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The Hottest Restaurants in Manhattan Right Now, January 2015

by Devra Ferst Jan 8, 2015, 1:00pm EST

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by Devra Ferst Jan 8, 2015, 1:00pm EST

1 comment / new

Eater editors get asked one question more than any other: Where should I eat right now? NYC dining obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, and what Danny Bowien is up to these days. The Heatmap is here to help. Here are the 20 hottest restaurants on the island of Manhattan this month including the return of Mission Chinese Food, a Korean barbecue place that's Anthony Bourdain approved, and many more.

For our list of the most essential restaurants (both old and new) check out the Eater 38 and for the hottest restaurants in Brooklyn and Queens just click over.

Restaurants are listed by opening date.

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If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Ramen Lab

There are just 10 seats at Sun Noodle’s Ramen Lab, but they are worth waiting for. Chef Jack Nakamura is turning out two bowls of ramen, one with a clear, ultra-concentrated chicken shoyu broth and another with caramelized miso, oolong tea, corn, and bean sprouts, and of course Sun's custom noodles. There are also promises of a seasonal ramen and classes on the soup to come. Rounding out the menu are gyoza, tea, and booze served in glass beakers. Don’t overlook the vegetarian ramen, which is unusual in all the right ways. [Daniel Krieger]

70 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012

Also featured in:

The Hottest Restaurants in Manhattan Right Now, February 2015

Prova

Neapolitan pizzeria Prova, from TV personality Donatella Arpaia and Sushi Nakazawa partner Maurizio de Rosa, is topping its pies with high-minded ingredients like uni, squid ink, and quail eggs. The restaurant, which replaces another pizzeria, Heartwood, was built around a custom oven by craftsman Stefano Ferrara, and the menu got some help from Ribalta’s Pasquale Cozzolino and Rosario Procino. [Nick Solares]

184 8th Ave, New York, NY

Also featured in:

Mission Chinese Food

From the second it surprise opened in late December, New Yorkers have been lining up for Danny Bowien’s very liberal take on Chinese cooking. The new location has a few of the favorites from the original menu, like kung pao pastrami, plus many new additions, $69 and a $99 prix fixe menus, a prime rib cart, a cocktail cart, caviar, pizza, and a whole lot more space. Arrive early for dinner for the shortest wait times.

Open in Google Maps

171 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

Jack's Wife Freda

Longtime Soho charmer Jack’s Wife Freda finally expanded, opening a new location in the West Village. The style of the space and the menu are very similar to the original, but there are a few new dishes like orange blossom pancakes and curried mussels. Hopefully, the expansion will spell shorter brunch lines. [Courtesy of Jack's Wife Freda]

50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Hottest Restaurants in Manhattan Right Now, February 2015

Parm UWS

The Torrisi boys have finally gone uptown opening the second of what will be many Parms to come. The Upper West Side location is roomier than the original, and there’s a bigger menu with a Carbone-esque linguine and clams and that made-to-order mozz from the early days of Torrisi. All of the original sandwiches are still on the menu. [The original Parm, Daniel Krieger]

235 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

Also featured in:

Espoleta

Pizzaiolo and former Forcella co-owner Giulio Adriani shut down the shop after a split with his business partners and reopened the Bowery space as Spanish restaurant Espoleta. Sue Torres, of the late and much-mourned Suenos is consulting on the menu, which offers lots of pinxtos and tapas, plus half glasses of wine to go with them. For those who long for Forcella's pizza, a limited menu will soon be available at the restaurant's pizza speakeasy SRO. [Daniel Krieger]

334 Bowery, New York, NY

Also featured in:

The Hottest Restaurants in Manhattan Right Now, February 2015

Tijuana Picnic

It took nearly a year for Acme and Indochine vets Jon Neidich, Jean-Marc Houmard, and Huy Chi Le, to open Tijuana Picnic, but the Asian-inflect Mexican restaurant is finally open and serving tacos with fillings like tuna belly and galangal-marinated chicken in the a 1970’s inspired cabin-y space. There are also several large family-style plates like pork chops marinated in coconut milk. [Daniel Krieger]

151 Essex St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Hottest Restaurants in Manhattan Right Now, February 2015

Kang Ho Dong Baekjong

The first Manhattan outpost of a wildly popular Korean barbecue chain run by comedian/wrestler Kang Ho Dong has been packed with diners and food glitterati like Anthony Bourdain and David Chang since it opened. Momofuku vet Deuki Hong is helming the kitchen, which is turns out traditional Korean barbecue with top notch beef. [Photo courtesy Kang Ho Dong Baekjong]

Open in Google Maps

319 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016

Happy Ending

Gallery owner Max Levai and Oliver Stumm of Café Select and Rintintin recently took over this former music venue dive and gave it a retro makeover. They kept the name, but changed just about everything else, transforming it into restaurant with French, Italian, and Asian leanings. Francis Gabarrus, who once ran France's Michelin-starred La Ville Stings, is the chef in charge, turning out dishes like salmon with green curry sauce and bacalao tagliatelle. [Daniel Krieger]

302 Broome St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Momofuku Ko

David Chang's Michelin-starred tasting counter just packed up and moved to a larger space on Extra Place. The menu is longer and more expensive now at $175 a head, and much of it is new (although a few old classics, like the shaved foie gras and lychee, still made the cut). There are more seats around the counter, a separate bar, and even a couple tables, which will be used for reverse wine pairing dinners, in which chef Sean Gray builds a meal around wines chosen by the diners. Note that just because it's bigger, doesn't mean it's any easier to get a seat. [Daniel Krieger]

8 Extra Pl, New York, NY 10003

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Chefs Club by Food & Wine NY

Food & Wine magazine just opened this guest chef-centric restaurant in the Puck building. Every season, four top notch guest chefs from across the country contribute a few dishes to the menu, and do at least a brief stint in the kitchen. Right now those chefs include Gabriel Rucker of Portland's Le Pigeon and Erik Anderson, formerly of the Catbird Seat, serving dishes like smoked and seared foie gras, and a bone-in strip steak for two. The rest of the menu, and the kitchen, is overseen by former Adour chef Didier Elena and Matthew Aita. [Daniel Krieger]

275 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10012

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Via Carota

Jody Williams and Rita Sodi, who have already won over the West Village with Buvette and I Sodi, just opened this rustic Italian restaurant right up the block from Buvette. The menu includes many small plates, plus a few pastas and meat dishes. From an early visit, Robert Sietsema likes nearly everything, but especially the fried artichokes, the grilled sardines, and the guinea hen. Breakfast and lunch will start the weekend of January 10. [Daniel Krieger]

51 Grove St, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Dojo Izakaya

Sushi whiz David Bouhadana recently opened this casual offshoot of his hit Sushi Dojo. The menu includes house-made soba noodles, served in various hot or cold iterations, plus plenty of grilled or fried things like uni cream-filled croquettes and miso-marinated grilled pork neck. [Photo: Kat Odell]

38 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

Also featured in:

Almanac

Chef Galen Zamarra has transformed his once grill-centric restaurant Mas (La Grillade) into the very seasonal, tasting menu-focused Almanac. Now he offers the choice of a three-course prix fixe (for $75), a five-course tasting menu (for $95), or an eight-course tasting menu (for $145), all of which change almost daily. While it's winter, expect dishes like mushroom-stuffed cabbage, squash with lamb bacon, and duck with sweet potato hash. [Daniel Krieger]

28 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014

Also featured in:

Pier A Harbor House

For the first time in its 128-year history, this once-decrepit city building is open to the public. Also for the first time, it now houses a massive beer hall on its first floor, from restaurateurs Harry and Peter Poulakakos. The menu is German pub meets raw bar, with seafood towers, clam chowder, soft pretzels, and bratwurst, but the space (and the view) is the real draw here. Early in 2015, Poulakakos and team will open several more upscale restaurants on the second floor. [Daniel Krieger]

22 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004

Also featured in:

The Hottest Restaurants in Manhattan Right Now, December 2014

SHUKO

This new sushi restaurant from former Neta chefs Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau has just 20 seats, and offers two menus: a sushi-only omakase, or a longer kaiseke-style omakase. The former costs $135, the latter is $175. The menus change, but expect clean, classic sushi, occasionally dressed up with luxe ingredients like truffles and caviar. [Daniel Krieger]

47 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Little Park at the Smyth

Andrew Carmellini, Josh Pickard, and Luke Ostrom just opened this stylish, modern hotel restaurant. Here the focus is on all things seasonal and local, and the menu includes a lengthy section devoted to vegetables. Expect dishes like beet tartare, artichoke stuffed with lamb, kale ravioli, and a fire-roasted dry aged duck. Tucked away behind a fireplace in the hotel lobby is also Evening Bar, Carmellini's cocktail lounge, which is serving up both classic and original cocktails, including one "porcini nog" made with actual mushrooms. [Daniel Krieger]

85 W Broadway, New York, NY 10007

Also featured in:

Bowery Meat Company

This modern version of a steakhouse from John McDonald and chef Josh Capon (both of Lure, El Toro Blanco, B&B), is the hot spot du jour for celebs like Justin Bieber and Adrian Grenier. The menu isn't without the classics — there's a New York strip, a burger, and a broiled lobster — but it also includes a duck lasagna for two, foie gras parfait, and live sea scallop. Ryan Sutton recommends the strip steak. [Daniel Krieger]

9 E 1st St, New York, NY 10003

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Upland

Former Il Buco Alimentari chef Justin Smillie just opened this big California-style brasserie with Philly-based prolific restaurateur Stephen Starr. The seasonal menu leans Italian, with some pizzas and pastas like spaghetti with sea urchin, and pappardelle with sausage ragu. Other dishes range from scallop ceviche to the signature (and excellent) short ribs for two with olives, walnuts, and celery. [Daniel Krieger]

345 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Little Beet Table

Franklin Becker just opened this full-service offshoot of his popular, health-conscious Midtown lunch spot. The menu is entirely gluten-free, and heavy on the vegetables, but that doesn't mean there's not a burger and a roast chicken on the menu. Otherwise expect green juice alongside straightforward cocktails, and dishes like mushroom flatbread, grilled carrots with whipped ricotta, and quinoa "risotto." [Bess Adler]

333 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Ramen Lab

70 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012

There are just 10 seats at Sun Noodle’s Ramen Lab, but they are worth waiting for. Chef Jack Nakamura is turning out two bowls of ramen, one with a clear, ultra-concentrated chicken shoyu broth and another with caramelized miso, oolong tea, corn, and bean sprouts, and of course Sun's custom noodles. There are also promises of a seasonal ramen and classes on the soup to come. Rounding out the menu are gyoza, tea, and booze served in glass beakers. Don’t overlook the vegetarian ramen, which is unusual in all the right ways. [Daniel Krieger]

70 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012

Prova

184 8th Ave, New York, NY

Neapolitan pizzeria Prova, from TV personality Donatella Arpaia and Sushi Nakazawa partner Maurizio de Rosa, is topping its pies with high-minded ingredients like uni, squid ink, and quail eggs. The restaurant, which replaces another pizzeria, Heartwood, was built around a custom oven by craftsman Stefano Ferrara, and the menu got some help from Ribalta’s Pasquale Cozzolino and Rosario Procino. [Nick Solares]

184 8th Ave, New York, NY

Mission Chinese Food

171 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002

From the second it surprise opened in late December, New Yorkers have been lining up for Danny Bowien’s very liberal take on Chinese cooking. The new location has a few of the favorites from the original menu, like kung pao pastrami, plus many new additions, $69 and a $99 prix fixe menus, a prime rib cart, a cocktail cart, caviar, pizza, and a whole lot more space. Arrive early for dinner for the shortest wait times.

Open in Google Maps

171 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

Jack's Wife Freda

50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

Longtime Soho charmer Jack’s Wife Freda finally expanded, opening a new location in the West Village. The style of the space and the menu are very similar to the original, but there are a few new dishes like orange blossom pancakes and curried mussels. Hopefully, the expansion will spell shorter brunch lines. [Courtesy of Jack's Wife Freda]

50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

Parm UWS

235 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

The Torrisi boys have finally gone uptown opening the second of what will be many Parms to come. The Upper West Side location is roomier than the original, and there’s a bigger menu with a Carbone-esque linguine and clams and that made-to-order mozz from the early days of Torrisi. All of the original sandwiches are still on the menu. [The original Parm, Daniel Krieger]

235 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

Espoleta

334 Bowery, New York, NY

Pizzaiolo and former Forcella co-owner Giulio Adriani shut down the shop after a split with his business partners and reopened the Bowery space as Spanish restaurant Espoleta. Sue Torres, of the late and much-mourned Suenos is consulting on the menu, which offers lots of pinxtos and tapas, plus half glasses of wine to go with them. For those who long for Forcella's pizza, a limited menu will soon be available at the restaurant's pizza speakeasy SRO. [Daniel Krieger]

334 Bowery, New York, NY

Tijuana Picnic

151 Essex St, New York, NY 10002

It took nearly a year for Acme and Indochine vets Jon Neidich, Jean-Marc Houmard, and Huy Chi Le, to open Tijuana Picnic, but the Asian-inflect Mexican restaurant is finally open and serving tacos with fillings like tuna belly and galangal-marinated chicken in the a 1970’s inspired cabin-y space. There are also several large family-style plates like pork chops marinated in coconut milk. [Daniel Krieger]

151 Essex St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

Kang Ho Dong Baekjong

319 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016

The first Manhattan outpost of a wildly popular Korean barbecue chain run by comedian/wrestler Kang Ho Dong has been packed with diners and food glitterati like Anthony Bourdain and David Chang since it opened. Momofuku vet Deuki Hong is helming the kitchen, which is turns out traditional Korean barbecue with top notch beef. [Photo courtesy Kang Ho Dong Baekjong]

Open in Google Maps

319 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016

Happy Ending

302 Broome St, New York, NY 10002

Gallery owner Max Levai and Oliver Stumm of Café Select and Rintintin recently took over this former music venue dive and gave it a retro makeover. They kept the name, but changed just about everything else, transforming it into restaurant with French, Italian, and Asian leanings. Francis Gabarrus, who once ran France's Michelin-starred La Ville Stings, is the chef in charge, turning out dishes like salmon with green curry sauce and bacalao tagliatelle. [Daniel Krieger]

302 Broome St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

Momofuku Ko

8 Extra Pl, New York, NY 10003

David Chang's Michelin-starred tasting counter just packed up and moved to a larger space on Extra Place. The menu is longer and more expensive now at $175 a head, and much of it is new (although a few old classics, like the shaved foie gras and lychee, still made the cut). There are more seats around the counter, a separate bar, and even a couple tables, which will be used for reverse wine pairing dinners, in which chef Sean Gray builds a meal around wines chosen by the diners. Note that just because it's bigger, doesn't mean it's any easier to get a seat. [Daniel Krieger]

8 Extra Pl, New York, NY 10003

Visit Website

Chefs Club by Food & Wine NY

275 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10012

Food & Wine magazine just opened this guest chef-centric restaurant in the Puck building. Every season, four top notch guest chefs from across the country contribute a few dishes to the menu, and do at least a brief stint in the kitchen. Right now those chefs include Gabriel Rucker of Portland's Le Pigeon and Erik Anderson, formerly of the Catbird Seat, serving dishes like smoked and seared foie gras, and a bone-in strip steak for two. The rest of the menu, and the kitchen, is overseen by former Adour chef Didier Elena and Matthew Aita. [Daniel Krieger]

275 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10012

Visit Website

Via Carota

51 Grove St, New York, NY 10014

Jody Williams and Rita Sodi, who have already won over the West Village with Buvette and I Sodi, just opened this rustic Italian restaurant right up the block from Buvette. The menu includes many small plates, plus a few pastas and meat dishes. From an early visit, Robert Sietsema likes nearly everything, but especially the fried artichokes, the grilled sardines, and the guinea hen. Breakfast and lunch will start the weekend of January 10. [Daniel Krieger]

51 Grove St, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

Dojo Izakaya

38 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

Sushi whiz David Bouhadana recently opened this casual offshoot of his hit Sushi Dojo. The menu includes house-made soba noodles, served in various hot or cold iterations, plus plenty of grilled or fried things like uni cream-filled croquettes and miso-marinated grilled pork neck. [Photo: Kat Odell]

38 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

Almanac

28 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014

Chef Galen Zamarra has transformed his once grill-centric restaurant Mas (La Grillade) into the very seasonal, tasting menu-focused Almanac. Now he offers the choice of a three-course prix fixe (for $75), a five-course tasting menu (for $95), or an eight-course tasting menu (for $145), all of which change almost daily. While it's winter, expect dishes like mushroom-stuffed cabbage, squash with lamb bacon, and duck with sweet potato hash. [Daniel Krieger]

28 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014

Pier A Harbor House

22 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004

For the first time in its 128-year history, this once-decrepit city building is open to the public. Also for the first time, it now houses a massive beer hall on its first floor, from restaurateurs Harry and Peter Poulakakos. The menu is German pub meets raw bar, with seafood towers, clam chowder, soft pretzels, and bratwurst, but the space (and the view) is the real draw here. Early in 2015, Poulakakos and team will open several more upscale restaurants on the second floor. [Daniel Krieger]

22 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004

Related Maps

SHUKO

47 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003

This new sushi restaurant from former Neta chefs Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau has just 20 seats, and offers two menus: a sushi-only omakase, or a longer kaiseke-style omakase. The former costs $135, the latter is $175. The menus change, but expect clean, classic sushi, occasionally dressed up with luxe ingredients like truffles and caviar. [Daniel Krieger]

47 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003

Visit Website

Little Park at the Smyth

85 W Broadway, New York, NY 10007

Andrew Carmellini, Josh Pickard, and Luke Ostrom just opened this stylish, modern hotel restaurant. Here the focus is on all things seasonal and local, and the menu includes a lengthy section devoted to vegetables. Expect dishes like beet tartare, artichoke stuffed with lamb, kale ravioli, and a fire-roasted dry aged duck. Tucked away behind a fireplace in the hotel lobby is also Evening Bar, Carmellini's cocktail lounge, which is serving up both classic and original cocktails, including one "porcini nog" made with actual mushrooms. [Daniel Krieger]

85 W Broadway, New York, NY 10007

Bowery Meat Company

9 E 1st St, New York, NY 10003

This modern version of a steakhouse from John McDonald and chef Josh Capon (both of Lure, El Toro Blanco, B&B), is the hot spot du jour for celebs like Justin Bieber and Adrian Grenier. The menu isn't without the classics — there's a New York strip, a burger, and a broiled lobster — but it also includes a duck lasagna for two, foie gras parfait, and live sea scallop. Ryan Sutton recommends the strip steak. [Daniel Krieger]

9 E 1st St, New York, NY 10003

Visit Website

Upland

345 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010

Former Il Buco Alimentari chef Justin Smillie just opened this big California-style brasserie with Philly-based prolific restaurateur Stephen Starr. The seasonal menu leans Italian, with some pizzas and pastas like spaghetti with sea urchin, and pappardelle with sausage ragu. Other dishes range from scallop ceviche to the signature (and excellent) short ribs for two with olives, walnuts, and celery. [Daniel Krieger]

345 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010

Visit Website