Indochine

"Is complaining about Fashion Week your favorite activity during Fashion Week? Are you a young, vaguely employed man with long hair? Could you identify Marc Jacobs by his tattoos, should the opportunity present itself? If so, then you’ve probably been to Indochine. And you’ve probably been here with a group of other people just like you. You have also probably been to Indochine if you’re over the age of 40, considering that this place has in business for nearly three decades. And somehow despite its age, this restaurant has managed to stay relevant, at least amongst a certain crowd - the fashion crowd. A visit to Indochine on any given night is pretty much like walking into a cartoon rendering of a New York fashion blogger’s wet dream. It’s a funky, dated room full of very stylish people doing lots of things other than eating, many of whom are famous in their industry. Almost all are completely unrecognizable to someone like me. I’m pretty sure I did see one of the Blue Man Group here one time though. We all have our idols. For what it is, we happen to like Indochine a lot. This is one of those places where you simply know what you’re going to get, every single time. The scene is more interesting than the somewhat average Pan-Asian food, but eating the city’s best spicy shrimp probably isn’t why you came here in the first place. If it is, you’re doing it wrong. Indochine is the place you come for a big group outing, especially of the birthday dinner variety. If you’re looking for a restaurant that can serve a table of ten equal parts food and vodka soda in high volume, this is your spot. The service is speedy, the room is loud and fun, and the menu is full of things that are perfectly good enough. If that doesn’t sound like a place to honor your best friend, I don’t know what does. Especially if he or she knows what Carine Roitfeld looks like. Food Rundown Fried Spring Rolls Greasy and very spring rolly. Why wouldn’t you eat them? Flame Seared Shrimp Basically a plate of shrimp poppers, served with an orange dipping sauce. Should you order them? I don’t even really know how to answer that. Filet Mingnon Carpaccio A tasty plate of meat, fixed up with a nice dressing of ginger scallion oil and chili dressing. Grilled Baby Back Ribs These things come off the grill with a thick crust of dry rub still on them, which makes them pretty good and pretty damn salty. Probably designed to make you drink more. Summer Roll of Shrimp And Chicken If you’re thinking about your summer body, you should probably only eat these summer rolls. Definitely the healthiest thing on the menu, and still probably not all that healthy. Spicy Chicken Breast A safe order for the table. Nobody doesn’t like spicy chicken. This could be spicier, though. Glazed Duck Breast One of our favorite things on the menu here. This is simply some well cooked duck atop a bed of bok choi, and it will please you. Amok Cambodgien The best thing at Indochine, by far. A bunch of sole filets are steamed in a banana leaf, and served with some sort of coconut milk sauce. It’s light and flavorful, and you’ll like it. Order it." - Chris Stang

"Still primal at a geriatric twenty years, Indochine’s waitresses are likely to be as stunning and/or exotic as its clientele of mannequins and their rotating sugars." - Ryan Sutton

"COVID-19 update: Temporarily closed. Indochine's opening back in 1984 was actually a dinner in honor of Juilan Schnabel—and the entire art crowd showed up to celebrate. Blessedly, the place hasn't changed much since then; the wallpaper is iconic, and the Chilean sea bass has garnered a cult-like following. They know what they're doing, so you can trust them to handle private events of any size. COVID-19 disclaimer: We are working hard to keep our listings as up to date as possible (deliveries, outdoor dining, etc.), but given the evolving nature of local COVID-19 restrictions, we recommend double-checking the information in this guide with any business you plan on visiting. Also, please note that we have not vetted any businesses listed within our guides for their compliance with applicable safety regulations."

"There is no other restaurant in NYC, in my opinion, that has held its reign as the sexiest and most delicious place—and with the most eclectic cast of creative characters—as Indochine has. Originally owned by Brian McNally, the French-Vietnamese restaurant was once the stomping ground of the art elite—Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Julian Schnabel, Madonna, Debbie Harry, and David Bowie in the 1980s. The lighting is always perfectly dim and flattering, the room is always extra sexy, the music is fun and campy, the tablehopping is plentiful come late-night, and the staff, hand-plucked by owner Jean-Marc Houmard, is always a well-versed group from an array of cultures (and all are beyond striking). Go into the restaurant on any given night and you, too, will feel the magic of this space and the people who inhabit it."

"The venerable Noho restaurant opened in 1984 and has long been a canteen for a cool, fashion-centric crowd. Its iconic palm frond wallpaper, glossy green leather booths, and gorgeous actor-model stable of servers might be more famous than the food itself, but the Vietnamese fare is still tasty, though pricey. It’s one of the few restaurants left with a definite Sex and the City vibe." - Alexandra Ilyashov, Carla Vianna