Taste Test

Dddukboki.

Dddukboki. Chewy rice cakes slathered in spicy gochujang = love at first bite.
Location: Dokebi Bar & Grill. 199 Grand St. Brooklyn, NY. (718.782.1424) www.korean-bbq-brooklyn.com/

Baklava.

Baklava. Layers of wispy-fine phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweet syrup or honey. A vestige of the Ottoman Empire.
Location: Pizza Palace. 2929 Ditmars Blvd. Astoria, NY. (718.728.1060)

Gyro Platter, sans Pita Bread.

Gyros. Meat, tomato, onion, tzatziki sauce and pita bread. A Greek favorite. The Gyros Platter comes with a salad and inch-thick house fries, much like the ones I used to have with my Fish 'n Chips.
Location: Pizza Palace.

Pork Katsu Curry.

Pork Katsu Curry. Panko bread crumb-battered, deep-fried slab of pork ("tonkatsu") drenched in Japanese curry sauce and fortified with sticky Asian rice. GoGoCurry does it right with their mouthwatering version.
Location: GoGoCurry. 273 W 38th St. New York, NY. (212.730.5555) www.gogocurryusa.com

Akamaru Modern.

Akamaru Modern Ramen. Previously featured on this blog. I don't need to reiterate: It's heaven in a bowl.
Location: Ippudo. 65 Fourth Ave. New York, NY. (212.388.008) www.ippudo.com/ny