New York Street Food

Bian Dang, formerly known as the NYC Cravings truck, was back on the street this week after closing for the winter to open their new space in Food Gallery 32.  The 2009 Vendy Award Rookie finalist changed the name of their truck to Bian Dang (“lunch box” in Mandarin), as well as the truck’s design.

Today they are parked at Carmine and Varick, literally 2 blocks from my apartment.  I couldn’t pass up an opportunity like that.

The old truck was nice (below), but the new truck (above) is much more colorful and vibrant.  My wife said it actually looks like a kid’s lunch box.

The food is basically the same (meaning excellent), although Diana told me the dumplings were being made differently from last year.  I’ve enjoyed the fried chicken and pork chops in the past.  For something new, Today’s Lunch is tianbula (fish cake-$8)  and pork dumplings ($3) from Bian Dang.

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A few interesting news items on the food truck front.

Fork In The Road reports the Red Hook Lobster Pound is having a third truck built, the Rollin Lobster Love Shack, but it will be their first one in New York.  We told you about their first two trucks running up and down I-95, selling their extremely popular lobster rolls in Washington DC.  Glad to hear they will be giving the home town folks some love too, although they don’t expect to be up and running until May.

However, with the recent NYC ruling against Paty’s Taco Truck, the Red Hook Lobster Pound say they may only be in one spot for an hour or so at a time.  The best way to find them is on twitter @lobstertruckny or @redhooklobster.

They also caught up with the Milk Truck, who sell delicious grilled cheese sammies at the Brooklyn Flea, and are getting a truck too.

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meat dumpling soup

Wen, from the Writing Is My Therapy blog, went back to her roots as a Fujianese girl and checked out Rong Xin at 88 East Broadway in (New York’s) Chinatown.

Although Rong Xin is not actually a street vendor, they cook Fujianese street food, and Wen’s descriptions are very evocative.

According to Wen, the Fujian style of cooking is focused on braising, sauteeing and poaching, but it’s not overly seasoned like some styles of Chinese cooking.  Fujianese food is usually light but flavorful, and the key is to present the delicate flavors of the ingredients.  Due to the proximity to the coast, there is access to the best and freshest seafood.

Let Wen tell you about her and her sister’s visit to Rong Xin.

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Diana at Bian Dang counter (coming out from behind the sign)

Last time I went to the NYC Cravings truck, Diana told me the truck was closing for the winter because they were opening a restaurant within a food court in Koreatown.  She also said the new place was called Bian Dang (Mandarin for “lunch box”) and the truck’s name would also be changed to Bian Dang next spring when it returns.  She didn’t really want to be in the picture above, but I coaxed her out from behind the sign.

I walked into the shiny, new “International Food Emporium” called Food Gallery 32 at 11 West 32nd St (bet 5th & 6th Ave), went towards the back to Bian Dang and said hi to Diana.  I asked her how it was going, and she said things seem to be picking up as more people hear about Food Gallery 32, but she was also looking forward to getting back out on the street in the spring.  The energy of the New York streets can certainly be addictive!

Food Gallery 32 has 3 floors with over a dozen (mostly) Asian food vendors.  I’m not going to review the various establishments serving there because that’s not what New York Street Food is about.  But when a street vendor crosses over into a “brick-and-mortar” establishment, we’re going to do our best to check it out.

Since I had Bian Dang’s fried chicken and pork chops only a month ago, I decided to make a meal out of several appetizers.  Today’s Lunch is wonton soup ($4), pork dumplings ($3) and zongzi ($4) from the new Bian Dang counter in Food Gallery 32.  (In case you’re wondering, the fried chicken and pork chops are prepared the same delicious way as on the truck.)

One note: Food Gallery 32 has a centralized ordering system for every restaurant, so you order up front, then go to the appropriate restaurant to pick up your order.

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When NYC Cravings tweeted they were closing the truck for the winter after this week, I wanted to get another fix of their Taiwanese fried chicken to hold me until next spring.  I first had NYC Cravings at the 2009 Vendy Awards, where they were nominated in the Rookie of the Year category.  They didn’t win (Schnitzel & Things did), but I really liked their food, and have enjoyed it several times since then.

I got to the truck pretty late and they were just about to close up, so when I ordered the chicken, they asked if I wanted some pork chops too.  Talk about an getting an offer you can’t refuse!

Today’s Lunch is Taiwanese fried chicken ($7) and some pork chops too.

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