mooncake foods

When I used to work in West SoHo, I'd walk past Mooncake Foods, dismissing it based on the plastic bag-covered handlebars of their delivery bicycles out front and the worn out hand-painted sign in the window. I'd scoff and walk to Sullivan Street Bakery, Once Upon a Tart or Sunrise Mart. I wish someone would have shook me awake me back then and told me I was missing out on some really tasty and affordable food...

If you stepped inside and looked around, you'd think the food wouldn't be any better than most Chinese delivery establishments but hold your horses and let me seat you. Look a little closer: there are no woks, no fryers, no gloopy sauces. Everything is fresh. The phone is ringing off the hook, the place is so popular. The homemade dipping sauces are bright, acidic and balanced with warm heat. The homemade peashoot & garlic dumplings' dough offers the right amount of firmness and resistance against your teeth, yielding and revealing a rough chop of sautéed pea shoots.

The hero bread for the sandwiches is perfect: The crust is thin and shatters when you bite into it; the dough is fluffy and soaks up the juices from the braised meats and pickled vegetables. The Grilled Pork Chop platter doesn't have much plate appeal but don't let that stop you from ordering it. It's so good, you'll be picking up the bone to gnaw off every last bit of white wine and soy sauce marinated meat.

Now, aren't you glad someone told you about this place before you walked right by?

(Images, from the top! Vietnamese Pork Meatball Hero with chili sauce, cilantro, cheese, pickled carrots and daikon; Pea Shoot and Garlic Dumplings; Sassafras Herbal Tea; beer!; Smoked White Fish Salad Banh Mi with jalapenos, red onion, cilantro, pickled carrots and daikon.)