If only I could dedicate more blog posts to Central Asian food. If there were as many Uzbeki or Kazakh restaurants around NYC as there are Thai restaurants, you just might see more posts like this.
Farida used to exist a few blocks away from Port Authority and I picked up dinner of kebabs once or twice on my way home. Unfortunately, that location closed, but the business re-appeared in another commuter area: the Financial District.
This larger location is very homey with lots of style and I would even say a destination in its own right.
I got to sit down for lunch and dive a bit deeper into the interesting menu beyond plov (rice) and manti (dumplings).
I’ve had the well-known lagman before as a hearty beef soup, but I now discovered it as a noodle dish. This version is part of Uyghur cuisine in Northwest China but can be found in many countries in Central Asia as well. And it’s as delicious as expected.
The stir fry features homemade noodles similar to spaghetti – they’re chewy and plump. They also do a great job soaking up the peppery and herbal sauce made up of aromatic spices, peppers, celery, and tomatoes. Chunks of tender beef bulk up the dish.
It’s hearty, surprising, and seemingly authentic. I’m sure I’ll come back to Farida (I highly recommend it), but I wish there were Central Asian restaurants throughout the city to discover more dishes. Price: $25
| FARIDA |
| 32 Cedar Street (between William and Pearl Street), Financial District (646) 650-3272 |
| farida.us |
