DISH OF THE WEEK

DISH OF THE WEEK in New York: Miso Salmon Bowl at THISBOWL

THE PLACE: Just as Sweetgreen was once a unique and delicious entry to the NYC lunch scene, ThisBowl has taken the healthy bowl-obsessed contingent by storm. ThisBowl is an Australian chain (called Fish Bowl down under) and my guess is they are hoping to pull a Sweetgreen here. After garnering huge lines in Noho, a new location has been announced for where else, but Nomad (where Sweetgreen first debuted in NYC). There is a friendly buzz to the Noho location with more tables than necessary and a rather quick assembly line.

THE MENU: Asian flavors and salmon (both cooked and raw) seem to be the specialties here, although there are plenty of vegetarian options and a steamed chicken and braised beef option. These are salads, but can also be interpreted as bowls since a Build Your Own option allows you to customize with rice (brown or sushi rice), cabbage, or mixed leaves as a base. For those who have a hard time curating their own bowl, they offer House Specialities and that is generally where I land at these kinds of places.

THE DISH: After trying both their O.G. (with sashimi salmon and an array of Asian-salad type flavors) and the Miso Salmon, I continue to crave the latter. A nicely glazed filet of salmon is tender and umami-laden. It holds up to lots of fresh crunch (cabbages, carrots, scallions, and tamari almonds) and sweet salty flavors (thanks to a very nice tamari ponzu dressing). A dollop of creamy avocado is a really nice touch. This was a great salad and one that I would happily eat weekly (if not more often). Let’s just hope they don’t turn into what Sweetgreen has since become (a too-large chain with less than fresh ingredients and uninspired bowls). Price: $16.90

THISBOWL
65 Bleecker Street (between Broadway and Lafayette Street),
Noho
thisbowl.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.