Dreams Are Made Of

Text and images by Mabel Lui.

For every overhyped restaurant and bar there is in New York, there’s one that is actually worth waiting in the line for. 

But here’s the thing: If you know when to go and what to do, it’s easy to avoid all the kerfuffle and stress of waiting around for hours with no end in sight. 

Here are three spots that actually deserve their immense popularity, and how to get in with minimal wait time.

Cho Dang Gol

If there’s one reason for a New Yorker to brave the chaos that is Midtown, it’s Cho Dang Gol.

Beloved for its comforting Korean dishes, this walk-in only “tofu house” has been open since 1997 and often sees hour-long wait times for both lunch and dinner.

Many rave about the restaurant’s cod roe omelet and spicy galbi jjim (braised beef), but the weekday lunch set, priced at just $19.99, is where it’s at. 

It comes with your choice of stew, a main entree, a hefty helping of rice and, of course, a variety of banchan. The stews are all wonderful but the sleeper hit is the maesaengi oyster stew, which comes with a generous helping of silky seaweed, soft tofu and plump oysters.

For mains, you can’t go wrong with the bulgogi and seafood pancake, and while the banchan rotates, it’s your lucky day if you get the mackerel. And yes, you can get free refills as long as you ask (looking at you, Kisa).

To avoid the line entirely, walk in at 2:15 pm from Monday to Thursday and know your order – the kitchen closes at 2:30 pm but the staff will very kindly let you stay until you finish your meal.

Double Chicken Please

Located on the Lower East Side, Double Chicken Please is a bar that needs little introduction.

It was ranked the second best bar in the world back in 2023, and locals and tourists alike have since flocked to the bar in droves for a taste of its innovative, creative cocktails.

The bar is split into two sections. The front room, called Free Range, serves up playful cocktails and easy bites, but the back room, called The Coop, is where you really want to be. It’s a cozy speakeasy-style room where each of the drinks are inspired by various foods, such as cold pizza and Japanese cold noodle.

The must order here, though, is the key lime pie, which is zingy and bright and tastes exactly like its namesake. And if you’re hungry, the hot honey fried chicken sandwich is crunchy, juicy and everything a chicken sandwich should be, which you’d expect from a bar called Double Chicken Please.

All said, don’t even think about trying to score a reservation for The Coop. Reservations open six days in advance but all of them will be taken, even if you’re on Resy exactly when the clock strikes midnight.

Instead, plan ahead and be flexible – arrive at around opening time (5 pm) and wait to put your name down for the back room. This could take longer or shorter depending on the day, but estimate around 15 minutes. If you’re early enough, you might make first seating, but otherwise, go and have a drink nearby for two hours and be ready to circle back whenever you get that text.

Yes, this might be too much effort for some, but trust me, it’s worth it.

Soothr

Soothr, pronounced “sood,” is a buzzy Thai hotspot that has long attracted a healthy crowd – just asked the 5, 897 people who have left reviews for its original East Village location on Google.

The restaurant, which has since opened a second location in Long Island City, takes you on a journey across various regions of Thailand, which means that the menu features popular fare like shrimp pad Thai and beef pad si-iw, as well as regional specialities like the koong karee, which originates from central Thailand. The dish, which is difficult to find elsewhere in New York, features plump shrimps enveloped in a creamy, rich egg curry, and pairs perfectly with a bowl of rice and the morning glory, which surprisingly carries a delightful wok hei.

It’s not too hard to get a spot at Soothr’s East Village location during weekday lunch, but prepare to wait if you’re going during peak dinner hours. Usually, it’s about 30 minutes to an hour, but go at opening time and you won’t have to line up.

Be aware, though: diners have reported quick turnarounds for tables, so this might not be the spot to take companions with whom you want to chat the night away.