Shanghai Mong
There are many instances when you would want a "two for one" deal. When you buy cookies, cupcakes, and rain boots because what are you going to do with just one boot? Maybe you could use it as a flower pot. Very rarely do yo encounter a lunch special that lets you sample two dishes at once (think: General Tso and Beef and Broccoli, how awesome would that be?!) Lucky for me, Shanghai Mong offers their best noodle dishes into one item on the menu: Za Jiang Mein and seafood noodle soup.
The noodle combo is in the "Noodle/Rice" section of the menu, and not on the lunch special. Priced at $7.95, it falls in line with the prices of the other lunch specials. The great thing about "Noodles and Seafood with Black Bean Sauce & Noodle soup and seafood w/ hot red pepper" is that it gives you a chance to try two different types of noodles. The seafood and black bean sauce with noodles is basically Zhajiang Mein or jjajangmyeon.
Compared to the version at Big Bowl Noodles, Shanghai Mong's zhajian mein is definitely better. The noodles are thinner at Shanghai Mong and has more bite than the generic ones served at BBN. The sauce is heavy on the onions and chunks of other stuff that I could not make out. Some little cubes of soy products? Towards the end you notice that the sauce skews towards the greasier side. Still delicious though, and definitely a worthy lunch option if you are in the lower Midtown area.
The other half of the combo is the seafood noodle soup with hot red pepper. I thought the soup would be fiery due to the vibrant red color, but it was actually mild and tolerable. Individuals who dislike hot foods would be able to adjust to this dish. Seafood mostly consisted of squid and some shrimp and I wish they would have shied away from the word 'seafood' in the name due to the lack of variety. I do not know the ingredients of the broth, but it was quite delicious. I would drink that thing everyday if they would only drop the price or something. Come on, it is a recession! I is thirsty! Restaurants never think of the little guys. *snif, snif*
The other thing about Shanghai Mong is that they give you kimchi and daikon with your take-out order. I have not had much experience with Korean take-out places, and perhaps this is the norm? Either way, it was a nice addition to the meal. It was definitely a plus in my book.
Anyway, I need to find some new things to eat because I think these noodle dishes would hit the spot more during colder months. These pictures are actually a month old, and one set was taken on a day when the temperatures were above 95. Jeebus. Time to eat indoors...
Shanghai Mong
30 W 32nd Street .
New York, NY 10001
212-629-6450
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I'm sorry, but that first picture looks un-appetizing.
Ang
July 16, 2008 10:21 am
It's one of those seemingly un-appetizing dishes until you've tried it. Knowing what it tastes like, it looks mighty tasty.
talida
July 16, 2008 1:59 pm
These dishes do look a bit scary =x
Kumi
July 16, 2008 8:36 pm
Dang, that's some fiery lookin' jjampong (that's the name of the seafoood noodz). Looks good, though... I've been meaning to go here since they have the 2-for-1 option! Have you tried the jajangmyun or jjampong at Hyo Dong Gak? That's the only other Korean-Chinese restaurant I can think of in the area but I haven't tried theirs yet...
When you go to Korean-Chinese restaurants, the side dishes are different from regular banchan: you get takuan (it's supposed to go well with jajangmyun), pickled slightly-spicy radish, raw onions with black bean paste, and slices of cabbage that I think are pickled? (Oh, and kimchi. Duh. Heaven forbid they forget the kimchi.)
Emily
July 17, 2008 8:18 am
Ang,
Sometimes pigs feet look unappetizing. Nothing stops me, nothing!!!!
Talida,
Word, I am with you! It was tasty. And you make awesome cupcakes, btw! Thank you for bringing them!
Kumi,
hahaha, ooooh wellz
Emily,
Hmm.. Hyo Dong Gak? I will have to look for that one. Oh, the radish was not spicy at all. It was the plain yellow kind. Inside the restaurant they customers definitely got different and more varied banchan. I prefer to eat outside when it is 96 degrees though... no wait...
Danny
July 18, 2008 9:33 am
Shanghai Mong has become a fave Korean joint of mine--the place is stylish, food is excellent and the prices not bad. I enjoyed some noodles with shrimp (pieces were small tho) and black bean sauce along with a bold glass merlot (only $6).
I love the fact that we get complimentary appetizers like the kimchi and daikon.
Dani
October 12, 2008 2:37 pm