Momofuku Noodle Bar

This sleek, wooden East Village noodle bar has the right kind of hype—not the high-gloss, flashy, media type, but the street level, word-of-mouth kind. The reason? Traditional Japanese noodle dishes with a heavy American accent, all served a space that feels something like being belowdecks on a wooden ship. The house variety, and clear favorite, comes with pork belly, pork shoulder, and a poached egg. The miniature pork buns with hoisin, scallion, and cucumber are another stand out, and several can be eaten in a sitting. Vegetarians fret not; Momofuku’s proximity to the Greenmarket ensures lots of fresh vegetables to enjoy with sources proudly listed on the large chalkboard in the center.