Restaurants We Know You Want to Put on Your Radar: Piggyback NYC

Though regional Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Malaysian cuisine are some New York’s most popular dining options these days, when Leah Cohen opened Pig & Khao in 2012 on Clinton Street in the Lower East Side, tucked away from any major subway or tourist attraction, Southeastern Asian cuisine was just trying to establish itself as something New Yorkers might embrace. Yet eight years later, Pig & Khao still stands as now an the OG of Southeastern Asian food. And because of that, we’re profiling her latest spot to eat with your hands, Piggyback NYC, mostly because its hockey season and people need a decent spot to grab a bite before a Rangers game. The other reason: her food is DELICIOUS. Seriously, you think Shake Shack at Penn Station is the pinnacle of dining near The Garden? No, that’s amateur hour. So, what do you eat here?

Shrimp Toast Okonomiyaki

Cohen’s fresh menu includes shrimp toast okonomiyaki. She took a piece of brioche bread and then topped it with shrimp mousse, cabbage salad, bonito flakes, nori, and homemade sauces. So that’s a must of course. There’s also classic Filipino snacks like lumpia pork and beef spring rolls and Chả Cá Lã Vọng, which are rice noodles topped with cod and marinated in fish sauce butter. Bring gum if you eat this and you’re on a date.

Chả Cá Lã Vọng,

There’s also a pho french dip which reads like a mashup of a Philly cheesesteak and pho because it uses words like provolone and Thai basil in its description, and a dry aged ribeye for two served with bone marrow, jaew sauce, and green chili relish. Piggyback NYC is open for dinner service and has a full bar too. Brunch and lunch are coming soon too. If you’re into taking bathroom selfies, we also want to point out this place gives some intriguing options which you will see below.

The ribeye for two

A crazy ass bathroom at Piggyback NYC

A great spot for watching frantic commuters and drunk Rangers fans walk by.

The private event space at Piggyback NYC.