Deciding to spend an afternoon at one of this city’s world-class museums likely transplants you into a neighborhood you’re unfamiliar with, and thus with a food scene that could lead you into that familiar, debilitating state of hungry panic. Facing a few hours of invasive art and information on an empty stomach seems jarring but where the hell do people eat on the Upper East Side? Admittedly, this is when I can be tempted to get a hot dog from the cart outside of the Met and enter feeling noticeably uncultured and likely with mustard on my shirt.
Don’t let this happen to you. I’m helping you pick out the best lunch spots near all of the city’s museums so you can leave with a newfound knowledge of culture and history, and the confidence to find a damn good restaurant in a new neighborhood.
Han Dynasty in the Upper West Side
The best way to prepare yourself to conceptualize the explanation of millions of years of natural history and evolution, and to understand just how the hell these massive creatures inhabited our planet, you must invigorate your senses before entering.
Han Dynasty’s UWS location is quite different than their original, hole-in-the-wall LES spot, but the flavors are the same, and you’re way more likely to get a table. This authentic Szechuan outpost by way of Philly is serving some of the boldest Chinese food in the city, and it’s just a 10 minute walk from the Museum of Natural History. Don’t be turned off my it’s massive size or the number of “ladies who lunch” around you. This is the UWS. Everything is bigger and bitchier, but noticeably not lacking in taste.
What Not to Miss
Dan Dan Mian
If this is on a menu, it’s on my table. Han Dynasty’s version is just spicy enough with peanut and minced pork, and I was still thinking about it even as I stared into the glassy eyes of a wild boar right at the museum later.
Dumplings in Chili Oil
Spicy and oily is what you come to expect from a Szechuan lunch, and walking it all off in a massive museum is what you’re about to do. So don’t shy away from these floppy little dumplings because of their appearance. Besides, you’ve been meaning to work on your chopsticks skills anyway, and this dish is just slippery enough to be up for the challenge.
Spicy Crispy Cucumbers
Admittedly we got these to keep things nice and cool, and even with an “8” on the Han spicy scale, they did the trick. They’re more sweet than spicy and just what we needed in between dishes.
Mapo Tofu
I’m a sucker for a good mapo tofu, and I never mind a mediocre one either. This dish didn’t wow me, but the spicy sauce and slippery tofu was satisfying and a good balance to the meat dishes on the table.
Dry Pepper Style Chicken
When you eat at Han Dynasty, getting an entree is a must. I didn’t know what to expect with the description of this “thrice-fried” dish, but it was surprisingly not greasy. This was a fantastic entree choice.
Please note that we ordered way, way too much food. However, even with five dishes on the table and enough leftovers for lunch the next day, our bill was unexpectedly cheap. Plus the free hot tea and (maybe) a slight hangover tempted us away from any lunch beers, keeping the bill under $60.
Plan on this guy accompanying you at the museum.
How Not to Miss It
Service here is fast, so you can expect to spend no more than 45 minutes even if you order 4-5 dishes.
Han Dynasty is located at 215 W. 85th Street in the UWS (and the original NYC location is at 90 Third Ave)
And, admittedly, my favorite thing about this place is the way the website reads “handynasty”…
The Museum of Natural History is a 12-minute walk from the restaurant.
Plan to spend about 3 hours here. Highlights include a very real look at climate change and what the city is doing to help prevent it, a collection of expertly taxidermied animals that were a “gift” to the city back in 1930, and, obviously, the dinosaurs.
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