Istanbul Fast Food - A gem in a big bag of rubbish

I never thought I can have really good Turkish food in Brooklyn, but I sure did. I also have another place similar to Istanbul near my house but that'll be for another post.

Istanbul is more of a cafeteria style kind of place. It's not exactly "fast" like it claims to be but it was pretty quick for what we ordered.

Ok, so the Hummus ($5) was a bit bland, could definitely use a bit of salt but it was overall pretty good. The consistency was smooth like baby's food and that bread it came with, was wowza!

J and I also got the Fried Liver Cubes ($8.50) which was pretty perfect. Adding the lemon juice made it that more amazing. It was a big portion and we ended up having to take that to go...
Liver is usually gamey but here, it actually just taste like chicken breast which means I can lie to anyone and have them eat liver while saying it chicken - I actually sorta of did that with the leftovers I brought to work and tricked my coworker.

The Mixed Grill ($19) over rice was a ginormous portion with a lot of meat. Some were mysterious to me but what I can recall, there were beef/steak, lamb, chicken, grounded meat kebabs and those spectacular bread! They gave us three, it was so warm and fluffy I can just use it as a pillow.

They also have the tzatziki sauce, which is the white yogurt sauce along with the hot spicy sauce. No idea if we're eating it wrong but I just dumped both sauces over the rice and meat, it tasted delicious. Really like the hot sauce, it brings out the flavor of the rice and flavors the grilled meats even more.

We left no room for dessert which was a bummer because they had so many on display. I know J wanted the rice pudding, I wanted the baklava...maybe next time, definitely next time.

Istanbul Fast Food
2202 86th St
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(718) 714-4300

XO Taste - Everything was good but with a little extra something

J and I like going to the old XO restaurant by Walker Street in Chinatown. But ever since they closed that one down and replaced it with a Popeyes, we haven't really wanted to try the new location. This location replaced a Malaysian restaurant which sucked also because that Malay restaurant was pretty good. Everything was good at their original spots, why must they move?!

So finally, we decided to test out this new location. Out of all days, we came on a day where it was raining/snowing. It was a difficult walk because the sleet keeps blowing in my face, even with my hood on!

I have to say that this new location is definitely bigger. Same layout as the Malay restaurant apparently. We ordered our usual and one thing extra, just because.

The Japanese Style Pan Fried Dumplings ($3.95) were pretty much the same but bigger. J and I actually had a hard time finishing it. Don't know why I always order this, maybe it's the sauce.

We thought to give the Baked Escargot French Style ($8.95) a go. It was a risk because we usually don't order escargots at a Chinese restaurant but it somehow appealed to J so I was like, ok let's do this! It wasn't bad, lacked a little salt but overall quite meaty.

The entree we both usually get at XO will probably never change, although it should. J's Baked Ham & Cheese over Spaghetti Casserole ($6.95) was salty! Even when I had it for takeout it was salty, this was a big no-no and the sauce was too watery. Guess we shall move on from the casserole and J will have to find something else on the menu that will replace this.

I always loved getting udon from XO just because I think it's so much more worth it than getting it at a Japanese restaurant, I mean I get more udon and even meat! Although here, the Udon with Grilled Chicken Cutlet ($6.95) wasn't too bad. At least it was better than the casserole. The broth had a bit too much seaweed taste to it and the more I eat from it, the saltier it gets. What's with the salt here?!

So, the chances of us coming back is 50/50 to like really slim because of the salt. But it does makes me curious to know how their other dishes taste, like the curry stew over rice and cow penis with noodles...

XO Taste
41 Elizabeth St
New York, NY 10013
(212) 343-8625

Cafe Orlin - Spontaneous decision that was made and done

It was definitely one of those nights where J and I didn't know where to dinner at. We just walked along East Village and was hoping a restaurant would intrigue us enough to go in.

The famous Cafe Orlin that is usually packed during brunch and lunch hours was patron-less for dinner. I called the shot and had us dinner here.

Dimly lighted and tons of open tables, we were told to choose wherever we like to sit. Our waitress was just too cute, she made the mistake of calling a bottle of red white Helen Keller instead of Keller Estate, we busted her chops for the rest of the night.

And yes, we did end up getting the Heller Estate ($32/bottle). A little lighter than a malbec but it still wasn't my favorite. It has that pungent spice to it which really gives you a kick when you eat anything acidic.

Appetizer was Mussels in Garlic and White Wine sauce ($11) in place of the calamari on the menu. We would definitely get that if it wasn't off the menu for the night. But the mussels were great, the broth was delicious. There was chopped tomatoes and onions, the cilantro really pulled it together and made me fall in love with the dish. The toasted bread drizzled with olive oil was amazing with the broth also.

Our entrees didn't take too long to come out. J had the Hanger Steak ($18) with frites and watercress. It was cooked to perfection with the right amount of red in the center, it got some interesting steak sauce over it which was so good. The waiter asked us if we wanted ketchup and hot sauce, J just said yes because he believe there was a reason why he suggested the hot sauce. Truthfully, I've never been to a restaurant that serves hot sauce with steak. Boy, ketchup and hot sauce with steak is the bomb! Quite genius!

I chose a dish from their Today's Special menu which was the Market Cod ($19) with mash potato, asparagus, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes. Very flavorful dish, the cod could've used a bit more seasoning but all the vegetables were nicely cooked. I wished I had more mushrooms...I'm a mushroom fiend!

Delighted evening. Started to get packed around 8-9pm but emptying out by 9:15...odd. I'd definitely come back for the steak with ketchup and hot sauce.

Cafe Orlin
41 St. Marks Pl
New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-1447

Cannibal - Please turn around if you don't want anything meat

Been wanting a good piece of steak for the past month or so and finally satisfied this craving!

And to satisfy such craving, what's better than going to a place named Cannibal. A bit odd and creepy but we're not eating humans here, just other animals...haha.

In total, we ordered 3 dishes and none of them have greens in them. Pure meat heaven.

Started off with Pig's Head Terrine ($11) as an appetizer. A nice cold rendition of headcheese that is quite gelatinous and porky. There were bread accompany this dish so don't feel too horrified of eating this fatty goodness. The gherkins were a nice touch, love me some pickled cucumbers.

Next was the Beef Heart Tartare ($16), I have to say this was my favorite. I love trying something new and I know that J couldn't agree more! I was afraid the heart would be too gamey and had too much of an iron taste to it since it is a muscle of blood, but to my surprise, the beef heart was covered in spices that really brought out the meaty-ness of the dish.

The beautiful fried shallots on top really gave it that extra oomph, if you know what I mean. I would come back to Cannibal, get a glass of wine and just enjoy this tartare because it's that amazing. If you can eat tuna tartare or beef tartare, then this is just a piece of cake.

For our main course, we had the Steak Du Jour for two. It was whatever they had that night and they had a ribeye and t-bone. We chose the former because the t-bone was quite on the pricey side plus, we weren't that crazy into the steak.

The Ribeye ($95) cooked to medium rare was perfect. Placed on a wooden cutting board and served to us just like that. We cut our own pieces, or we could've used our hands...no one cared since we're suppose to be cannibals! There was a lot of fat on the ribeye though, the non-fat parts were quite juicy and delicious. Was it worth the $95? Definitely not, but it was aged for about 4 weeks so that's where the price kicks in.
The waiter asked if we wanted any sides, I really didn't want any because I literally just want to be left alone with this ribeye. But, good thing we didn't because I was stuffed and J would have to finish everything and I don't think he'll be too happy with that.

Would I come back again? Sure, but I won't be getting the Steak Du Jour again though. Maybe try their bone marrow or cold cuts or even sausages.

Cannibal
113 E 29th St
New York, NY 10016
(212) 686-5480 

Terakawa Ramen - Something new something old but always something good

Having ramen is a hit or miss for J and I now. Revisiting is also quite risky because the last time we went back to a ramen shop we liked, it was a huge disappointment. But...thank god Terakawa was still great!

The Terakawa Pork Bun ($6.50) was a new item on the menu, along with half a dozen more that was posted against the wall. I wanted much more but I tried not to be too greedy since we'll be having a bowl of ramen to ourselves.
The bun was different and tasty. Tasted more like a hamburger because of the lettuce, tomato and dressing. I really like how it's not your average pork bun with the sweet sauce and cucumber.

I had the Tan Tan Ramen ($10), I was hoping it would be spicier than it was since the description said it was a spicy miso broth. Even though it wasn't spicy enough, the broth was delicious and the wavy noodles were pretty good also. There was a lot of bean sprouts though. How about a little less bean sprouts and some more meat eh?

J's Miso Ramen ($9) was rich in flavor. Definitely felt like they've been cooking the broth for a while.

Good to know Terakawa is still up to par these days, maybe even slightly better than before. Service is quick and the staff is so enthusiastic to serve, makes you want to come back whenever you're in the mood for ramen.

Terakawa Ramen
18 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 10010
(212) 777-2939

Ed's Lobster Bar

I finally have the time to catch up on my post now since work is slowing down. Tax season was a pain and definitely tough but it's finally over, for now.

J and I went to Ed's Lobster Bar Annex near the Lower East Side. We were hoping there wouldn't be as much people at this location since the other one was at Lafayette Street, a total tourist trap.

We sat in the back where we were able to sit oustide and get some fresh air. Mind you, this was still in March so as the night got darker it starting getting a bit chilly.

We started with a selection of oysters. I don't think I ever know what kind of oysters I eat, west or east coast, I just eat them. I like that briny and fishy-ness from the oysters, pity how fast they go though.

Crudo Selection - Tuna

I don't think I really had crudo before, J explained it to me and it's such a simple process. Crudo means olive oil and sea salt with the cut of fish or meat being sliced thinly. Can't get any simpler than that, plus it was actually good. Simplicity is the key.


Mussels in Lobster Broth and Fennel

I find that whenever we head to a restaurant, if there's mussel, we're getting it. I know J loves mussels and the fact that it was in lobster broth totally got me sold. I like how big the portion is for this and it was only $10. And you get bread that was soaked in butter to dip into the broth. That is just amazing and genius.


Seared Day Boat Scallop



Special of the Night - 3 sliders (lobster burger, skate, fried oyster)

I had the scallops while J had the special. For once, I think I got the better end of the bargain here. I love scallops and pairing it with sauteed spinach and mashed potato was perfect. The scallops were just slightly overcooked, just slighty. But the overall dish was definitely good.

J's sliders were a hit and miss. The best was the fried oyster, the other two lack susbtance and/or flavor. Oh, if you love fries then you're in for a treat here, they give a shit-load of fries with your order.

I like Ed's Lobster Bar, but I also know that it could've been better. I think there's 3 locations and each location has a different menu, I'm determined to head over to the Lafayette one and try it out. Their menu was actually more appealing to me but hey... no complaints since it was a nice meal either way.

Ed's Lobster Bar
25 Clinton St
Manhattan, NY 10002
(212) 777-7370


Bangane

I've seen this restaurant on Yelp for the longest time. J and I finally went there since we drove, taking the public transportation takes a lot of work unless you live around the area. Bangane is on a strip of sidewalk which no other restaurants are in sight. From the outside, it practically looks like a flower shop since it has plants lined up against the windows.

I read that the staffs at Bangane doesn't speak English too well, or even none at all. They either speak Korean or Mandarin, none of both which we speak. You have a choice of whether to eat at the traditional tables where you sit on the floor with cushions for your tush or sit at tables with chairs. We opted for the traditional seating for the full experience.

Bangane has a small menu and the sole purpose of us going there was to get their 3-course goat feast. The 3-course was only $29.99 per order and you have to at least order 2. With all the food that comes with it, it's totally worth it.

Right as we order, less than 5 minutes later the banchan starts rolling out. So many different kinds ranging from kimchi to julienne scallions to eggplant. The waitress also brought over the burner for our first course.

When you look at it, it does seem overwhelming but the process was just so fun to eat.

The mixture of different kinds of sauce. It was absolutely amazing-mazing, worked so well with the goat meat. They also use the same sauce for the 2nd course.

When the first course was served, I was so excited. We saw the waitress bring out a large goat shank and started peeling away the meat to place on our bamboo steamer.

It was insanely massive. She put every last piece of meat on the steamer, minus the fat and veins but yes... every last piece of meat.

I start to dig in right away. There's many way to eat this and it's totally up to you and what you're comfortable with. J and I took the lettuce that came with the banchan and started making wraps with it. I gave up when it comes to dipping my wrap in the sauce because I could barely pick any up, as a result I just start spreading it in the wrap itself. So delicious. The goat meat was so tender and doesn't taste or smell gamey at all.

When we were a bit more than halfway through with the goat meat, the waitress came out with another pot. A pot filled with water, chives, scallions, and that sauce I was talking about. She then dumped the rest of the goat meat into the small pot. We waited silently and slowly for our second course to cook.

While we were waiting, J started taking pieces of meat off the pot... -_-

After a few minutes (it cooked really fast!), the goat stew was ready to chow! Extremely aromatic and warms up the heart.

Finally, the third course was about to be made right in front of us. Using just a bit of the broth from the goat stew, the waitress mixed in rice, radishes, scallions, seaweed, and that sauce again! She cooked it in the same pot where the stew was cooking and combined everything together.

The last course was a light fried rice, but up to that point... we were getting so full. We really couldn't finish it but it was really good. I would love to come back with a group of friends because doing this again with J would be overkill, we need more people to divide and conquer it!

Bangane
16519 Northern Blvd
Flushing, NY 11358
(718) 762-2799

Soba Totto

J and I love soba, we like the process of eating soba. After finding out that Soba Totto has soba and yakitori, it was a definite place to visit.

We go to Soba Totto early, before they even open. But they do open on time, which is definitely a good thing. After we got seated, greediness started to take over because we almost wanted all the yakitori on the menu. I liked how they have the unique cuts of an animal, unlike some places that just does the generic chicken meats and vegetables.

Sake

Started off with sake and pretty much ended with sake also. They have a wide range of different kinds and I absolutely love the pretty karafe that it came in. So fun to pour also. Our waiter was very patient in explaining and describing the different sakes, he also recommended us some also. Now, that's good service.

Agedashi Tofu

I've never tried Agedashi Tofu before and I'm so glad that I chose Soba Totto to be my first place because it tasted so good. Very refreshing and silky. There were also 4 pieces of tofu, yay! I always thought it usually come in pairs...

(L-R) chicken oyster, fatty salmon, 2 cow tongue

Alright, so I hate it when my boyfriend is always right when it comes to food. Why does he always choose the best thing on the menu??? The Chicken Oysters were so amazing, the piece right near the thigh of the chicken. Lord, it was heaven... plus the skin that was still attach to the oyster, no words can explain the awesomeness. The Fatty Salmon wasn't so fatty but it was grilled to perfection. The Cow Tongue was great also. J and I love strange cuts on an animal and tongue is surely one of them.

chicken skin

Crunchy goodness. Loved the charred parts 'cause it gives it that slight flavor and crisp.

chicken gizzards

One of my personal favorite cuts on a chicken. Chicken gizzard is hard to cook, but if done correctly the initial bite would be crunchy and the interior starts to taste like chicken heart (if you ever taste that before), the texture is quite addicting.

pork horumon

Horumon considers to be the part of a pig that people would just throw away because most people wouldn't eat it - according to the Japanese. But they were the ones who thought to make horumon so delicious also. It has a bit of a chew to it but doesn't chewing gum have a chew also? No harm there.

fatty tuna

I don't know why but this fatty tuna is so off-putting. It looks kind of creepy, like it came out of the horror movie or something. The color and shape just looks uber scary. Good thing I didn't order this, for once J ordered something icky! Tasted like regular tuna but it just looks blegh!

quail egg with yakitori sauce

I was craving for eggs and what's better than mini eggs? I usually don't order quail eggs because I know I can get them in a dozen at an Asian supermarket for a lot less but I was feeling not me that night... haha

(Top-Bottom) chicken liver, 2 chicken hearts

Chicken Liver was decent, nothing special there. Although I do have to say that some people can't handle the liver because there's a texture issue there. Depending on how long its cooked, it can be soft and mushy or hard and grainy. Chicken Hearts are the bomb! Sad how they only give 3 on a skewer but they were just so juicy and tender.

Mori Soba

Kamo Shio Soba (duck dipping broth)

I had the simple Mori Soba. I like the soy sauce with scallions and wasabi dip. At the end of your meal you get an interesting rectangular teapot full of broth and pour it into your soy sauce and that's your soba-yu, a nice soup to end the meal.

I don't remember exactly what the name is for the dessert but it was just fried dough with ice cream and fruits. It was pretty good, but not the best and it would've been perfectly fine if we skipped dessert and just ordered another karafe of sake.

Soba Totto really scored high in my books. Love the different yakitoris and the soba was great also, oh and the service was A+!

Soba Totto
211 E 43rd St
New York, NY 10017
(212) 557-8200

Jin Ramen

Jin Ramen opened a couple of weeks before the actual day we went to eat, which means it's pretty spankin' new. Just two weeks in and the place was already packed. J and I arrived around 7pm-ish and there were lines out the door. Luckily, it was only a 5-10 minute wait and we were seated soon enough.

The menu was small which I appreciate. Small menu usually means (to me) that they either make those certain dishes really well or they like to focus on those dishes to perfect it. You don't need a big menu to lure in a big crowd.


Nankotsu Kara-Age

J and I knew what we wanted already, I mean it was a small menu afterall. First came the fried chicken with cartilage. I didn't taste any cartilage with my chicken but they are good pieces of fried chicken chunks.

Kani Salad

My favorite of the night. I always see Kani Salad as just shredded cucumbers and imitated crabmeat but Jin Ramen sure twisted it around. I love Seaweed Salad and I was so thrilled when I knew they incorporated into the Kani Salad. The mix of textures and flavor just explodes in your mouth. Crunchy, sweet, tangy, salty, slimy, zesty... it was all there.


Shoyu Ramen

Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen

I had the Shoyu while J had the Spicy Tonkatsu. The broth was really good and I loved their char siu. Two things that didn't impress me was the bamboo shoots and the noodles itself. There wasn't much flavor in the bamboo shoots and I love bamboo shoots that comes in the ramen bowl. The noodles were a bit overcooked, like literally just 30 seconds overcooked - makes a big difference. I like ramen noodles to have that slight bite to it.

It wasn't a bad meal but if they tweaked those two things then this would be a bowl of heaven because I always thought that broth and char siu are the difficult items in the bowl. But really, their char siu is soooo good.

Jin Ramen
3183 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
(646) 559-2862

Yummy Noodles

After seeing Big Apple Nosh go to Yummy Noodles, I knew I had to visit it again. J and I ate at this place a couple of years ago and it wasn't really anything memorable. The restaurant looked shabby and was quite broken down. Located at the far end of an alley-way, it can be quite deceiving.

I was glad that we decided to come back because the experience the second time around truly changed. Seated promptly and right by the window of where the clay pot rice was made, was pretty neat. J and I ordered three items off the menu, the first two were a must because that was the reason why we came and the third was just a why-not-let's-just-get-it-anyway type of dish.


Dan Dan Noodles

First time trying Dan Dan Noodles and I love it. The noodles were springy with a bite to it which is so fun to eat. The minced meat sauce flavored the broth nicely. It was a simple bowl of noodles but the idea of perfecting the noodles and the taste of the broth is so not simple.


House Special Chinese Sausage and Minced Pork Rice Casserole

It's been so long since I've had clay pot rice, my mom attempt to make it at home and it just wasn't the same. I wanted that crust when we reach the bottom of the pot, and I wanted the pot! I was happy that this choice of clay pot consist of chinese sausage, preserved duck, minced meat and a fried egg. Boy, was I in happyland. I also love pouring soy sauce over this, J tried to stop me from saltness overload... oops?


Silver Fish with salt and pepper

I never thought of ordering silver fish or tiny white fish (as some may call it). This dish is usually ordered when I"m eating out with my family which consist of 8+ people. But for some reason, I wanted it. Freshly fried and they were so plumped!

When we near the end of our meal we realized that we should've ordered a vegetable dish. Something that would help us in clearing our palate of fried and salty goodness. Definitely keeping that in mind for next time since we will most likely return.

Yummy Noodles reminds me of something that came out from a Hong Kong drama. The feeling and vibe is purely Cantonese and I really like that.

Yummy Noodles
48 Bowery
New York, NY 10013
(212) 374-1327

Drink Up: Teado

I've seen this place all over the Chinese magazines and when I actually looked it up on Yelp, it looked really adorable. I also looked at the menu to see if anything caught my eyes and it sure did.

It was a late night, I decided to pay Teado a visit after my doctor's appointment. Seems about right to treat myself to something sweet since I just got a shot.

The interior was small. One small table that seated 2 people and 3 chairs by the window out-looking the streets. I ordered a Rose Green Milk Tea with Bubbles.

Rose Green Milk Tea w/ Bubbles

The truth is, I ordered it because it was pink. I'm such a sucker for cute pink things... even drinks! It was a mistake since the drink came out not so great. It was a cross between a really bad yakult and honey and lemon. It was quite hard to finish, which I ended up not finishing. I would love to come back to try their regular Bubble Milk Tea. I mean, the decor of the shop is really adorable. Little Mario and Yoshi dolls, it's just pretty. I'm going to cross my fingers for a better experience next time.

Teado
145 Hester St
Store D
New York, NY 10002
(212) 226-7687

Ippudo NY

J and I have been to Ippudo before it got all the hype it does now. I remember back then when we ate, we didn't have to wait over an hour for seats. Because we want that satisfying taste again, we waited. Would we do it again? I don't know, maybe when we're either desperate enough or drunk.

The waiting area is crowded and the later you go, the longer you would have to wait. We arrived around 6 and still have to wait for an hour, imagine those that came at 7... they would have to wait 2 hours.

When we finally got seated, we were starving and didn't really care about my wallets... as long as our stomachs were satisfy. The waiter was quite fun to chat with despite the little grumpiness in our voice. We placed our order and waited (yet again) patiently for our food.

Hamachi Carpaccio

I find that I dislike sashimi but I love carpaccio. The only difference is that there's a light citrus-y in carpaccio which I absolutely love versus just raw slices of fish. I mean, I eat sushi but not sashimi. Anyways, the Hamachi Carpaccio was very refreshing. The light yuzu citrus dressing that covered the hamachi brings out the taste of the fish, which isn't pungent at all. I also like how they pickled the jalapeno, not spicy/hot at all.

Kurobuta Steak Ginger Sauce

I think the reason why we ordered this was because of the fried egg, and I definitely misinterpreted kurobuta steak for a real steak... fail. But, nonetheless it was a nice dish. The slices of pork could use a bit more flavor and it was a tad bit dry. Good thing there was the fried egg because the runny yolk totally saved the day.

Umakara Tori Tatsuta Age

Fried chicken wings without the bones? Yes please! Not only that, but it was stuffed with minced meat and that spicy tangy sauce was so addicting. Sad that there was only 2 pieces of wing... wish they would just have more in an order.

So, time for the ramen. Ippudo is known for their spectacular ramen, that's what everyone said I'm just reiterating the truth. I've had ramen at other shops and after having that first spoon of soup I understand and remember why J and I like Ippudo so much.

Akamaru Modern

J's bowl of ramen goodness. There's an extra garlic oil and miso paste which makes the bowl so awesomely good.

Shiromaru Hakata Classic

I had the classic bowl. Yea I know, how boring can I be... but hey, I like to savor the simple things in life. The broth was so rich and flavorful. The noodles were cooked just al dente and I love how they make the egg. J and I need to write down places that makes their egg runny just like in the photo. Though, Ippudo does give you 2 options for eggs... either poached (which J had) or seasoned salt boiled egg (which I had).

To end the meal, we ordered a dessert that left us remembering it the last time we were here.

Matcha Brulee

Matcha Green Tea Creme Brulee. I don't remember it being this small back then but it was enough to satisfy us since we were stuffed by the end of the meal. The crust was a tad bit burnt and I do think the dish should've been deeper.

So yes, I do like Ippudo. The place is actually really good, it's no joke and it "might" be overrated but the food justifies everything. It lives up to its expectations.

Ippudo NY
65 4th Ave
New York, NY 10003
(212) 388-0088