Momofuku Ssam Bar – New York City
As soon as we booked our tickets to New York City for a work shoot at The French Culinary Institute, we knew Momofuku Ssam Bar was on our hit list of “must eats”. This is how we run our business affairs: secure the contract, book the clients, think about where to eat in the city and then figure out the rest of the project logistics.
Eat Now. Work Later.
Barely even walking into the hotel, with just enough time to drop our bags down and grab our cameras, we immediately headed out to David Chang’s hot spot with our friend Jaden of Steamy Kitchen.
The sampler plate of ice cream at Momofuku Milk Bar, East Village
Momofuku Ssäm was packed. Literally every seat was occupied and everyone before and after us in the long line were content with the 30 minute wait. That’s a sign of great food to come if customers are willing to wait.
There are plenty of things to do and see in 30 minutes, but Jaden (the savvy tour guide) led us to the second hot spot (conveniently located next door) for some beer at Momofuku Milk Bar in East Village. A place to buy beer and milk within a few feet away! Beer for the big people and cereal milk for the little people. There’s something for everyone in the family at Milk Bar!
Milk Bar was standing room only, not only because it had a line out the door, but because literally, there are no chairs in the joint. A long communal bar table settles in the middle of the thriving shop and customers are packed side-by-side enjoying unique ice cream flavors: cereal milk, melon and peach tea.
How can you not love Pork Slap Pale Ale? *inside joke*
After a few cans of Pork Slap Pale Ale Beer and sinfully good pork belly buns (omg the pork! pork!), we headed back over to Ssäm bar for the rest of the feast.
We were all drawn to dishes that had high fat content, why we don’t know exactly, but when we’ve got 4 different types of sake strewn over the table, life becomes more daring.
Bone marrow shavings, pig’s head terrine, crunchy pigs ears, salty fatty ham, tripe and the deadly decadant spicy rice cakes told us that hard work deserves rewards and fat masterly executed by David Chang is worth every bit of blood, sweat, and tears. Every single bite was amazing and not one crumb of fat or green was left on the plates. We had to repeatedly fight of the servers who were diligently trying to clear our table. Don’t touch till it’s licked clean!
Momofuku Ssäm bar prepared us for the 3 long days of shooting that lie ahead.
More New York Eats posts to come!
Love New York.
David Chang’s steamed pork belly buns rock. Add a squirt of hot sauce for extra zing!
above: sweet & sour crispy pig ears and pig head terrine
a packed house, and everyone having a great time
above: spicy honeycomb tripe and edwards wigwam ham
a shot of Jaden outside the colorful wall of Momofuku
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I just learned of this much talk about Momofuku this and tat!! I can’t wait to go to New York to visit eat at their restaurant. Your pics are a great preview!! Thanks.
I used to live a couple blocks away but each time I walked by the long line always put me off the place, especially since there are so many other places in the East Village to go to. And then I left the city without having been there…. I regret I didn’t brave the line at least one. T_T
OMG {HEART} Milk Bar. I rode the cross-town subway by myself at about 11pm (from Chelsea) to get to the East Village and feast on those damn pork buns. Compost cookie – just ok. Cereal milk – interesting but a little too artificial tasting for me (yes I know, that’s the point). But the PORK BUNS. Did you know he has a recipe for them buns in his cookbook? Oh yes….
The food looks incredible!
I was just at momofuku this past weekend! those pork buns really are god’s work…my sister and i also had their compost and blueberry and cream cookies and inevitably ended up buying more to take home with us.
Looks like to much fun. Great food, New York is the doorway to America!
Sara
http://www.momentsofelegance.com
Wow, that food looks incredible. I haven’t heard of Cereal Milk. Is that milk that’s been in cereal and then strained and served in a glass? I better go to bed now so I don’t go into the kitchen to try to cook something that will help me get over my pork belly craving now!
You’ve gotta love NYC and all the great restaurants! I need a fix every now and then and now I definitely need to get back up there and go to Momofuku. The food looks incredible!
mmm fatty crispy pork belly buns, how i miss thee. this is one of my favorite dishes in the world. i almost had to end a friendship when i took a girlfriend there once who dared to pick off the fat b/c she was scared of it!
Steph: are you still friends? 😉
I just finished up Medium Raw – the new Bourdain book – which devotes an entire chapter to David Chang. I have yet to ever eat at a Momofuku establishment or even get a peek into the cookbook, but I’m all the more eager to now. Thanks for the photo tour!
btw: lovely portrait of Jaden!
Great post you guys! I don’t think Momofuku was around when I lived in the city back in ’96. Such a great experience you share with us. Those are some very exotic nibbles. The Milk Bar is such an amazing concept. Can’t wait to read more about your NYC adventures. xo
Aw, you guys were within spitting distance. Next time, I hope I can join for a Pork Slap!
Deb- lol, make it two Pork Slaps and it’s a date!
Hi! I’ve heard a lot of great things about Momofuku! Glad to hear they aren’t lies, haha. Random question. Obviously I love your photography, and I know you are professionals, but what program do you use to put together your photo collages? I’d love to experiment with that on my site! Thanks 🙂
Thanks. Momofuku was fantastic. Great food, sake, and staff.
For the collages we just do them in Photoshop. Diane hates doing it, so I end up making them most of the time. Not too bad when you are comfortable with PS.
T
Not only do I want to go to Momofuku—I want to go with YOU.
How else would I have to guts to try all those things?
Also: that shot of Jaden? Amazing.
You guys rock. Hope you’re having fun!
Oh lordy the pork buns give me the most wonderful dreams. I dream of them, must make my own pork belly now.