SOHO – Rays Picks NYC

Hiroko’s Place
75 Thompson St
New York, NY 10012
(212) 625-1303

*This venue is now closed.

Lost among all the high end shopping and boutique stores in SOHO is a small Japanese restaurant called Hiroko’s Place. Located along Thompson St., it feels more like a café than a restaurant. There are eclectic patterned seat covered steel Windsor chairs, different shapes of tables, and plush sofas and chairs. The walls are nicely decorated with Japanese watercolor art, a curio cabinet is filled with porcelain tea sets and figurines, completed with bookcase filled with Manga books. The floor to ceiling store front windows brighten up the inside on a sunny day.

Hiroko’s Place specializes in a Japanese style of cooking called yoshoku (meaning Western Food). Unfamiliar with the general public, yoshoku was first introduced during the Meiji Restoration in the mid-19th century. A period when Japan transformed from a secluded nation into adopting Western ideas which the emperor believed was a means to the nation’s future progress. During this process Japan adopted Western food and put a little twist to it.

Like many first time diners I was baffled on my initial visit at Hiroko’s Place. Expecting the staple Japanese dishes – rolls, udon, and yakatori – on their menu. Instead, I was presented by what we Americans call comfort food.

There are a few Japanese inspired appetizers like the crab and shrimp shumai and the Kara-age (Japanese style fried chicken) which is a great way to start a meal or just to snack on. The entrée choices are broad, from spaghetti and casseroles to sandwiches!

The Mushroom Spaghetti greets you with its earthy aromatic mixture of mushrooms making it one of my favorite dishes in this restaurant while its Sea Food counterpart is just as delicious. Their Chicken and Vegetable Curries has a gentle touch of spiciness and when the curry sauce is mixed with the white rice it becomes a hearty dish. The Pizza Toast and Casserole Sea Food gratin are both similar in that they are filling dishes. On my last visit here I had the Fried Shrimp, one of their specialty dishes. Deep fried jumbo shrimp covered in panko (Japanese style bread crumbs) served with rice and eggs.

The best dish that I’ve tasted at Hiroko’s Place is the Omu Rice (rice omelet) that is stuffed with fried rice, chicken, and vegetables. For a dollar more the omu rice is transformed into Anpan-Man Omu Rice, presented with a smiling face and Japanese inscription designed in ketchup.

Hiroko’s Place offers desserts that are not too sweet and go well with the in house made coffees. A Green Tea Parfait served in a tall glass and the Custard Pudding A La Mode are both packed with fruits and ice cream while the A la Mode is served with a glass of liquid sugar to sweeten it up to your liking.

Unfortunately there are no alcoholic drinks served at Hiroko’s Place which can be discouraging for some, but the siphon coffee maker behind the bar brews a potent cup of coffee that any caffeine snob can appreciate. They offer an array of teas and milkshakes as well.

Food prices are inexpensive, large plates are no more than $20 dollars and appetizers average at $8, a surplus for an individual to do more shopping in the neighborhood!

Guests are greeted in Japanese by the staff when you walk in and as you leave. It is a popular spot among native Japanese diners which occupy the restaurant at any given day of the week. On one of my visits I overheard a guest talking to his companion that the food that they serve at this restaurant was close to the one that he had served in Japan. Hiroko’s Place is authentic as it gets!

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Despaña SOHO
408 Broome St
New York, NY 10013
212 219 5050
Official Site

In New York City you can travel the globe without using a passport, from Japan to France. Food has a way of allowing an individual to enjoy a culture through its native dishes. Luckily we live in a city that is a melting pot of cultures. All that is needed is a metro card.

Spanish fare is a favorite amongst many and right here in the popular SOHO, Despana is a few short steps to Spain.

From the moment you walk through the doors, it feels like you’ve just travelled to Spain in mere seconds. There’s Jamon Iberco – cured hams – on display by the entrance. Refrigerated counter tops with an array of manchego cheese, meats, and chorizo that were made at Despana’s original location in Queens. On the opposite side of the store are bottles of olive oils stacked neatly on the wall, along with vinegars and jams imported directly from Spain as well as various canned sea foods that the region is well known for producing.

Despana is not just like any other boutique store in the neighborhood but rather a food journey of the different Spanish regions. The staff is well informed and willing to educate those that are unfamiliar with this particular type of food. Samples are available throughout the store to tantalize the taste buds prior to purchasing.

Aside from being a store, Despana also boasts a café where customers can experience authentic Spanish flavors. It offers excellent tapas and bocadillos, a type of Spanish sandwich, as well as premade pinxtos and tortillas (also known as a Spanish omelette) that are on display behind the counter.

Located in the back the café is fitted with a dining area where guests can enjoy these delectable dishes. The space has three communal marbled topped tables paired with metal red chairs, its white tiled walls are decorated with two large mirrors and industrial pendant lamps provide a well lit area for a casual sit down meal.

Not only does everything look good and with the price of the most expensive item on the menu not exceeding more than $10 it is easy to over indulge.

Pintxos are similar to bruschetta that takes about two to three bites to consume. The Bacalao Croquette, Tortilla, Manchego, Spicy Sardine, and Boqarones are all very good considering they’re pre-made. The Piquillo Rebozado made with Piquillo peppers stuffed with cod and the omelette with shrimp salad called Tortilla and Gambas were my favorites.

There are 15 different kinds of Bocadillos to choose from. Most of the sandwiches contain pork ingredients like ham and chorizo served on delicious Ciabatta bread. Since I don’t eat pork (personal preference), my choices were limited. They also have a vegetarian option with roasted vegetables. The bocadillos I had an opportunity to taste were the Pescador and the Torilla Bocadillo, both were delightful, but the Pescador stood out most. I enjoyed the flavor combination of the Aioli, white tuna, and anchovies in this.

They also have stellar tapas offerings like the Boquarones, white anchovies with garlic and parsley and for the olive lover the Spanish Olives is a must. It’s a mix of the country’s different kinds of marinated olives. There is an Octopus and Olive Oil tapas, one of the best octopus dish that I’ve had in New York City. The octopus meat has a soft texture while the paprika added a wonderful flavor. I like that the ingredients used in their food is also available in the store. This allows the customers to be creative and design their own tapas in the comfort of their own home.

Despana offers Spanish vinos and beer from their wine store located right next door. They serve tasty sangria, which is as good as the one I’ve had in Spain. It has the perfect balance of sweetness and thickness of the red wine.

Unfortunately, Despana in SOHO is only open till 7pm, so I usually come for a late lunch or an early dinner. During that time the café is empty and not as crowded on the weekend where hoards of tourist visiting Little Italy and Chinatown tend to pack this place. How I wished they would stay open later.

Who would have thought that Despana, a store that sells high quality edible products from Spain, also offers food that is even better than some of these so called “Spanish” restaurants in New York City?

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be mature. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a treatment set to treat few ailments. What do you have to view about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you should ask your pharmacist about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In addition, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are ordinarily able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may turn on erectile disfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other folk even if their state appears to be the same as yours.

Tag: SOHO

Hiroko’s Place

Despana SOHO