Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
118 W. 57th St., btw. Sixth and Seventh aves.
212/245-5000.
www.parkermeridien.com/eat4.php
.
Sun-Thurs 11am-11:30pm; Fri-Sat
11am-midnight. Subway: N/Q/ R or F to 57th St.
Empanada Mama
LATINO
This Queens transplant is a patty pro, offering up over two dozen takes on this
humble Latin pocket. I prefer the tried and true to exotics like the Polish (kielbasa and sauerkraut) or the Elvis
(peanut butter and bananas). Wheat-wrapped rascals hover around $2.50, and triangular corn flour versions are
$2.40. Beef in the latter form is a “can't miss.” A pleasant, colorful shop rounds out the experience, available 24/
7.
763 Ninth Ave., btw. 51st and 52nd sts.
212/698-9008.
www.empmamanyc.com
.
Daily 24 hr. Subway: C/E to 50th St.
Food Gallery 32
ASIAN
Koreatown's main drag already feels like a place you'd need a passport to get to, but
this central food court takes the international effect up a notch. A clean, ultramodern interior welcomes you in
for an array of Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese delights.
Korea House
on the back left has generous bowls of
bibimbop
starting at $9.
Noodle 32
on the right serves up fresh pastas, starting with a $5.50 ramen. There's seating
on three floors, with pagers to let you know when your order is ready.
11 W. 32nd St., btw. Broadway and Fifth Ave.
212/967-1678.
Daily 11am-midnight. Subway: B/D/F/M/N/Q/R to 34th St./Herald Sq.
Go! Go! Curry!
JAPANESE
You won't find a rainbow selection of curries here: This Japanese staple is a single
brown gravy with a blend of sweet, spicy, and savory. Chicken or pork are optimal accompaniments, lightly
breaded and sided with rice and shredded cabbage. Good-size “walk” portions are $7, and if the date has a
5
in
it, you can add a topping like red pickle or egg for free.
273 W. 38th St., btw. Seventh and Eighth aves.
212/730-5555.
www.gogocurryusa-ny.com
. Daily 10:55am-9:55pm. Subway: A/C/E to 34th St./
Penn Station. Other location:
WestVillage,
231 Thompson St., btw. W. 3rd and Bleecker sts.
212/505-2555.
Subway: A/B/C/D/E/F/M to W. 4th
St./Washington Sq.
The Kati Roll Company
INDIAN
These aren't your bland Midtown deli wraps. Here, flaky, flavorful paratha
bread envelops grilled meat and veggies that pop with exotic spicing. On the downside, the rolls ($3.50-$6.75)
fall somewhere between snack and meal (but there's a discount when you buy two). Bollywood posters amplify
the authenticity of a small, well-used space.
49 W. 39th St., btw. Fifth and Sixth aves.
212/730-4280.
www.thekatirollcompany.com
. Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm; Fri 11am-5am; Sat noon-5am;
Sun noon-9pm. Subway: B/D/F/M to 42nd St.; 7 to Fifth Ave. Other locations:
WestVillage,
99 MacDougal St., btw. Bleecker and W. 3rd sts.
212/420-6517.
Subway: A/B/C/D/E/F/M to W. 4th St./Washington Sq.; 1 to Houston St.
MidtownEast,
229 E. 53rd St., btw. Second and Third aves.
212/888-1700.
Subway: 6 to 51st St.; E/M to 53rd St./Lexington Ave.
Margon
CUBAN
This diner's delicious Caribbean fare, low prices, and location keep it packed with Midtown
lunchers. Order a Cuban sandwich ($6.75), or choose from steam-table selections in the middle and to-go from
the line in back. Chicken entrees are top sellers, served with rice and beans and just $8.75 for a plate.
136 W. 46th St., btw. Sixth and Seventh aves.
212/354-5013.
https://margonrestaurant.rapidorders.com
. Mon-Fri 6am-4:45pm; Sat
7am-2:30pm. Subway: B/D/F/M to 47th-50th sts.-Rockefeller Center; N/Q/R to 49th St.
Pio Pio
PERUVIAN
The small corporate front desk here gives no indication of the cavernous bi-level dining
room in back, finished in rustic wood and an intricate thatch of branches. Pio Pio has come a long way from its
humble Queens storefront beginnings, but it still leans on its original specialty: golden rotisserie chicken marin-
ated in Peruvian beer and a secret blend of spices. A whole chicken is just $16, or add avocado, rice, beans, and
french fries with hot dogs (!) for a $36 Matador Combo feast, which is enough to put three people in a food coma.
This is a date-worthy spot for pretheater fuel-ups, although note that the rest of the menu is consider-
ably pricier than the chicken specials.
604 Tenth Ave., btw. 43rd and 44th sts.
212/459-2929.
www.piopionyc.com
. Sun-Thurs 11am-11pm; Fri-Sat 11am-midnight. Subway: A/C/
E/7 to Port Authority. Other locations:
UpperEastSide,
1746 First Ave., btw. 90th and 91st sts.
212/426-5800.
Subway: 4/5/6 to 86th St.
Upper
WestSide,
702 Amsterdam Ave., at 94th St.
212/665-3000.
Subway: 1/2/3 to 96th St.
MidtownEast,
210 E. 34th St., btw. Second and Third
aves.
212/481-0034.
Subway: 6 to 33rd St. Also 3 locations in Queens, and 1 in the Bronx.
