Men Kui Tei

Men Kui Tei in Midtown West is still my favorite ramen shop in NYC for a few reasons:

1. Its cheap: $7 to $9 on average gets you a huge bowl of ramen with broth (compared to the more expensive $12-15 options such as Totto Ramen and Ippudo. 
2. It's quick: the food comes out in minutes, which is a plus when you're starvin'! 
3. It's no-frills: If you just want a bowl of ramen, get in and get out, this place is ideal. No need to look chic (I doubt most ramen houses have a dress code, but NYC tends to do things up a bit) and the customers don't linger. During rush hour, the wait is still tolerable.

Shown above is the Menkui Ramen. A hearty bowl of seaweed-flavored broth with three pieces of char siu pork, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, and scallions. The bamboo shoots provide a great crunch, while the pork adds a savory dimension. We also ordered the Curry Ramen to explore, but concluded that it is not to be recommended. The Wonton Ramen is not bad either.

Hudson Terrace Craft Beer Festival

Want to trade in old-fashioned love for liquid romance instead? The Hudson Terrace Craft Beer Festival would have been your ultimate speed date. There were over 50 types of beer and just two hours to discover your next summer fling. As part of an ongoing  Cocktail Series, which I received free tickets to attend from them, the festival attracted a mix of established beer-lovers and curious newbies. From fruit-tinted summer ales to toasty IPA's, there was a flavor for everyone. B and I both found some new favorites and re-encountered some old friends (e.g., The Pourhouse Bomb).

Sake Bar Hagi

Sake Bar Hagi is one of my favorite not-so-well kept secrets (I love telling people about this place and I hate telling people about this place). For me, it is probably the ONLY restaurant worth going to around Times Square.