Typhoon Lounge - Swept Away

There are some nights when you don't want to deal with the hassles of eating out at another trendy chi-chi restaurant in NYC, and you just want a quick dinner at a dependable, no-frills restaurant with grub that hits the spot. Typhoon Lounge in the East Village fits the bill perfectly--the turnaround for a table is very quick, tasty, satisfying food is served very soon after, and in no time is your appetite satiated!

The options at Typhoon Lounge tends to be on the heartier, heavier side, so it's perfect for those days when you plan on drinking a lot of beers and need something in your system to absorb all the alcohol. If you're watching your figure, you probably shouldn't head over here, since there's no way you can resist the temptations of all types of fried meat and carb-heavy offerings. But if you do succumb to the pressures, as I always do, you'll find some reassurance in knowing that those calories were well spent on something tasty.The multiple times I've been to Typhoon, I always order the saikoro steak, which basically consists of cubed steak and diced potatoes stir-fried with some yakisoba noodles, simmering in the sweet juicy goodness of the meat's natural fatty juices and soy sauce. It's served with a jalapeno dipping sauce, but I find that swirling the meat cubes in its own rich sauce is all the flavor you need. The taste is reminiscent of a Korean galbi (beef short-ribs) dish that my mom makes, so if you're a fan of galbi, you'll like this. The saikoro steak will usually be the anchor dish that we always order, and then we'll grab 3-4 other sides dishes and a rice/noodle dish to finish things off. Most of the portions here are tapas-style, so dinner is a fun event where you can nibble on a variety of options rather than limiting yourself to one or two things. I was a big fan of the fried calamari, which comes with a great sweet, dipping sauce, as well as the shrimp and pork gyozas (broiled dumplings) and spicy chicken wings. The octopus balls on the other hand really creeped me out with its weird texture and appearance; it almost felt like you were staring at a quivering jelly-fish type organ.

If you're feeling especially hungry, order the okonomiyaki or Japanese-style pancake, which really is not so much a pancake as it is a savory casserole molded into a circular shape. At first glance, it looks like a crazy mess of noodles, seafood and meat topped with a gravy-type tonkatsu sauce and fish flakes, but despite the mumbo-jumbo of ingredients it is actually very tasty.

There are so many offerings on the menu, I've probably only covered 1/16th of the menu in this entry, it's impossible to try out most of them at one sitting. Which makes multiple visits here entirely necessary, and you won't be bored since you'll keep ordering different things even on your fifth time there. So come here for dinner soon and be blown away by a storm of options at Typhoon Lounge!


Typhoon Lounge
79 St. Marks Pl., New York, NY 10003
212-979-2680
(St. Marks Pl. and 1st Ave.)

Rating (out of 5 stars):***
Style: Japanese
Prices: $6-$12 (great value)
Summary: Go here if you're looking to grab something fast, filling and cheap in a bustling, casual environment, a perfect prelude to a late night out.