Welcome to the Weekly's list of our 100 Favorite Dishes for 2011! Tune in every day until we get to número uno! Now, on to the latest entry. . . .
Supposedly, Portuguese missionaries introduced curry to Japan after they picked up the meal in Goa, India–I say “supposedly,” because almost all food-genesis stories are as believable as the “beef” in a Taco Bell taco. I always remember this apocryphal story when eating Japanese-style curry, which is often because the Weekly's world headquarters are so close to Mitsuwa, home to my favorite pork curry of them all: the one hawked by the Miyabi-Tei food stall.
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The best Japanese curries are equal parts crunch, murkiness, soaked rice, and the slight acidity of pickled ginger. Miyabi-Tei's version is all this, and more: the immaculate placing of all its parts, a crunch to the pork that sends sweet shards flying across your face, impeccable rice that sponges up the curry, more sweet that heat yet opening up the palate so you can absorb all of its distinct flavors. Damn thing's so good, I'm sure even its plastic rendition, immortalized in the window counter, is better than most of the competition out there…
Click here for our 100 faves from 2010! The list so far this time around:
No. 78: Bánh Tieu at Bánh Mì So 1
No. 79: Any Sandwich at the Crosby
No. 80: Fish Pho at Pho Vinh Ky II
No. 81: Quesadilla Chilanga at Alebrije's Grill
No. 82: Lobster Roll at Lobsta Truck
No. 83: Nem Nuong Cuon at Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa
No. 84: Wild Boar Balinese Sausage at Valhalla Table
No. 85: Comida Corrida at Taquería La Raza
No. 86: Breakfast Burrito at Troy's Drive-In
No. 87: Mandoo at L&M Liquor and Deli
No. 88: Chicago Dog at Chicago Harv's
No. 89: Sweet Potato Tater Tots at Pee Wee's Famous
No. 90: Kaya-Stuffed French Toast at Chomp Chomp
No. 91: Egg Breakfast at Rick's Atomic Kitchen
No. 92: Sticky Rice With Chicken at Quan Hy
No. 93: Beef Koobideh at Hen House Grill
No. 94: $5 Fish Bento at Bentoss
No. 95: Milanesa Sandwich at Piaggio's Gourmet on Wheels
No. 96: Samurai Burrito at Wafu of Japan
No. 97: Carnitas Gordita at Bodega R Ranch Market
No. 98: Spam Musubi at k'ya Street Fare
No. 99: Tortilla Andorra at Anepalco's
No. 100: Lemongrass Chicken, Extra Spicy at Vietnam's Pearl
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