I Went On A Food Crawl Around Manhattan With YouTube And TikTok Foodie Lisa Nguyen — Here's Everything We Ate

⭐️Rating⭐️ 

🍽 Aesthetic: 4/5

There were no bells and whistles — just practical plates of delicious food. We had to get the quesadilla without guacamole because I'm allergic to avocados (😢), but I do think that added pop of green color would've made the plate even more appealing to the eyes. Even so, it all looked good and tasted great!

🍽 Taste: 5/5

In a word: SCRUMPTIOUS. The meat in both the quesadilla and the taco was so savory and juicy. I also couldn't get enough of the cheese in that quesadilla. Wooow. 

🍽 Value: 5/5

Great bang for your buck! For Manhattan, these are some pretty cheap bites. Since you're ordering all your items a la carte, you can go as light or as heavy as you want. Just looking for a quick snack? Great, grab a taco! Craving a big dinner with some friends? Perfect, you can pick a few items all for yourself, or split a bunch of dishes amongst the group!

⭐️Rating⭐️ 

🍽 Aesthetic: 5/5

Did you see that plating? Absolutely stunning! Every dish looked as superb as they tasted. 

🍽 Taste: 5/5

I was almost sad we had so many places to try after this one because I wanted to keep eating all that delicious food! Every sauce I encountered was like a warm blanket of flavor — the chile oil, the truffle mustard, and the sauce coating the noodles. I was more than pleased with every bite.

🍽 Value: 4/5

I think this is a pretty great deal, especially when you consider the location. Though it leans toward being a bit pricey on my budget-friendly scale, the meals themselves were massive and would surely yield leftovers, especially if you and your crew split some apps first. Given the quality of the food and the ambiance of the restaurant, it's a pretty valuable spot. 

⭐️Rating⭐️ 

🍽 Aesthetic: 5/5

Everything was plated so beautifully, which made each dish intriguing and inviting. The colors in the vegetable biryani were incredible, and you already know I'm absolutely in love with that spice heart on the rice. 

🍽 Taste: 4/5

I could go on and on about the deliciousness of that mango lassi, but I need to talk about the food too! I've always loved vegetable samosas, so no surprises there. I really enjoyed the unique texture/flavor combo of the chatpata poori and would order them again. The vegetable biryani and chicken hara masala were dishes of abundant flavor and abundant warmth! Speaking of warmth, that chile garlic naan did a number on my tongue (and probably my breath too, sorry). I was grateful to have that mango lassi to keep my mouth cool!

🍽 Value: 4/5

They certainly don't go light on their portions, and when it comes to a budget-friendly meal, the more food, the merrier! If you were to eat the chicken hara masala over that giant bowl of rice, you'd certainly be able to stretch it into two meals (and who doesn't love some late-night leftovers?). 

⭐️Rating⭐️ 

🍽 Aesthetic: 3.5/5

Since the food was all packed in to-go containers, it didn't have the same aesthetic flair as some of the other spots. That being said, I really loved the fiery red container the noodles came in! Also, I had to add some aesthetic points for the plentiful sprinklings of cilantro on the sliders. I freakin' love cilantro, and if you think it tastes like soap, I'm so sorry. 

🍽 Taste: 5/5

Though the scallion pancakes were perhaps not the best I've ever had, those noodles and the sliders were MAJOR wins. Also, this was my first time trying jackfruit, and that was really cool! It was such a nice touch to the noodle dish. But we all know I am mainly here to gush about the bao sliders. I mean, that was some bao that made me say WOW. I have dreamt about those sliders every day since I had them. I must have them again, and soon.

🍽 Value: 3.5/5

Though perhaps some of the other restaurants we tried had a little more "bang for the buck," I would still say The Noodle is a worthwhile budget-friendly spot. They have a decent list of dumplings and wontons, in addition to their wide array of noodle options. 

⭐️Rating⭐️ 

🍽 Aesthetic: 4/5

I absolutely adore the setup of this plate (and not just because I was excited to get extra injera)! I love a sampler platter because it's like a mini buffet of flavors to try. It's a great way to learn about your tastes. You may find a flavor you don't like, but you may also discover something you love! Plus, it looks cool and it does the trick.

🍽 Taste: 3.5/5

Ironically, the things I expected to like the least became the things I liked the most! I've never been a fan of peas, but I really liked these yellow split peas. Same goes for the cabbage and carrots! I knew I'd like that chicken though, so I guess that didn't come as a surprise. To be quite honest, I was absolutely stuffed by the time we reached this spot and didn't get to fully immerse myself in the flavors. I did enjoy it, but I was taking baby bites at this point. I'd love to go back on an empty stomach!

🍽 Value: 4/5

Though you might see that price and think, Umm, is that really budget friendly? welcome to New York, baby! But also, when you think about it, this is a platter designed for two or more people. They also offer a sampler platter for one person that's priced at $20.99. Even so, I think going all in with the bigger sampler platter and bringing some foodie friends along is the best (and most budget-conscious) way to go!