The little hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese gem Mắm has expanded since I was here last. Their very cramped Chinatown dining space has been conjoined with an adjacent cramped dining space. The barebones, but bustling space felt as close to the meals I’ve had in Vietnam than anywhere else in the city so far.
And the Oc Buoi Nhon, or stuffed snails is not something that is easy to find on other menus in NYC, but what an exciting dish. A large pork meatball that reminds me of the kind that would be stuffed into a dumpling at a nearby Chinese shop is here crammed into a large mollusk shell. Big chunks of chopped snails are also mixed in with the pork, providing a flavorful and chewy experience. Using the lemongrass skewers to dip into the accompanying tangy, spicy, and slightly sweet chili sauce puts these over the edge. Price: $18
| MẮM |
| 70 Forsyth Street (between Hester and Grand Street), Chinatown |
| IG: @mam.nyc |
