BRIAN'S 100 Best '16

100 BEST ’16: MENTAI CAVIAR UDON at TSURUTONTAN

I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2016…

This year the iconic Union Squarre Cafe closed due to rising rents. They have since reopened in another location. But in its original space came a Japanese udon shop called TsuruTonTan which is causing quite a ruckus. The signature dish showcases the thick chewy noodles without the need for any broth. This refreshing cold dish is not too dissimilar to a rich carbonara sauce but instead of cheese and bacon, the noodles are slathered with a spicy cod roe sauce and brightened with a refreshing shiso leaf. Price: $16

TSURUTONTAN
21 East 16th Street (between Union Square West and Broadway),
Union Square
(212) 989-1000
tsurutontan.com

AboutBrian Hoffman

Brian Hoffman is a classically trained actor who is now a full-time tour guide, blogger, and food obsessive. He leads food and drink tours around New York City, which not only introduce tour-goers to delicious food, but gives them a historical context. He has written food articles for Gothamist and Midtown Lunch in addition to overseeing this blog and a few food video series, including Eat This, Locals Know, and Around the World in One City. His latest series is an international cooking show with his son which can be found on this site.