Another High-End Tasting Menu Straight From Japan Heads to NYC

Japanese restaurant group makes U.S. debut in LES

Lower East Side is home to the latest restaurant import from Japan. Kaikagetsu at 162 Orchard St. is the first U.S. restaurant from Japanese restaurant group Forrest Fooding Inc., and it specializes in food from the Hida region of Japan. There will be kaiseki and à la carte menu options. Until July 10, Kaikagetsu is offering a short tasting menu without alcohol for $58, but kaiseki menus starting at $200 will roll out after that. This is the newest in a long line of Japanese companies expanding to the U.S. with NYC restaurants, like TsuruTonTan and Wokuni.

East Village loses a well-received mixian restaurant

East Village rice noodle spot Yuan Noodle closed at 157 Second Ave. after less than a year in business. The restaurant received high praise from Eater critic Robert Sietsema in 2017. It looked like the restaurant would probably close back in May, when an alum from Butter Midtown started eyeing the space for a new Mexican restaurant. But a sign posted on the building notes that the business is for sale, suggesting that deal fell through.

Also in the neighborhood, the McDonald’s located at 404 E. 14th St. has been boarded up with DOB permit signs indicating that it’s undergoing an interior renovation. Meanwhile, the Dumpling Shop is looking close to opening in the former San Loco space at 124 Second Ave.

Chinatown stalwart reopens after five-month hiatus

One of Chinatown’s top dim sum spots Hop Shing reopened after five months. In February, a driver allegedly trying to parallel park near the building hit the accelerator and crashed into the restaurant. One person was injured in the accident, and the damage to the gas pipes has taken five months to fix.

New record set at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Joey Chestnut ate his way to an 11th championship title at the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, besting his personal record and competition records by consuming 74 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. He was 11 whole hot dogs ahead of the second-place eater Carmen Cincotti with 63 hot dogs and buns.