Bites on a Budget is a toothsome and tasty series where members of the OC family forage for great food––under $10!
During a late lunch this week, Eloise and I ventured up to East Harlem to Earl's Cheese & Beer, curious about the newly opened Latin- and Asian-influenced comfort food spot that our foodie friends have been raving about. After a dozen stops on the 6 train, we arrived (starving) to a room filled with taxidermied buck, pigs wearing tophats and antlers, and a woodsy mural of friendly forest creatures. We eagerly placed our orders: I had my heart set on the NY State Cheddar ($8)—a grilled cheese sandwich filled with pork belly, kimchi, and a fried egg, served on buttery, toasted sourdough. Eloise took on the Earl's Taco ($11)—a fried scallion pancake shell filled with braised pork shoulder, queso fresco, shredded cabbage, raddish, and cilantro.
Once our food came out, we attacked our plates without hesitation. Oozey cheddar cheese and egg yoke dripped from my sandwich, which came out of the kitchen stabbed with a huge serated knife that held together all of the tasty fillings. The pork belly was tender and crispy, and paired perfectly with the spicy kimchi. Eloise's hoisin-marinated braised pork taco was also perfection, and the fixings could not stop us from trading bites. Topped off with a couple of beers, the long trek there made the nom fest doubly worth it.
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Earl's Taco
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NY State Cheddar
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Ooey gooey, melted cheddar cheese
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Cheers!
During a late lunch this week, Eloise and I ventured up to East Harlem to Earl's Cheese & Beer, curious about the newly opened Latin- and Asian-influenced comfort food spot that our foodie friends have been raving about. After a dozen stops on the 6 train, we arrived (starving) to a room filled with taxidermied buck, pigs wearing tophats and antlers, and a woodsy mural of friendly forest creatures. We eagerly placed our orders: I had my heart set on the NY State Cheddar ($8)—a grilled cheese sandwich filled with pork belly, kimchi, and a fried egg, served on buttery, toasted sourdough. Eloise took on the Earl's Taco ($11)—a fried scallion pancake shell filled with braised pork shoulder, queso fresco, shredded cabbage, raddish, and cilantro.
Once our food came out, we attacked our plates without hesitation. Oozey cheddar cheese and egg yoke dripped from my sandwich, which came out of the kitchen stabbed with a huge serated knife that held together all of the tasty fillings. The pork belly was tender and crispy, and paired perfectly with the spicy kimchi. Eloise's hoisin-marinated braised pork taco was also perfection, and the fixings could not stop us from trading bites. Topped off with a couple of beers, the long trek there made the nom fest doubly worth it.
EARL'S BEER & CHEESE
1259 Park Ave
New York, NY 10029
map
Earl's Taco
NY State Cheddar
Ooey gooey, melted cheddar cheese
Cheers!