What’s the vibe?
Now he has restaurants all over the world and his own Netflix series, it’s good to remember that superstar chef David Chang started out with a straightforward noodle bar back in 2004 – and much like Chang, Momofuku Noodle Bar is still going strong, packed full of hungry diners slurping ramen from noon till night. It has a pretty classic no frills Japanese style to it, with chairs, tables and walls all being decked out in plain light wood. One of the few bits of decoration is a stunner, a huge sepia photograph of The Band taken by Elliott Landy. We actually have this same photo back in London, but a much much smaller version, and any place that has a photo of The Band on the wall is alright by us.
What to order?
Some of the dishes that made Chang famous are still here present and correct – every visit to Momofuku Noodle Bar should include a round of the insanely good pork buns, featuring a thick slab of juicy pork belly in a soft pillow-like bao. The pork ramen is as good as ever too: rich broth, springy noodles, more pork, and a soft boiled egg make for a winning combo. There’s plenty more to explore too, however, including fried chicken, smacked chilli cucumber, Chinese broccoli, and crispy fried shrimp buns.
Want more? Check out our Ultimate Guide to New York.