Our Favorite Comfort Food in the city
BY Archana Mahesh & Shreya Polkampally
Living in one of the world's greatest and most diverse cities has many benefits, but one we love is the amazing food you can find on every corner. So ahead of Thanksgiving, we decided to travel around the city to find comfort food you can enjoy this weekend for those of you not going home, or try anytime you need a pick-me-up!
1.
Mala Project
First on the list is Mala Project, located at 122 1st Ave. This fantastic dry pot place is perfect for the cold weather as the hot food, and cozy atmosphere will warm you right up! It is also a great place to go with friends as you can share one hot pot and add additional ingredients depending on the number of people. You can choose your spice level, but we recommend trying the spicy version – it truly hits different.
2. Mint Masala
Next is Mint Masala, an Indian restaurant located at 95 MacDougal St. We tried the classic Dal Tadka, which was so warm and filling. If you’re in the mood for traditional Indian food, here’s a place that you should check out. We felt like taking a nap after this meal, which we think is a sign of good comfort food!
3. Tipsy Shanghai
Tipsy Shanghai, located right behind campus at 228 Thompson St, is the perfect place for a quick and affordable meal. We got the Xiao Long Bao (which we highly recommend!), Orange Chicken, and Vegetable Gyoza.
4. Waverly Diner
This next restaurant is a classic American diner, located near campus at 385 6th Ave, and open 24/7. This diner has the perfect Sunday morning vibe and offers hundreds of options to choose from. We tried the grilled cheese sandwich and a Brownie Sundae and left satisfied.
5. Love Mama
Love Mama is a Thai/Malaysian/Vietnamese Fusion restaurant on the corner of 2nd Ave and E 11th Street, and it’s amazing. We ordered Fried Thai Dumplings (10/10), Red Curry (we recommend the most!!), Shrimp Curry Laksa, and Rendang Nasi Lemak. The food comes out in paper plates which we thought contributed to the comforting feeling, and the servers are incredibly friendly and welcoming – chances are the owner himself will come and talk to your table. We still haven’t tried the Pho or the Pad See Eew yet, but they’re fan favorites online, so we recommend that you guys go and try Love Mama ASAP.
6. The Chai Spot
The Chai Spot is an adorable shop at 156 Mott St in Soho with an amazing ambiance. Its calming environment is filled with couches, carpets, pillows, and blankets, making it the perfect place to relax with friends (but be ready to remove your shoes to enter the indoor sitting area). While you can probably find cheaper tea elsewhere, the Chai Spot donates 50% of their profits to education and supporting women and girls in rural Pakistan, so you are supporting a great cause! Also, we think the vibe is worth it :) We got the Traditional Cardamom Chai, Iced Chai, and Samosas.
7. S’MAC
Mac ‘n’ Cheese is synonymous with comfort food to us but S'MAC is not just your typical Mac ‘n’ Cheese restaurant. They offer an assortment of Mac ‘n’ Cheese variations, ranging from Masala Mac ‘n’ Cheese (which we recommend!) to 4 Cheese and Mediterranean. This is the perfect place to get an easy but delicious meal.
8. Crop Circle
A friend recommended this restaurant as it reminded her of the snacks she ate while growing up, and we completely loved it. They sell Guokui - a thin flatbread with different options for fillings. 12/10 would recommend – there are both savory and sweet options, the portions are enormous, and it’s a great pick me up from a shop that’s right near Stern. We got the taro Guokui, and it was a sweet snack in the middle of the day :)
While there is nothing quite like a home-cooked meal, comfort food like this comes very close. These are a few of our favorite places that help us feel like we’re at home, and we hope that you guys have a chance to check them out. For everyone staying in New York City and those that are going home, Happy Thanksgiving!