Lunch Break: Ramen, Tacos & Paella...Oh My!
Ramen in Midtown, tacos in Murray Hill, or paella and a mean sangria in East Village - it's all in today's New York Lunch Break. By Yvo Sin.
Menkui Tei
60 W 56th St
New York, NY 10019
(212) 757-1642
63 Cooper Sq
New York, NY 10003
(212) 228-4152
Reasonably priced ramen can be easily found at Menkui Tei, where the most expensive ramen dish is $10 (varying slightly by location). Pliant noodles coupled with savory broth make for a very satisfying, comforting meal; try the tonkotsu ramen (pictured), which offers a deeply flavored broth made with pork bone, topped with roast pork, scallions and pickled ginger. You'd do well to add gyoza to split with your dining companion, or a small curry rice if you're a big eater - fluffy, plain white rice topped with a rich curry sauce will round out the meal and fill you up.
Teqa
443 Third Ave
Manhattan, NY 10016
(212) 213-3223
teqanyc.com
See Also: NYC's Best Tacos | The City's 7 Best Spots For Guacamole
This Murray Hill taqueria recently opened up an outdoor seating area - so you can people watch while you indulge in tacos. Delicious tacos, that is - choose from mahi mahi with jicama-mint slaw & avocado crema, braised short rib with grilled corn, queso fresco & Teqa sauce, shrimp with grilled corn, black bean salsa & avocado crema, or surf & turf of Teqa marinated skirt steak, shrimp-mango salsa & Teqa sauce. Hard to choose, definitely, when they all sound so delicious! Bonus: Teqa is currently running a lunch special where, for $14, you get your choice of a smokey Caesar or all green salad, and any three tacos. What a deal!
La Paella
214 E 9th St
New York, NY 10003
(212) 598-4321
lapaellanyc.com
La Paella sits on East 9th Street, sandwiched between many Japanese restaurants. It sets itself apart with its lunch set menu: three courses for $12.99; start with a soup or salad, then move on to paella, pork chops, fish, or chicken, and finish with ice cream. Not enough for you? The sangria here packs a punch while you sip innocently, not knowing just how potent it is... and until August 31, if you tell your waiter "VIVA LA PAELLA" they will knock 20 percent off your bill (before tax). Really, the question is: what are you waiting for?
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Yvo Sin is the founder and head writer of The Feisty Foodie.
