I pass by the Minneapolis (MSP) airport everyday on my way to work and watch planes fly in and out asking myself “what fun adventure did you just come from and what fun adventure are you flying to?” It was finally my turn to go on an adventure to New York to celebrate my birthday.
Upon arrival I could hear the loud traffic jams, the hustle and bustle of New Yorkers, the sound of traffic patrols from the NYPD, and smell the aromas of coffee and exotic food. New York is still as magical as I remembered. There wasn’t enough time to see, eat and do everything on my list. New York City is truly a city that never sleeps. Come along and enjoy the fun with “Birthday Bites with Hua.”
Xi’an Famous Foods is well-known for their hand-pulled spicy lamb cumin noodles. They have been featured in the Food Network and reviewed by Anthony Bourdain creating more buzz and frenzy for all the foodies. I went to their Midtown location which is quite small and narrow with very few seats available for dining. It’s more of a take-out than sit down eatery. It was packed with people waiting for their order and also waiting for an available seat which made it all the more exciting.
Instead of their famous spicy lamb noodles, I opted for their spicy and tingly beef hand-ripped noodles. The fresh pulled noodles were chewy and bouncy with a bit of a bite bathed in the spicy chili oil made of Szechuan peppers, cumin, and star anise with a hint of vinegar for acidity. The dish itself is not aesthetically beautiful but the spices is definitely a punch in your face because of the Szechuan pepper. It gradual heats up as you eat and gets spicier numbing your mouth. The beef was tender not requiring much chewing at all. I was eating a bottomless plate of noodles. The spicy beef noodle was pleasing to the palate but I was expecting more from all the hype and buzz. Since I didn’t get the chance to try their famous spicy lamb noodles, it’s not fair for me to give it a proper review which means I have to go back and give it another round.
If you’re a K-drama fanatic, you’ll recognize the famous BBQ Olive Chicken featured in Korean dramas. They recently opened in Korean Town in Manhattan, New York. Their fried chicken is deep fried in 100% extra olive oil. You can do take-out or dine-in. If you plan on take-out, expect to wait in line. They can’t fry enough chicken to keep it on the shelf. It’s definitely worth the wait.
We dined in and ordered their traditional deep fried chicken and chicken wings. Make sure to also order their cold draft Korean beer Hite and a bottle of their pineapple rice wine. It’s the perfect pairing for deep fried chicken. Wow, the hype is real! It’s super crispy, crunchy, moist and tender. It’s not greasy at all. I can see why people order bucket loads of deep fried chicken to go. It’s the best deep fried chicken I’ve ever eaten. If only they could FedEx to Minnesota!
I’ve seen the videos and reviews of people standing in line for hours to get a seat at IPPUDO NY. My plan of attack was to arrive before the restaurant opened and be one of the first patrons. Their Shiromaru Hakata Classic ramen is made with tonkotsu pork bone broth topped with pork loin chashu, sesame kikurage mushrooms, menma, red pickled ginger and scallions, and a poached egg. The noodles are made to perfection soaking up the lovely porky soup and all its deliciousness. The first bite to the last bite was glorious! The porky soup is rich in flavor and extremely creamy, the pork chashu was incredibly tender, and the poach egg was made to perfection which created an extra layer of creaminess and richness that it already had. It was piglicious! When the bowls of ramen arrived at our table, my friends and I all had the same reaction, “Ohhhh! Ahhhhhh!” Our waiter chuckled underneath his breath which brought us back to reality from wonderland. We also tried their famous Hirata buns filled with pork belly served with Ippudo’s original spicy sauce and mayo. The pork belly melted in your mouth like butter. My only regret was not ordering another plate. You must order their cold draft Asahi beer to accompany the luscious porklicious ramen soup. Stay tune for part two for more good eats and places I visited!
