My favorite place in New York to go on a food adventure is without a doubt the East Village. I want fast, cheap, and full of flavor. If you can throw in a few cocktails, even better. The best place to start is a tour of St Marks. There are limitless options to satisfy any craving, with food from around the globe.
The 3 blocks that make up St Marks Place are packed with souvenir shops, comic book stores, and vintage clothing stores. There are tattoo parlors galore (I've gotten 5 here myself). The atmosphere changes quite a bit as you walk the 3 blocks. You'll find tourists and NYU kids in abundance towards 3rd Ave, and as you make your way down towards Tompkins Square Park the congestion and tourist shops quickly melt away. Many of the businesses on this block have existed an astonishing 30+ years. Because of this, the dining choice are endless. Let's start on Avenue A, and make our way west down St Marks.
Empellon Al Pastor - 132 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
One of three restaurants in the Alex Stupak empire. This is the most casual of the three. The tacos are killer, most of them only $4. Choose from bistec, short rib, chicken, pork tongue, al pastor, chorizo, nopales, and mushroom. The side dishes are not to be missed. Get the black beans with pork scraps. When you are done, pop over to their bar for a hella strong margarita. Once seated, you can marvel at one of the best wall art displays you've seen in ages.
Bua - 122 St Marks Pl #126, New York, NY 10009
This isn't just my favorite bar on St Marks, it's my favorite bar, period. I've spent more nights here than any other bar on earth. I rang in countless birthdays here, drank my weight in picklebacks, met more men than I'd care to admit, observed & mocked tinder dates with my friends. It's dark, it's relatively crowded, the bourbon flows freely, and the bar food is a notch above (fried cheese curds, how I love thee). Above is a classy pic of me on my birthday, surrounded by the aftermath of picklebacks.
Crif Dogs - 113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
God do I love stumbling into this place after a long night at Bua. They deep fry the weiners and pile them high with interesting concoctions that could only be designed by a stoned person. Some of my favorites below:
Chihuahua: bacon-wrapped dog covered with avocados and sour cream. don't be scared. Jon-Jon Deragon: the crif dog with a schmear of cream cheese, scallions and everything bagel seeds. Spicy Redneck: a house dog, bacon-wrapped, with chili, coleslaw and jalapeños. did somebody say backyard wrestling?
The Dumpling Man -100 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
Truth be told, these are not my favorite dumplings in the area. However, they are quick, cheap, and delicious. Colorful dumpling wrappers are stuffed with pork, chicken, tofu and vegetables or shrimp. The kitchen is entirely open and you can watch as the staff makes dumpling after dumpling with laser-like precision
Xe May Sandwich Shop - 96 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
There are no frills here. Walk into the mall basement restaurant & order a one of 7 sandwiches or 6 tacos. The star here is the Bahn Mi. The bread is crisp, the meat is plentifull, and it's stuffed with cilantro, pickled carrots, daikon, cucumber & chili mayo.
Cafe Mogador - 101 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
This place is full from early morning until the evening. It has been a brunch staple for New Yorkers since 1983. The menu is packed with Moroccan and Mediterranean classics such as falafels, babaganoush, kebabs, and hummus. They are amazingly consistent, I always know I’ll be happy with the food placed in front of me. In the summer, their patio is excellent for people watching.
Xi'An Famous Foods - 81 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003
I fucking love Xi’An Famous Foods. Apparently so does everyone else, which has allowed them to open 10 locations in a few years. Every food publication in NY has featured these guys. The noodles are insane. They hand pull them to order, then mix in crazy spicy cumin lamb, vegetables, and jalapenos. The texture is unlike any noodles you’ve had before. The full menu consist of cold noodles, burgers, soups, hand-ripped noodles & dumplings. The dumplings are not to be missed. The dough is thick and chewy. You can choose between the spicy lamb mixture, or an exceptional vegetarian spinach option.
Mark Burger - 33 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003
These guys tout themselves as NYC’s greatest slider bar. I don’t know about that, but they are pretty god damn delicious. The meat is freshly ground, the onions are charred, and the cheese is gooey. I ain’t mad at that. The fries that accompany the burger are fresh cut. Finally, they have bacon milkshakes. If you cant appreciate that, you’re a monster.
Mamouns Falafel - 22 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003
Definitely an NYC fast(ish) food staple. You don’t survive in this city for 47 years by being mediocre at what you do. It’s good ol’ authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine served in a traditional environment. They say their secret to success it that everything they serve is made from scratch using only the freshest natural ingredients & the finest imported spices. The falafels are crispy and full of spices, which is all this jew cares about. The meats are roasted to perfection, dripping with juice.
