This girl? She’s a big fan of fast casual bowl-centric restaurants. I don’t usually find myself around Columbia University, but when I happened to be there around lunchtime, I popped into Ban Ban Shop for a bite.
Adorable. The space is tropical with a bit of velvet and some tiki mixed in. But is it just cute for college kids? Nope. Ban Ban Shop comes from acclaimed chef Nils Noren who has earned his chops (and a Michelin star) at restaurants around the city. It should also be noted that it’s joined by Mizon, Loco Coco, and Fieldtrip as restaurants livening up the area (and your Seamless options) so the neighborhood shouldn’t be dismissed.
First pick your base (sandwich, grain bowl, salad, maki, bun) – all sorta variations on the banh mi. They’re different, but they’ve got similar vibes. Then pick your protein. I went with the grain bowl, topped with pork, and went with both the sesame caesar and lime honey dressings on the side.
I have to tell you the portions were really generous for $13 and the flavor was bold. I expected this bowl to simply do the job but was very impressed by how much I enjoyed it. It looks like they’re now delivering to me and while it won’t be quite as cost efficient, I’m thinking it’s worth it.
Peaches to Apples 