Buffalo chowhound tipsheet to 10 fantastic world dishes found only one place in WNY
Dishes loved all over the world have made our collective Western New York menu, thanks to the determination of cooks with something to prove. Namely, that Buffalo eaters would also thrill to some of the best things they ever ate, no matter where it’s from.
These dishes can only be found in one local restaurant. These are not specials, or chef brainstorms. These are classics from around the world, made in Buffalo.
Here’s 10 – the first installment, with more to come.
Parmigiano puffs
Parmigiano-Reggiano gets a proper showcase in these airy bites ($10). Their delicacy, like so much more at DiTondo, proves that fine dining does not require tablecloths.
370 Seneca St., ditondo1904.com
Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday through Tuesday.
Sai krok
This Lao-Thai dish is ground pork, rice, and spices, in a shiny skin that pops when bitten ($9). Served with cucumber and lettuce for mini-wraps.
964 Maple Road, Amherst, romathaiburmese.com, 716-906-3140
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Monday.
Ukrainian borscht with mushroom dumplings
Ukrainian-American Civic Center
Join the Ukrainian-American Civic Center for $10 to access Ukrainian home cooking like this borscht with housemade mushroom dumplings ($8).
205 Military Road, facebook.com/ukiclub/, 716-877-7200
Hours: 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. Closed Sunday-Tuesday.
Israeli-style chicken schnitzel
Speckled with sesame seeds, crispy as heck, chicken schnitzel is available as a sub ($16) or as a platter (pictured, $21) with chopped salad and choice of starch.
3545 Sheridan Drive, Amherst, thefalafelbar.com, 716-436-7000
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Monday.
Shrimp po’boy
Gulf shrimp airlifted from Louisiana, crackly-tender housemade bread, equals a sandwich to rival any New Orleans po’boy temple.
437 Ellicott St., toutantbuffalo.com, 716-342-2901
Hours: 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Monday-Wednesday.
Cuban empanada
Buttery baked dough in an array of fruit, vegetable, and meat fillings are WNY Empanadas’ sweet spot. Here, a Cuban sandwich homage contains roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and dill pickle ($7.50).
From 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 30, WNY Empanadas will set up at Lewiston Artisan Winter Market. Most Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon, North Tonawanda City Market. Tortas available 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday at 27 Chandler St.
27 Chandler St., Suite 306, wnyempanadas.square.site, 716-318-5605
Tlayuda
Maizal Mexican Kitchen and Mescaleria
Oaxacan soul food tops cracker-crisp hubcap-sized corn shell, including fresh sliced avocado, shredded queso Oaxaca, and a meat-lover’s bonanza: steak, chorizo, and cecina, braised jerky ($27.95).
4840 N. French Road, East Amherst, maizalmexicankitchen.com, 716-428-5683
Hours: 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
Doro wot
Log-simmered onion-ginger gravy with chicken drumstick and hardboiled egg is the centerpiece of the meat combo ($17.99) at the only Ethiopian restaurant in Western New York.
617 Main St. (Downtown Bazaar), abyssinia-ethiopian.square.site
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Sunday, Monday.
Pork sisig
The only Filipino restaurant in Buffalo offers diced pork belly marinated in calamansi lime soy sauce, stir-fried with red onion and chile, served over garlic rice with a pair of lumpia, pork-stuffed fried rolls ($16).
617 Main St. (Downtown Bazaar), pinoyboibuffalo.square.site, Instagram: pinoyboi_buf
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Sunday, Monday.
Cold Korean noodle
From Korean-Chinese border comes cold, tangy, spicy-sweet broth loaded with braised beef, chewy noodles, and apples or pears. It’s No. 167, “cold noodle soup” ($14.99).
1280 Sweet Home Road, chinatastebuffalo.com, 716-568-0080
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Closed Thursday.
Peanut soup with fufu
Broth with a ground peanut base, livened up by judicious application of habanero heat, plus fufu, the mashed potatoes of Africa ($22).
290 Kenmore Ave., yalleys.com, 716-322-1012
Hours: noon to midnight Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 2 a.m. Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and Sunday. Closed Monday.
Canele de Bordeaux
The James-Beard-honored restaurant in Black Rock has offered this classic eggy French treat on its menu for years ($4 each).
27 Chandler St., waxlightbaravin.com
Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday through Tuesday.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first part of a series. Please send your nominations and objections to me at andrew@fourbites.net.
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