MEIJIN RAMEN and DESSERT BAR | 1574 2nd Ave. (bet. 81st & 82nd Sts.) | 212.327.2800

NARUTO RAMEN | 1596 3rd Ave. (bet. 89th & 90th Sts.) | 212.289.7803

VANESSA'S DUMPLINGS | 118A Eldridge St. | 212.625.8008 | vanessasdumplinghouse.com

XI'AN FAMOUS FOODS | 2675 Broadway (bet. 101st & 102nd Sts.) | [no phone yet] | xianfoods.com

SPICY SURF 'N' TURF STIR-FRY | Shrimp, Steak, Straw Mushrooms, Hot Chilies with Soybeans, Bok Choy

...The strips of marinated, spiced prime cuts of very tender and juice beef exploded with hot and cool flavors in my mouth, supported dutifully by toothsome sticky rice, an I immediately became a fan.... [Full Post]

...This dish was triumph of surprises. The fish remained flaky throughout eating, countered nicely by the slightly bitter yet "verdant" bok choy bulbs and leaves, and accentuated by the properly understated amount of mango purée... [Full Post]

...The hot dogs were excellent, with casings that snapped loudly through the top of my head with each bite and clear juices full of the layers of its seasonings as spices. The eggplant relish was bright and earthy and a good compliment to the plain hot dog, while a drizzle of sriracha sauce added extra zing on top of the jalapeños that flicker the front and back of my tongue.... [Full post]

...The portion was more dinner sized, and, again, my skepticism was foiled by an ample amount of chicken meat, and scant traces of MSG or cornstarch. The dish, while delivering on its promise of spice, was refreshingly light, with the impressive rice noodles, rightfully gummier and spongier than regular noodles, making any residual cooking juices get absorbed into them while the flavored oils clung to them. Even being supportively optimistic, this lunch me surpassed my expectations at every turn.... [Full post]

...Amazingly, after forkfuls and handfuls of these bold flavors, the mackerel dish succeeded in showcasing the inherently more nuanced properties of the warm and light, flaky fish and its crisp, slightly seasoned skin, topping a melange of a colder salad that stood well on their firm textures and naturally clean and earthy aromatics.... [Full post]

...This sandwich was, to use a New York-ism, off the hook! Flaky, firm fish, marinated in a slightly salty, rich, sweet sauce, complimented by bright, earthy cilantro, fragrant dill, punchy onion jam, and kicky sriracha. Everything a love about tastes, temperatures and textures was outstandingly present in each bite.... [Full post]

... With the unfortunate exception of the shrimp paste (better in idea than in execution), this dish was quite a winner. The pork and beef were nicely seasoned and tender, and were enjoyed more with wrapped in the lettuce with a leaf each of basil and mint, some rice noodles, and a drizzle of house-made vinegar dipping sauce. The springs deftly crispy and not greasy on the outside and chock full minced veggies and meat on the inside.... [Full post]

...They were ready in minutes and excellent, as was expected, showcasing much of its duck flavor and rewarding it's inherent gaminess with a sweet and lightly spicy hoisin-based dipping sauce. And they were successful at differentiating themselves from the other likewise excellent varieties.... [Full post]

...Your first question, probably: What did the rabbit taste like? I could usually tell you. I've had it once before, in a stew, and in that particular application, it was only subtly gamey, and it absorbed the flavors of the broth and vegetables that surrounded it.... [Full post...]