There’s an absurd amount brunch spots in NYC, and every weekend hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are faced with the existential crisis of deciding which place to choose.
I love brunch as much as the next millennial. But I refuse to pay $15 for an avocado toast or $20 for an omelette that I could make at home. When I brunch (and when I eat out in general), I stick to places serving up flavors I’d never whip up at home. And it just so happens some of my favorite flavors are from Asia! If you love Asian cuisine as much as me, then you’re in luck…
Here are 3 Asian-fusion brunch spots in NYC that you need to taste to believe
For a Taste of Thailand…. Thai Diner
Thai Diner is a popular Nolita spot that serves up elevated Thai food with a twist. The inside is cute and cozy, yet sophisticated, with that type of dark, moody lighting that’ll convince you $15 if reasonable for a cocktail. While the dinner menu boasts the likes of Khao Soi ($24) and crab fried rice ($28), the brunch menu has some devishly delicious bites that are a bit more frugal (and mega delicious).
The Thai Diner sandwich ($14) is a non-negotiable. It features egg, cheese, herbal sausage and Thai basil all hugged together in a warm, house made roti. The eggs are beautifully fluffy and the sausage adds just enough greasiness. I appreciate the freshness the Thai basil brings, and the chili jam is the perfect slightly sweet, slightly spicy finisher to tie it all together.
The Thai Tea Babka French Toast ($15) is also legendary. While the French toast itself is a bit on the thin side for my liking, the Thai tea butter and drizzle of condensed milk create a symphony of sweet and salty flavors that’ll get your taste buds dancing.
You’re also straight up missing out if you don’t get the roti keng fak tong ($12) as an app. It comes with 2 perfectly soft turmeric roti with a spicy kabocha pumpkin red curry for dipping. This curry is unbelievable. It has a subtle, slow heat that tickles the taste buds rather than accosts them, meaning you can appreciate the depth of pumpkin flavor.
If you share these 3 dishes (which will be plenty of food), you’re looking at a reasonable $20.50 per person pre-tax and tip. Which gets The Frugal Foodies stamp of approval given the top quality ambiance, quality, and locale, making Thai Diner one of the best brunch spots in NYC!
For a Taste of China (mixed with American and Jewish cuisine.)… Golden Diner
Golden Diner is a cozy spot in Chinatown that serves up diner fare that blends Chinese, Jewish, and American flavors.
The honey butter pancakes ($15) are the star of the show. They are perfectly thick and fluffy with a soft crisp on the bottom. The honey butter is rich a decadent, and the syrup has a hint of lemon zest to add a unique pop of acid.
Another dish you simply can’t skip is the Chinatown Egg and Cheese Sando ($12). The eggs are buttery and soft, and a sizable hash brown gives each bite a crunch. Everything is sandwiched between a milk bun, which adds a soft sweetness to the mix. A true gem of a breakfast sandwich. We also tried the chicken katsu club ($19). I thought I’d hate the hefty scoop of cabbage. But surprisingly enough, it didn’t totally overwhelm the katsu. It was tasty, but I think $19 was a bit steep.
If and when I go again, I’d recommend each party gets a Chinatown Egg and Cheese sando, then an order of the pancakes to share. That would come to $19.50 per person pre tax and tip. Not too shabby!
For a Taste of Japan… Rule of Thirds
Greenpoint, Brooklyn is stuffed with super aesthetic restaurants that are perfect for trendy millennials with 6 figure salaries who have opted for dogs instead of children. (Check out my Greenpoint food crawl HERE!) Rule of Thirds is one such place. The vibes are bright, airy, and sleek, with warm sandalwood tones and high ceilings. To get into the main dining space, you walk past traditional Japanese style seating and lush greenery.
The brunch menu boasts unique and traditional Japanese fare for the $15-$30 per dish range, and we tried a few things
The highlight (and reason we went) was the Japanese soufflé pancake ($20). It reminded me of a Dutch baby meets angel food cakes meets pancake. Somehow they managed the perfect fluffiness to gooeyness ratio, and a dusting of sesame added something special.
We also tried the karaage ($17) and chicken katsu sando ($19). Each dish had perfectly cooked chicken and lovely blends of textures. However, each dish was missing flavor and unfortunately bland. The katsu was close to deliciousness, but the meager tablespoon of mustard on the side couldn’t quite get the job done.
I’d go back to Rule of Thirds for the pancake, but I’d try another brunch item over the sando and karaage.
