Momofuku Ssäm Bar

We miss the old Ssäm Bar in the East Village, but the current iteration of this David Chang spot at Pier 17 is no slouch. This place is really two restaurants in one. The more casual downstairs has bar seating, a patio with limited views of the East River, and Momofuku classics like pork belly bao and crispy brussels. 

You'll find different food and fun times in the more polished upstairs area. A more protein-heavy menu is designed around tabletop grills, and there are two private karaoke rooms—also equipped with grills, so be careful when dancing to “Poker Face.” We recommend the $110 set menu, which comes with a ton of food. The non-meat dishes, like rapini and prawns with ‘nduja butter, are standouts, but the short rib and pork shoulder are also worth checking out.

photo credit: Momofuku Ssäm Bar