thanks to a buzzer that will be handed over to you after you pay. The Menu has quite a lot of items, but I admit that I was a bit disappointed not to see anything with duck, especially some Peking Duck bao maybe? So I ended up ordering har gow or shrimp dumplings that were perfectly made and delicious, fried eggplant shrimp that were just ok, slightly bland, and some soup dumplings that were a bit challenging to eat as they were cooked in a small aluminum tart pan and so, when trying to remove the sticky shell, it often broke, freeing the fatty broth. It could have been good if the shell was thinner…Jodi was excited as they had plenty of vegetarian options, but the vegetable dumplings and steamed vegetarian rice rolls were unfortunately lacking flavor. At least we had the scallion pancakes that were decent. For dessert, I was really looking forward to trying their lava buns or creamy egg yolk buns. Unfortunately, the bun itself was dry and the filling was not as creamy as I had in other places.

Fried eggplant shrimp at Awe Sum Dimsum in NYC, NY

Soup dumplings at Awe Sum Dimsum in NYC, NY

Steamed vegetable dumplings at Awe Sum Dimsum in NYC, NY

Steamed vegetable rice rolls at Awe Sum Dimsum in NYC, NY

Scallion pancakes at Awe Sum Dimsum in NYC, NY

So, overall, Awe Sum Dimsum was disappointing. I prefer Dim Sum Sam around the corner or, for some great soup dumplings, Kung Fu Kitchen.

Enjoy (…)!

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Awe Sum Dimsum - 160 E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 2/13/23 I Just Want To Eat! 2/13/23

Rossini's in NYC, NY

If you like Italian cuisine, Rossini’s is a great spot to know. Located closed to Grand Central, this Italian restaurant has an old school authentic feel, from the decor (it is fairly big: I counted three different rooms) to the attire of the waiters that is pretty formal.

Food wise, they have classics like the calamari fritti or melanzane imbotite (eggplant slices stuffed with ricotta and mozzarella) that they split into two portions as we were sharing.

Melanzane Imbotite at Rossini's in NYC, NY

For the entrees, you can go with their homemade pasta: their linguine alle vongole, although not the best I had, is delicious, but I admit that my all time favorite is their fettuccine Alfredo that is one of the best I ever had! Another option is their veal parmesan that is fried breaded veal topped with tomato, arugula and red onion (I had it twice already).

Fettuccine Alfredo at Rossini's in NYC, NY

Linguine alle vongole at Rossini's in NYC, NY

Dessert is an absolute thing to try: their tiramisu is sublime, creamy with the lady fingers perfectly soaked in coffee; their ricotta cheesecake is great, but the best is their homemade cannoli that was delightfully crispy, stuffed with an amazing ricotta filling.

A bit on the pricey side, Rossini’s is for sure a place to know. All the food I tried so far has been very good, but if you go, I suggest. you try their pasta Alfredo and let me know what you think.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Rossini’s - 108 E 38th St, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 2/10/23 I Just Want To Eat! 2/10/23

1803, Creole cuisine in Tribeca

We were looking for a New Orleans inspired restaurant in New York, when we stumbled upon 1803. Taking its name from the year the United States purchased Louisiana from France, Napoleon needing money to fund the war with the British, this restaurant serving creole cuisine, opened in October 2022. Spacious, with its French quarter feel and large bar, it has two floors, the second floor being where bands will play live music.

They have a nice cocktail menu and, as it was quite cold outside, I decided to go for a hot toddy that warmed me up.

As you can expect in a place like this, they have some classic creole dishes, like the fried oysters, the gumbo or the jambalaya that they also propose in a vegan version that is made with tofu and vegetables (lots of tofu that was good, but not enough vegetables). The Jambalaya was made with shrimp, andouille sausage and chicken. Like the vegan version, it was a bit dry and very spicy. A good way to cool your mouth is with the Mac and cheese that is sublime.

The jambalaya were disappointing, but the beignets were not! Still remembering the ones from Cafe du Monde, we literally inhaled these that were freshly made and did not need the chocolate sauce that came with it.

I am still on the fence with 1803: it was a bit loud for me and the jambalaya was way too spicy. We might go back for brunch to give it another chance as, overall, it had a nice vibe. And for sure we will get again these beignets…

Enjoy (the beignets)!

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1803 - 82 Reade St, New York, NY 10007

I Just Want To Eat! 2/8/23 I Just Want To Eat! 2/8/23

Steak Frites Bistro in Hell's Kitchen

It’s always exciting when a new French restaurant opens, moreover when the Chef is not French, adding a bit of a challenge that he successfully overcame. Chef Adam Schop is well known in New York City, being the Chef and Owner of Miss Lily’s, a Caribbean restaurant located downtown. The part of Hell’s Kitchen Steak Frites bistro is located is not where I would typically walk to find a place to eat, going usually north of 42nd street: this is probably a mistake considering all the places there that I have never tried and this place is definitely adding some attractiveness to this neighborhood. Besides the music and of course the non-french speaking servers, you could imagine being in a bistro in France: the decor with some recycled furniture from the restaurant that used to be there, Tavolino, some hand scratched mirrors and hand painted signage, with a mix of photos from Paris and New York give a certain feel that reminded me some of the places I used to go to when living in Paris.

Food and drinks are quite interesting. They have original cocktails with interesting names like Deux vies (two lifes), Queen of Montmartre and the Madame Guillotine that I chose, a mix of whiskey, calvados, cassis, lemon, egg white and bitters.

Madame Guillotine cocktail at Steak Frites Bistro in Hell's Kitchen

It was restaurant week and I thought that their choices for a $45 dinner (appetizer, entree and dessert) was quite good as, often, some of the specialties of the restaurants are not proposed in a prix-fixe like this. This was not the case: I not only got the escargots, but also the steak frites as it was something I absolutely had to try there considering the name of the restaurant. The escargot was not served in the classic dish but in a shallow dish, mixed with croutons that were soaked with the delicious parsley, garlic and butter sauce.

Escargots at Steak Frites Bistro in Hell's Kitchen

The steak frites was a thick portion of NY strip steak that was perfectly cooked medium rare, was quite tender and had a nice pepper crust. It was served with a pepper sauce and some superb French fries that are like I love them: thin and crispy. The main difference between this steak frites from the Restaurant Week menu and the regular menu is the fact that the NY strip is not dry aged. Still, it was really good.

NY strip at Steak Frites Bistro in Hell's Kitchen

French fries at Steak Frites Bistro in Hell's Kitchen

On her side, Jodi went for a salade verte (butter lettuce, haricots verts, radishes, red wine vinaigrette) and a selection of three cheeses: Boucheron (goat), Ossau Iraty (Basque cheese - sheep) and Bleu d’Auvergne (blue - cow). They came with bread, grapes, truffled fig jam and marcona almonds.

Salade verte at Steak Frites Bistro in Hell's Kitchen

Cheese plate at Steak Frites Bistro in Hell's Kitchen

Dessert was good but we made a huge mistake: I was intrigued by the warm morbier cheese (one of my favorites) on baguette with sour grapes. It was good, but would have been more special if there were more sour grapes. The mistake was to not order the chocolate soufflé that was very popular with diners, but we were full and I had to order at the beginning of the meal, so it was too late to change it.

Warm morbier at Steak Frites Bistro in Hell's Kitchen

Well, it gives me another reason to go back to Steak Frites Bistro!

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Steak Frites Bistro - 496 9th Avenue New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 2/6/23 I Just Want To Eat! 2/6/23

Kura Sushi, Conveyor belt sushi in Jersey City

We have been waiting for so long for Kura Sushi to open in Newport, right where the mall sits. You may wonder why and the answer is simple: Kura Sushi is not your classic Japanese restaurant. It is a conveyor belt sushi bar! If you never tried this before, it is fun to do: the kitchen will prepare a series of dishes that will move around the dining room on a conveyor belt. Each dish, preceded by a sign telling you what it is, costs $3.70 (if I correctly remember) and they calculate the bill simply based on the number of dishes you took (they will automatically count when you slide the plate into the opening that is either in front of you if you are sitting at the counter or on the side if you are sitting at a table, with a prize if you reach 15 plates (we never did). In case what you want is not coming through because very popular, you can order on their POS that allows you to also order other dishes like ramen or drinks, and it will come on the conveyor belt right on top, stopping in front of you for few seconds, so you have time to grab your order.

The whole thing is very exciting and you quickly realize that, at the beginning of the meal, you spend more time grabbing dishes than eating, and you probably eat more than what you would normally order. They of course have some classics like a salmon nigiri or avocado roll, but have for the most part interesting dishes. Here is what we tried:

Aburi eel with miso cream cheese at Kura Sushi in Jersey City

Avocado roll at Kura Sushi in Jersey City

Dashi olive sweet shrimp at Kura Sushi in Jersey City

Salmon toro at Kura Sushi in Jersey City

Seared beef with Yakiniku sauce at Kura Sushi in Jersey City

Seared scallops with Japanese mayo at Kura Sushi in Jersey City

Spanish Mackerel at Kura Sushi in Jersey City

Spicy popcorn shrimp roll at Kura Sushi in Jersey City

We also tried some desserts, like the Hokkaido milk creamy tart, but the best was their Japanese style soy milk donuts that is a must try!

Hokkaido milk creamy tart at Kura Sushi in Jersey City

Japanese style soy milk donuts at Kura Sushi in Jersey City

I should mention that for drinks (we had tea, hot sake and plum wine), you may see a robot coming to your table…

Umeshu plum wine at Kura Sushi in Jersey City

I love Kura Sushi: it is fun and the food is good. The only problem is when to stop taking plates and eating…You simply can’t stop!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Kura Sushi - 525 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07310

I Just Want To Eat! 2/3/23 I Just Want To Eat! 2/3/23

House of Que, Hoboken, NJ

BBQ is one of my favorite meals and it is an artistry that I did not imagine was so involved until I saw The American Barbecue Showdown on Netflix. From the type of meat, the rub, the type of wood to use and the temperature, this is more than just meat on a plate for sure. One of the places I love in Hoboken for BBQ is House of Que.

The best moment to avoid the crowd is of course for lunch during the week or early for brunch as it can become really crowded…and noisy, that is not something I like when eating. There is another bit difference between brunch and dinner: their sampler for one person is not available for brunch. I wonder why as this sampler that is composed of ribs, brisket and sausage with two sides is awesome. The brisket is nicely fatty and charred, although slightly dry, as are the ribs. The sausage is pretty good, the casing having a good bite and the filling not overpowered by anything (sometimes, there is too much fennel, not theirs).

For sides, I always go for the same: the Mac and cheese that is creamy and made with good cheese, and the corn pudding that is one of the best I ever had.

For appetizers, we often go for the fried pickles or the nachos, but my favorite is the Frito pie that is made with Fritos, a smoked brisket chili that is to die for and cheese. This is not only delicious (that is the kind of dish I would crave), but the vessel for it that is a bag of Fritos, makes it fun to eat.

Fried pickles at House of Que, Hoboken, NJ

They also have great sandwiches, like the smoked brisket brunch burger that is a heart attack on a plate: It is a brisket patty served with bacon, American cheese, an over easy fried egg and mayo, that you can get with fries or onion rings. The first bite is amazing: you really get an explosion of flavors from the egg yolk that is bursting out from the pressure applied to eat that monster burger, that gives a certain smoothness, to the smokiness of the bacon and the juiciness of the patty that is quite good and was nicely charred.

Smoked brisket brunch burger at House of Que, Hoboken, NJ

If you are vegetarian, you can get some sides or salads, like the green garden salad that Jodi often orders.

Green garden salad at House of Que, Hoboken, NJ

So, yes, House of Que always delivers: their food is delicious and very comforting. I definitely recommend it to enjoy some Texas hospitality.

Enjoy (I did)!

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House of Que - 340 Sinatra Dr, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 2/1/23 I Just Want To Eat! 2/1/23

Marty's in Jersey City, NJ

We walked passed Marty’s in Jersey City quite a few times. Located in an old firehouse, this place serves some quite amazing burgers and shakes. I love the fact that they have a POS (Point Of Sale) when you enter, so it gives you more time to look at their menu and customize what you want, rather than being at the counter and feeling the pressure to order quickly because there are people behind you, probably with the same feeling, waiting.

I always go for a double cheeseburger, a single patty being too small compared to the bun and not giving enough chance for the meat to shine. So, yes, I got a double cheeseburger, that came with American cheese (nice amount of it), a slice of tomato, onion, but no lettuce, that I topped with ketchup and mayo. The burger looked really appetizing and the first bite was great: the meat was perfectly cooked medium, juicy, with a nice char.

Double Cheeseburger at Marty's in Jersey City, NJ

Jodi got the Impossible burger with American cheese, tomato and pickles. The Impossible is way better than the Beyond burger and I have to say was pretty good, even if I prefer mine.

Impossible burger at Marty's in Jersey City, NJ

To accompany our burgers, we got some crispy fries that were pretty good and would think were not frozen considering the bags of Idaho potatoes laying on the floor. And of course, to help me digest (???) I got a cookies and cream milkshake that had a perfect consistency, with some chunks of Oreo cookie.

Cookies and Cream milkshake at Marty's in Jersey City, NJ

This was a nice surprise, the burgers being very good and I cannot wait to go back to Marty’s: this is definitely a neighborhood gem.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Marty’s - 488 Central Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307

I Just Want To Eat! 1/30/23 I Just Want To Eat! 1/30/23

Masala Cafe in Jersey City, NJ

It is no secret that I love Indian food and we sometimes venture to Newark Avenue in Jersey City for lunch or dinner, in some of the amazing Indian restaurants that are there. One of them is Masala Cafe. This place has an extensive menu with a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. We went there one Saturday evening for dinner and tried the following:

For appetizer, we had samosa that were crispy and…

For appetizer, we had samosa that were crispy and not spicy:

Samosa at Masala Cafe in Jersey City, NJ

We then shared some dhal and some paneer tikka masala, two vegetarian dishes that were really good, especially the latter one that was very creamy and that I had with a bit of rice, but mainly with their butter naan that was deliciously charred.

Paneer tikka masala at Masala Cafe in Jersey City, NJ

Butter naan at Masala Cafe in Jersey City, NJ

For drinks, I always go for a mango lassi and Jodi had a lemonade.

Mango lassi and lemonade at Masala Cafe in Jersey City, NJ

Last was dessert, and we went for our favorite one, gulab jamun, that we accompanied with a chai that was unfortunately too milky, maybe because we asked for mild food and they did not want to serve us a tea that would be too spicy for us.

Gulab jamun at Masala Cafe in Jersey City, NJ

Overall, the meal was delicious and we decided to go back another time to Masala Cafe to try some other dishes…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Masala Cafe - 839 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306

I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/23 I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/23

Zaytinya in NYC, NY

When we visited Zaytinya in Washington DC back in 2018, I ended up regretting that it did not have an outpost in New York City. Well, this gap has been closed since July last year and it seems that this place does not stop getting full with a crowd eager to try some Mediterranean cuisine served mainly tapas style.

This is a big and bustling restaurant located in the Ritz Carlton, dominated by their beautiful bar that was crowded all evening and from which we got a glass of Arak El Massaya for me and a lemonatha for Jodi, a non-alcoholic beverage made with lemon, cardamon, fenugreek and club soda.

We decided to share few plates, the waiter recommending one from each section and started with labneh that we ate with their fluffy pita that is fantastic, as well as some cucumber and carrot.

Another starter was their seared halloumi that came with dates, pomegranate, pistachio and citrus. Do not expect the flaming halloumi that you sometimes get in Greek restaurants: this one was simply seared, but still sublime, eating it with the various components from the dish that either gave texture or acidity.

This was followed by the crispy eggplant or Bantijian Bil Laban, that was served with garlic yogurt, turmeric, apricots, and walnuts. Delightfully crispy and cooked all the way through, it was not bitter and not greasy at all.

For her main, Jodi went for their charred eggplant pie, a mediterranean version of flatbread, while I chose two dishes: lamb baharat that is a spiced rubbed leg of lamb kebab served with tabouleh and tahini sauce, as well as Garides Me Anitho or sautéed shrimp with a sauce made with shallots, mustard and lemon juice. The lamb was perfectly cooked, flavorful, the tahini adding some nuttiness to the overall dish. I did not expect the sautéed shrimp to be smothered by that sauce, but it was really good and I dipped a bit of pita in it…

Charred eggplant pide at Zaytinya in NYC, NY

Of course, we could not leave without dessert and could not resist trying their kunefe that I ate with a medium-sweet Turkish coffee. The dessert was a bit disappointing, being a bit dry.

Still, we had a great meal. The dishes at Zaytinya are small and it is a bit pricey, but the food is amazing there with so many choices, vegetarian and non-vegetarian, that it is a bit overwhelming to pick as you do not want to miss out. This great outpost from Chef Jose Andres is sublime so a reservation is recommended.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Zaytinya - 1185 Broadway, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/23 I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/23

Yuki's Bakery and Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

We were looking for a treat when we stumbled upon Yuki’s Bakery and Coffee near the Monroe Center, an area where we do not venture to that often but that seems to have some interesting places. Opened mid-2021 by Yuki (Aviva) Levinson, this Israeli influenced bakery is a great find. Small, it has some exciting offerings like the rugelach and halva rugelach that are superb. Rugelach are small crescent rolled pastries filled with chocolate in this case, but can also be filled with apricot, raspberry, etc. I have never seen one with halva, a middle eastern confectionary made with tahini, that added some nuttiness and smoothness to it, without making it too sweet. My favorite! The Nutella babka is good, but a bit dry and with not enough of this decadent chocolate hazelnut paste (this is not as good as Breads Bakery).

Halva rugelach at Yuki's Bakery and Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Rugelach at Yuki's Bakery and Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Nutella babka at Yuki's Bakery and Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

They also have classic French like croissant and chocolate croissant and I only tried the latter that was quite good, flakey and buttery. And they also have other things like their raspberry and pear coffee cake or their Israeli cheesecake.

Pain au chocolat at If you prefer savory items, they have quite a few that we did not try yet.

Raspberry and pear coffee cake at If you prefer savory items, they have quite a few that we did not try yet.

If you prefer savory items, they have quite a few that we did not get yet, but I am definitely curious to go back and try them!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Yuki’s Bakery and Coffee - 720 Monroe St - E101, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/23 I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/23

Heritage Grand Bakery in NYC, NY

After Maison Kayser closed during Covid and sold its stores to Le Pain Quotidien, I was wondering what would come to the Bryant Park location, construction soon starting there for another bakery. Several months later, in December 2022, Heritage Grand Bakery opened. We went few times and I admit that it is a great addition for bread, viennoiseries (croissants, pains au chocolate, etc) and cakes. Their croissants and chocolate croissants (pains au chocolat) are good, but not as buttery and flakey as some others like Chocopain, and I did not like their pistachio honey croissant as there was too much of a cream that overpowered everything. However, their cinnamon roll is perfect, having enough cinnamon and their kouign amann (think about a croissant with more butter and caramelized) is deliciously crispy and buttery, with a perfectly caramelized bottom. My favorites are definitely the brioche au sucre or sugar brioche, the plie au chocolat, a croissant dough filled with chocolate chips and vanilla custard, as well as the brioche au chocolat that has tons of chocolate on top!

Brioche au sucre at Heritage Grand Bakery in NYC, NY

Cinnamon roll at Heritage Grand Bakery in NYC, NY

Plie au chocolat at Heritage Grand Bakery in NYC, NY

Kouign Amann at Heritage Grand Bakery in NYC, NY

Brioche au chocolat at Heritage Grand Bakery in NYC, NY

Croissant at Heritage Grand Bakery in NYC, NY

Pain au chocolat at Heritage Grand Bakery in NYC, NY

Pistachio honey croissant at Heritage Grand Bakery in NYC, NY

They also propose cakes, individual or large, that really make your mouth water. The Paris-Brest is a cake that was named after a bicycle race between the cities of Paris and Brest on the West coast of France. It is made with a puff pastry that is filled with praline cream. There is amazing, slightly crunchy, with a praline that is perfectly made and topped with almonds. Another classic is their eclair au chocolat that looks elegant and is also good, although I always preferred a vanilla custard as the filling over chocolate.

Paris-Brest at Heritage Grand Bakery in NYC, NY

Eclair au chocolat at Heritage Grand Bakery in NYC, NY

Overall, this is an awesome addition, with so many choices there that overwhelm you a bit when trying to make a choice. And entering in Heritage Grand Bakery, you get your nose filled with a buttery smell that make you want to bite on their croissants right away!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this pos, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Heritage Grand Bakery - 8 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 1/20/23 I Just Want To Eat! 1/20/23

30 Burgers in Hoboken, NJ

Few weeks ago, we decided to try 30 Burgers, a new place that opened few steps from the path. I am always excited to try a burger place, hoping that they will serve an awesome cheeseburger, especially considering the name. The place, that used to be Pico Taco, has been fully repurposed, with less tables. So when you sit, you cannot not miss the photo of Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis from Top Gun, staring at you while you take your first bite…

I started with an Oreo milkshake that was quite good, the milkshake having the right consistency and some chunks of Oreo blocking the flow of the straw that I wish was thicker.

Oreo milkshake at 30 Burgers in Hoboken, NJ

The milkshake was good, but the burgers were not, sadly. Jodi had their black bean burger that was served with provolone, tomato, lettuce and chipotle mayo. It was served with a multi-grain bun that was dry and the patty, although tasty, was mushy. On my side, I opted for their fried mac & cheese burger. I was really excited as The Ainsworth, located few blocks from there, has always been my reference for such burger and I was wondering if this place would have a better one. The beef patty was served with American cheese, topped with fried Mac and cheese. I did not like it: the cheese, that seemed processed, totally coated my mouth and overpowered the patty that seemed well cooked and juicy. The deli bun was also too big and like the other one, dry. I did not even finish half that is really rare for me. As a side, we also got some fries that were just ok, not crunchy unfortunately.

Black bean burger at 30 Burgers in Hoboken, NJ

Mac n’cheese burger at 30 Burgers in Hoboken, NJ

So, overall, this was not a great meal and I was disappointed considering that, considering their name, I expected more…

Enjoy (the post)!

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30 Burgers - 70 Hudson St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 1/18/23 I Just Want To Eat! 1/18/23

Flip Sigi, Filipino Taqueria in Jersey City, NJ

I was never a big fan of burritos for the simple reason that I always thought that restaurants were packing them with rice, ordering mine without each time I could. The only exception is probably Orale Mexican Kitchen with its truffle ribeye burrito that is out of this world. Then, end of 2018, we went to San Diego and had lunch at Lucha Libre. The sole purpose of the visit was to try a Cali Burrito and since then, I have been obsessed with this! So, as we were looking for a place for dinner in Journal Square,…

I admit that I was not sure if this was a permanent spot, as it sat at the entrance of a residential building and you could see residents going in and out, passing through the side of the restaurant. I learned that, no, this is a permanent spot that opened three years ago. It has definitely a relaxed decor, a bit beachy. We ordered at the electronic point of sale and then, excited, got our meal fairly quickly.

As a drink, we had a Calamansi lemonade that was not too sweet, that I sipped while eating some wonton chips and salsa. The chips were nicely crunchy and not greasy, being a good alternative to tortilla chips.

Calamansi lemonade at Flip Sigi in Jersey City, NJ

Wonton and salsa at Flip Sigi in Jersey City, NJ

They have few vegetarian options and so, Jodi went for their Hawaiian veggie fried rice that had pineapple in it (the Hawaii flair) and a fried egg that was an add-on. Good, tasty, this was a generous portion and it was nice to have some wonton crisps on top that added a bit of texture.

Hawaiian fried rice at Flip Sigi in Jersey City, NJ

On my side, I, of course, had the Cali burrito that was made with adobo chicken, pork belly, French fries, tomato and avocado crema (sour cream). It was served with some fries on the side too (and they offered us a side of fries too). This was delicious: crispy, the chicken was not dry, the pork belly was nicely charred and this burrito was packed in flavor, quite decadent to the point that I could not stop. There is something comforting about fries in a sandwich, don’t you think?

Cali Burrito at Flip Sigi in Jersey City, NJ

We did not get dessert because we were to full and it is too bad because they had Ube ice cream…

I was quite glad we finally tried their Cali burrito: this is a must have if you go to Flip Sigi and it is worth the trip for sure.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Flip Sigi - 190 Academy St, Jersey City, NJ 07306

I Just Want To Eat! 1/16/23 I Just Want To Eat! 1/16/23

Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

I discovered Sushi by Bou back in 2019 when they opened a location in Jersey City. Sushi by Bou is serving Omakase that is a trend in the dining scene, literally meaning “I leave it up to you”, allowing the Chef to decide what will be served as sushi. I could bring a guest to a media invite and, as Jodi is vegetarian, I went with a friend who I thought loves fish, but, little I knew that he only eats cooked fish, not raw and he did not know what he was coming for…No problem: Chef Andy took care of him whenever possible; when not, lucky for me, I ended up with two pieces of fish!

Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

The place in the W hotel is not big, with a small lounge and the bar where you will sit, in front of the Chefs who will feed you 12 pieces of sushi for a timed dining experience of 60 minutes for $60. The space is cool, with murals, but also coasters, featuring New Jersey artists like Lauren Hill, with graffiti giving a cool and urban feel.

Cocktails there are exciting with a quite elaborate selection of drinks, few being non-alcoholic, and of course some sake. My favorite is the Yuzu Honey Bee that I had at their Jersey City location, made with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, honey syrup, yuzu, simple syrup and topped with pink peppercorn. I also tried one of their Highballs, choosing the ginger highball, made with Toki whisky, seltzer, yuzu, simple syrup and ginger.

Yuzu Honey Bee cocktail at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Ginger Highball at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Sake at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Here are the sushi they served:

Hamachi (Yellow tail):

Akani (lean tuna):

Hamachi at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Botan Ebi (Spotted prawn):

Botan Ebi at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Bincho (Albacore):

Bincho at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Hotate (scallops):

Hotate at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Toro (fatty tuna):

Toro at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Wagyuni (surf & turf):

Wagyuni at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Akami at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Ikura (salmon roe):

Ikura at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Maguro (chopped tuna):

Maguro at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Gindara (miso cod):

Gindara at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Sake (salmon):

Unagi (BBQ eel):

Unagi at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

The meat and some fish are torched, giving a bit of a show to the diners who sometimes participate in it.

Torching salmon at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

Torching wagyu at Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ

This was a great experience, especially of course if you like sushi. The fish tasted fresh and the sushi that you typically would eat with your hands, perfectly seasoned, not falling apart. I like the concept with the time limit not being so much of an issue, to the contrary, being perfect if you have to go somewhere after dinner. With a price at $60 for 12 sushi, this is a very good deal as most of the omakase restaurants in New York City are more expensive, few block also from the path. The only negative is the absence of vegetarian option that several Japanese restaurants propose now. Otherwise, I definitely would go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Sushi by Bou in the W Hotel - 225 River street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 11/25/22 I Just Want To Eat! 11/25/22

Maison Pic in Valence, France

Going to a 3-Michelin Star restaurant is always an experience: you dress up a bit and get ready to spend an unusual amount of time at the table, ending with a need for a walk after that, every dish being an appeal to all your senses, making you stop for a minute before digging in and tasting what you came for. Maison Pic in Valence, France is no exception! Anne-Sophie Pic is not well known in the US, unless probably if you are in the food industry or maybe if you watched The Final Table on Netflix, the most famous woman French Chef who has 3 Michelin stars being Dominique Crenn, the only female Chef with such award for her restaurant in San Francisco, L’Atelier Crenn.

Anne-Sophie Pic comes from a family of chefs, with her Great Grand mother, Grand Father, Father and brother being in the kitchen. It is her Great Grandfather and Grandmother, Eugene and Sophie, who opened the restaurant in 1889 and under their son Andre that they got 3-Michelin stars in 1934 and then 1939. He then lost a first star in 1946 and a second star in 1950. Andre’s son, Jacques who was working in the automobile industry decided to go to culinary school and to train as a Chef to succeed his father and regain the lost stars. He won back the second star in 1959 and then the third in 1973. The story kind of repeated itself several years later: Anne-Sophie did not want to be a Chef and had a totally different career, traveling to Japan and the US as an intern, working for luxury brands like Cartier or Moët & Chandon. She eventually went back in 1992 to work with her father who past away three months later, working the front of the house. At that point, her brother took over the kitchen but left when the restaurant lost its 3-stars in 1995. Convinced that she owned to her father to regain these stars, Anne-Sophie decided to take over the kitchen and trained as a Chef. Mission accomplished in 2007, followed by the opening of restaurants in France, the UK, Singapore and Switzerland, with as of today a total of 10 stars obtained, a culinary school and several books published.

Entering the restaurant, you are immediately in awe, the decor being sleek and warm, sometimes extravagant but not intimidating, without being completely over the top, and with few stunning pieces of art that you cannot miss. What I like to visit in such place is the kitchen and I was surprised by how quiet, clean and organized the one at Maison Pic was considering how mine is after I cook a single dish!

The menu is a 10 course prix-fixe that is a celebration of French cuisine, with a modern take and international influence, where they would accommodate dietary restrictions, proposing a vegetarian version that was as good as the non-vegetarian to Jodi. It all starts with a letter from the Chef that welcomes the guest and explains the what this culinary experience is all about. Intriguing and exciting: you know that this will be unique from the get go.

This voyage was 10 courses with a choice for the entree and the dessert, each dish being described in French and in English that was a nice touch for Jodi, sometimes giving a bit of a background as to the origin or the process to make them that can be a bit complex and can only push your admiration further for such a craft. I should also mention the pairing: they propose the classic wine pairing with even one variation with only rare bottles, but also a non-alcoholic pairing that is mainly composed of tea and coffee, but not something basic: each tea or coffee has a story and several are being made table side with some detailed explanation of the process.

Slow drip coffee at Maison Pic in Valence, France

As we were reading the letter and thinking about our choices for the main course and dessert, we decided to order a drink. I totally forgot to photograph the one Jodi ordered and can only remember that it was non-alcoholic…On my side, I went for a whisky from Michel Couvreur, a single malt called “Candid Malt” that is peaty like I like them.

Michel Couvreur Candid Malt whisky at Maison Pic in Valence, France

First course:

They started the meal by bringing some amuse that were composed of a Mimolette cheese tart with dill and saffron, a carrot and green shiso macaron (shiso is a leaf that has flavor notes of basil, pepper, lemon and cinnamon), and a trout, ginger and seaweed cone (for the vegetarian meal it was replaced by a soba-cha tuile and mezcal (Soba-cha is like buckwheat).

Mimolette tart at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Carrot macaron at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Soba-cha tuile at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Trout cone at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Second course:

Variety of carrots (vegetarian menu): carrots infused with Espuma wine yogurt, jasmine flower and an emulsion of black pepper from Madagascar.

Carrots at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Oyster with a caper leaf accompanied with a sea water emulsion as well as a chip filled with a tuna tartare and served with a geranium and sea crest ice cream. The seaweed on the plate is just for the plating and not edible.

Tuna tartare at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Third course:

Beetroot served with an espuma emulsion with curry and black currant.

Beetroot at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Sea urchin, a dish inspired from Galicia in Spain. The sea urchin was seasoned with Kurumame that is a Japanese black soybean and Nikka whisky, and is accompanied with an apple jelly and topped with crispy milk.

Sea urchin at Maison Pic in Valence, France

This was paired with a glass of Muri, a non-alcoholic sparkling beverage.

Fourth course:

Berlingots, one of the signature dishes of the Chef, pasta made with matcha tea (hence the green color), served with smoked mascarpone and goat cheese, on top of a consommé made with ginger, watercress and bergamot. On the side is a bao or steamed bread to dip in the consommé.

Berlingots at Maison Pic in Valence, France

The pasta was paired with a Japanese tea that was prepared table side.

Fifth course:

Salsify from Tourraine (a Province in France), cooked on a plancha and then deglazed with a white beer, topped with a black sesame, cocoa and yuzu sabayon. For the non-vegetarian meals, they added some pieces of pork belly.

Salsify at Maison Pic in Valence, France

The salsify was paired with some Kombucha that is produced in France.

Kombucha at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Sixth course:

Saint-Pierre or John Dory fish that has been marinated with chestnut and soy, cooked on a plancha and then BBQ, accompanied by an onion compote, grapes and a sauce made with Oolong tea from Taiwan, rum and chestnut.

John Dory at Maison Pic in Valence, France

The vegetarian dish was a cepe mushroom that has been cooked with blackberry leaves and black currant. It came with a consommé made with mushrooms, bergamot and juniper.

Cepe mushroom at Maison Pic in Valence, France

This time, the pairing was a Tuo cha tea.

Tuo-cha tea at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Seventh course:

This was the course where we could pick between venison and sweetbread. I went for the latter as this is not something that you often see on a menu. It was brought to our table before being cooked so they could describe the process to create his dish. The sweetbread is marinated with various ingredients, one of them being meadowsweet, before being dipped three to four times in beeswax, creating a shell that emprisons the flavors and give a slight crispiness. It is then being cooked after resting for 48h. This is an interesting dish, reminiscent of school menus where sweetbread was often served in various forms, beignet being a popular one. It was served with a corn and mezcal tart.

For the vegetarian option, it was an artichoke glazed with mezcal, with tonka bean powder and mint.

Artichokes at Maison Pic in Valence, France

The artichokes came with Lapsang souchong and matcha tea and for the pairing, it was a slow drip coffee that reminded me of a Tokyo drip I had few times in a restaurant in Hoboken.

Eighth course:

This was a cheese course: a Saint-Marcelin infused with sweet clover and Tonka beans, sitting on a white beer ice cream.

Saint-MArcelin cheese at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Nineth course - Pre-dessert:

I love the concept of pre-dessert that every restaurant should have, although when you get there, you are already way beyond the moment you started to get full…This was a pear dessert, served with black sesame and shiso ice cream.

Pear dessert at Maison Pic in Valence, France

I admit that for this one, I do not recall what the pairing was…

Tenth course - Dessert!

Similar to the entree, you could pick your dessert. I went for the mille-feuilles blanc or monochrome that is one of their first signature desserts, that is made with vanilla from Madagascar and Jasmin, decorated on the sides with milk clouds infused with voatsiperifery pepper also from Madagascar.

Monochrome or Mille-feuilles blanc at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Jodi went for the chocolate honeycomb that had chocolate ganache, as well as honey from Corsica.

Honeycomb dessert at Maison Pic in Valence, France

They also brought additional sweets like the walnuts, some being real, others being made with chocolate, as well as a tart with panacotta made with pollen and beeswax.

Walnuts at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Pannacotta beeswax and pollen at Maison Pic in Valence, France

Overall this was a great experience: the atmosphere, although chic, was not stuffy and the staff made us feel welcome. The food was amazing and truly delivered on its promises, looking beautiful and with interesting flavors from all over the world, showcasing the creativity of the Chef who just has to open a restaurant in New York, so we can experience more often such artistry.

Enjoy (I really did)!

Maison Pic - 285 Av. Victor Hugo, 26000 Valence, France

I Just Want To Eat! 11/23/22 I Just Want To Eat! 11/23/22

Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina in NYC, NY

I passed in front of Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina few times in the morning and was not sure what to expect from it and thought that going on a Friday before a major Holiday would be a good idea, expecting less people and so, less noise. I was wrong: as we entered the restaurant to inquire for a table, we ended up in a dark setting with a noise level that was definitely not for me…Fortunately, they had tables outside and the weather was still adequate for an outdoor dinner.

We started off our meal with guacamole and chips, that I accompanied with their classic margarita. This was a good start: the margarita was good, well balanced. The guac was nicely made: mild, as ordered, it had nice chunks of avocado and was well seasoned.

Margarita at Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina in NYC, NY

Guacamole and chips at Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina in NYC, NY

Guacamole at Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina in NYC, NY

For her main, Jodi got the quesadilla de Hongo (mushrooms) that was good, with lots of cheese, the tortilla being slightly crispy, while I got the chicken chimichanga, a deep fried tortilla filled with grilled chicken and cheese, topped with crema fresca (sour cream), guacamole and pico de gallo over a red sauce (not spicy). When it came, I thought it was small, but it was quite filling. Tasty, the tortilla was golden and delightfully crispy. I definitely recommend it.

Quesadilla de hongo at 5 E 38th St, New York, NY 10016

Chicken chimichanga at 5 E 38th St, New York, NY 10016

For dessert, we could not not try their churros that were well made, crispy on the outside a slightly doughy inside. The only negative was the chocolate on top: I have never been a big fan of chocolate with churros, preferring dulce de leche or condensed milk, and sometimes, I enjoy just a plain churro.

Churros at 5 E 38th St, New York, NY 10016

Overall, we had a good time and food at Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina. I would go back but maybe lunch would be a better time for us because of the noise level…

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina - 5 E 38th St, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 11/21/22 I Just Want To Eat! 11/21/22

The Hive in Hoboken: worth the wait?

I guess that after Chef Dominique Ansel created the buzz with his Cronut that he was selling with limited quantity, causing very long lines around the block of his bakery in Soho, this has proved to be a good recipe for success. Is it what The Hive in Hoboken tried to do with its cinnamon rolls? Maybe. What is sure is that they have been quite successful! These cinnamon rolls are only available on the weekend, with a limited number, selling within one hour apparently. So we had to try it to understand what the craze was about. I admit that the first time we did not realize it was only offered on the weekend and went on…

Chocolate croissant at The Hive in Hoboken

So we went back on a weekend, showing up at 7:30am (they open at 8am) and were glad to be there at that time as a long line was already formed. As they opened, the line moved, but not as fast as I was hoping for and we realized that it is because they are baked and frosted right there, each put in a container to transport. We got two of these massive rolls that came warm, with an appetizing cinnamon smell emanating from under the cream cheese frosting that was melted slowly. It was good, very filling and comforting, with the right amount of cinnamon and I liked the fact that the frosting was not too sweet, especially as they put a lot of it! $8 for a cinnamon roll is a bit of a stretch but ok as a treat.

Another specialty apparently is their Big Daddy cookie that is made with peanut butter, chocolate chips, pretzels, potato chips and pecans. Decadent and heavy, it was good but I wish it was chewier.

The Hive is a nice place in Hoboken, where you can enjoy a coffee or tea and some treats. For me, it would be the cinnamon rolls as I did not really like what they had besides this, but I would get it as a treat as I would probably not wait in line every weekend for it…

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment.

The Hive - 1000 Park Ave, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 11/14/22 I Just Want To Eat! 11/14/22

Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

Last Saturday, I was invited at Kings of Kobe in the Newport Mall, in Jersey City. Let’s first clarify one thing: there is no Kobe beef there, but rather American Wagyu, served in different forms: steaks, burgers, hot dogs or chili. Located across from the Cheesecake Factory, Kings of Kobe is fairly big with, on one side, a large bar, and the other, the dining room where upbeat music is played while you are waiting for your meal.

Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Picking a meal there is a bit challenging as they have lots of mouth watering choices. So, I decided to start with their chicken wings, choosing maple buffalo over chipotle BBQ. These beautifully glazed pieces of chicken were amazing: topped with sesame seeds for some nuttiness, they were delightfully crispy, with a slight sweetness, perfect to dip or not in a blue cheese sauce.

Chicken wings at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

Then came the burgers: vegetarian (I’ll come back to this) or not vegetarian, I have to admit that they look spectacular, the presentation having a dramatic drip of sauce all over, and the quantity of meat (half pound or even a pound - aka a pounder) cannot be unnoticed. They do offer vegetarian options and the Beyond burger is used in the Veggie Republic (vegan in fact, made with marinated roasted tomatoes, pickles, baby arugula, herbed vegan mayo) that is in the sandwiches and other burgers section, but if you prefer you can opt for the grilled cheese or a salad. As far as beef is concerned, I went for the King’s Standard that they use as their cover photo. It is made with marinated roasted tomatoes, white cheddar, dill pickles and cherry pepper mayo. This was delicious: the patty was juicy and quite tasty, meaning not made with plenty of fillers and species that would overpower the taste of the beef. But it is big and I cannot imagine finishing a pounder! The only negative of these burgers are the buns: they are good (although the multigrain bun on the veggie one was a bit dry) but too thick.

Veggie Republic burger at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

King’s Standard burger at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

Burgers are not coming with sides and they have several choices there that I am sure can satisfy anyone. My favorite was the red onion rings that was served with garlic mayo: the onion was cooked all the way through and the batter, that I would not be surprised is beer based was nice and crispy. Of course, you can also choose fries that were battered, crispy and cooked all the way through.

French fries at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

Onion rings at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

Last is dessert. I cannot not talk enough about the banana pudding that is homemade: first of all, the bowl is the size of a human head and for sure it is a bit difficult to finish it after such a meal…Then, it is superb and probably one of the best I had. It is made with a creamy vanilla pudding, vanilla wafers, perfectly ripened bananas and whipped cream. This is a must have!

Banana pudding at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

I was glad that I got the opportunity to try Kings of Kobe as we had a great meal there. I would definitely go back to try another burger combination or even build my own, or get their wagyu ribeye. Prices are on the high side, so you pay a premium for Wagyu beef.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Kings of Kobe - 30 Mall Dr W, Jersey City, NJ 07310

I Just Want To Eat! 11/7/22 I Just Want To Eat! 11/7/22

Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

It’s been a while since I wanted to try Dim Sum Sam in Times Square. We went a couple of times and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. From outside, you would think that it is a small place, but it has a large dining room in the back as well as upstairs. This is more a casual spot where you will order at the counter and they will assign a number. You then go to the dining room, passing the kitchen with peking ducks hanging, where a TV will display the orders being currently prepared, and, below, a sign will show which number has been called. When your order is ready, it will display and you will hear a loud beep followed by a robotic voice saying “Please take the meal”. It it is yours, you then go to the counter to retrieve it.

Peking ducks at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Dining room at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

TV system for orders at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

They do have dim sum, but it seems that they are known for their Hong Kong style BBQ that they offer with duck, pork or chicken, in many ways. I tried their Roast duck noodle soup (it is a pork bone soup that you can also get spicy) with egg noodles (you have a choice of Hong Kong egg noodles, Mei-Fun, Ho-Fun or Udon. The duck was very good, but I admit that the bones are a bit annoying to get around, especially when eating with chopsticks, and the broth was tasty, deliciously fatty. The egg noodles were good, but I prefer thicker noodles, so next time I might choose the Udon.

Peking duck soup at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

I wish they were serving Peking duck, because I got their Peking duck bao and it was superb! The bun was not as fluffy as what I had elsewhere, but the duck was amazing: when you bite, you get an explosion from the glaze it has been cooked with, that oozes from the crispy skin, mixed with the sweetness of the hoisin sauce. This is a must have.

Peking duck bao at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

For dim sum, they have the classic vegetable spring rolls (that are piping hot when they come) or the delightfully greasy and crispy scallion pancakes. The shrimp dumplings are my favorite, but their buddha delight that are made with mixed vegetables are quite good too.

Scallion pancakes at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Spring rolls at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Shrimp dumplings at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Buddha Delight dumplings at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

I also love the fact that they have desserts: their Portuguese egg tarts are succulent, flakey and sweet, while an absolute must have is their sweet egg yolk buns.

Portuguese egg tarts at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Sweet egg yolk buns at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Overall, Dim Sum Sam is a good surprise in an area that can be challenging in terms of quality of food, some restaurants looking more at foot traffic from the tourists visiting New York, rather than focusing on returning customers. But this place is different: the food there is delicious, for good prices. I will definitely go back.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Dim Sum Sam - 240 W 40th St New York, NY 10018