Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns: Manhattan, NY

Guys! This is no-joke my favorite Chinese restaurant in NYC -- and I've tried a lot! Located on 8th avenue on the corner of 49th street, Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns pulls ahead to be one of my staples. The restaurant is quite small and kind of tucked away in NY's theater district. But, don't underestimate it. It's even got a couple of Michelin recommendations!

The spicy beef ramen noodles are my favorite dish, alongside their pork xiao long bao, marinated cucumbers, and scallion pancakes.

The noodles are hand pulled all day, so you can even get a glimpse of all the cooks through a small opening on the far wall. The broth is addicting. At first sip, you're met with an amazing rich and savory flavor and then you hit the spice -- and boy is this one hot! You pull away and think, I'm never doing that again, but you can't resist and take another bite. But, what I think makes this dish is the cilantro in the broth. It adds a little zip, a hint of freshness bathed in meaty goodness. Then you come to the noodles, which are cooked to the most perfect al dente. Slightly chewy, but melty at the same time.

The pork xiao long baos paired with a couple drops of vinegar are a classic at this restaurant. Small dishes like marinated cucumbers bring coolness to the palette, especially when eating the spicy ramen, and the scallion pancakes round out the whole meal!

I can't say enough about this place. It's a true gem!