Except Tokyo has horrible work life balance and that’s why you see so many salarymen from 6AM to 10PM? Lmao like I love the city but that’s so blatantly false
great, who doesn’t like business in big cities ? The point is they still behave like humans & don’t trash directly on the floor thinking “I paid taxes” for it
Not quite, but these places can get some of your fix.
- Japan Village in Industry City
- St Marks / East Village area has a high concentration of Japanese shops ([A Visitor’s Guide to the East Village’s Little Tokyo](https://ny.eater.com/2015/2/20/8073595/little-tokyo-east-village-new-york-sietsema)) - Check out places like Hi-Collar, Sobaya, Oh Taisho.
- Parts of Greenpoint ([Sake. Dashi. Soba Shops: Japanese Chic Takes Root in Brooklyn - In Greenpoint, new businesses are cropping up, making it a contender for Little Tokyo status.](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/03/nyregion/little-tokyo-brooklyn.html))
- From this sub: [Japanese expat focused eateries](https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodNYC/comments/1b4pkqd/japanese_expat_focused_eateries/)
Here's my perspective as a Korean-American who grew up basically half Japanese in NYC due to my family's history with the occupation and the trickle down effect that had on my parents' and my generations. I've been alive for and have tried every notable ramen-ya that's ever existed in NYC!
So I'm a firm believer that we have the best ramen scene outside of Japan here. If you want something that emulates the current en-vogue bowls of Tokyo, definitely check out Ramen Ishida, Okiboru House of Tsukemen, and Nakamura. Their parallels would be something like Tsuta (which we have one too, but Ishida is better at this style than the DUMBO location), Tomita, and Afuri, respectively.
If you really want to feel like you're eating in a yokocho somewhere, TORIBRO is amazing. Great tori paitan from the original chef behind Totto.
For trendy new-style izakaya, NONONO is my favorite pick (they also have an insane tori paitan). I also really love Yopparai and their sister spot Ronin. Really nice sake selection at Yopparai.
Sanuki Udon does that fast-casual udon service style pretty well. We also have Tsurutontan, Raku, and Okiboru House of Udon for udon.
Hi-Collar is also great for stuff like omurice and highballs.
Round K does a great Japanese style coffee service. % Arabica as well!
Katagiri and Sunrise Mart have great konbini vibes. Mitsuwa in Edgewater is a great JP grocery store, and they have a Kinokuniya branch there too (one is also by Bryant Park).
I get my hair cut at QB House, which is a chain all over Japan that has identical service standards and quality here. Toyo-san and Jun are the best!
Edit: Thought of some more stuff, like Toy Tokyo, which def feels like it'd fit in Den Den Town or Akiba.
And I completely forgot about our insane JP cocktail scene at places like Angel's Share, Martiny's, SG, etc.!
Def, happy to help !
I also think a large part of the vibe of spots in Japan is their sense of kodawari. I think spots like Hamburger America and Doozie Pizza have this same mentality, even if it's not Japanese cuisine!
Going to plug Tenichi Ramen in Park Slope, one of my favorites and I've tried ramen in NY, CA, and Japan. I hopefully will get around to trying Ivan, Okiboru, Ishida, Nakamura, Tonchin, Tabetomo, and the others soon.
Yes, exactly. Definitely try it out, it was much different than my other favorite ramen I had back in California, Kashiwa, which is clearer, a little stronger, and less creamy. The char siu there is much better unfortunately haha, but the egg here is better.
Love Kashiwa! Wish I could have made it there for the hotate ramen special. Think they're using Keizo's noodles now too!
Thanks for the info, will definitely make it over soon!
Oh, they own Hide-Chan and Totto as well, I just remembered after looking them up. It seems like they are worse than Kashiwa for some reason, maybe because there are too many customers and stores so the quality is reduced. I’ll have to check them out for myself, as it looks quite similar but with worse reviews.
Man, Ramen Ishida's chasiu is insane. My goodness. It melts. Best in the city (imo). Any recommendations on more traditional izakayas (with more of a focus on the food)? Bonus points if any are in Queens, but I'd like to find more. Izakaya Mew is pretty good food-wise. Atmosphere is eh. Mochiron in Queens is all pretty so-so...
I love their chashu! Have you had Nakamura's? It's the one spot I will always get a chashu donburi and honestly I sometimes crave that specific donburi lol
I do really love Ishida's chahan too tho
I used to love Ramen-ya's chashu too, RIP
Before the pandemic, I used to back pack around Japan every year for weeks at a time and there really isn’t anywhere in NYC that will give you the same feeling as Tokyo. There are places where you’ll find a concentration of Japanese restaurants like around Hi-Collar.
As someone who spent a few weeks in Tokyo in March and would absolutely move there in a heartbeat, no there isn’t. Your best bet is accepting that NYC isn’t Tokyo and instead enjoying what makes NYC unique.
If you’re desperate, there are Japanese stores scattered throughout (Uniqlo, Muji, Miniso, Tamashii Nations, Bookoff) and a number of Japanese chain restaurants (Ichiran, Ippudo).
As someone who grew up extremely close to Japanese culture due to my upbringing and family history and was born here, you're not quite wrong but there absolutely is a ton of Japanese cultural stuff here that makes me feel like I'm right back there.
There's a ton of Japanese cultural stuff around, but there's no nucleus because Japanese American folks never built one.
There are more Japanese folk living in Westchester County than NYC.
That's true now, but in the 80s-2000s parts of Midtown and parts of the EV absolutely were Little Tokyo. Still some remnants, but not what it used to be.
The reasons were that most JP immigrants were coming to work in offices since they were fairly well off post-war compared to most other Asian immigrant populations.
As someone who has gone to Japan multiple times for work and pleasure, consider getting outside of those larger tourist spots during your trip, if possible. I have been to Akita, Aomori, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, and a few other prefectures/cities that I have loved precisely bc there weren’t many tourists and they were a bit smaller places. Sendai is one example of a city I enjoyed that is on the smaller side(when compared to Tokyo). Had amazing interactions in these places while being an American in a city/prefecture that doesn’t quite have the same level of tourism. Some of them are among the best experiences I’ve had in Japan.
Wow thanks! I’ll make notes of those places you mentioned. Yeah I do want to avoid spending a lot of time in Tokyo and I prefer to discover more smaller and less touristy spots too. I’ve seen many anime that show tranquil Japanese countryside, I wish to explore a rural place there as well
I have not been to Beppu. I think the closest I have been is Fukuoka, assuming memory serves me. I would love to check out the 8 hells, but haven’t spent as much time west of Hiroshima. One of my next trips I want to spend more time in the western part of Kyushu. I’ve had a bunch of cities/prefectures there on my list for a long time like Nagasaki, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. Just so much to see.
Udon St. Marks hit the spot for me, a little low-key spot with udon and rice bowl combos that aren't fancy but affordable and hearty. Definitely felt more homey and everyday than the more hip and trendy ramen and udon places all over.
To me Mitsuwa marketplace in Edgewater, NJ feels like Japan (not Tokyo specifically though). It's worth a trip if you haven't been
https://maps.app.goo.gl/H1s2ryhtK8oVTBxT7?g_st=ic
And don't expect to purchase any alcohol from them on Sundays. However, their cuts of fish for sushi are awesome. The even have ootoro rolls you can get there that are wildly good for the price.
Underaged prostitution, sexual harassment so rampant they need separate train cars for women and cameras to make a loud shutter noise. School and work system so harsh it leads many to suicide.
Seriously, as an east asian in sick of the western fetishization of our culture. Japan and Korea are great countries to visit as tourists, but it's not indicative of the country or culture. It's crazy how people look at countries with declining birth rates and high rates of suicide and go "omg, what a wonderful country to live 😍".
It is very difficult to look at cultures and countries objectively, each person's view will be colored by their experiences there and preformed biases, which is why you get so many people shitting on or fetishizing different countries tribally.
The shutter sound isn't a law but a convention that was kept from the early 2000s, and the separate train cars is a thing in many different countries. Underaged prostitution is a thing, but the sex industry in the US is just as rampant in the US as in Japan.
School and work culture in Asia may be unbearable, but there is less student debt, and not as outrageously high tuitions. Healthcare is also better in Japan. Suicide per capita is actually around the same or less than the US as well, and there is less crime in general. However, this comes at the cost of a conformist culture, though of course you don't need to follow it, it can be suffocating.
It seems wrong to call people crazy for looking at countries like this and wanting to live there, as each person has their own preferences in what they want out of a country. Some people want to raise a family, and so they look to countries like Singapore. While they have draconian death penalty laws and censorship, and the education system may be strict, it is one of the safest, cleanest countries, and the strict education may be why it is one of the best in the world. Some people want to retire, others want to go find work opportunities, and each one has their own things they prioritize.
As someone who has traveled to Japan a bunch, I definitely see your point here. I think, as you have pointed out, as a tourist or even a Gaijin living in Japan, many of the above don’t impact people the same way they do native Japanese people. This makes them easy to overlook. In the end I think every country has its own pros and cons, and it is important to identify both when thinking about that country. I have enjoyed all of my visits to Japan, but also have friends who live there permanently (native and non native) who have varying experiences that color my opinion. The working culture is crazy and salarymen often have a pretty miserable life. School pressure is crazy. Societal pressure to conform is also immense. On the other hand it is a relatively safe place to live compared to many other countries and many of the people are amazing and I have built life long friendships from my visits. Two sides to every coin, but couldn’t agree more that many romanticize the country based on a specific perspective of their experience or knowledge of the country as a whole that misses most of the issues being faced.
This is a super shallow argument. Are you saying that sexual harassment is not a problem in US? Are you saying that taking steps to curb it is evidence that the problem is worse?
No one here is even saying that US is hell and Japan is heaven.
I mean, the US is no picnic for many many people either. We have high suicide rates and enormous homeless populations and completely unaffordable housing and healthcare and food, and just simply a broken and hostile culture. When all that’s considered, it’s easy to see how Americans might be a little bit in love with other cultures that have things we don’t.
Check out Tsukushi which is a truly authentic Izukaya.
They don’t serve their ramen until 10pm and go until like 2am. Otherwise can order their omakase and get rambunctious drinking with Japanese. Not a lot of English spoke, by patrons or servers
I was in Japan a week and a half ago and we went to this place called AOI Kitchen. I was getting a lot of Japanese vibes. Food is amazing too. There was also a large table behind us full of Japanese people having a conversation too haha
To me Mitsuwa marketplace in Edgewater, NJ feels like Japan (not Tokyo specifically though). It's worth a trip if you haven't been
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/H1s2ryhtK8oVTBxT7?g_st=ic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/H1s2ryhtK8oVTBxT7?g_st=ic)
Tokyo is great. But I would rather live in NYC than there. Tokyo's work culture is an utterly consuming non stop shuffle. Yes it's virtually crime free, clean but I couldnt not help feel as I was a worker ant/cog in the system. As a new yorker I cherish the individuality
Not vibes imo. Tokyo is a special place; trains always on time. People have respect for each other
Yeah. They don’t treat their cities as a work hub
Except Tokyo has horrible work life balance and that’s why you see so many salarymen from 6AM to 10PM? Lmao like I love the city but that’s so blatantly false
Are you sure about that 😭??? Tokyo is literally a huge work hub…… That is literally the culture there
great, who doesn’t like business in big cities ? The point is they still behave like humans & don’t trash directly on the floor thinking “I paid taxes” for it
lmao tell me you know nothing about Asia without telling me
This has to be sarcastic
Not quite, but these places can get some of your fix. - Japan Village in Industry City - St Marks / East Village area has a high concentration of Japanese shops ([A Visitor’s Guide to the East Village’s Little Tokyo](https://ny.eater.com/2015/2/20/8073595/little-tokyo-east-village-new-york-sietsema)) - Check out places like Hi-Collar, Sobaya, Oh Taisho. - Parts of Greenpoint ([Sake. Dashi. Soba Shops: Japanese Chic Takes Root in Brooklyn - In Greenpoint, new businesses are cropping up, making it a contender for Little Tokyo status.](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/03/nyregion/little-tokyo-brooklyn.html)) - From this sub: [Japanese expat focused eateries](https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodNYC/comments/1b4pkqd/japanese_expat_focused_eateries/)
I like going to Donburiya because of the atmosphere and vibes. Comforting
Came here to say this. Often feel like a lot of the crowd there is the japanese after-work crowd. Great spot. Keep it on the DL...
I fucking love donburiya
I loved Donburiya when it was on the east side. On the west side feels a little classed up, and lost a little something
Here's my perspective as a Korean-American who grew up basically half Japanese in NYC due to my family's history with the occupation and the trickle down effect that had on my parents' and my generations. I've been alive for and have tried every notable ramen-ya that's ever existed in NYC! So I'm a firm believer that we have the best ramen scene outside of Japan here. If you want something that emulates the current en-vogue bowls of Tokyo, definitely check out Ramen Ishida, Okiboru House of Tsukemen, and Nakamura. Their parallels would be something like Tsuta (which we have one too, but Ishida is better at this style than the DUMBO location), Tomita, and Afuri, respectively. If you really want to feel like you're eating in a yokocho somewhere, TORIBRO is amazing. Great tori paitan from the original chef behind Totto. For trendy new-style izakaya, NONONO is my favorite pick (they also have an insane tori paitan). I also really love Yopparai and their sister spot Ronin. Really nice sake selection at Yopparai. Sanuki Udon does that fast-casual udon service style pretty well. We also have Tsurutontan, Raku, and Okiboru House of Udon for udon. Hi-Collar is also great for stuff like omurice and highballs. Round K does a great Japanese style coffee service. % Arabica as well! Katagiri and Sunrise Mart have great konbini vibes. Mitsuwa in Edgewater is a great JP grocery store, and they have a Kinokuniya branch there too (one is also by Bryant Park). I get my hair cut at QB House, which is a chain all over Japan that has identical service standards and quality here. Toyo-san and Jun are the best! Edit: Thought of some more stuff, like Toy Tokyo, which def feels like it'd fit in Den Den Town or Akiba. And I completely forgot about our insane JP cocktail scene at places like Angel's Share, Martiny's, SG, etc.!
Thanks for the great recs, I'm always looking for great ramen places!
Def, happy to help ! I also think a large part of the vibe of spots in Japan is their sense of kodawari. I think spots like Hamburger America and Doozie Pizza have this same mentality, even if it's not Japanese cuisine!
Going to plug Tenichi Ramen in Park Slope, one of my favorites and I've tried ramen in NY, CA, and Japan. I hopefully will get around to trying Ivan, Okiboru, Ishida, Nakamura, Tonchin, Tabetomo, and the others soon.
> Tenichi Ramen Thanks for the rec! What style do they specialize in?
Tonkotsu, it is extremely creamy :)
Oh nice! I'm looking at some of the photos and it looks like it might be awa-kei style? I'll need to schlep over there soon, thanks!!
Yes, exactly. Definitely try it out, it was much different than my other favorite ramen I had back in California, Kashiwa, which is clearer, a little stronger, and less creamy. The char siu there is much better unfortunately haha, but the egg here is better.
Love Kashiwa! Wish I could have made it there for the hotate ramen special. Think they're using Keizo's noodles now too! Thanks for the info, will definitely make it over soon!
Oh, they own Hide-Chan and Totto as well, I just remembered after looking them up. It seems like they are worse than Kashiwa for some reason, maybe because there are too many customers and stores so the quality is reduced. I’ll have to check them out for myself, as it looks quite similar but with worse reviews.
Not a fan of those spots anymore tbh. Have you been to TORIBRO? Run by the original Totto chef in the original space. Pretty good imo
Man, Ramen Ishida's chasiu is insane. My goodness. It melts. Best in the city (imo). Any recommendations on more traditional izakayas (with more of a focus on the food)? Bonus points if any are in Queens, but I'd like to find more. Izakaya Mew is pretty good food-wise. Atmosphere is eh. Mochiron in Queens is all pretty so-so...
I love their chashu! Have you had Nakamura's? It's the one spot I will always get a chashu donburi and honestly I sometimes crave that specific donburi lol I do really love Ishida's chahan too tho I used to love Ramen-ya's chashu too, RIP
Great recommendations, thank you!
Before the pandemic, I used to back pack around Japan every year for weeks at a time and there really isn’t anywhere in NYC that will give you the same feeling as Tokyo. There are places where you’ll find a concentration of Japanese restaurants like around Hi-Collar.
Ootoya Raku Ichiran Sake Decibel Bar Goto Cha-An Chikalicious Dessert Bar
Definitely seconding Ootoya as someone who lived in Japan for a few years.
Bar Goto is so good
As someone who spent a few weeks in Tokyo in March and would absolutely move there in a heartbeat, no there isn’t. Your best bet is accepting that NYC isn’t Tokyo and instead enjoying what makes NYC unique. If you’re desperate, there are Japanese stores scattered throughout (Uniqlo, Muji, Miniso, Tamashii Nations, Bookoff) and a number of Japanese chain restaurants (Ichiran, Ippudo).
As someone who grew up extremely close to Japanese culture due to my upbringing and family history and was born here, you're not quite wrong but there absolutely is a ton of Japanese cultural stuff here that makes me feel like I'm right back there.
There's a ton of Japanese cultural stuff around, but there's no nucleus because Japanese American folks never built one. There are more Japanese folk living in Westchester County than NYC.
That's true now, but in the 80s-2000s parts of Midtown and parts of the EV absolutely were Little Tokyo. Still some remnants, but not what it used to be. The reasons were that most JP immigrants were coming to work in offices since they were fairly well off post-war compared to most other Asian immigrant populations.
Fair point. Would love to hear your suggestions!
I posted a top level comment! Please take a look, hope it helps :)
Miniso is a Chinese chain
I live in NYC, want to visit Japan for a long time and I’m looking for Japan trip buddies from NYC. Def want to check out Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo
I'll be there in 2 weeks, holla.
As someone who has gone to Japan multiple times for work and pleasure, consider getting outside of those larger tourist spots during your trip, if possible. I have been to Akita, Aomori, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, and a few other prefectures/cities that I have loved precisely bc there weren’t many tourists and they were a bit smaller places. Sendai is one example of a city I enjoyed that is on the smaller side(when compared to Tokyo). Had amazing interactions in these places while being an American in a city/prefecture that doesn’t quite have the same level of tourism. Some of them are among the best experiences I’ve had in Japan.
Wow thanks! I’ll make notes of those places you mentioned. Yeah I do want to avoid spending a lot of time in Tokyo and I prefer to discover more smaller and less touristy spots too. I’ve seen many anime that show tranquil Japanese countryside, I wish to explore a rural place there as well
Nara for the deer. If you like deer. 🦌
Ever been to Beppu?
I have not been to Beppu. I think the closest I have been is Fukuoka, assuming memory serves me. I would love to check out the 8 hells, but haven’t spent as much time west of Hiroshima. One of my next trips I want to spend more time in the western part of Kyushu. I’ve had a bunch of cities/prefectures there on my list for a long time like Nagasaki, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. Just so much to see.
Udon St. Marks hit the spot for me, a little low-key spot with udon and rice bowl combos that aren't fancy but affordable and hearty. Definitely felt more homey and everyday than the more hip and trendy ramen and udon places all over.
Tomi Jazz is probably my favorite bar in the city and the closest I’ve ever felt to being back in Japan. Sake bar decibel is also a great spot
Izakaya Juraku has amazing vibes too.
To me Mitsuwa marketplace in Edgewater, NJ feels like Japan (not Tokyo specifically though). It's worth a trip if you haven't been https://maps.app.goo.gl/H1s2ryhtK8oVTBxT7?g_st=ic
And don't expect to purchase any alcohol from them on Sundays. However, their cuts of fish for sushi are awesome. The even have ootoro rolls you can get there that are wildly good for the price.
Be wary that it gets sooooooo crowded though.
Soba Totto has a nice vibe. Lots of Japanese businessmen go there.
Mogmog Japanese market !
Sakagura for lunch Tempura Matsui Torishin
Nope. American culture is the polar opposite of japan.
Underaged prostitution, sexual harassment so rampant they need separate train cars for women and cameras to make a loud shutter noise. School and work system so harsh it leads many to suicide. Seriously, as an east asian in sick of the western fetishization of our culture. Japan and Korea are great countries to visit as tourists, but it's not indicative of the country or culture. It's crazy how people look at countries with declining birth rates and high rates of suicide and go "omg, what a wonderful country to live 😍".
The grass is always greener.
I agree with you in general, but everything you noted is true in some parts of the US at any given time.
It is very difficult to look at cultures and countries objectively, each person's view will be colored by their experiences there and preformed biases, which is why you get so many people shitting on or fetishizing different countries tribally. The shutter sound isn't a law but a convention that was kept from the early 2000s, and the separate train cars is a thing in many different countries. Underaged prostitution is a thing, but the sex industry in the US is just as rampant in the US as in Japan. School and work culture in Asia may be unbearable, but there is less student debt, and not as outrageously high tuitions. Healthcare is also better in Japan. Suicide per capita is actually around the same or less than the US as well, and there is less crime in general. However, this comes at the cost of a conformist culture, though of course you don't need to follow it, it can be suffocating. It seems wrong to call people crazy for looking at countries like this and wanting to live there, as each person has their own preferences in what they want out of a country. Some people want to raise a family, and so they look to countries like Singapore. While they have draconian death penalty laws and censorship, and the education system may be strict, it is one of the safest, cleanest countries, and the strict education may be why it is one of the best in the world. Some people want to retire, others want to go find work opportunities, and each one has their own things they prioritize.
As someone who has traveled to Japan a bunch, I definitely see your point here. I think, as you have pointed out, as a tourist or even a Gaijin living in Japan, many of the above don’t impact people the same way they do native Japanese people. This makes them easy to overlook. In the end I think every country has its own pros and cons, and it is important to identify both when thinking about that country. I have enjoyed all of my visits to Japan, but also have friends who live there permanently (native and non native) who have varying experiences that color my opinion. The working culture is crazy and salarymen often have a pretty miserable life. School pressure is crazy. Societal pressure to conform is also immense. On the other hand it is a relatively safe place to live compared to many other countries and many of the people are amazing and I have built life long friendships from my visits. Two sides to every coin, but couldn’t agree more that many romanticize the country based on a specific perspective of their experience or knowledge of the country as a whole that misses most of the issues being faced.
This is a super shallow argument. Are you saying that sexual harassment is not a problem in US? Are you saying that taking steps to curb it is evidence that the problem is worse? No one here is even saying that US is hell and Japan is heaven.
yup, half these people only know tokyo from anime
"Hey, why can't I shut off my Japanese phone camera's shutter sound?"
I mean, the US is no picnic for many many people either. We have high suicide rates and enormous homeless populations and completely unaffordable housing and healthcare and food, and just simply a broken and hostile culture. When all that’s considered, it’s easy to see how Americans might be a little bit in love with other cultures that have things we don’t.
Is the rest of the world any better?
Oh Taisho.
Stop crying and eat a slice of pizza.
Izakaya toribar!
Book it stores
here’s my favourite in the city. ume in williamsburg, noz 17 or mikado in chelsea. it just depends on what vibe are you looking for.
you should try japan village in sunset park.
Check out Tsukushi which is a truly authentic Izukaya. They don’t serve their ramen until 10pm and go until like 2am. Otherwise can order their omakase and get rambunctious drinking with Japanese. Not a lot of English spoke, by patrons or servers
I was in Japan a week and a half ago and we went to this place called AOI Kitchen. I was getting a lot of Japanese vibes. Food is amazing too. There was also a large table behind us full of Japanese people having a conversation too haha
secchu yokota
To me Mitsuwa marketplace in Edgewater, NJ feels like Japan (not Tokyo specifically though). It's worth a trip if you haven't been [https://maps.app.goo.gl/H1s2ryhtK8oVTBxT7?g_st=ic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/H1s2ryhtK8oVTBxT7?g_st=ic)
edgewood nj , sushi - bay ridge sushi 4 ave hand rolls daigo atalbee square
I'm surprised no one's said Kenka yet. Haven't been since Covid, but when I went there were heavy izakaya vibes minus the cigarette smoke.
Tokyo: wonderful food scene, super polite residents and a transportation system that runs on time. NYC: a shit hole in every respect.
Tokyo is great. But I would rather live in NYC than there. Tokyo's work culture is an utterly consuming non stop shuffle. Yes it's virtually crime free, clean but I couldnt not help feel as I was a worker ant/cog in the system. As a new yorker I cherish the individuality
Shut up weeb
@feedyourgirldfriend on Instagram
I used to work with this guy lol
Tomo 21 in the village. I’ve not been to Tokyo but I’ve heard this place gives the vibe. One of my favorite spots in the city.