Banh Mi Saigon Mochi bread dessert: First time trying non-sandwich options at Vietnamese bakery Banh Mi Saigon in Chinatown. This spongey bread has an aerated mochi-like texture that’s lighter than Korean mochi bread. It comes in a sizeable half roll, with a green interior (I think unrelated to its flavor, as the dessert just tasted faintly of brown sugar to me). Exterior is a bit like a baked muffin top. There wasn’t any labeling on the packaging, so if anyone is able to clarify the exact name of this dessert, it would be muc... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended nyc dessert sweets vietnamese banhmisaigon mochi bread 3.5
Dr. Brown’s Diet cream soda : I typically drink diet soda to minimize sugar intake. I’ve gotten used to the taste of aspartame (disgusting, I know) and have found over the years that diet root beer seems to fare the best in terms of minimal fake-sugar taste. So I was curious about this diet cream soda, as root beer and cream soda share some similar flavor qualities. The diet cream soda from Dr. Brown’s was quite good as far as diet sodas go, with the vanilla (or more likely vanillin) aftertaste masking much of the unplea... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks dietsoda diet drbrowns cream soda 3.5
Morgenstern’s Raspberry chocolate with orange vanilla softserve: Morgenstern’s $1 softserve, created in partnership with Street Easy and with proceeds going towards Women in Need, is a no-brainer because where else are you going to get this quality ice cream for $1? An all-white appearance belies the fruity flavors beneath, with a mix of raspberry and orange vanilla. The citrus flavor is especially prominent and well balanced. Not a fan of the white chocolate or sprinkles that adorn it, which overly simplify the otherwise great quality ice cream. Perfect ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended icecream softserve nyc dessert morgensterns raspberry chocolate orange vanilla 3.5
Bao Tea House Lava Bao: Baked buns with a crumbly, buttery coating similar in texture to pineapple buns, filled with an egg coconut custard. The stark black color comes from bamboo charcoal. Bao is fluffy and yielding. A not-too-sweet dessert for those who love coconut. Comes in a box containing two buns. 3.5/5.0
recommended nyc dessert coconut custard baked baoteahouse lava bao 3.5
Golden Steamer Sweet pork bao: Here’s another bao from Golden Steamer in NYC. Filled with sweetened pork in a thick savory gravy, it’s like the enhanced version of a dim sum favorite. Lightly sweetened, pillowy white bread is the centerpiece - there’s much more of it than the meaty filling, and that’s fine by me. It costs $0.90. 3.5/5.0
recommended bao nyc bread goldensteamer sweet pork 3.5
7th Ave Donuts and Diner French cruller: Here’s another donut from a 24-hour shop, this time based in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Mostly diner but partially donut shop, 7th Ave Donuts and Diner has a selection of unfussy classics from glazed to jelly to toasted coconut. I judged the quality of their donuts from their French cruller. Its thick vanilla icing was far too sweet, but the donut itself was surprisingly good, with its toasted exterior, crispy at the edges, but eggy, slightly raw custard-like interior. I would gladly come back fo... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended nyc donut dessert 7thavedonutsanddiner French cruller 3.5