Lotte-Assi Plaza

131 -09 39th Ave
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 321-8000

Store hours: 8AM - 10PM

http://www.lotteplaza.com

This has got to be the largest Asian/ International Market in the NYC area with branches scattered about the United States (check website for addresses).

Mainly Korean, the store also carries a large variety of sauces and ingredients from China, Japan, and the Philippines. They also sell a few kitchen and home gadgets and small appliances.

Produce, seafood and meats geared towards Asian cooking are also sold here at average to pretty good prices. I was lucky to grab some packaged beef short ribs at $2.59 per pound before they went into the deep freeze section. This week fresh crab is selling at 99¢ per pound! Click my photos to see larger versions.

The staff is Korean but they pretty much understand and speak English and the signs above each aisle are printed in English.

The store is brightly lit and clean and a short walk from the 7 train to Main Street.
All major credit cards and food stamps are accepted.

Mitsuwa Marketplace NJ

595 River Road,
Edgewater, NJ 07020
TEL: (201) 941-9113

http://www.mitsuwa.com/english/index.html

Located just a few minutes from NYC, Mitsuwa is a large shopping place specializing in Japanese foods, cookware, groceries, sake, wine, cosmetics ... you name it! It's like taking a trip to Japan without the airfare! Items may be a bit expensive but it's because they are imported from Japan.

Mitsuwa offers a shuttle bus that travels back and forth from Pennsylvania Station's Gate 51. The fare is $3 cash each way.

You can view the shuttle schedule here.

Monster Sushi

158 West 23rd Street

New York, NY

212-620-9131

This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants that I've been going to for many years and it has always been consistent in it's great food, service, and price at this location.

Recently returned to this branch for lunch with friends. WARNING! This place is VERY popular and you may have to wait for a table. Best time is after 1PM when it dies down and you can hear yourself think let alone get a table.

We started off with Shrimp Tempura, Soft Shell Crab Tempura, and Shigiyaki (fried eggplant with sweet miso paste). Simply delicious and the eggplant was creamy, sweet, and luscious.

Lunch Bento Specials are $14.95 (Dinner is $17.95) and come with miso soup, salad, shumai or spring roll, California, Salmon, or Tuna roll, rice, and your choice of entrée.

I opted for Chilean Sea Bass this time as I had Tonkatsu a few weeks ago here too.

The waiter and servers were very attentive and friendly and the complimentary back rubs from the massage pads (look for them!) made for a more enjoyable and relaxing experience (that and the bottle of sake we had too!)

Definitely a place I will return to again and again.

I haven't checked out the other branch in midtown but will soon and post a review.

Chinatown East

1650 3rd Avenue
New York, NY 10128
(212) 987-3500
http://www.chinatowneastnyc.com



Came here last night to try out their AYCE sushi for $25.95 per person. A full menu offering Chinese and Japanese dishes a la carte is also available. Sushi and Sahimi is offered at $1 per piece as well.

First off the place is small with 20 tables or so with a small bar when you first enter and a small sushi bar off to the back. Dark wood and stone walls are set off by blue and green neon lights about the ceiling and the sushi bar. The stone cocktail bar slowly changes through all the colors of the rainbow. Three large flat screen TVs on the walls air CNN, ESPN, and local news on mute. Soft Asian music plays over the speakers while recessed intensity lights are set on dim to enhance the mood.

The sushi menu is quite extensive ranging from the standard sushi and maki rolls to Chef's and House special maki rolls. A variety of soups and salads are also included as well as ONE house saki (hot or cold) which you can also substitute beer, wine, or a soda. An AYCD price of $14.95 is also offered.

The waitress comes over with a pad and takes your order also warning you that if you don't finish everything on your plate, you will be charged menu price for items wasted (isn't that the case in all AYCE?)

After your order is placed, the starter (soup or salad) is brought to your table a well as your beverage. Then your plate of sushi comes to your table displayed artfully by the sushi chef. I started with the green salad which consisted of iceberg lettuce, thinly shaved red cabbage, and thread-like carrot shreds dressed with the sweet, Japanese carrot ginger dressing.
The sushi was quite fresh for a Tuesday night in my humble opinion and the rice perfect.
For being a Chinese-Japanese restaurant I was impressed. Once your are finished with your plate, the waitress comes around again clearing your plate and to ask if you would like to order again. Plate sharing is not allowed so be careful when over ordering!

After a plate of sushi and a plate of maki I was stuffed and the saki I had made me a bit sleepy. I was content, sushi craving satiated, and probably will visit again.

An 18% gratuity is automatically put on the bill and there is a 2 hour limit at the table. The bill is accompanied with Chinese fortune cookies as a sweet ending.