Eating In Translation

Name This Restaurant

Taking playful liberties with lettering is a common technique — you've seen it applied to fire and ice — but it's not exclusive to the Roman alphabet. As confirmed for me by the former owner of this restaurant (today he operates another, which also serves the cuisine of his home country), the script seen on this restaurant awning is accompanied by decorative flourishes; taken as a whole, the logo both spells and depicts the name of the restaurant. Can you identify it? (Please post your answer in the comments.)

Long Vi On

Nom, nom, nom.

Street cart pizza

When this fellow caught my eye inside Bangkok's largest wet market, how could I pass up a slice?

Soong Kee

That rude-sounding specialty might better be written "beef ball noodles."

Pusat Gerail Makanan Adik-Beradik Chua

Think of it as a shady fishing hole.

Pizzeria Cubana

Yes, they have no bananas.

La Cubana Bakery

(This venue is closed) Even late on a Sunday afternoon, fresh-baked pastries were still being set out for display, like this warm, flaky pastel de guayaba (that is, guava; 65 cents).

La Cubana Bakery
5700 Hudson Ave. (at 57th St.), West New York, New Jersey
201-553-0017

La China Poblana

(This venue is closed.) Tacos árabes are cousins to tacos al pastor; both are name-checked on this awning (click the photo for a better look). Like the kibbeh that became a quipe, the árabes are a product of Lebanese immigrants, in this case to the Mexican city of Puebla. Reportedly, they're wrapped in thicker, pita-like tortillas than tacos al pastor, perhaps with a different salsa, too; when I have time for a side-by-side tasting, you'll see them here.

La China Poblana
5513 Hudson Ave. (54th-55th Sts.), West New York, New Jersey
201-865-4564

Pasar Padu

This morning market is livelier than it looks.

Hong Kee

There's one with my name on it.