Dining Musings....Shanghai Cafe & Pakistan Tea House
Shanghai Café
100 Mott St.
New York, NY 10013
Soup buns. My new addiction. I was a late bloomer in discovering these puppies. Everyone has been eating these things forever. Yes the soup buns are that good here (steamed tiny buns with Pork and/or crab). For the rookie, they can be a bitch to eat. Here is how it’s done: Gingerly grab a bun with your chopsticks and balance as you transfer to your soup spoon. Ease the bun onto its side so the crimped top faces away from you. Take a small bite from the side (easier than biting a hole in the top) and immediately suck out the hot, delicious porky, gelatinous broth (add a touch of vinegar and red pepper sauce in the resulting hole from which steam is rising). Please make loud slurping noises until you get every last bit of the liquid. Pop chewy steamed bun into mouth and enjoy the morsel of tender ground pork and crab. Smile. Repeat.
While I will always order the soup buns, (pork is my preferred choice instead of the pork crab combo), I’m also working my way through the rest of menu. I recently tried the double sautéed pork over rice - whisper thin slices of pork, mushrooms, tofu, cabbage and green peppers in a slightly sweet, not too gloppy sauce. It was a ridiculous portion for 4.50 and it was and pretty delicious, but I would have liked it spicier. The scallion pancakes are outstanding; very thin and crispy and not the least bit greasy. They are almost cruller/donut like. Contrary to the reviews I have read about horrendous, rude service, everyone has been pleasant to me. The service is just matter of fact and super speedy. This is not the place to be high maintenance or linger over your meal.
Pakistan Tea House
176 Church St.
New York, NY 10013
You walk by and look at this tiny little storefront and see the steam tables and may not be enticed to venture in. But be brave my friend. Walk in and order the lamb, chicken or veggie combo and you are in for satisfying comfort food.
Pakistan Tea House is way short on atmosphere, and takeout is probably your best option but I decided to people watch and enjoyed watching the constant stream of Cabbies, foodies, and neighborhoodies coming from the gym ordering takeout (there was also a random drunk guy air humping the side of the steam table while he ordered a veggie platter to add to the entertainment). I ordered the lamb combo which consisted of meat and 2 sides. Lamb was fatty but tender and nicely spiced. I also had some type of cabbage dish and chickpeas which were both delicious. To my surprise, they microwaved my food to heat it up a bit but the nann was made a la minute and was delicious. I ate a ton for 11 dollars.
