NYC Eats: February 2025
Ranking (almost) everything I ate in NYC this month!!
Hi friends :)
To wrap up the month of February I thought it a fun idea to rank all the spots I have eaten this month while giving a brief description of each spot.
Unfortunately by “this month” I mean the last two weeks because I got back from Asia on February 13th. Regardless, I ate lots of yummy things in the last 2 weeks so let’s get into it!!
Restaurants
Hungry Thirsty, Carol Gardens [8/10]
This spot was opened by former Ugly Baby employees, which was a beloved Thai restaurant in Carol Gardens. Hungry Thirsty commemorates many of the flavors and dishes Ugly Baby offered while incorporating their new twist. Something Ugly Baby and now Hungry Thirsty are known for is the authentic Thai spice (ranging from no spice — 🔥🔥🔥). I guarantee you will find a Thai dish here that you have never seen at other Thai restaurants.
Maxi Noodles, Chinatown (and Flushing) [8/10]
The NY Post named Maxi Noodles the #1 Chinese restaurant in the country in 2024 based off of yelp reviews. Such high praise comes with high expectations and some people have expressed that it does not meet theirs. However, in my opinion Maxi Noodles is great! It is simple, comforting, and delicious. I will say their wontons are massive which is not really authentic Cantonese style wontons but I am not complaining about the extra filling.
Shuya, Murray Hill [9/10]
This place was such a pleasant surprise. I walk by it all the time and never walked in until recently. Their restaurant began in Astoria and they moved into Manhattan last year and did a full renovation on their new location in Murray Hill. The ramen is fantastic. The broth is on the lighter side which I prefer, but if you like thicker and richer broths you may not enjoy this spot as much.
Breakfast by Salt’s Cure, West Village [6.2/10]
Been here before but the pancakes just did not hit the same and felt slightly cold when they came out. Decent price for NYC but I just felt a little underwhelmed.
Quick Pho Vietnamese Cuisine, Midtown [4/10]
I was not expecting much given the name, but I was intrigued by the prices. They have $11 bowls of pho. It really tastes like nothing special and they call it quick for a reason. However, I think if you work in midtown this is a good option for lunch when you are craving pho and do not want to break the bank.
Chef Huang, Murray Hill [9.2/10]
Part of me wants to gate keep this spot just because I go often and love it so much. There aren’t a lot of Chinese restaurants in the city that reminds me of home because the new spots that open are all trying to be the next trendy thing; however, Chef Huang is an unassuming gem in midtown east.
John’s Coffee Shop, Murray Hill [7/10]
A good old classic diner and it has been around for over 50 years. Great spot for breakfast on the weekends. I love the huevos rancheros and pancakes here.
Raku, Hudson Yards (and SoHo + East Village) [8.9/10]
One of my most frequently visited restaurants in NYC. I came to check out the Hudson Yards location this time and it was very nice, there is also a bakery in the front which is a nice touch. This time I tried their cold udon which I had never had before and enjoyed it, but I still prefer their hot udon in the broth.
Kin Ramen, Midtown [6.5/20]
This spot was good but not the best I’ve had. The interior was very nice though and reminded me of Japan. I chose to order their kaisen ramen which is seafood ramen with shrimp, scallop, mussel, squid, etc. Has good options for vegans and vegetarians though!
Mariscos El Submarino, Greenpoint (and Queens) [8.2/10]
Great spot for fresh Mexican seafood. I love aguachiles and was excited to order theirs. Still cannot compare to the one I had in Mexico City but was yummy and refreshing. I loved the octopus taco and the tuna tostado. Overall great vibes inside.
G’s Coffee Shop, Inwood [9.5/10]
Genuinely one of the best breakfast burritos I’ve ever had and only $9.50. The most reasonably priced breakfast burrito that actually tastes good that I have found in the city. It is worth the trip if you have not been before. Steven who runs the shop has been working there since 13 years old when his dad used to run the restaurant.
Gem Home, SoHo [5/10]
Really nothing special and super overpriced. I love Copenhagen breakfast but cannot believe this plate was $25 after tax and tip.
Casathirteen, LES [8/10]
New spot that just opened up in the LES. They describe themselves as Spanish tapas with French flavors, but as some of you noted the dishes here do not resemble authentic tapas. It is more formal and suitable for date night. Regardless the food is yummy and the plates are great to share.
Honorable Mentions
Mary O’s Irish Bread Soda Shop, East Village (worth the hype if the wait isn’t over 20 mins)
Amazing month Chrstina! I am curious and in search of a Thai breakfast spot. Are you aware of any in the city? As you know, breakfast in Asia is very similar to lunch and dinner but there are some dishes that associated with morning, some even for when you have imbibed too much the previous evening.
As always, I really appreciate your honest spot on reviews and the diversity of the variant of foods. I would also have to agree with the Maxi review. I feel it is very social media hyped right now and is what’s trending, drawing large crowds . I feel people like to follow an eatery with a story or history behind it more so than the food. That being said, Maxi Noodles has some great wontons and broth. As you had mentioned, their wontons are not of traditional size and this has also been brought up with Maxi. She understands this discrepancy and feels it makes her wontons unique and a good value. Even though the size is non traditional, the wontons do eat and taste very comforting and does come as close as you could get in HK. The wrap is not overly thick and starchy and the larger pieces of shrimp and filling is very tasty and flavorful. I would rate it a 8 out of 10
Danny