How to Dine like a Local in New York's Herald Square

If your train has ever pulled up into Penn Station, or you've stayed at the Pennsylvania Hotel or the Radisson Martinique, you know that Herald Square and the surrounding area are mobbed by tourists day and night. However, the area offers a hard-to-beat convenience in transportation, lodging, and shopping (Macy's flagship store). What to do if you're starving after a long trip, or need a break from your shopping binges? Despite the prevalence of chain restaurants and "touristy" food establishments in Herald Square, it's still possible to dine like a local if you're willing to explore a little. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Pocha 32
Herald Square is just around the corner from K-Town (Korea Town) where you can find authentic Korean restaurants and markets. You'll find few tourists in any of these locales, but of particular renown is Pocha 32, a Korean restaurant and bar where you can feast on well-done Korean staples and wash it down with genuine Korean alcoholic drinks, such as makkoli (rice wine) and soju. A couple of warnings: the food can get very spicy, and they serve barley tea instead of water (so bring a bottle if you need your H2O, readily available at the street vendors down the block).

Pad Thai
If you're willing to stray a little further from Herald Square, you'll find this Thai restaurant on 8th Avenue down the street from Penn Station. The staple dishes (such as pad thai, lad nar, etc.) are solid, and the restaurant offers other interesting takes on Thai cuisine as well. Of particular note is the chicken avocado curry dish, which artfully blends Thai spices with the cooling flavor of the avocado. Service is friendly and fast, and it's one of the cheapest good eats in the area.

Canaan Japanese Restaurant
What New York experience would be complete without sushi? Stroll over to 29th Street, where you'll find an unassuming (but delicious) sushi place serving all kinds of sushi rolls, sashimi, noodles, dumplings-all very tasty and whipped up in a flash! The lunch special is a steal at $9.50 for three rolls, and you'll appreciate their speediness when you're trying to keep to your schedule. Canaan is also well-known for having more vegetarian sushi options than most other Japanese restaurants.

Il Campanello Restaurant
Tucked away on 31st Street, you'll be glad you sought it out instead of settling into the Olive Garden on Times Square! Not just another watered-down Italian Restaurant, Il Campanello serves delectable dishes such as beef carpaccio, beet salad, grilled sea bass, and of course, plenty of wine. Though a bit pricier than the other restaurants on this list, it's still reasonably priced given the quality of the décor, food, and service.

Restaurant Information

Pocha 32
Address:
15 W 32nd Street, 2nd Floor
(between 5th Avenue & Broadway)
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 279-1874

Il Campanello Restaurant
Address:
136 W 31st Street
(between 6th and 7th Avenues)
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 695-6111

Pad Thai
Address:
409 8th Avenue
(between 30th Street & 31st Street)
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 268-2752

Canaan Japanese Restaurant
154 W 29th Street
(between 6th and 7th Avenues)
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 947-9298