"East Villagers have been slurping smoked pork belly ramen at Momofuku Noodle Bar since 2004, and getting into the First Avenue spot used to be no easy feat. Now, the restaurant is in its most useful era. You can walk in for a quick solo meal and eat a bowl of clean-tasting, delicious garlic chicken ramen, or find a last-minute reservation for three or four people who want a big house salad and a few rounds of DIY spicy scallop hand rolls, pork belly bao, and beer." - will hartman, bryan kim, willa moore, kenny yang, neha talreja