It’s time for an April wrap-up!

I’ve had the privilege of eating at some stellar places this month—some that have been on my list for a while, and others that are new, trendy additions. Sadly, some of the best bites I had were in San Francisco (a life-changing pork chop from NOPA and a pretty tasty focaccia sandwich from Day Moon), so I won’t include them in this NYC list. But if you’re heading to the Bay Area anytime soon, they’re absolutely worth checking out!

1. Moono: Pre-Appetizer Bite & Hoe Muchim + Kim

This might be listed first because of recency bias (I ate here on April 18th), but it truly was a standout meal. I’ve known about Moono and their acclaimed Pyongyang (aka North Korean-style) naengmyeon since they opened, but hadn’t found the right occasion to go. When I planned dinner with three Korean friends, I suggested Moono, and we somehow snagged four seats at the bar on a Friday night. By the end of the night, all three gave me a solid thumbs-up.

Honestly, the most memorable bite of the evening was the small pre-meal appetizer: a tiny plate of agar agar jelly cubes with apple and cucumber in a chilled broth. It was bright, refreshing, and totally woke up my palate. Paired with their fresh kimchi, it was enough to make me want to come back. Give me a bowl of rice with that combo and I’m good.

We followed it up with the *Hoe Muchim + Kim*, which featured seasonal fish, gochujang, and soybean powder (sadly, no photos!), and I’d definitely order it again. We also had the *Bossam* and *Galbi-Jjim*, which were both solid, and finished with the cold noodles—so unique and refreshing!

2. LaLa Bakeshop: Coconut Pandan Sticky Rice Mini Cake

This bakery has been all over my feed, so I suggested it for a weekend meetup. (Pro tip: don’t plan to stay long—there’s basically no seating.)

The definitive highlight was the Coconut Pandan Sticky Rice Mini Cake, a small cube layered with sticky rice, pandan chiffon cake, coconut sauce, and toasted coconut flakes. It’s a gooey little cube of coconut goodness. The texture was spot on, and it delivered great flavor without being overly sweet.

We also tried the Tara Lava Bun, Salted Egg Lava Bun, and Pandan Cream Coffee. We wished the pandan flavor in the coffee was stronger, but the buns had great flavor and that soft, nostalgic tangzhong-method bread texture.

3. Somedays Bakeshop: Almond Croissant

If all the pastry influencers (not just the general foodies) love a spot, you know it’s the real deal. Not only are their pastries intricate and creative, but they even ship in butter from New Zealand.

The best news? They just opened a location in my Long Island City neighborhood! I went with two friends after coffee and tried the almond croissant—my friend insisted we try it (she couldn’t eat carbs that day, but still bought one for us to share)—and the special: a pizza croissant. The pastries were incredibly flaky and flavorful. The almond croissant was definitely one of the best I’ve had in NYC, and the almond cream inside was the perfect amount.

4. Ippudo V: Tonkotsu Broth (Vegan!)

Our Editor-in-Chief, Milly, invited me to an event—what she didn’t mention (and I didn’t fully read the text) was that it was vegan. That might’ve changed whether I showed up… but I’m glad I did.

We were surprised at every turn. The appetizers were flavorful and didn’t make me miss seafood. But the real showstopper? The vegan tonkotsu broth. It somehow nailed that creamy, rich, umami-packed flavor—and even the smell had that signature fatty pork aroma. Impressive stuff.

5. B&H Dairy: Borscht

I first heard about this legendary East Village gem during the pandemic when I was stuck quarantining in my parents’ basement bingeing Doobydobap vlogs. As a tuna melt lover, it’s been on my list for a while. But thanks to my inexplicable aversion to making my way down to the East Village (don’t get me started), I hadn’t made the trek—until this month.

@with.calvin: Best Things I Ate in April

Andiamo a Ficuzza!