I was hoping to have this published on Monday, in time for Tết, because Vietnamese folks believe that everything that happens on the first day of the New Year continues for the rest of the year. Well, it’s Friday, which means that my wish for a little New Year’s luck to keep me publishing more frequently didn’t quite pan out. There goes the Year of the Monkey…

And now to the subject at hand: Fuku, Chef David Chang’s fast-casual fried chicken sandwich shop in the original Momofuku Noodle Bar space.

For $8, I received a big ‘ol slab of boneless fried chicken served between a squashed and wrinkly bun slathered with “Fuku butter” and dotted with pickles. The habanero-kissed batter was as crispy and spicy as hoped, while the meat of the matter was moist enough but not especially juicy.

To further dress the sandwich there was “Ssam Sauce,” essentially thinned-out Korean chili paste (gochujang), as well as ketchup. I preferred the latter’s tangy goodness over the former’s sweet heat.

Even better than the sandwich was the Fuku Salad ($3), a tasty collection of farro, greens, mandarin oranges, and white and black sesame seeds served with a citrus and sesame oil Asian-style dressing. It was a fresh and light complement to the hefty chicken sandwich.

Overall, Fuku’s chicken sandwich was perfectly nice, but not a must-have on my next trip to New York like the doughnuts at Dough or the smoked fishes at Russ and Daughters. Still, chef-driven fast-casual restaurants are one of my favorite current food trends, because good food at lower prices is an easy win-win.

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Fuku
163 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10003

Take a bite outta the Big Apple:

• {swoon} Apple Cider Donuts at Wright’s Farm
• 53rd and 6th Halal Cart – New York City
• Aska – Brooklyn
• Babycakes – New York City
• Baked – Brooklyn
• Beard Papa’s – New York City
• Becco – New York City
• Big Gay Ice Cream Truck – New York City
• Billy’s Bakery – New York City
• Blue Hill at Stone Barns – Pocantico Hills
• Caracas Arepa Bar – New York City
• ChikaLicious Dessert Bar – New York City
• Corton – New York City
• Deep Fried Love
• Del Posto – New York City
• Discarded Dog
• Dominique Ansel Bakery – New York City
• Dough – Brooklyn
• Doughnut Plant – New York City
• Doughnuttery – New York City
• Dumpling House – New York City
• Eataly – New York City
• Eleven Madison Park – New York City
• Ippudo – New York City
• Ivan Ramen – New York City
• Journey to Blue Hill at Stone Barns
• Kanoyama – New York City
• Katz’s Delicatessen – New York City
• LongHouse Food Revival 2015: Chop Stick Nation
• Má Pêche – New York City
• McGavage
• Mile End Sandwich – New York City
• Minca Ramen Factory – New York City
• Mission Chinese Food – New York City
• Momofuku Milk Bar – New York City
• Momofuku Noodle Bar – New York City
• Otto Enoteca and Pizzeria – New York City
• Parm – New York City
• Peter Luger – Brooklyn
• Roberta’s – Brooklyn
• Russ and Daughters – New York City
• Sadelle’s – New York
• Shake Shack – New York City
• Sugar Sweet Sunshine – New York City
• Super Wings NY – Brooklyn
• Sweets and the City: Cake, Paletas and more!
• The Magnolia Bakery – New York City
• The NoMad Restaurant – New York City
• Xie Xie – New York City