Owner Amy Tichenor felt Queens’ best beach neighborhood was missing a proper tiki bar and filled that gap in April 2021. The magic is in the details at Rockaway Tiki Bar. Beyond just serving frozen cocktails, the bar is stocked with quality liquor, and the thoughtful food menu appeals to diners with all types of diets. The funky decor plastered all over the walls is carefully curated, with license plates from Hawaii and Mexico and photos from Amy’s travels to tiki bars around the world.

I showed up on a Saturday afternoon intending to try a frozen concoction or two, but I also brought a healthy appetite. Even in January, I found the bar packed, likely due to their weekend brunch program, which debuted this year on New Year’s Day. I was not in a brunch mood, though, so I ordered from the standard menu.

There’s a nice mix of plant-based and carnivorous options and even an entirely separate menu for gluten-free diners. Rockaway Tiki Bar considers dietary needs to such an extent that  all of their soy is gluten-free and all of their mayo is vegan.

The first thing that caught my eye were the different options for dumplings: chicken teriyaki, pork and cabbage, pan-seared shrimp or edamame. Having never had an edamame dumpling before, I went for the latter. They have two bao bun varieties, both vegan: miso mushroom or peanut tamari tofu. I ordered the mushroom.

The poke bowls are the best sellers, so I also had to go with one of those, topped with ahi tuna, and I threw in a kimchi hotdog for good measure.

The edamame dumplings were simple, steamed dumplings, filled to the brim with buttery, nutty, al dente edamame.

They say you eat with your eyes first, and the poke bowl definitely supports that theory. Like a rainbow on a plate, the bowl was piled high with morsels of deep pink tuna, pops of green edamame, slivers of purple cabbage and orange carrots, all decorated with black sesame seeds and salmon-colored spicy mayo. The taste brought just as much flair, and I can foresee my summer days in the Rockaways being fueled by a refreshing poke bowl taken to-go to enjoy on the beach.

The miso mushroom bao buns won the gold for me. The fluffy buns are stuffed with umami-packed meaty mushrooms, and the miso gives it just enough creaminess, which contrasted well with the tang and crunch of the marinated cabbage. I could’ve only had the mushroom bao buns at Rockaway TIki Bar and it would be reason enough to come back.

That said, I sure am glad I also ordered the kimchi dog. Even in the frigid New York winter, something about being near the beach makes me a sucker for a hotdog. The kimchi dog, priced at only $9, is topped generously with pickled, spicy kimchi, cabbage slaw, shredded cheddar, and spicy mayo on a Martin’s potato roll. Just as I could foresee fueling myself with the poke bowl on my more civilized Rockaway days, I can just as easily imagine sitting at Rockaway Tiki Bar with a kimchi dog, then knocking back a few frozen cocktails to work up my appetite for another.

Speaking of the cocktails, you won’t find premixed, products full of high fructose corn syrup here. All the juices and syrups are fresh, and the liquor in stock features several women-owned tequila brands, as well as local vodkas and gins. But don’t feel pressured to stick with sugary, citrus-packed drinks just because of the environment you’re in.

“The bartenders know what they’re doing,” Amy tells me. “If you want a martini, you can get a martini.”

But if you do find yourself there on a particularly hot day — or during their weekday happy hours from noon to 6 — you simply must try their Painchiller, made with three Caribbean rums, pineapple juice, coconut cream and orange juice, topped with fresh grated nutmeg.

Address: 6720 Rockaway Beach Blvd, Queens, N.Y. 11692

Phone: (347) 619-9369

Hours: Monday to Friday noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Prices: Tiki Bites $7-$13; Specialties $9-$20

Takeout and delivery available; no reservations.

Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.

I hadn’t yet been, but I had been to Uncle Boons, the previous restaurant helmed by Thai Diner owners Ann Redding and Matt Danzer. Uncle Boons was one of many beloved joints that couldn’t survive the pandemic.

Since Uncle Boons was no longer an option, off we went to Thai Diner, which opened in 2020, to see if it upheld the same standard. The menu is expansive, but the first thing that caught my eye were the Thai disco fries. I’m a sucker for a saucy potato, especially in fry form, so we immediately ordered that, along with a pitcher of spicy tamarind margaritas made with Thai bird chili. And because we aren’t total hedonists, we threw in a Baan salad, which features a romaine base topped with crispy red curry rice, watercress, avocado, Thai herbs and sweet chili dressing.

Salad, fries and spicy margs were certainly the antidote my body was craving after a stressful first year of law school. When the bowl of Thai disco fries arrived, I knew I was in for a treat. Crinkle-cut fries are completely smothered in a Massaman curry sauce, mixed with pickled green peppercorns, red onion, peanuts and coconut cream and topped with thinly sliced scallions.

The result is a spicy Thai-American fusion dish — a genius one at that. Despite having so much going on, it all comes together cohesively and electrifies the senses. The pops of green pickled peppercorns add acidity and zing, while the crunch of the peanuts helps break up the sauce. If you order this dish, which, you have my full endorsement to do so, just make sure to dig toward the bottom of the bowl to get all of that saucy goodness.

Between bites of curry-ladled fries and sips of spicy tamarind margs, the Baan salad came out, and one bite in confirmed that Thai Diner has textural dishes nailed. The crispy rice throughout forever changed the way I eat salads, and in the months following my first visit to Thai Diner, I found myself at home crisping up leftover, heavily seasoned white rice in an attempt to re-create the Baan salad. Spoiler alert: They do it much better than I do.

That first visit in 2022 made me a loyal fan of Thai Diner, and anytime I find myself in this neck of Manhattan, I make time to swing by to get some Thai disco fries and a Thai iced tea. Recently, on a particularly chilly day, I made my way back. With the frigid temperatures starting to make me sniffle, I ordered some aromatic kuaytiew ped, or duck noodle soup, to go with my fries.

While Thai diner’s spins on disco fries, breakfast sandwiches and cheesesteaks are somewhat kitschy Thai spins on American comfort foods, dishes like the kuaytiew ped show that the roots of this place are not only chef-driven, but a true testament to Thailand.

Made with tender duck swimming alongside brown rice noodles in a broth with soy, star anise, cinnamon and purple basil, the kuaytiew ped feels like a warm hug in a bowl. It feels personal, like someone in the kitchen knew I had a stuffy nose and that my allergies were flaring up, and they said, “Here, I made you some soup.” The brown rice noodles are extra chewy, and the duck is so tender that it shredded with a spoon.

Thai Diner carries on some of the dishes from Uncle Boons, including their khao pat puu (crab fried rice) and famous coconut sundae. They offer Thai classics like khao soi, a northern Thai turmeric and chicken leg curry noodle dish (another one of my go-to comfort dishes on a cold day). They also serve fun breakfast options like their Thai tea babka French toast.

If your experience is anything like mine, it won’t matter what you order at Thai Diner; you’re in for a memorable, fragrant meal regardless. But whatever you do, make sure you start your meal off with those Thai disco fries.

Address: 186 Mott St., New York, NY, 10012

Phone: (646) 559-4140

Hours: Sunday 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m-11:30 p.m.

Prices: Breakfast $14-$26; snacks $13-$17; soup & sandwich $10-$21; salads $15; Thai classics $21-$29; from our woks $20-$26; house specialties $26-$29; sides $2-$9; raw bar $16-$185; desserts $5-$10

Takeout and delivery available; limited reservations (primarily walk-ins).

Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.

Founded in 2015 by wife-and-hubby duo Daniel Mekelburg and Alicia Guevara, the restaurant started as a simple sandwich shop with four or five menu items. Now, with two locations, in Clinton Hill and Williamsburg, they’re serving up a mix of American comfort food with Sicilian, Jewish and Hispanic influence, as a nod to the couples’ collective heritage. The space is shared with Guevara’s, a vegan coffee shop that also sells plants.

In true hidden-gem fashion, it’s quite easy to miss the entrance to Mekelburg’s. Despite the address being on Kent Ave, you have to turn onto S. Third St. to get inside. Once you find it, head toward the back to find a comfortable, cushiony eatery with diner vibes.

I wanted to try a variety of dishes, so I didn’t hold back on ordering. As I waited for my slightly unhinged quantity of food to come out, I started with a maracuya, or passionfruit, margarita. Shortly after my marg arrived, plates of wings began to fill the table. Mekelburg’s wings are breaded and come in either BBQ, Buffalo, Nashville hot, or ginger scallion varieties. The standout flavor was the ginger scallion. The presence of lemongrass is evident, and that extra green zhuzh makes the bite complete.

Flavor aside, what’s perhaps most impressive about these wings is the price. An order of four costs $12 or you can get eight for $20 — and these bad boys are far from measly. During their happy hour, which runs weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and all night on Tuesdays, wings are only a buck apiece. The only prerequisite is you must purchase a drink, but if the rest of their cocktails are as easy to throw back as their delicious maracuya margs, it’s an easy sell. You can also opt for an agua fresca if you want to stay alcohol-free.

After my wings, it was time to try what first put Mekelburg’s on the map: their sandwiches. I ordered the Nashville hot chicken (a best seller), the “Big Mek” (a dry-aged beef burger), a chicken parm sandwich, a porchetta sandwich, and a double butter burger (their smash burger, which is the best bang for your buck at $10). All of their burgers are made with a special Pat LaFrieda blend made especially for Mekelburg’s.

I started with the hot chicken after hearing it’s a top seller. While I did get that initial spice, I was then hit with a subtle sweetness that almost caramelized around the sizzling hot fried chicken, giving it an extra crunch. The chicken was incredibly tender and juicy, which is likely due to the three-day saltwater and buttermilk brining process. It’s then fried to a golden brown, topped with their own spice blend, and covered in hot honey.

When the porchetta sandwich came out, it was a real “Oooh, ahhh,” moment for the table. Its abundant pork, stuffed between crusty semolina bread with pops of green from the broccoli rabe makes this sandwich a 10 out of 10 in the looks department. Tastewise, the rating is equally high.

The meat, like the chicken in the Nashville hot, is given several days of love, with a four-day process before it makes it to the plate. First, a center cut pork loin gets rubbed with a blend of herbs and spices. It’s then wrapped with skin-on pork belly and goes into the oven to slow roast. During this process, the pork skin puffs up, giving it a crisp texture. Finally, the porchetta is sliced tissue-paper thin and piled high on a semolina roll from Bakery Boys out of Corona, Queens. The result is a textural, flavor-packed dream of a sandwich. The crunch from bits of pork skin resembles, both texturally and taste-wise, a salty kettle-fried potato chip.

The chicken parm and burgers didn’t miss, either. I particularly appreciated the extra stringy cheese on the chicken parm hero, and the funk of the dry-aged beef on the “Big Mek.” But I needed to save room for another Mekelburg’s staple: their babka.

The menu offers three babka desserts: “Tirameksu,” babka bread pudding, and babka poppers. I simply had to go for the Tirameksu, where the babka is soaked in espresso and whiskey. The portion is big enough to feed a family of four, but even after sampling five sandwiches it was hard to stop eating. (Word of advice: if you visit during happy hour, go for the babka poppers instead, which are only $1 each.)

Address: 319 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11249 and 293 Grand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Phone: (929) 457-6676

Hours: Takeout window open daily 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; dinner service Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; closed Monday nights

Prices: Breakfast $12-$16, Soup $12-$16, Big Salads $20-$22, Sandwiches $10-$24, Shareables $7-$25, Wings $12-$20, Babka $12-$16

Takeout and delivery available; reservations accepted

Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.

Located on Queens Blvd. at the junction of Woodside and Sunnyside, where plenty of international hidden dining gems can be found, The Haab is among the best. I arrived on a fairly snowy winter day and was greeted with the bright highlighter yellow walls and windows lined with colorful Jarritos soda bottles.

It might have been 3 p.m. on a Saturday, but I was there for one thing and one thing only: chilaquiles. This humble egg dish is one of my favorites on the planet, but something of a rarity even in a city as vast as New York. I pretended to scan the menu before blurting out my true intentions: chilaquiles with eggs over medium in that vibrant green sauce (though it’s also offered with red).

I was tempted to order an agua fresca, but it seemed sinister to not order coffee with my eggs, so I settled on Mexican coffee made with star anise, cinnamon and piloncillo, a Mexican brown sugar with a flavor similar to molasses.

As I waited for my eggs, I threw in an order of two tacos, as well: al pastor (pork with pineapple) and pollo (chicken).

I was the only customer when I ordered, but just as my food came out, my friend Danny showed up to meet me. Chalk it up to the subpar snowy weather, but I couldn’t understand why more people weren’t eating Mexican breakfast on a Saturday afternoon.

The chilaquiles were everything I had been looking forward to. Soppy, soaked tortilla chips, completely covered in verde sauce and topped with two eggs that were bound to ooze their precious, golden yolks, coating the whole plate into a big saucy mess. The Mexican coffee had sweetness, bitterness, and just enough warmth from the cinnamon to keep me cozy and make me want to stay a while.

I poked my fork into the two golden yolks and watched them drip amongst the chips. The mixture of sour cream, cotija, and that vibrant, herbaceous sauce mixed with the egg yolk created the dressing of my dreams. The chilaquiles, starting at $16 an order, were so filling and satisfying that I could hardly finish them, but that’s what friends are for, and Danny shamelessly split the messy concoction with me.

While I was less excited about the tacos, one bite into that juicy al pastor reminded me that tacos seldom let me down, especially when they’re as authentic as the ones at The Haab. The Haab’s tacos are no-frills, with sliced radish, juicy limes, double corn tortillas, and all the fixins: onions, cilantro, and avocado sauce. They could just as easily have come from a street stall in Mexico City as from this quaint, Sunnyside eatery.

The Haab has an extensive menu, but eggs seem to be the main attraction. They offer egg sandwiches all day, with toppings like jalapeño, tomato, onion, cilantro, bacon, chorizo and oaxaca cheese. They’re served on either a roll or croissant with prices starting at $3.50. They also offer omelets, huevos tapatíos (two eggs over easy with chorizo on crispy corn tortillas), scrambled eggs with veggies and/or meat, and cold sandwiches like ham and cheese or BLT, starting at $6.

If you (like me) are unwilling to spend $40+ on a mid-day breakfast with boozy concoctions (which, yes, The Haab has micheladas and cervezas) but do occasionally crave eggs in the afternoon, The Haab Mexican Café is here to deliver.

• Address: 4722 48th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377
• Phone: (718) 729-4838
• Hours: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sundays 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Prices: Egg sandwiches $3.50 to $6.50; Chilaquiles $16 to $19; see extensive online menu for more price information
• Takeout and delivery available; no reservations

Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.

The Masters sisters grew up in New York with a Jamaican father and an English mother, so The Edge is the natural confluence of their roots and upbringing. Their menu features dishes like Jamaican ackee and saltfish, British fish and chips and the classic New York combo of bagels with smoked salmon.

Justine was always naturally entrepreneurial with a minimum of five different jobs, while Juliet was a private chef. When they saw an opportunity to take over the space, located in a serene setting near City College of New York, it only made sense to seize it. Since opening, The Edge Harlem has become a neighborhood staple that appeases a wide range of palates — “from 85-year-olds to hipsters,” as Justine puts it.

When I walked in, the first thing I noticed was the thoughtfully decorated interior. The exposed-brick walls had no shortage of art, which primarily consisted of pieces from Victorious, an exhibition by artists Kim Hill, Jessica Sarkodie and Olivia Merchant that focuses on their African and Black American legacies.

Now, let’s talk about the food. In addition to dinner, The Edge Harlem offers brunch both during the week and on weekends. Their menus are separated into three categories: Jamaican, English, and New York. The bestsellers are their coconut fish burgers and codfish fritters. While I didn’t try the coconut fish burger, it’s not hard to understand why the codfish fritters are so popular. They’re a pop-in-your-mouth tasty snack that I could easily foresee myself mindlessly eating while chatting over drinks with friends, or while watching their live music every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

As a Jamaican-inspired restaurant, naturally the jerk chicken is another sought-after dish. It’s incorporated in several familiar dishes, such as jerk chicken and waffles, jerk chicken wings, jerk chicken Caesar salad and a jerk chicken Caesar wrap. Having fallen victim to a viral TikTok food trend, I decided to try the jerk chicken Caesar wrap. Let’s just say: run, don’t walk, to try it. The fresh crunch of romaine lettuce mixed with that subtle but prominent jerk spice makes eating this thing addictive. It doesn’t hurt that the fries that come with it are as golden as the Jamaican sun.

While I love a good cocktail, the Jamaican sorrel drink could have transformed me into a health nut in the blink of an eye. This traditional drink from the Caribbean is wine-hued but the hibiscus-based, herbaceous beverage is both nonalcoholic and a great source of antioxidants. If booze is more your thing, The Edge serves wine and beer, including a selection of wine-based cocktails.

If you really want to get a taste of island life, don’t skip out on ordering a side of festival, a crunchy, fried Jamaican dumpling. Another can’t-miss dish is the ackee and saltfish, the national food of Jamaica — but it is available on weekends only.

And don’t forget the other two nationalities on the menu. From their New York items, go for the black bean veggie burger or the Edge BLT on Texas toast. Want to visit England instead? The savory pie of the day, which is always vegetarian and served with mixed greens, will quickly transport you across the pond.

No need to plan a country-hopping getaway; just hop on the A, C, or D train to 145th St and head to The Edge for a three-for-one experience right here in NYC.

• Address: 101 Edgecombe Ave, New York, N.Y. 10030
• Phone: (212) 939-9688
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Mondays (kitchen closes from 4-5 p.m. daily with drinks only available during that time)
• Prices: Weekday brunch $7 to $18; weekend brunch $8 to $20; dinner $8 to $28; sides $6 each or 3 for $15
• Takeout and delivery available; reservations via Resy.

Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.

Run by Melissa Klein and John Watterberg, Santa Fe BK originally started strictly as a takeout window for three varieties of green chile breakfast burritos (sausage, bacon or potato) and green chile cheeseburgers. John tells me the plan was always to open a full-service sitdown restaurant, but they wanted to wait until they got their liquor license. When that day came in April 2022, Santa Fe BK began its dinner program. (They still run their takeout window until 3 p.m. daily.)

John, an Albuquerque, N.M., native, moved to New York in 2001 and found himself in the service industry, primarily as a bartender. While working at a now-closed New Mexican restaurant, he met Melissa, and their love story began.

“Tequila is the reason we fell in love,” he tells me. My friend and I took that as a sign to order a round of tequila shots served in caballitos, which translates to “tiny horses.”

John’s experience as a bartender shows in their thoughtful cocktail menu. The drink names are all “Game of Thrones”-themed, a nod to longtime Santa Fe, N.M., resident George R. R. Martin. The Reigns of Gold Cocktail is made with añejo tequila, black pepper, cinnamon and a blood orange puree ice cube, which slowly melts, giving each sip a different flavor profile. The Fallen Ranger cocktail has a nod to Albuquerque-set “Breaking Bad,” with rosemary, coconut, pomegranate and a blue crystal rim (if you know, you know).

The menu is fairly straightforward, with green chiles making an appearance in most dishes. My friend and I ordered the Watterburger (a green chile cheeseburger) with a side of queso for the fries, enchiladas and, because health is wealth, the taco salad. All tortillas, including the one used as a vessel for the taco salad, are pressed inhouse every morning at 5 a.m. from a machine that was custom-built in San Antonio.

Shortly after ordering, plates with massive portions began to arrive. Unsure of where to begin, I dipped some fries into the queso while coming up with my game plan. I could’ve just eaten those and been beyond satisfied. The queso is thick, creamy, and rich, and has nice chunks of chopped green chile throughout, giving it a subtle spice and tang. My friend cut the burger in half so we could split it. As soon as I grabbed my half and felt how pillowy soft the bun was, I knew it was going to be good. Confirming, my friend took a bite before I did, and immediately blurted out, “Damn, that’s good.”

The meat was cooked to a perfect temperature, and the green chiles hiding underneath the blanket of cheese were anything but overpowering. John tells me the inspiration for the Santa Fe BK burger comes from Blake’s Lotaburger, a chain in New Mexico that touts itself as the originator of the green chile burger.

The enchilada platter was exactly what anyone would want and expect. The plate was filled from edge to edge, the portion was huge, the green chile chicken inside was tender, and it was messy, cheesy, slightly smoky and bursting with layers of flavor.

John advised me to smash the taco salad, tortilla shell and all, and mix it around, so I went for it. The taco salad consists of little gem lettuce, tomato, red onion avocado and green chile ranch, and you have the option to add green chile chicken, pork adovada, picadillo or pinto beans. John recommended picadillo, so doctor’s orders. The picadillo had a nice kick of heat, and crumbled ground beef throughout the salad meant little bits in every bite.

As for the restaurant interior, the spot is cozy, and resembles standard New Mexican decor. The walls are lined with original photographs of New Mexico by Corey Walker, John’s best friend from high school, naturally.

Whether it’s for a date night, tequila shots and taco salads, or for a quick on-the-go burrito or burger, you’ll want to add Santa Fe BK to your radar for a little Southwest flair right here in NYC.

• Address: 178 N Eighth St, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211
• Phone: (347) 304-1759
• Hours: Takeout window Monday-Sunday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Dinner service: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 5 p.m.-11 p.m., closed Monday nights
• Prices: Takeout menu — Green Chile Breakfast Burritos $11; “Sack O’ Six” Breakfast Burritos $60; Green Chile Cheeseburger $9; “Sack O’ Six” Green Chile Cheeseburgers $50; fries $4. Dinner menu — Chips and dips $12; snacks $14; plates $16 to $28 
• Takeout and delivery available; reservations accepted

Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.

From there, they moved on to Smorgasburg and, eventually, their own stall at Turnstyle Underground Market in Columbus Circle. The Turnstyle popup lasted until December 2020, when they pulled the plug due to a combination of factors related to the pandemic. Thankfully, that December 2020 shuttering wasn’t the end of Bolivian Llama Party.

They transformed their Sunnyside, Queens, prep kitchen into their new home, which runs and operates today. While it is strictly a takeout eatery, there are a few small tables out front.

Nearly every cuisine on the planet has a dumpling of some sort. Italy has the ravioli, Japan has the gyoza and Poland has the pierogi. In Bolivia, it’s the salteña. Think of salteñas as a cross between empanadas and Taiwanese soup dumplings. They’re dough pockets with a braided seal and a soupy, stewlike filling. If I were the marketing director of the salteña, I’d brand them as handheld soup.

These aren’t the easiest things to eat on the go, though. That’s why Bolivian Llama Party provides printed instructions on “how to eat a salteña without spilling the juice.” They show a photo of a llama with the salteña in a position so that it’s with the corner point of the salteña, where the braid ties, facing up. They then show a llama taking a “chomp” from that very corner. Finally, they show the llama “slurping” the salteña.

These steps are crucial, and I speak from experience. I followed exactly as directed, yet I found my hands dripping. Instead of merely biting into the dough, suction your mouth around the dough as you bite and, similar to a soup dumpling, slurp so you don’t miss out on any of the juicy goodness. The whole ordeal is a learning experience, but at only $5.45 a pop, one that’s worth it.

Salteñas aside, there’s a whole lot more worth trying at Bolivian Llama Party. I was fully prepared to eat only salteñas, but when I saw the menu had so much more to offer, I went for it. I got the roasted pork bowl with rice and quinoa, the fried chicken sandwich with llajua sauce (a traditional Bolivian spicy, herbaceous sauce) and, as a last-minute add-on, the sopa de mani, or peanut soup.

I’m a little averse to “bowls” of any kind, which often seem like a cheap way of getting people to think your food is health-conscious. When the pork bowl came out, I dug my fork in for a proper bite, and the melt-in-your-mouth meat paired with toasted, nutty grains rectified my attitude toward bowls.

As a hot sauce aficionado, I heartily dumped the llajua onto each bite of the fried chicken sandwich. The chicken was crunchy yet juicy, and the sauce was vibrant, acidic and had just enough of a kick without being overpowering.

And just when I thought my grand idea of marketing salteñas as handheld soup was the best thing since sliced bread, I tried Bolivian Llama Party’s peanut soup. Don’t get me wrong, the salteñas at Bolivian Llama Party are certainly worth all the hype in the world. But this nutty, velvety, luscious peanut soup, topped with truffled potato sticks, could have drawn me in just as quickly had I known about it beforehand. Made with beef stock, this dairy-free yet creamy peanut soup had me slurping like no one was watching.

Whether slurping it from a bowl or a dumpling, Bolivian Llama Party will be one of my go-to spots for soup on the go.

• Address: 44-14 48th Ave, Sunnyside, N.Y. 11317
• Phone: (347) 370-9102
• Hours: Sunday-Friday 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Prices: Salteñas $5.45; mac ‘n’ queso $5 to $15.50; crispy chicken $10.40 to $15.50; sandwiches $11 to $15; soups $5 to $13.50; plates $14 to $15; bowls $14 to $16; papitas $5 to $26.50. Salteñas are also available for frozen bake-at-home purchase at $29.70 for a half dozen
• Takeout and delivery available; no reservations (no indoor seating)

Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.

The name translates to “gem” in Japanese, arguably making it the most literal hidden gem this column has ever seen. Hōseki’s path to landing in Saks is unconventional, inspiring, and a series of happenstances that could only occur in a city as full of opportunity as New York.

Like many recent success stories, Hōseki was born during the peak of the pandemic. It all began when Maxwell Weiss, a graduate of Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, was stuck at home after his place of work, like many in the city, shuttered in March 2020. Lockdown had many people reevaluating what was important to them, and Weiss was no exception. His passion for Japanese cuisine came to the forefront, so he married it with his expertise in hospitality to create Ten Homakase, where he brought the omakase experience — a multicourse sushi chef tasting — to people’s homes.

During his run with Ten Homakase, a rare opportunity presented itself for Weiss to open an omakase spot inside Saks Fifth Avenue’s jewelry department. Hōseki opened its doors in June with its name and logo giving a nod to its unique location.

Hōseki offers a 12-course omakase. Immediately after preparation, single pieces of nigiri or handrolls are placed on green art glass podiums in lieu of plates. A blond, white woman prepared the delicate pieces of fish — not exactly the face you expect to see preparing sushi. In awe, I watched her squeeze finger limes onto Canadian spot prawns, zest fresh yuzu onto scallops from Hokkaido and roll sweet, succulent crab in a crunchy seaweed wrap.

They say you eat with your eyes first, and when someone prepares your food directly in front of you, it inarguably elevates the taste. The herbal, earthy scallop nigiri ended up being my favorite bite of the day, but it had stiff competition in the buttery fluke from Montauk, bluefin Akami from Spain and briny uni from Maine.

New York is full of secrets, but among the best kept is Hoseki head chef Morgan Adamson.

Chef Adamson took an unconventional path from her hometown of Battle Creek, Mich., into the sushi world. She got her associate’s degree in science with intent to be a nurse, but life threw some curveballs that led to a temporary move to Texas. When she returned to Michigan, she became a barista and realized she really loved working with her hands. In 2019, she found a new calling when she began working at a Japanese restaurant in Michigan and decided to go to culinary school in New York City.

Though she didn’t know Weiss yet, her life was also disrupted when the pandemic led to the school shutting its doors. Still in Michigan during this time, she didn’t give up her dream and applied for a job opening at Kissaki. Since she didn’t have a ton of experience under her belt, she sent photos of the dishes she had been making in Michigan. Kissaki flew her out for a trial shift and she got the job. While working at Kissaki, guests told her about Ten Homakase.

She picked up some shifts with Weiss’ company on weekends here and there. When he first approached her about working at Hōseki, Adamson at first turned it down. But eventually they reached a sweet enough deal to get Adamson behind the counter, and the rest is history.

Everything about Hōseki is detail-oriented, from the incredible team behind it to the edamame chopstick holders to the dishes themselves. Even the green hand-blown glass podiums the sushi is served on, which were handcrafted by Adamson’s grandfather back in Michigan. Hey, working with their hands seems to run in the family.

If you want to dine here, you’ll have to be proactive. Hōseki is only open five days a week for four seatings of six, meaning only 120 people will dine there per week.

• Address: 611 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022 (Inside Saks Fifth Avenue)
• Phone: N/A
• Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 12 p.m.- 4 p.m. closed Monday and Tuesday
• Prices: $95
• No takeout, no delivery; Reservations available via Resy (daily seatings at 12, 1, 2, and 3)

Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.

Like many Jackson Heights denizens, Arepa Lady has an immigrant-focused back story. Maria Cano, hailing from La Estrella, Colombia, was a lawyer, judge and one of the founders of the Universidad Autonoma de Medellin back home. As a single mother of four, she had to hustle to make ends meet. This mindset led her to Jackson Heights where, in 1990, she ran a food cart, serving up the golden, cheesy arepas that could, at the time, only be found back home in Colombia.

The cart didn’t have a name, but she became well known throughout the neighborhood as the “arepa lady,” serving up Colombian street food from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly. In compliance with the law, she applied to get a food cart vendor permit and ended up on a 15-year waitlist. The permit was only valid from March to October when she was finally approved. Knowing that being open only half the year wouldn’t cut it, she moved to transform her business to a brick-and-mortar shop in 2014. When it came time to name the eatery, Arepa Lady was the only name that made sense.

Now, patrons can visit this Colombian staple on 37th Ave. for some of the best arepas and patacones in the city. Arepas are separated into four categories, the most common being either arepa de choclo (corn arepas) or arepa de queso (cheese arepas), and gluten-free options including arepa rellena (which is a typical Venezuelan style of arepas) and arepa de tela (a thin, crispy, corn-based arepa).

Each arepa has a filling like cheese, chorizo, chicharron, sirloin, chicken, carne desmechada or a combination. Aside from the abundance of arepas, the restaurant also serves those same fillings in patacones — a sandwich style dish made with plantains.

When I finally had the chance to visit Arepa Lady’s Jackson Heights location — there are now three stores in the city — I ordered the works: arepa de choclo con queso; arepa de queso con queso (cheese on cheese is never a bad idea); patacon con carne desmechada (shredded beef); arepa de choclo con chorizo; and arepa de queso con pollo. A trio of sauces came out with my massive meal: a ketchup/mayo mix, a pineapple sauce, and a garlic sauce.

I dug into each, dousing them in a mix of all of the sauces, which is a 10-out-of-10 recommendation. The arepa de choclo was soft, slightly sweet, and slightly nutty. It’s hard to not love a cheese arepa with extra cheese, especially when paired with that bright, punchy garlic sauce. But surprisingly, one of my favorite bites was the patacon with carne desmechada, a thin, crispy plantain-based sandwich loaded with shredded beef. It’s a pleasant blend of textures, crispy from those thin plantains in lieu of bread, juicy from that succulent beef, with a slight chew as one expects when eating beef.

Paired with a fresh jugo de maracuya, or fresh passion fruit juice, it certainly made for one of the better lunches I’ve had in a while, and I can wholeheartedly understand why Arepa Lady attracted so many late night patrons back in the day. Despite being stone-cold sober for my visit, I can imagine Arepa Lady being a great postbar stop. If you want to find out for yourself, order one of their passion fruit, red, or strawberry sangrias or a frozen mango marg.

Address: 77-17 37th Ave, Queens, NY 11372

(Additional locations at 34-39 31st St, Queens, NY 11106 and in DeKalb Market Hall at 445 Gold St, Brooklyn, NY 11201)

Phone: (917) 745-1111

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Prices: Small plates $2 to $28; arepas $6 to $12; patacones $10 to $12; sides $3 to $6; fresh juices $4.50; alcoholic beverages $4 to $30

Takeout and delivery available, no reservations

Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.

My journey of finding Black Mountain Wine House traces a few years back to when I worked as a part-time bartender down the street. On my way to work, I would quickly pass the people sitting outside sipping wine and be filled with envy. I never knew the name of the place, always thinking of it as “that cozy cabin spot where people are always drinking white wine in the sunshine.” Finally, one day, I zoomed in on Google Maps to discover that the cozy cabin sunshine wine spot had a name.

Black Mountain Wine House is indeed a cozy cabin on the inside as well as the outside. The exterior looks like a wooden house you’d find on a lake upstate. Upon entering, you’ll find yourself in a cozy wine bar — the maximum capacity is 60 people. Black Mountain Wine House makes for a prime winter hideaway. Maybe it’s the wall lined with bottles of wine or the warm fireplace ablaze in the back, but something about this spot makes you want to stay awhile.

It opened in July 2007, and Tyler Maganzini of North Jersey bought it in 2010. He still runs the bar to this day. They offer anywhere between 25 and 30 wines by the glass, but the selection of wines on offer rotates as frequently as weekly. Black Mountain’s wines come from all around the globe. They work closely with Omniwines out of Flushing, Queens, which specializes primarily in Sicilian and Italian wines, though Black Mountain Wine House also purchases some Spanish and South American wines from the distributor. For those who like something consistent, Black Mountain always offers a house glass for $9.

If vino isn’t your thing, you can choose from one of their beers, many of which are made in the New York area. And whether you’re doing Dry January or abstaining for other reasons, Black Mountain Wine House makes a mean alcohol-free apricot spritz.

At many wine bars around the city, the food can feel like an after-thought, but that’s not the case at Black Mountain Wine House. Maganzini offers his own family’s meatball recipe, which is made strictly with pork in a tangy tomato sauce. If you’re feeling indulgent, their mac and cheese is the epitome of cozy comfort food, made with cremini mushrooms, truffle oil, Swiss and Gruyere, all cooked in a creamy béchamel sauce.

I did not visit Black Mountain on a Tuesday, but I will certainly be returning for their Tuesday fondue nights. If you see me sitting at the bar with a mug of mulled wine and a big pot of gooey cheese, make sure to say hello. Hey, I have to make up for lost time for all of those days I rushed past this homey, snug enclave.

Address: 415 Union Street Ground Floor, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11231

Phone: N/A

Hours: Monday-Sunday 3 p.m.-12 a.m.

Prices: Food $6 to $17; cheese $7 each or $17 for three; house wine $9; wine list prices vary

Takeout available, no delivery, no reservations (except for large parties and rentals).

Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.