Momofuku

One of my favorite places to stop for what I like to think of as fast food is at David Chang's Momofuku Noodle Bar. David, a Korean-American, attended culinary school and worked in some of the finest restaurants in New York City. However, he soon realized that working in fancy food establishments was not his calling, and his real dream was to open a noodle bar. David called it Momofuku, which is Japanese for Lucky Peach, and it wasn't long before it gained recognition in the food world. The menu at the noodle bar is an innovative and delicious mix of Asian cuisine. David uses the finest ingredients, such as produce from local, sustainable farms, and wonderful Berkshire pork, raised naturally. David, who is now an award-winning chef (in fact, last year I had the honor of presenting him with the James Beard award for Rising Star Chef of the Year), has opened two other restaurants called Momofuku Ssäm and Ko. The Momofuku Noodle Bar is located at 171 First Avenue between 10th and 11th streets. But be prepared to wait, because it is very popular.

The entrance with a colorful peach:

A long, empty bar at noon, when the restaurant opened:

This is the menu -- simple, but diverse:

Within 10 minutes, the bar had filled up with hungry lunch patrons:

This is an amazing large-size photo of the rock group The Band, which was taken in Woodstock, New York, in 1967. The band members all look so young. Please excuse the glare off the glass:

In this spotless kitchen, Chef Scott Garfinkel keeps a watchful eye on all the food that is prepared and served. It's also fun watching the chefs in action:

David Chang loves pickles of all kinds. This is a plate of pickled shitake mushrooms, napa cabbage, fennel, celery, carrot, and Asian pear.

A beautiful presentation of sliced hamachi, or yellowtail, with blood oranges:

Steamed pork buns -- Momofuku's signature dish. They're so delicious, I could eat 10 of these!

This is a cold dish of smoked duck breast with mustard seeds, sour cream, and cinnamon. Unbelievably delicious!

And, of course, noodles! This is a bowl of ramen in a deeply rich broth topped with pork belly, shredded pork shoulder, a poached egg, and sliced fish cake. This is real comfort food:

Comments

[Patia]

Yummm.

[Liisamarja]

this resturant just made it to my list of must visit nyc eateries, the food even looks amazing!

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Thanks for the introduction to David Chang's Momofuku Noodle Bar. The food looks delicious; I can just taste the pickles, sliced hamachi with blood oranges, steamed pork buns, and noodles. Your photos make me feel as if I am there. My Chinese and Japanese friends said they would bring me some steamed pork buns after we talked about your blog.
I enjoyed the look at you from your producers point of view yesterday. You (and they, too) have such a sense of humor, Martha!
Kathy

[Nan Ashby]

Hi Martha, I wish I had some of David's food right now. I'm amazed at the availability and variety of food you can have in New York. I come from a small town in Tennessee and we only have an Arby's, Macdonalds, Hardee's, and Sonic. If David would only move down here, I'm sure he would out do our fast food restaurants. Nan

[Bob Hodgekiss]

Cool place!! Nice photos!
Thanks for sharing, I want those pork buns NOW!

[Andrew Ritchie]

Looks like a wonderful place! I love all Asian food, but Japanese has to be my favourite!

I think you'd love a book called The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, if you haven't read it already. It's about the history of Chinese food in America, as well as the Chinese restaurant industry, and how it has become the new comfort food, like pizza or pasta, for so many North Americans.

-Andrew

[Arran]

I've recently moved from NY and miss this place so much! I had a 2 hour layover in Newark the other day and I ran into the city just to have lunch here, it is that good.

[Claudine]

now that is some great fast food. The pork buns and the smoked duck and the egg noodles look wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
Claudine

[Linda Gail]

Martha:)
This blog is one reason I want to live in New York City. The diverse choice of places to eat is so great and you can walk to a lot of them. Here in the Atlanta area we have all sorts of restaurants, but they all seem to be located on the north side or in the downtown area and the traffic is horrendous and forget walking.There is no walking to anything in Atlanta, except for the downtown area proper.
Maybe one day I will get to visit NYC and then I can try some of these marvelous places that you have shown us.
Linda Gail

[Kim Wylie]

I'm salivating....

[Joan Fluor Mason, OH]

Hi Martha,

The food on todays blog is really delightful.

Most of us think of fast food being cheeseburgers and french fries.

How do they make the steamed pork buns?

Thanks alot, Joan Fluor, Mason, OH

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Isn't Momofuku the place where you and Eva or Kevin went for lunch one day and your visit was a segment on your show? Later, I remember you had David Chang on your show to make his famous pork buns. Momofuku certainly is a pristine restaurant and the food looks so delicious. Once again, I wish I lived in NYC so as to experience some of the places you feature on this fantastic blog. Thanks again for sharing. Jan

[Trish]

The pickled vegetables look really good and I know I would enjoy the steamed pork buns. I like your kind of 'fast food' Martha! Trish

P.S. To Joan Fluor Mason, I found the pork bun recipe by doing an advanced recipe search on Martha's homepage. You might want to read the contributor's comments also that follow the recipe.

[Adam]

Those pork buns look divine!!

[Julie]

How much does it cost to go to lunch there? (on average)

[JBrennan]

Martha:

Thanks for another informative blog. One can never have too many good places to eat lunch. I, too, remember seeing Momofuku and David Chang on your show.

I've had the pleasure of eating at several of the restaurants you've featured on the Martha show, as well as on MSL, over the years and have never been disappointed. Living about an hour from NYC does have its advantages, as you well know.

Thanks again and God Bless,

Joseph

[Jennifer Fancher]

If all 'fast food' could look and taste so beautiful! Have you tried Trader Joe's salads yet? They are a great fast food for on the run. I really like the Italian salad with the real, soft mozarella! Jennifer

[Pat]

Martha,
Please have this chef on your show again! The food looks awesome, I'd love to learn how to prepare it!

[Joan Fluor Mason, OH]

Trish,

Thanks for the info on the pork buns,

I always enjoy your comments on Martha's blog.

And, of course, we all love Martha's blog.

Joan, mason,OH

[Kimberly]

That looks so amazing. What beauty in the design not only in the restaurant, the furniture, but also in the food presentation!!! How peaceful! It makes me want to visit NYC just to eat there! I haven't found anything comparable to this in Raleigh.

[Timothy Edwin Minerd]

If I were a pig, I would aspire to one day become a Momofuku pork bun. They are incredible!

[CAM]

Just a thank you very much for the
great pans that you have at Macy's. I love my 10" skillet. It is a great product...could use other sizes to replace my old pans. A very good product.