Where to Eat Near Grand Central Terminal (Our Updated Guide)Jul 30, 2013 9:00AMIda Yu INTERN

Two years ago, we posted our first guide to eating well near Grand Central. It's not easy in

Midtown East, which is awash in restaurants, but mostly mediocre ones that cost too much. But

whether you work nearby or are just passing through, you deserve a good meal that's not

crowded by tourists or burdened by heavy prices.

So two years later, here's our updated field guide, with everything from quick bites to full sit-

down meals.

Breakfast Before Departure

Grilled cheese with chorizo and bacon at Eggs Travaganza. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

Eggs Travaganza: A bit of a walk, but one of our favorite breakfast street carts in New York,

with fluffy eggs and crisp chorizo on cheap, cheap sandwiches.

The Shop: A combined gourmet microstore and coffee/espresso bar where you can chase your

drinks with a doughnut in miniature from Brooklyn's Dough.

Pershing Square: A good-looking, if frenetic cavern of a restaurant with really, really good

pancakes.

Joe the Art of Coffee: One of our favorite Manhattan coffee mini-chains, with a location right in

the terminal.

Sandwiches, Slices, Cheap Eats

Greek Sausage at Uncle Gussy's. [Photograph: Siobhan Wallace]

Uncle Gussy's: Pick up high quality, well-made Greek dishes from this family-run food truck.

Kwik Meal Cart: You can't go wrong with almost anything you pick from this food cart (a Vendy

Award finalist in 2008!). Our favorites are the tender lamb, moist falafel, and perfectly cooked

fish.

The Kati Roll Company: A solid mini-chain devoted to kati rolls, an Indian take on a burrito or

sandwich. The vegetarian fillings are our favorites.

Xi'an Famous Foods: The best destination in NYC for the food of the Chinese city of Xi'an. Try

the chewy liang pi noodles or "lamb face" salad, all doused in their alluringly fiery house sauces.

Roast pork at Hing Won. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

Hing Won: A solid lunch spot that features reliably good roast pork over rice and standout banh

mi, made with the likes of roast pork or duck.

Le Pain Quotidien: An international chain that serves up rustic loaves of bread, salads,

sandwiches, French pastries, oatmeal, and more to be enjoyed at the reclaimed wood communal

tables. For something a little different, try the huge, crispy chocolate chip cookie.

Mangia: The menu here is expansive, including breakfast fare, panini, sandwiches, customizable

salads, pasta, pizza, smoothies, bakery sweets, and full dinners.

Murray's Cheese at Grand Central: Grab bread of your choice, along with some cheese and

charcuterie, and build a sandwich of your own; or pick up one of the tasty pre-made sandwiches.

Be sure to ask the cheesemongers (they're professionals) for the tastiest selections.

Pulled Duroc Pork Sandwich at Num Pang. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

Num Pang: The second location of one of our favorite sandwich shops; expect Cambodian-style

sandwiches piled with well-prepared proteins, along with crunchy fresh cucumber, pickled

carrots, fresh cilantro, and a house-made chili mayo.

Black Shack: Imagine a much better version of Burger King's Whopper; those are the sorts of

burgers you'll find here.

Previti Pizza: A haven for pie-lovers in this generally pizza-poor area of Midtown. Check out

their lunch deal (two slices and a soda at a discount) or their awesome roast beef sandwich.

Naples 45: Despite the name of this pizza joint within the MetLife building, we like the New

York-style slices better than the Neapolitan. Dine in or take out.

Halloumi Sandwich at Macchiato Espresso Bar. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

Macchiato Espresso Bar: Good coffee, better sandwiches.

Pret a Manger: Grab-and-go sandwiches, soups, and more.

Dishes: Imagine a typical lunch buffet, but actually good, and you have Dishes. It's pricey, and a

zoo during office lunch hours, but it's a good place for the indecisive to put together an

impressive cold-dish plate, or a sandwich, or a salad...

Bill's Bar and Burger: Excellent crispy-edged smashed burgers that first wowed us downtown

before their new, huge Rock Center restaurant opened.

'wichcraft Not every sandwich is perfect, and some are a little pricey, but we're rarely

disappointed by the tasty sandwiches at Tom Colicchio and Sisha Ortuzar's breakfast and lunch

joint.

Got A Little Longer?

Stir-fried String Beans at Szechuan Gourmet. [Photograph: Laura Togut]

Szechuan Gourmet: One of the city's top Sichuan restaurants, a gem in the heart of midtown

where you can choose from dishes like Crispy Lamb Filets and Stir-Fried Green Beans.

Sakagura: An underground soba bar serving great noodles without the pomp and circumstance.

Well-loved by regulars.

Spicy Sausage Laffa at Olympic Pita. [Photograph: Carey Jones]

Olympic Pita: A Kosher cafe with Middle Eastern specialties like shawarma, kebabs, and pretty

decent falafel, available on pita or chewy laffa flatbread.

Salvation Taco: Stylish salads, tacos, tortas, and cocktails in an unexpected location. Braised

lamb naan tacos and fried pig's ears are must-orders, along with sweetbreads tacos for the more

adventurous or roasted cauliflower tacos for vegetarians.

MenchankoTei: Not quite our favorite ramen in New York, but you're guaranteed big steamy

bowls of noodles for a fair price. (Walk north to Hide-Chan Ramen if you've got the time.)

Whole Okra Stew at Akdeniz. [Photograph: Kathy YL Chan]

Akdeniz Turkish Cuisine: Big stews of lamb and okra, always-hot pide bread, and other warming

Turkish fare.

Katsu-Hama: Fried Japanese pork and more.

Café China (Midtown East): Our vote for the best Sichuan in midtown, and some of the best in

the city, for that matter. The clean, well-designed space is several steps above your average New

York Chinese restaurant.

A Few Steps Up

House-made soba noodles at Kajitsu. [Photograph: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]

Kajitsu: Impeccable service, beautiful table settings and flatware, and outstanding food.

Arguably the best vegan meal in town.

Sip Sak: Our favorite Turkush restaurant in New York with outstanding vegetables and kebabs in

a marble-topped, bistro-like setting.

Sushi Yasuda: Some of Manhattan's most highly acclaimed sushi.

Aburiya Kinnosuke: Head to Aburiya for a taste of Japanese Izakaya cuisine. With side dishes

that change daily, excellent desserts, and memorable tofu, their lunch special is a delight to any

weary traveler.

Steak at Ai Fiori. [Photograph: Nick Solares]

Ai Fiori: Michael White's superb French-inflected Italian restaurant is pricey but worth it. Visit

the bar for options that will do less damage to your wallet.

La Fonda del Sol: Tapas with great desserts.

Dos Caminos: Upscale Mexican fare and fresh guacamole with eight spins on the margarita and

150 tequilas behind the bar.

Grand Central Oyster Bar: For an upscale experience within GCS itself, head to the Oyster Bar.

It's one of New York's iconic food institutions, and the raw bar doesn't disappoint.

db Bistro Moderne: A modern French bistro crossed with American burgers. It excels at both;

don't skip the fries.

Smith & Wollensky: Iconic New York steakhouse with an excellent ribeye.

Desserts

Box of chocolates at Neuhaus. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

Neuhaus: The Erupean chocolate shop credited with creating pralines now sells a variety of filled

chocolates (pralines, nougatines, and manons), truffles, gianduja, and bars. Good for gifts.

La Maison du Chocolat: A polished dessert bar dedicated to all things chocolate: in truffles,

baked, ice cream, macarons, and more. Best for takeout, beautiful gift wrapping.

Bouchon Bakery: The second New York location of Thomas Keller's fantastic bakery. Go for the

buttery kouign amann (like a croissant, but better) or the Oreo-esque TKO. If a savory craving

strikes up their grilled cheese is one of the best in town.

Financier Patisserie at Grand Central: Decent French pastries right in Grand Central.

Minamoto Kitchoan: Delicate Japanese sweets.

Bars and Bar Food

Stay Up Late at Lantern's Keep. [Photograph: Alice Gao]

Lantern's Keep: At this intimate bar tucked inside the Iroquois Hotel you can sip wine or beer,

but we suggest trying the carefully-made, retro-style cocktails.

Bierhaus: A German ale house with five Hofbrau beers (along with a selection of liquor and

wine) and food offerings much more substantial than the usual interpretation of "bar food."

Expect thick, malty pretzels, creamy potato salad, juicy wurst sausages, and more. Good for

groups.

Royalton Hotel: A classy, civilized bar where you can choose from wine, beer, or cocktails made

with premium ingredients.