Bian Dang

I went back to the food court in NYC's Koreatown at 11 W. 32nd Street t Bian Dang for fried pork chops. For only $8 I received this very generous portion (3 chops) with rice, pork sauce and vegetables.

Food Gallery 32

Thanks "S" for treating me to lunch at the new NYC Koreatown food court called Food Court 32 at 11 West 32nd Street.

Our first stop was at Bia Diang for Taiwanese style fried chicken over rice with pork sauce ($7.95). It was a very generous serving - one large piece of chicken (very juicy) over a mound of rice covered in sauce with large chunks of ground pork. Neither of us finished the entire meal. We also went next door to the neighboring counter for Seafood Pajun ($6.95) which was small, but good.

Then off to Red Mango for frozen yogurt ($0.49/oz) - I had a mix of Original Vanilla, Dulce de Leche and Dark Chocolate with coconut, chocolate sprinkles and crushed oreos.

We want to return to this tri-level food court to try out the Korean food vendors.

Tong Sam Gyup Gui

...is a Korean Pork BBQ restaurant located at 162-34 Depot Road. in Queens. This small restaurant can easily be spotted by the cartoon pigs on the outside windows.

We were all given complimentary bean sprout broth soup.

"M", "R", "S" and I had the Samgyupsal ($19.99/pp) which is thin sliced pork belly barbequed along with bean sprouts, garlic and kimchi tableside on giant convex grills. This is served with lettuce (to act as wraps), onions, pickled jalepeno peppers, peppercorns and two types of sauces.

Each diner is given an apron to protect their clothing. Once you wrap all the ingredients in the still damp lettuce the water and sauces drip down your hands and usually onto your laps. Several napkins are also required.

And to soak up any leftover pork fat we had Bibimbap ($1.99/pp) - rice with vegetables in a spicy sauce. This was placed on the same grill along with seaweed. The bottom layer of rice becomes slightly crispy.

The menu is very focused and there is no dessert. But "M" and "R" had beers. The only other beverage offered was water.

Fatty Crab

"C" and I went to the original Fatty Crab in NYC's West Village located at 643 Hudson Street.

"C" had a Dark & Stormy ($13) and I had a Rum & Coconut ($14 - served in a fresh coconut shell).

We shared the Fatty Duck ($22), Shrimp Sambal ($17) and Rendang (short ribs $25).

Everything was delicious! The duck was served with rice and the meat was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. The shrimp had a little kick to it, it had lettuce for wrapping, peanuts, veggies and a dipping sauce. The short ribes were fantastic - very meaty and flavorful and serviced over rice.

We were given complimentary dessert - a mochi-like cake. It was a bit chewy and dense.

DOB 11.1

...is located at 115 St. Mark's Place in NYC's East Village.

"M" and I had a great dinner and saw the chef/owner overseeing the front of the house.

We shared the following dishes:

Seared Sea Scallops with warm cauliflower almond coulis, xo, chinese bacon, green curry ($11)

Duck fried rice side - duck confit, foie gras, duck bacon and egg ($11)

Curry Shrimp with ear mushrooms, chinese celery, spicy coconut sauce ($13)

Spicy Oxtail Stew with curry parsnip puree, lotus root vegetable, horseradish cream ($16)
Crispy Pork Belly, taro sausage mash, pickled vegetables, caramel sauce ($17)

The restaurant is BYOB and doesn't offer any other beverages (even non-alcholic) so unless you do take along something you have to settle for plain old tap water!

But the wonderful food more than makes up for their lack of beverage options. All of the dishes we tried were wonderful, flavorful and delicious.

We want to return to try other dishes on the menu, but are afraid we will end up ordering the same foods because everything was so good during this visit.