Published August 22, 2006
Ssam Like It Hot
Inside Momofuku's New Burrito Bar
In the pantheon of life's great events, nothing beats the impending arrival of
David Hasselhoff:
The Musical.
Unless it's something from the Momofuku folks.
David Chang, owner of everyone's favorite noodle bar, is back with a new wrap—
Ssam Bar, a
lean mean Asian burrito scene opening tomorrow.
Chang came up with the concept via the highly scientific method of "messing around" at Noodle Bar. The
result? Think Chipotle meets
mod Seoul. Order
up at the casual joint's glass counter, and watch them stuff your wrap from tins of Asian fillings.
Their must-have is the juicy, flavor-packed
Berkshire Pork Ssam, with bacon-infused beans, kimchee
puree, and fresh, succulent pork from a free-range pig farm that Chang has personally inspected (now that's
due diligence for a burrito).
Or, in their nod to In-N-Out Burger's "Animal Style," get a ssam
"Momofuku Style," which, for an
extra couple of bucks, will get you a little bit of everything (read: a whole lot of goodness).
Enjoy your ssam traditionally wrapped or (in a healthy but weak move) lettuce-wrapped, perch at the long
communal-friendly bar, and down it all with some
OB Beer (like a Korean Bud). A late night kitchen
will open later this fall, which will put out eclectic offerings like
Bo Ssam (stuffed cabbage and
oyster), pork shoulder and artisanal country hams.
We trust you'll be back for ssam more.
VITALS
Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave
(at 13th St)
East Village
New York, NY 10003
212-254-3500
website