Momosan Ramen

Iron chef and all around badass Masaharu Morimoto recently opened Momosan Ramen in Midtown East. The long narrow restaurant has minimalistic design and a long bar in the front decorated with illuminated sake bottles (of which they offer 13 types). Inside the restaurant you will find communal tables and booths of large groups. The menu is small with dishes that are great for sharing. Their zondon bowl with soy marinated tuna has the most expertly cut, perfectly dressed fish that you come to expect from Chef Morimoto. The remainder of the menu focuses on tonkotsu and chicken ramens, with traditional toppings like garlic oil, scallion, and toasted nori. The most flavorful and unique bowl is their tantan ramin in a spicy coconut curry with pork chashu, red miso ground pork, aji-tama, and cilantro. It’s a nice casual spot to go on a date or with a group. Here’s what we had:

edamame - sea salt

tetsunabe pork gyoza- pork & chive gyoza, ginger scallion sauce, served on an iron skillet

zuke don- soy marinated tuna, nori, scallion

tantan - spicy coconut curry, pork chashu, red miso ground pork, aji-tama, cilantro

tonkotsu - pork chashu, aji-tama, takana, kikurage, scallion, toasted nori, garlic oil, soy tare tokyo

Address: 342 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016

Phone: (646) 201-5529

momosanramen.com/

Mokbar

Mokbar, how I love thee, let me count the ways. First, I get to delight in a stroll through Chelsea Market en route to my dinner. Buy some new jewelry at Artists & Fleas, meander into cheese & seafood shops, dodge a few tourists, and then I am in the alcove of the market where Mokbar resides. Oh, the Korean delicacies that await my mouth. There is a bustling counter space where patrons can sit and watch the team cook up all their meal, which I adore. The owner of the restaurant, Esther Choi, can always be found there. She is small in stature, but a powerhouse in the kitchen. Zagat named her a “Zagat 30 under 30” NYC Culinary Rockstar and she more than lives up to the name.

They specialize in traditional Korean soups with fresh Japanese ramen noodles.  You can choose from brothy or saucy noodles, but obviously I choose both #fatkidproblems. Most of the dishes contain gochujang. Never had it before? It’s a traditional Korean red chili paste made with dried chili peppers, fermented soybeans, & glutinous rice. I highly recommend you go pick some up if you’ve never tried cooking with this wonderfully complex ingredient. It’s definitely available at the market.

Everything that pours out of the tiny kitchen is complex & exciting. I’d like to say that it transports me back to Seoul but this is better than anything I ever ate there (sorry Seoul). Their ho’ cakes might be the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth (I’m talking to you too, ex boyfriends). They are crispy fried buns with heavenly pork belly filling, served with kimchi pear puree. The bulgogi sliders are crazy flavorful, the wings are meaty and sticky, and everywhere you look…more kimchi! I’ve been here 10 times and I’d go 10 more. Here’s what we had: 

RAMEN Mokbar Classic- pork broth. braised pork. triple seasonal vegetable   Kimchi - kimchi bacon broth. braised pork. stewed kimchi. scallion.   Vegan Miso -kombu shiitake doenjang broth. tofu. triple seasonal vegetable. crispy potato.  Marinated ribeye- Triple seasonal kimchi. Poached egg. Scallion. Spicy Tofu- pork and tofu sauce. spicy garlic paste. minced pork. poached egg. scallion

Halmoni Dumplings- ground pork, zucchini, cabbage, tofu, kimchi, garlic chive relish

Kochi Sticks- Crispy rice cakes. Scallion. Sesame. Mokbar spicy sauce.

Mok Wings - Crispy cornflake fried wings w/ choice of spicy housemade gochujang sauce or mild bulgogi sauce

Bulgogi Sliders- Mini marinated ribeye, mozzarella cheese, ssamjang mayo, cucumber kimchi, brioche bun

 

Address: 75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Phone:(646) 964-5963

mokbar.com