Huynh's First OBao Opens Tonight

Tonight, Michael "Empire Builder" Huynh will open his 437th restaurant in Manhattan this year. It's called OBao and it's a pan-Asian midtown noodle house, one he hopes to turn into a chain with at least three sister restaurants by next year. While it may be opening in a primo lunch district—53rd between 2nd and 3rd—and it serves hearty dishes mostly for under $20, it's only open for dinner this week (deal with it Midtown Lunch). For those who are still around come dinnertime, there's a 25 seat front room and a 50 seat dining room with a communal table past the open kitchen and bar area. The menu features everything from pad see lew and pho to short ribs, pork chops, and hanger steak. Coming in the future: a cocktail program and delivery.
Previous Reading: Plywood, 11/10; Plywood, 9/29; Wire, 8/11
Further Reading: SE; ML; VV

Salads
GRILLED CURRY SHRIMP $10
Watermelon | Tomatoes | Jalapeno Dressing | Candy Tamarind

LAOS SPICY GRILLED BEEF SALAD $10
Cucumber | Shallot | Pineapples | Mint | Crispy Roasted Rice

POMELO SALAD, KHMER STYLE $10
Bibb Lettuce | Herbs | Chili | | Coconut | Crispy Shallot

VIETNAMESE CHICKEN SALAD $9
Cabbage Slaw | Rau Ram Herbs | Lime Dressing | Peanut

Appetizers
CRISPY SPRING ROLLS $7
Pork | Shrimp | Taro | Mushroom Dipping Sauce

FRESH SUMMER ROLLS $7
Shrimp | Vermicelli | Bean Spout Herbs

VEGETABLE SUMMER ROLLS $7
Tofu |Jicama |Mushroom | Mint

SHRIMP CARPACCIO $10
Mango Relish | Kaffir Olive Oil | Pine Nut

CURRY PUFF $8
Duck Liver & Confit |Taro | Cucumber Relish

EGGPLANT OOP SHAN STYLE $9
Dried Shrimp | Pork | Chiles | Shallot

SALT & PEPPER SHRIMP $12
Tamarind Sauce

BABY LAMB CHOPS SATAY $14
Spicy Peanut Sauce

SPARE RIB ON SUGAR CANE SKEWER $9
Spicy Honey Mustard Glazed

SHORT RIB LEMONGRASS $9
Spicy Honey Mustard Glaze

Wok noodles
PAD SEE LEW $10
Flat Rice Noodles | Kalbi Short Rib | Farm Egg | Green Mango Kimchi

PAD THAI $10
Rice noodles | Salted Red Snapper| Baby Shrimp | Deep Fried Egg

MALAY’S CHAR KWAY TEOW $10
Rice Noodles | Shrimp | Oyster | Chives & Chili

SINGAPORE NOODLES $10
Chinese Sausage | Shrimp | Crispy Lard | Golden Chives

MANILA PANSIT $12
Crispy Egg Noodles | Pork | Chicken | Shrimp | Snow pea

SAIGON VEGETABLE NOODLES $10
Assorted Tofu | Chinese Celery | Bean Sprout | Garlic Chives

Soup noodles
PHO BO $9
Rare Beef | Brisket | Rice Noodles | Ginger Anise Beef Broth

BUN BO HUE $9
Pig Feet | Beef Shin | Rice noodles | Spicy Lemongrass Broth

CHIANG MAI CURRY NOODLES $9
Spicy Red Curry Beef | Root Vegetable | Egg Noodles

MEKONG FISHERMAN $10
Fish | Shrimp | Vermicelli | Tamarind Seafood Broth

SINGAPORE LAKSA $12
Prawn | Pork | Green Tea Soba | Spicy Curry Broth

Vermicelli noodles
HANGER STEAK $14
Pineapples | Bean Sprout | Herbs | Scallion Oil

GRILLED PORK & SHRIMP $12
Cucumber Salad | Herbs | Lime Dressing

TURMERIC & DILL FISH $13
Dill | Lettuce | Mint

VEGETABLE & TOFU $13
Mushroom | Soy Dressing | Cilantro

Bbq
SPICY BANGKOK CHICKEN $14
Spicy Issaan Salsa with Anchovies

VIETNAMESE PORK CHOP $14
Hot and Sweet Dipping sauce

SPICY LEMONGRASS KALBI SHORT RIB $17
Sweet Onion

HANGER STEAK $18
Yuca Home Fries | Spicy Ketchup | Herb Slaw

BBQ WHOLE RED SNAPPER $MP
Spicy Herbs Rub | Lime Fish Sauce

Rice
LAO YELLOW RICE $10
Duck Confit | Golden Chives

HUE’S PERFUME RIVER RICE $12
Dry Shrimp | Lotus Seed | Chinese Sausage | Lemongrass | Scallion

THAI FRIED RICE $10
BBQ Pork | Hot Chili | Fried Egg

Sides
STICKY RICE $4
Chinese Sausage
WATER SPINACH $6
BEAN SPROUT & CHIVES $5
SPICY XO SAUCE EGGPLANT $6