Three Tables Worth Sitting At

Tomoni

The newest Japanese spot in Woodside, known for its HUGE and loaded donburis! I tried their chirashi donburi, which was absolutely gorgeous, featuring super-thick cuts of a great variety of fresh fish. I also got to try their crazy una-tama donburi, which is every bit as crazy as it looks online. I highly recommend getting their chicken karaage, it’s super juicy, crispy, and easily one of my favorite bites of the night.

Cho Dan Gol

A big statement, but this is NYC’s best Korean spot for country-style dishes. In Korean, we have a word called 손맛 (son-mat), which loosely translates to the taste of someone’s hands. It describes that loving, comforting quality that comes from someone’s hard work, care, and individuality in a dish. That is exactly how I feel when I eat here. Get their spicy galbijjim, try one of their tofu dishes (they proudly make everything in-house!), and order something from their seasonal menu for the full Korean flavor experience!

Raku

This is probably NYC’s favorite udon spot, and for good reason! They make their udon noodles in-house, giving them an incredible bounce and chew that I haven’t experienced anywhere else. I tried a cold udon this time: the sansai bukkake, with mountain vegetables, tempura, and a poached egg. It was beautifully umami-rich and savory, basically the perfect refreshing dish to round out my summer. If you have room for appetizers, try their ebiten maki, bacon, and chicken tatsutage!