Nerd/foodie visiting Manhattan (for the second time): What awesome places to visit?

Stormwatcher

So I'm a Brazilian nerd whose going to visit NY from March 10 to Match 17. I'm going to do some nerd shopping: PS3, Iphone, a bunch of games, comics, a decent Blackwidow keyboard, books, the works.

What are the cool stores to visit? I obviously know about Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's, but I wanted to check if there are any other cool places to visit, awesome comic book stores, stuff like that.

Also, FOOD. What are the affordable best places to go eat? What secret delis or awesome food carts I cannot miss?

I'll probably hang around Manhattan using subway and buses, anything outside the island is not really an option.

Thanks guys!

Shazkar Shadowstorm

but but my favorite restaurant http://traifny.com/ is right across the williamsburg bridge and you can get there on the JMZ subway line

brooklyn is fun and easier to get to than people think

gosh, food

there's so much food

what kind of food?

best ramen: totto ramen, in my opinion, wait is crazy
also go go curry is cheap japanese curry that is awesome
uhh
katz's deli? classic
or just walk around st marks area and eat at many of the things there / east village area
53rd st chicken and rice cart

honestly there are too many good places so it depends on where in nyc and what kind of food

Stormwatcher

I'm on East 68th street, friend's place.

Ok, I can go subway-reachable places.

Well, I wanna eat awesome stuff that's not $200
I dunno. I like food.

Shazkar Shadowstorm

Let's just go through random things I like, for food... in addition to the above things:

In the UES, Shake Shack, Luke's Lobster?

East Village... Num Pang sandwich shop (really good cambodian sandwiches), Weschler's Currywurst, Crif Dogs, Momofuku Milk bar for desserts, Baohaus (modernized taiwanese steamed buns), Northern Spy, Pommes Frites, uhhhh and there are a lot of japanese places there

The Bedford Ave area in brooklyn is really fun to walk around in and there is a ton of good food between Bedford Ave and Lorimer (things I like: Fette Sau, The Commodore, a few good taco trucks in that area too.. and more) and there's a cool electronics store called http://www.dijitalfix.com/ which you'd probably dig, L train from union square super easy

Could also check out the highline park, which is on the west side, and pretty cool.

Some random suggestions.

Stormwatcher

Those are all awesome... Cambodian sammiches sound amazing. Thanks a lot!
What about other nerdy things? Oh, I know about B&H Photo too.

Eupfhoria

I just went to NYC, and I have to recommend En Japanese brasserie. Might be a little pricier than you are asking for; expect around $40 for dinner. But holy shit, was it some of the best food I've ever had. Braised pork belly in miso...uhhhhhnnnn [drool]

Also, it would be worth your time to track down a Vietnamese place for some good Pho. Can't remember the place I went to, but it was also amazing (and only like ~$8 for a huge bowl)

mrt144

excellent porkchop house.

Shazkar Shadowstorm

for pho, just pick one of the places on baxter or mulberry st

and if you're in chinatown get an egg custard tart

also soup dumplings at shanghai cafe are good

also tasty hand pulled noodles

also xi'an famous foods (multiple locations) for cheap western chinese food which is different than most chinese foods you've probably ever had

CygnusZ

Games:

Chinatown Fair Arcade
Video Games New York

And obviously just check out the used stacks at Gamestop etc.

Food:

Shake Shack -- Best burger in NY
Go Go Curry -- Japanese style curry
Telly's Taverna -- Great greek restaurant in Queens.
Carnagie Deli -- Jewish deli that stacks the meat on like you wouldn't believe. I recommend the pastrami on rye.
Jing Fong -- Hong-Kong style dim sum. Remember you that you need to go around lunchtime.

If you can't get it in Brazil, try and find a place that serves good falafel.

There's also a really cool comic book store around St. Marks place that I forgot the name of.

reddog

Forbidden Planet for comics, toys and all things nerd.

Jim Hanley's Universe for more comics/toys, etc.

Katz's Deli for the best in Jewish deli food.

Ippudo for some good ramen (be prepared for a little wait)

Nathans in Coney Island is a must (don't forget the cheese fries)

PJ Clarkes for an amazing burger & fries.

Crif Dogs for your different type of hot dog (go into the phone booth for the speakeasy)

53rd Street Chicken w/ Rice cart. The two corners with big lines are both great.

Rice to Riches for good rice pudding

Clinton Street Bakery for the BEST pancakes and then after walk a few blocks to the Donut Plant for a tres leches or pb & j donut.

Stormwatcher

Oh my god
I'm gonna need 2 extra weeks

You guys are great

Skullo

Midtown Comics is pretty awesome, and they have a few locations.

If you're into board games, the Compleat Strategist is a cool little shop that's right by the Empire State building, so you could kill two visits with one detour!

illig

Random fun fact - NYC has an 8.875% sales tax.... while certain places just over the border in NJ can have sales tax as low as 3%

They're called Urban Enterprise Zones and are found in Elizabeth, NJ among others - lots of malls, outlet stores, and big box stores are found there precisely for that reason. If you're looking to buy several $K worth of stuff (electronics, etc.), it may be worth it to take the trip over.

As for food, the places above are great... if you're looking for some other ideas, try:

1. Golden Unicorn in Chinatown - it's a dim sum restaurant with three floors! absolutely huge and awesome.... and cheap!

2. Kum Gang San in Korea Town - amazing Korean BBQ - mild kim chee (i can't stand the full flavor stuff)... and affordable too

3. Ichi Umi in Korea Town - it's a buffet style asian/japanese/korean/chinese restaurant... that is the width of the entire city block! if you're looking to try a lot of things in a single place, it's a great choice (and like ~$35/person IIRC?)

4. Queen of Sheba Ethiopian on the upper west side - Ethiopian is a really unusual cuisine if you're not used to it - you eat clumps of 'stuff' off of a sour bread that covers the whole table

5. Chip Shop in Brooklyn (they have several locations IIRC) - their claim to fame is that they will 'fry anything'... and they mean it! fried fish and chips are the staple, but you can get fried pizza, fried mac & cheese, fried candy bars, etc... in fact they will fry up things that you bring in!

Fairchild

The Compleat Strategist is a wargame/boardgame store located on E. 33rd Street, just around the corner from the Empire State Building. If you have any interest at all in gaming of the non-video variety, you must go there. They also sells lots of minis, RPG supplements, all sorts of WARHAMMER swag, the works.

KMGor

For pizza, visit Lombardi's. It's the best pizza I've ever had. It's near Chinatown, walking distance from the 6 line if memory serves.

HeraldS

It was already mentioned, but definitely go check out Video Games New York. It's part shrine, part museum, and part store. They have shit you never even knew existed- all sorts of rare, old, and imported games. Plus it's in the Lower East Side, which has tons of great places to eat.

For food, try Cafeteria. Their mac & cheese is amazing.

KalTorak

Search youtube for "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" clips - there's always a few recommendations of NYC places for whatever it is they're talking about.

THESPOOKY

Angelo's in Little Italy for food, most fantastic ingredients I've ever had. Tasted like everything came right off the vine.

Six

If you're going to be in Fort Greene or Clinton Hill in Brooklyn, there are a bunch of places I've written about and recommend that you can check out here: http://www.clintonhillfoodie.com

Also, if you want the real Little Italy, head up to Arthur ave in the Bronx. Shop at Teitel Bros. and eat basically anywhere there. Little Italy in Manhattan is a joke nowadays.

Stormwatcher

So it seems I'll have to visit Brooklin. I can live with that.

Fairchild

Also, be aware that March 17 is St. Patrick's Day, which in New York City means Carnivale but with beer drinking replacing sex.

Since it's also a Saturday, if the weather is decent it means huge crowds of tourists, most in various states of drunk. The New York police are pros at keeping order by now, but if you venture into some out of the way neighborhoods, keep your wits about you.

Daemonion

53rd st chicken and rice, as has been mentioned.

46th and 6th Halal cart ...look for the one with of the awards. They will try and trick you. Ask locals if you get confused.

Hm, that is all I can think of that is affordable. NYC has some amazing above-average-priced food.

NateVader

I can't suggest the restaurant Apiary enough. It was amazing. I go on yearly trips to NYC with friends and we went there last year and immediately declared that it would become a new tradition. The food was so fantastic some of my friends actually burst out laughing after tasting their dishes. It's not super expensive, but not cheap, probably $25-35 for an entree.

Straygatsby

Decibel, on 9th (between 2nd and 3rd I think). It's been years since I lived there, but it's one of the coolest little gems in lower Manhattan. It's a beautiful, tiny sake bar hidden down some stairs on a side street.

I also have a nostalgic love for 69 Bayard St. in Chinatown, which is just traditional take out, but it's SO delicious (and if you like dim sum, there's another place just around the corner for it, but the name escapes me, wo-hop maybe?).

Stormwatcher

Guys, where do I go to eat Pizza???

adytum

Any street corner.

adytum

If you have a chance try S'MAC for mac 'n cheese. So good.

CygnusZ

Stormwatcher wrote: »

Guys, where do I go to eat Pizza???

John's Pizzeria on Bleecker Street is my personal favorite.
Lombardi's and Grimaldi's are both pretty famous.

Indica1

Most of the classic places like Katz, 2nd ave deli, Grimaldi's ect. Aren't bad but it will be overpriced because of the name.

If you like some fancy food this place Tamarind is incredible. Expensive though. http://www.yelp.com/biz/tamarind-new-york

Six wrote: »

If you're going to be in Fort Greene or Clinton Hill in Brooklyn, there are a bunch of places I've written about and recommend that you can check out here: http://www.clintonhillfoodie.com

Also, if you want the real Little Italy, head up to Arthur ave in the Bronx. Shop at Teitel Bros. and eat basically anywhere there. Little Italy in Manhattan is a joke nowadays.

Only place I give a fuck about in fort greene is El Cofre. But I just wrote a great review for crown fried at http://www.bedstuyfoodie.com

Fruhmann

Pony Bar
http://theponybar.com/
$5 craft beers and cask ales
great burgers and soup

Benjamin
http://www.benjaminny.com/
Cinnamon and Cocoa Dusted Duck Breast

Pommes Frites
http://www.pommesfrites.ws/
Potatoes cut into fries with a great selection of dipping sauces

Island Burger
http://islandburgersnewyork.com/
Burgers

Molly's
http://www.mollysshebeen.com/welcome.html
Burgers

Cony Ly
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cong-ly-restaurant-new-york
Pho!

Kenka
http://www.yelp.com/biz/kenka-new-york
Japanese food. Lots of interesting stuff here if you're into crucified frogs, bull dick soup, various testicles and such. or just tasty standard jap food dishes.

Stormwatcher

That list is amazing.
What about BURRITOS!? I want Burritos.

Deebaser

Just found out about this one.

The Way Station...

Stormwatcher

Dr. Whoritos?

minirhyder

Deebaser wrote: »

Just found out about this one.

The Way Station...

Been there once. Not as awesome as they make it out to be
It was fairly empty when I was there, and the beer selection is poor.
Though the few patrons that were there did dress up.

CygnusZ

I would stay away from gimmicky places.

Erios

Burgers: Five Napkin Burger. This is a real man's burger, none of that shake shack tinyness.

BBQ: John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City/Astoria (just a quick hop on the N/Q from Midtown). Get a burnt ends platter and plenty of sides.

New York doesn't do burritos well, but I say that as a snobby Californian. I do like Oaxaca's mole burrito (48th and Park ave. or so) though.

Stormwatcher

Dude, I'm in Brazil, anything remotely Mexican made in North America is a billion times better than the crappy "mexican" "food" we get here. Even Taco Bell.

Deebaser

CygnusZ wrote: »

I would stay away from gimmicky places.

Then why'd you list a bunch of tourist traps?
:P

The only reason I mentioned the Dr. Who themed bar is because one of my buddy's accidentally popped in on Sunday and thought it was unexpectedly hilarious. Next time I'm in the area I'll check it out for a laugh.

Arioch25

For burritos I'd recommend Dos Toros they have two locations one off Union Square and one on the lower west side I think, though I typically get tacos.

For soup dumplings I love Joe Shanghai's in china town. Agree on totto ramen, for Udon I'd recommend Soba-ya.

Burgers : Shake Shack, Island Burger, Burger Joint are my favorites

DEFINITELY get some Kati Rolls from Birynari Cart on 46th and 6th mentioned above. If you can't make it there Kati Roll Company is good to in the West Village.

All of these are in Manhattan. Have fun.

Indica1

http://www.yelp.com/biz/franks-express-pizza-new-york
http://www.yelp.com/biz/grand-sichuan-international-chelsea-new-york-2
I like these places.

Indica1

http://www.yelp.com/biz/minca-new-york this is my favorite ramen but it gets crowded