MOMOFUKU SSAM BAR

He says:
After reading the approbation heaped upon chef David Chang in the food pages of the New York Times and Esquire over the past year, Uptown Girl and I felt we had to see what all the fuss was about. In a few short years, Chang has opened three Momofuku restaurants in Manhattan, with each one serving modern twists on everyday Asian classics. Momofuku Ssam tackles primarily street food and is famous for its banh mi, a sandwich that can be found in food stalls all across Vietnam.

My take on it? Delicious. I’ve never had banh mi before, but Ssam’s version is terrific any way you look at it. Situated between the firm halves of a Vietnamese baguette, a thin slice of ham, chicken terrine, cucumber, pickled carrots, and minced jalepeno peppers come together for a simple, yet satisfying meal. Slightly creamy, spicy, and salty, it packs a punch without weighing you down. And the price is right too.

She says:
I had a really hard time finding something non-mammalian on the menu to eat. I eventually settled on the Korean staple bibimbop, a huge bowl of rice topped with heaps of pickled mushrooms and cucumber, tofu, edamame, and a lightly fried (aka nearly raw) egg. It was incredibly filling, but nothing special aside from the vegetables. They weren’t overly pickled, just enough to tantalize the tongue with a slight sourness. The side of brussel sprouts that came with Downtown Boy’s dish, mixed with mint and scallions in a fish sauce vinagrette, was surprisingly delicious.

He says:
Anytime you find something new and cheap in NYC, it’s a cause for celebration.



She says:
Although Momofuku has a way with veggies, this is still not a friendly place for vegetarians.



Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003
www.momofuku.com