How to spend a long weekend eating in NYC
Part III: Koreatown! (and Fancy Dessert/Midtown Museum Day)
Hello and welcome back to Five Things I Ate! This week, we present part the third and final part of our travel guide to NYC, a multi-part series on where to eat if you’re visiting for a long weekend. This travel guide was made for a reader who asked for suggestions on where to eat and I thought I’d share it with you all. There’s way way too much to eat on here – so take it as a loose guideline. As always, read past posts here, and please follow my Instagram, @fivethingsiate.
Day 3: Koreatown! (and Fancy Dessert/Midtown Museum Day)
I love going to art museums when I travel and it’s one of my favorite ways to appreciate the city I live in like I’m on vacation. Here is an outline for a more chill day, based on my own biased opinion on how I might spend a day off.
First, start the day off with coffee at Cafe Grumpy in the Financial district. I could write a whole other guide dedicated to just coffee in New York which is actually surprisingly tricky, so instead I just listed some places I go to.* I like Cafe Grumpy a lot because of the grumpy mascot and decent beans.
For brunch, subway or run** to Yellow Rose in Union Square. I never understood the appeal of Tex Mex until I went to Yellow Rose. It’s got the best vibes and is so delicious. A fun party energy while being kind of cozy. They have sheet cakes and good cocktails, too.
If you want to pass some time and digest and enjoy bookstores, check out the flagship Strand Bookstore in Union Square. This was a staple in my college memories and I have long loved fiction and used books until I turned 30 and became one of those people who only read non-fiction on my Kindle. But I still think it’s a good vibe.
Once you’ve digested brunch, walk up to Lysée, the fancy Korean dessert place of my dreams. I had the pleasure of going there with a girl friend for my birthday and I wrote about it here. It’s just a delight, it’s very bougie, and everything looks like it could be in an art museum or a jewelry shop. You can go to the second floor to look at the literal gallery of cakes and pastries, but better yet, make a reservation in the cafe for their signature menu. You must try the corn cake!
For some early evening culture, enjoy the photography at the Fotografiska Museum. The Fotografiska is not a Top Five Museum in New York – of course, you have to visit the Met, the MOMA, and the Natural History Museum (although personally I’d skip it, but I’m not a huge taxidermy fan). But it is a sexy cool museum. It’s where I’d personally go on a night off or on a date and the photography is thought provoking and refreshing.
It’s near two high-end Korean places, Jua and COTE. If you made a reservation at either, you can enjoy a nice classy dinner. I reviewed Jua extensively here.
Otherwise, or after dinner, make your way up to Koreatown, which should be a short walk. Be prepared for crowds of drunk college students and a lot of vape smoke, but it’s worth it.
Where to eat and drink in Koreatown:
Note: Koreatown is mostly condensed onto 32nd street, where you will get the most authentic of vape smoke and ~ vibes ~ plus endless karaoke bars. But I’ve included some spots in the nearby area.
Atoboy – For if you can’t get a reservation to Atomix, although you still need a reservation here, it’s an “affordable” prix-fixe, but still high-end Korean dining.
Her Name is Han – Really solid homey Korean food, tasty drinks. When you want to sit down but not be too fancy. Be warned it’s very booked.
Hakata TonTon – Japanese food place that is just the best. You can get everything here, sushi, pig’s feet, noodles, hot pot, and also a great dessert menu. Where I’d go with friends from out of town.
Food Gallery 32 – iconic food court in the heart of Ktown. This is where I eat Korean fried chicken alone when I need to be alone, lol. It’s going to be crowded. I love Pelicana for fried chicken and Delimanjoo for the delicious custard-filled fish-shaped waffles.
Woorijip – where I stock up my fridge almost every week or as often as I can. Korean cafeteria.
Turntable Chicken Jazz – If 32nd street is wearing you down, may I suggest 33rd street? There’s way less crowds here, and more space. Turntable Chicken Jazz is a great place for two or a group dinner. Big restaurant with jazz records all over the walls, cocktails, and great Korean fried chicken. Again, a place I actually take my own friends to eat.
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao – If you are craving authentic soup dumplings and can’t make it to Flushing. Also nice and spacious with lots of tables because we’re on the less exclusive real estate of 33rd Street.
Patent Pending – if you want an ~authentic~ Koreatown experience you should probably end the night karaoke-ing in a small room or at Pocha 32 or Soju Haus. But if you want a classy, cool experience, stop by Patent Pending, a speakeasy cocktail bar. Really cool ambiance and innovative drinks, which will probably cost you more than your dinner.
*Sophie’s Go-to Coffee Places in Areas that Are Mostly Inconvenient to You, a Tourist
Solid State Coffee (UWS), my absolute favorite
Cafe Grumpy (several locations)
Seven Grams Caffe (two locations)
Qahwah house (see above)
Other food guides, if you want more for “dessert”:
A spontaneous day trip to Flushing 🥟
If you have a day to spare, and you want to eat some really good Chinese food while feeling like you’re actually in Asia except just a subway ride away, head to Flushing, Queens. Make sure to bring cash.
Not on the post above, but you could make a whole activity out of going to Flushing Xiang Hotpot & BBQ - 法拉盛香天下 火锅 烤肉
Have a good weekend,
Soph
P.S. I had a great deal of fun writing this food guide for a reader! If you’re also planning a visit to the New York area, including the Hudson Valley or New Jersey, or any other place I used to live (like Washington DC or Cambridge Massachusetts) and are interested in your own custom guide, I’m open to commissions :) Just shoot me an email by replying to this one. As always, please consider a paid subscription if you can afford it, and forward this guide to a friend :)