3 Ramen anyone?

I don't know if anyone has noticed but it's pretty damn cold outside! No worries though. With cold weather comes hot, soupy, noodle lunches!!! Enter the season of RAMEN!

Ramen huh? Out of the hundreds of places to get ramen where did you decide to go, and what made you go there?
Don't sound so excited. I went to this kinda sorta hole in the wall place by my job called Saburi. It's  funny how I stumbled on to this place. One random afternoon I was craving a Bento box for lunch. Coincidentally, my boss was looking for sushi and kept walking pass this place that he thought was a sushi restaurant (Saburi) and wanted to try it out. I say what the hell and one thing leads to another our quest for Bento boxes and good sushi turned into a ramen lunch. And that right there was the beginning of my Saburi relationship.

Ok...how was/is the food?
For a hole in the wall kinda spot, I think it's pretty damn good. Actually, I think it's the best ramen by my job. Just a heads up, ramen isn't the only thing on their menu but it's definitely the only thing I'm looking for when I go there. In particular the daily specials. So far the Thursday (Spicy Miso Ramen) and Tuesday specials (Tonkotsu Ramen)...in that order...are hands down my favorites.

Spicy Ramen? Tonkotsu Ramen? What is this you're talking about?
Ok.
So the Spicy Miso Ramen is ramen (obviously) served in miso broth, topped with ground pork, bok choy and bean sprouts with a side of Japanese style fried chicken and steamed shrimp dumplings. Top it off with some of their spicy powder (still can't remember the name)...AH-MAZING!
The Tonkotsu Ramen is ramen (obviously...again) served in a rich pork broth, topped with braised pork belly, wood ear (absolutely NO idea what that is), pickled red ginger & scallions, with a side of tofu, onion and seaweed salad covered with onion dressing (not a huge fan) and fried pork and veggie spring rolls. Again...sprinkle some of the that spicy powder on there and just enjoy the greatness!

That sounds like a lot of damn food that you get with this special. Is it always like that?
It's a good amount. 1 bowl of ramen + 2 sides = daily special. For the $12 price I don't think it's all that bad compared to the other places in the area where you're paying the same price but don't get as much.

Nice. Anything else we should know about this place? Perhaps some dislikes?
Food and ambiance-wise I have zero complaints. The one issue I do have is that they're closed on some very random days. I've gone over there a few times craving ramen on a regular Tuesday/Wednesday and they were closed. Wasn't even a holiday...at least not one that I knew of.

Recommendation?
During this cold wintery season I can't think of any other place to be for lunch! Just a heads up, the menu can be a little bit overwhelming, but the daily specials are very solid. Stick to those and you'll be alright.

 Saburi

168 Lexington Avenue

(212) 481-7766

0 Hibachi Heaven

Working in New York City has it benefits, as the options for what to eat for lunch are endless.  May it be Chinese, sushi, Italian, American, or whatever your taste buds are craving.  The other alternative to a restaurant is hitting up one of the many food trucks parked around the city serving delicious food, right outside of your office building.  I have been a very big proponent of trying as many food trucks as they usually have great twists on classic favorites.  Today I decided to try out a new one and I indulged in Hibachi Heaven.

Hibachi Heaven is a Japanese Hibachi grill on wheels. It did not disappoint! When you walk up to the truck, you’re met with a menu that isn’t overwhelming. You have 4 options for a meat:  Beef ($9), Chicken ($8), Shrimp ($9), or Tofu ($7),  which you can get a bowl or a wrap. (NOTE: I have only had my food in the bowl, so I can’t really give you a review of the wrap.).  You are then given a choice of fried rice or brown rice and vegetables.  For the last piece of the puzzle, you choose which sauce you want on top, and you are given three choices: Heavenly Ginger Sauce, Yum Yum Sauce, or Wasabi Infused Mayo.  For an additional $2 you can double your meat or make a combo of your choices. 

Today, I decided to go with the beef, vegetables, and Yum Yum Sauce.  Luckily I follow Hibachi Heaven on Twitter and was able to double my beef for free with today’s magic word of “marathon.”  Every day they post a word on their account, and if you say it when ordering, you get a free upgrade of either a combo or double the meat.

The beef was very tender and marinated nicely. It really just melted in your mouth, which you don’t expect when getting beef from a food truck.  All of the meats are grilled right on the truck and always served fresh.  The servings are definitely filling and make for a substantial lunch.

Usually when I order vegetables, I find that they’re either undercooked or overcooked and soggy.  I have to say, Hibachi Heaven nails it. They’re cooked to perfection.  You get a heap of onions, carrots, broccoli, and mushrooms. Great flavor and nice crunch.

As for the sauces, my favorite is the Yum Yum Sauce, which is aptly named! It is a mixture of mayo, garlic, and cajun seasoning.  It adds great flavor to everything but isn’t overwhelming . You get the taste of the sauce, the meat, and the vegetables in every bite.

The service at Hibachi Heaven is excellent. The servers are friendly and quick. When you approach the truck you’re most likely going to see a line of people, but it does move quickly.  You can find out where they are located for the day via Twitter or their Facebook account.

Overall, this is one of the best trucks I’ve had the pleasure of visiting, and would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a change of pace on their lunch break. For the price, it is well worth it if you’re looking for a filling meal.

Twitter: @HibachiHeaven

Facebook: Facebook.com/HibachiHeaven

www.hibachiheaven.com