Food Truck Review: Metro Arepas

Details: I found the truck on 6th Avenue, between 50th Street and 51st Street, Manhattan, New York City. The official site is http://www.metroarepas-nyc.com/

I came here interested in some arepas, but I found the arepas were small, like a child’s fist. Additionally, this place specializes in arepas with other fillings, like meats and stuff. An arepa that has more than just bread costs around eight dollars, which I thought was idiotic for the cost of an arepa, so I got a Venezuelan hot dog instead for four dollars. To my disappointment, their Venezuelan hot dog was just a hot dog filled with ketchup, mustard, mayo, a few potato chips and a little cheese.

Overall, this place sucked shit.

Score: 4/10

Food Truck Review: Big D’s Grub Truck

Details: Found it on 6th Avenue, between 50th Street and 51st Street, in Manhattan, New York City. The official site is http://bigdsgrub.com/

Big D’s Grub Truck is a Asian fusion food truck that serves tacos, burrito bowls and sandwiches, but with Asian marinated meats. In other words, this is just another Asian style taco truck in a sea of Asian style taco truck.

I got the bulgogi “Grinder,” which is just a sandwich. It had the bulgogi/beef with pickled vegetables in it. It was okay. It cost around ten dollars. It kind of reminded of a bahn mi with bulgogi in it.

Overall, it was okay. It’s unlikely I’ll ever go back if I see the truck again.

Score: 5/10

Food Truck Review: Souvlaki GR

Details: I most recently found the truck near 50th Street and Sixth Avenue, New York City. It shows up at various places around the city. The official site is https://www.souvlakigr.com/

I’ve been here a number of times, but generally only because I lacked any real urge to eat anything else.

Restaurant Review: China Gourmet

Details: Located at  877 8th Ave, New York, NY 10019. The official site is http://www.chinagourmetnyc.com/

As far as I know, China Gourmet has the distinction of being the cheapest Chinese takeout place in Midtown Manhattan… at least between eighth and fifth avenues.

Grocery Store Review: Dainobu

Details: Located at 36 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019, among other locations. The official site is http://www.dainobu.us/

Dainobu is a small, grocery store that primarily focuses on Japanese products. They have a variety of pre-packaged Japanese products from Japan as well as fresher products that they’ve made themselves.

Restaurant Review: SpoonFed New York Country

Details: Located at 331 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019. The official site is http://www.spoonfednyc.com/

I have a weakness for southern food. I love it despite how unhealthy and heavy it is. But what I love about SpoonFed NYC is that they take southern comfort food and they put just a little twist on it, not enough to change the core of the food but enough so you feel like your eating something a little new and different.

Restaurant Review: Sushiya

Details: Located at 28 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019. The official site is http://www.sushiya56.com/

Sushiya is a Japanese restaurant in midtown Manhattan. I came here for lunch and ordered the Ten Don (rice bowl with tempura fried vegetables and shrimp on top) for around thirteen dollars. It was okay.

If you’re in the area and in the mood for Japanese food, I’d probably recommend Ise Menkui-Tei instead since it’s on the same block, but priced slightly cheaper for similar items.

Score: 6/10

Fast Food Review: McDonald’s Signature Crafted Recipe, Sweet BBQ Bacon with Buttermilk Crispy Chicken and the New Sriracha Mac Sauce

Details: Located at 946 8th Ave, New York, NY 10019, among too many other locations. Official site is www.mcdonalds.com

This passing summer, McDonald’s has started a new promotion that seemingly targets lovers of fast casual burgers and chicken sandwiches and specialty hot sauce. In other words, McDonald’s is making an attempt at millennials and yuppies. Two of these attempts that I’ve tasted are the Sweet BBQ Bacon with Buttermilk Crispy Chicken and the Sriracha Mac Sauce.

Restaurant Review: Topaz Thai Authentic

Details: Located at 127 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019. I couldn’t find the official site so here’s the Yelp page: https://www.yelp.com/biz/topaz-thai-authentic-new-york

Came here for their lunch special. Had the pad thai for about twelve dollars. The portion is one of the smallest portions of pad thai I’ve ever been served. I generally don’t recommend this place for lunch, except that there aren’t that many other Thai places in the immediate area. So if you work a block or two away and don’t want to walk any further than a block or two for lunch, this is the only Thai option you have.

Score: 5.5/10

Restaurant Review: Fuku+

Details: Located at 15 W. 56th Street, First Floor, New York, NY 10019. Official site is https://fukuplus.momofuku.com/

Fuku+ is a small bar under the Momofuku brand name. There’s some seating, but not a lot.

I came here to try their spicy fried chicken sandwich and fries. The spicy fried chicken sandwich costs eight dollars and consists of a friend chicken patty (tasted like dark meat) with pickles on a potato bun. It came with their Ssam sauce on the side, which mostly tasted like Korean gochujang sauce. I kind of wish they had some mayo or aioli type sauce on the sandwich, but it was fine even though the sandwich itself had no sauce on it. Fries were three dollars and average.

Overall, this is just your standard bar food. Nothing extraordinary, nor do I think it was intended as such. Just your average small bar inside a hotel. Additionally, there’s a Momofuku Milk Bar in front of the place, but bring credit card if you want some dessert because that’s all they take.

Score: 5.2/10