The New Jersey Foodhound™

If you find yourself in Manhattan and are in the mood for Thai food, you might as well wander over to the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood and pick from one of the dozen or more restaurants that line 9th Ave. I have had the opportunity to try nearly all of them and they tend to vary widely in quality. Whenever a new one opens up I do my best to give it a try in an endless search for the best. Currently, the best one around is a little hole-in-the-wall spot called Thai Chella. The Grub: If you've had Thai food before, you already know what's on the menu at Thai Chella . Noodle dishes, curries, fried rice and multiple iterations of stir fry make an appearance and having tried a little bit of everything here I can honestly say there's a slim chance you'll order a bad dish. I can make some specific recommendations though and suggest trying their Pad Thai (good-old standby), Thai Basil Stir Fry or their Green Curry. While their dishes may walk "the beaten path,...

When most people think of Japanese cuisine, foods such as sushi, tempura and ramen often come to mind. Those who dig deeper into the diverse culinary offerings of Japan will be astounded by the flavors of soba noodles, various pickles and of course, curry. Yes, curry is another incredible, complex and addictive Japanese food offering. Curious? Head over to Abiko Curry , located in the food mecca of Palisades Park, NJ. When crossing the threshold, one senses are treated to a preview of the delicious food to come. The spicy sweet smell of curry permeates the air supported by the aroma of crispy-fried pork and chicken katsu. The options for curry range from the basic curry and veggies, chicken, pork or shrimp to the interesting and quite tasty bacon-spinach option. Whatever you choose, it traditionally is served along with rice, but can also be enjoyed with udon noodles. Abiko also offers combo sets that come with katsu, rice and curry and a soda too!  As a fair warning, ...