Critically Acclaimed Taiwanese Bento Box Spot Expands to the East Village

Hit bento box and fried chicken restaurant will open a second location

Taiwan Bear House, the Chinatown Taiwanese restaurant that has been featured in Ligaya Mishan’s Hungry City column at the Times, will soon open a second location in the East Village on 10th Street at First Avenue. The restaurant serves bubble teas, fried chicken, and bento boxes — or bian dang, as the boxed meals are referred to in Taiwan. According to Mishan, the restaurant uses unexpected ingredients like Skippy peanut butter and ketchup in the bento boxes: “They are stubbornly unfancy and in no need of elevation,” she writes.

More openings and coming attractions

Sticky’s Finger Joint opens a Union Square location at 107 East 14th St. today, offering $1 chicken finger baskets from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to celebrate. Thai restaurant Little Wayla is now open in one of the units at 100 Forsyth St. in LES, serving Thai food in a fast-casual setting. One of the co-owners of Grey Lady on Delancey Street has applied for a new liquor license for the former Out East space at 509 East Sixth St.

Two new brunches in town

Gabriel Stulman’s Freehand Hotel restaurant Simon & The Whale kicks off brunch this weekend, with tables available between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dishes include eggs provencal with ratatouille, basil, and poached eggs, a fish sandwich on poppy seed challah, and strawberry ricotta fritters. Baked goods by Zoe Kanan are available. French-Mediterranean restaurant Papilles in East Village also now serves brunch with dishes like an omelet souffle and drinks such as a cappelletti spritz.

Get a scoop of hummus ice cream this weekend

The Hummus & Pita Co. starts serving its vegan hummus ice cream this Sunday at the chain’s Chelsea location and will roll it out to all locations on August 1. Made with chickpeas, tahini, and pure vanilla, the ice cream comes in four flavors: chocolate, strawberry, cookies & cream, and banana almond.