Boyd’s Thai

So Monday I get a follow from an @Urbanfoodjunky on twitter and I’m thinking ok, just another spamming blog. But long behold, its a trusted food guru who got me to try Halal from a cart on Hillside Ave in Queens one day.

So being that our circle of friends loop in here and there, it was no doubt we would follow his first suggestion on a Tuesday afternoon as we finished shopping.

Following his suggestion of Boyd Thai located in the Village in NYC, the fifteen minute walk from Union Square Park was quite pleasent seeing as it had amazing scenery and really got our appetite going.

Located right in the middle of bunch of many little cute and hippiesh shops on Thompson Street (near Bleecker) the glass windows and ultra modern restaurant definitely gives ambiance making it as perfect for a first date as it does for a night out with friends.

Offering lunch specials that start around $9.00 depending on choice of meat, Boyd’s also offers an early bird special from 4-7 that includes and entree, soup or salad and rolls all starting at about $12.

Here are three things off the menu that is a must try and one that I would definitely never be ordering again.

Crispy Calamari: $6.00

I love fried calamari and usually its always the Asian restaurants I visit that do it best, and this is no exception.

My reason for loving fried calamari is that it allows you to eat a type of seafood you probably would never eat because if its not fried, don’t bother on getting me to try squid. If you can fry squid and not get it to fall apart and take away most of the seafood taste then you’ve already done it for me.

Crispy is def what would this explain this appetizer and will def be something I look forward to ordering again.

Pineapple Fried Rice w Chicken: $9.00 w.o meat (add $1-3) depending on choice of meat.

This right here ladies and gentle man is what you may just call DELICIOUS. If there’s a dish at Boyd’s that will have me coming back its definitely this one.

The pineapple and chicken compliment each other so well that you’re almost left at a cross between a pina colada and a thanksgiving ham. The rice was also very delicious seeing as it wasn’t too oily or hard, cooked to perfection.

Also, if you’re a fan of nuts then you’ll get a crunchy sweet addition of cashew nuts which tastes almost like the roasted almonds sold throughout New York City nuts stands.

Grilled Beef Salad:

I actually didn’t get a chance to try this but according to my friend who did order it, it was really good. With that being said if I ever feel like grabbing a salad one day while I’m out shopping, Boyd’s will be one of the places I visit if I want a nice sit down & serve spot.

I can say though that it did look very good and seemed to have actual pieces of meat not little portions of meat and the rest just greens or noodles depending on what it comes with.

What looked like tomatoes, red onion, cucumber and greens dressed in a vinagertte, I would hope it was kind of sour. Giving it a Latin Carne Asada with pico de gallo taste.

Now the dish I would never ever order again, which quite ironically is the most ordered dish of the restaurant: The Pad Thai Noodles

I took a single noodle strand and almost felt like I was chewing slimy rubber. Since the proportioins are very large it made sense that I’d share this with someone else, and niether of us even so much took more than 3 bites.

I actually did try to take more but the taste and the feel of it just wasn’t working so we just ended up picking out the chicken chunks and munching on that.

Another note worth mentioning: If you arrive after 4pm Monday-Thursday you should try their unlimited Sangria special for $10. I guarantee you it puts in work and its really great tasting, good quality Sangria.

and I mean $10 for unlimited Sangria pitchers? How can you not?

Mumbo Sauce and Half & Half

“Catch me out the carry-out, mumbo sauce and half & half”

If you’re a fan of DC-Maryland rapper Wale, you may have heard the rapper say this in his collaboration song with Rick Ross and Meek Millz, Pandemonium.

If you’re a native Washington or ever visited the non-touristy areas of the city then you already know what I’m talking about.

Yep that good ol’ delicious one of a kind red sauce thats served over our fried chicken wings and rice or french fries.

Its sweet. Its bright red. Doesn’t taste like ketchup. And can be quite addicting.

To explain whats in mumbo sauce is like trying to figure out why a mouse named Mickey Mouse has a pet dog named Pluto.

In other words it just doesn’t make sense.

Mumbo sauce is a red sauce poured over fried chicken wings and fries ordered in Washington, DC chinese food spots, or “carry-outs” as we know it to be.

For about $4.50 I can get three big chicken wings and steamed rice with along with this tasty sauce. For $1.75 more you can get a liter of half lemonade, half iced-tea.

So whats in the sauce you ask?

Many people have tried to explain it as a mixture of ketchup, sweet and sour sauce and bar-be-que sauce. But honestly, I highly doubt its that simple.

Even though there are recipes online for this special sauce, imitatting is hard, I personally don’t want to try fail and be left with the desire for this tasty sauce.

In other words, darn those clever Chinese for not giving up the secret behind this amazing sauce. Which is both good and bad.

Good because its only native to Washingtonians (imagine the confusion I caused when I went to Florida arguing for mumbo sauce) and bad because those of us who decide to move away can’t order carry-out fried chicken and eat it with just ketchup.

So next time you visit DC you may just want to stop by a carry-out and order some. Even though many of us argue that the best sauce is in the “hood” or “ghetto,” tourists that are scared of the back streets in DC are safe.

My favorite carry-outs located in one of the fast changing neighborhoods of Northwest DC fulfills your stomach’s needs.

At Johnny’s located on 14th street and Newton St and Grand China on 11th street and Monroe St. you can get your mumbo need while enjoying the new sites of a new DC.

Know of any other delicious places? Drop a comment and I’ll be sure to check it out.

 

Phobang Restaurant

One of the hardest things about leaving home to discover a new city is leaving behind all your reliable food shops for your favorite foods. Or at least it is in my case.

Especially moving to New York, the melting pot of the world. A city so diverse and filled with culture, you think it would be easy to find your favorite dishes, at even a better taste than the little places from home.

Unfortunately, thats not always so.

It took me forever to finally locate a decent Pho Restaurant (Prounounced Ph-A). I say forever because there have been a few times I’ve stepped foot inside certain restaurants in St. Marks for example and the price of a bowl of soup there was the price of two bowls at home.

Finally, my Vietnamese friend helped ease my pain. Being far from home in Cali, she had the biggest desire for her national soup, Pho. Like always after turning to our trusty source, Yelp.

After reading the reviews, we set out along with my suitemate to finally get our soup! Located in Flushing, Queens, home of all things Asia, we found our hero, the owners of Phobang Restaurant.

After driving around for fifteen minutes we finally found parking (negative). Good thing it was worth the wait. For $4.75 I got my big ol’ bowl of hot steamy Pho Banh Khong Thit . Which is rice noodles in beef soup. I prefer mine without meat, but I have tried it with meat and it is pretty good.

My friend got the Pho Ga Nuong which the rice noodle soup with a grilled chicken breast for $6.50 My suitemate had the Tai, which is rice noodles in beef soup with fresh eye of round for $5.75.

Question: Did the low prices affect the taste of the soup. Answer: Nope!

It tasted exactly as I thought it should. So if you’re new to Pho here is the basics.

You’re served a bowl of rice noodles in a beef stew. On one plate you’re given bean sprouts, Asian basil, mint leaves, lime and jalapeño. These can be added at your descretion. Then the fun part. Spicy! Spicy!

When I drink my Pho I am literally sweating. But I like mine spicy. There are two bottles of sauce in front of you. A red one, chili sauce and a brown one, Hoisin sauce. The red one is spicy and the hoisin sauce is a bit sweeter.

Don’t worry it doesn’t have to feel like a volcano is eruptting in your mouth, thats just my preference.

You can mix the two sauces until you get a desired taste. Which once you do I promise you, you will be more than satisfied.

The mix of herbs and spices really compliments the noodle, a taste you would probably get when ordering greasy chow mein, lo mein, etc.

The people at the restaurant are also very nice and polite. They even serve you complimentary tea, which is also really good.

Not a fan of soup? You can always stop by and grab other asian familiar dishes such as Fried rice, lo mein, and chicken curry.

I’m pretty sure everything on the menu tastes delicious if you just give it a try!