Author: Terry Chen

  • Caracas Arepa Bar: Reliably Delicious

    Caracas Arepa Bar: Reliably Delicious

    Many people often ask me, “what are my favorite restaurants?” and I readily list Caracas Arepa Bar as one of my top choices. This spot has been one of my favorites for years; not only is it a great value but it is consistently delicious. So, what is an arepa? Wikipedia defines it as “a flatbread made…

  • Wild Edibles: Fresh Seafood Heaven

    Wild Edibles: Fresh Seafood Heaven

    Wild Edibles is great choice for any diner looking for seafood. With a market location in Grand Central, the restaurant in Midtown East proves to be just as good. This one Sunday after a nice and long hike around Bear Mountain area, my friend and I headed to get a late lunch that would – at bare minimum – have…

  • SakaMai: Satisfies the Late Night Craving

    SakaMai: Satisfies the Late Night Craving

    In a city with a plethora of late night eat options, I would say it is not always that easy to find the greasy Japanese food that hits the spot. SakaMai in the LES has a few dishes that personally address my need after having a few drinks – hearty and saucy dishes – meant…

  • I Forgot It’s Wednesday: Gatherings Fit for Foodies

    I Forgot It’s Wednesday: Gatherings Fit for Foodies

    Albeit some time has passed since I went to an I Forgot It’s Wednesday dinner, but as a very different and memorable dining experience, it is worthwhile to blog about! So what exactly is a I Forgot It’s Wednesday dinner? These dinners gather 10-12 people together to enjoy a tasty meal, personally curated by the ones who’ve prepared your food – Jenny Wang…

  • North River: Belly Doughnuts and More

    North River: Belly Doughnuts and More

    After reading a Zagat snippet about weekend brunch at North River titled “If you’re looking to be bad”, I was enticed to go check out the “belly doughnut“. What exactly does this donut entail? Slow-cooked pork belly, miso, coconut flakes, and brown sugar. It was awfully delicious, and a perfect example of how sweet and…

  • Takashi: Late Night “Secret” Ramen Soothes the Soul

    Takashi: Late Night “Secret” Ramen Soothes the Soul

    As noted in NY Mag’s article on late night ramen joints, Yakiniku Takashi has joined the list of Japanese restaurants that provide a different menu into the wee hours of the night. The seating is only available on Fridays and Saturdays on a reservation basis only. You can email them (ramen@takashinyc.com) to ensure a spot…

  • Piora: A Restaurant of Unexpected Flavors

    Piora: A Restaurant of Unexpected Flavors

    Piora is truly representative of what New American cuisine is; with an Italian-American chef and a Korean-American owner, you see the influences of each in the food that is produced here. Their culinary backgrounds – chef from Tenpenny and owner from Jean-Georges – definitely put this place on the West Village map. Also reading article…

  • Sushi Nakazawa: Looking Beyond His Tutelage

    Sushi Nakazawa: Looking Beyond His Tutelage

    Chef Nakazawa, apprentice of the famous Jiro from “Jiro Dreams of Sushi“, has touched down to New York’s West Village and opened up a sushi restaurant. You have the freshest fish being served here alongside a fine sake selection. The decor inside is simple and elegant. In my opinion, the biggest differentiator within high-end sushi…

  • Yuji Ramen: Memorable Experimental Ramen

    Yuji Ramen: Memorable Experimental Ramen

    Over the past few months I’ve read a lot about Yuji ramen and its omakase offering with only 6 seats at the Whole Foods Bowery counter. I did my best to get tickets; I signed up for their friends and family listserve, clicked numerous times on Kitchin for tickets as servers were crashing and managed…

  • Fukurou: A Japanese Izakaya in the Village

    Fukurou: A Japanese Izakaya in the Village

    Newly opened in Greenwich Village / NoHo comes an izakaya from Japan – Fukurou. I was curious to try out this izakaya as a foodie craving for more of Japanese food in this area. Known for unique dishes like Avocado Tofu or Miso Marinated Cream Cheese, I managed to convince a friend to come with…