886

Amazing food and chill vibes all around. Seating could've been a little better. Service was solid. We asked for the sandwich to be spiced up a notch and they made it spicier and it was amazing - the seaweed fries were delicious too. The dry beef noodles were delicious too and were nutty and spicy a bitThe beef scallion pancakes were a bit dry but really liked them too.

Loved the vibe here! Very busy on a Friday night but luckily there was no wait for a party of 3. Service was friendly but very slow.3.7/5 Whiskey Winter Melon - very whiskey forward, wish the Oolong tea flavor came out a bit more.4/5 Popcorn Chicken -- crisp, well seasoned, loved the dipping sauce! Wish the pieces were a bit smaller for a more ideal coating ratio.3.7/5 Crispy Silken Tofu -- super crisp and crusty bits of tofu, sauce leaned a bit too citrusy for me, wish the radish served with it was pickled.Also a small shout out to the DJ for the night -- music taste was great, from kpop to chinese OSTs to radio hits! Eric Sze was also sat at the table next to mine, and it was really nice to see a restaurant owner enjoying the food and ambiance of his own place!

The beef noodle soup was good, bouncy noodles and very tender beef. I also enjoyed the beef scallion pancake. For a drink, I had the winter melon alcoholic beverage, which masked the tea's flavor, but the strong alcohol was a plus.The restaurant was quite crowded. I didn't have a reservation, but I arrived for an early dinner and was seated immediately, thanks to the snow outside.The staff was attentive, and the food arrived quickly. My main issue was with the chairs; they really need backs. The hooks on the wall in one area didn't seem very safe, and it was overcrowded. Fortunately, our group had an odd number of people, so we could place our bags on the table and used bulky jackets on the vacant chair, which kept tipping over.

My friend and I came by here for dinner in the area and were able to get seated right away without reservations. This spot is a young and fun vibe mixed with some modern Taiwanese specialties.First of all, the Bad Idea Challenge ($27) immediately grabbed our attention. The goblet consists of sake, red wine, soju, and coke, which tasted quite similar to a sangria. For the challenge, two people have 6 seconds to finish the entire thing for 2 free sake bombs. We couldn't help but take on the challenge. Even though we didn't finish it on time, the drink was still tasty but light on the alcohol.As for the food, we ordered the Lo Ba Beng ($15), Peashoots with Tofuskin ($18), and Scallion Pancake Beef Wrap ($16). The lo ba beng is delicious from the savory braised minced pork over rice with a perfectly soft-boiled egg and mustard greens. The peashoots were simple, but refreshing when you want some greens. While the first two dishes were smaller, the beef wraps came with 7 good-sized pieces stuffed with beef and veggies. Great spot to get some dinner and drinks to start off a night out. Definitely more of a younger crowd here. Oh, and yes --it does come with fire like the photo!

Even on a week day evening, 886 was packed and LOUD - which is unfortunately why I have to give it three stars. Even if my food is tasty, I'm not having a good time if I have to yell to still barely hear my friends...

A must try Taiwanese joint with a super fun drinking challenge!I've been to 886 a few times and gotten nearly everything off their menu. Their must try is definitely their popcorn chicken. Although you can find this dish in a variety of boba shops around NYC, none of them compare to the real dish here.The dish reminds you of the bustling night market of Taiwan while not being too heavy on the oil and seasoning. Many times, popcorn chicken gets too greasy after the initial bites but 886 balances the textures and flavors really well. Other favorites include the beef noodle soup and lu rou fan.For those who want a larger drink to go with their mean, the Bad Idea challenge is certainly worth it in at least its entertainment value to watch one of your friend(s) chug a massive fishbowl of alcohol.Service staff was attentive as well to make every visit to 886 a great time!

I brought a group of six for Saturday lunch, and everyone left sated and pleased. - Lo Ba Beng (pork rice): classic- Popcorn chicken: classic, including the fried basil leaves- Taiwanese sausage: slathered in an intriguing green fermented chive and garlic sauce - San Bei Ji (braised chicken): the first time I've had it here, delightfully tender with a soft spiciness.- Pickled cucumbers: nice to cut through the savory other dishes.- Pea shoots and bean curd: fresh with heaps of garlic. - Beef noodle soup: the one dish that fell flat, in which the beef seemed overcooked and underseasoned.Casual ambience. Think raucous drinking spot before it fills in for the night.

I've been watching Eric Sze on Youtube for the past couple months, which led to me wanting to try 886. The ambiance is interesting; the tables and chairs are reminiscent of random Taiwanese restaurant/street vendor, but the lighting gives it the feeling of a bar. 886 is more of a place to chill and catch up with friends over good food and drinks as opposed to a "fine dining" experience. This is not going to be the most authentic Taiwanese food, but it aligns with Eric Sze's view about authenticity (Disclaimer: I could be completely wrong; I don't know him personally. I just watch a lot of youtube videos). He doesn't believe that authenticity is necessary for a dish to taste good. Overall, it was exactly what I thought it was going to be. It was not the best Niu Rou Mian (beef noodle soup) and lo ba beng (lu rou fan/braised pork rice) I've ever had, but it had the right flavors with slight twists and tasted good. The beef noodle soup came with beef tallow that I could use to adjust the depth and flavor of the broth. The lo ba beng was tasty, and the slight fattiness of the pork complemented my Taiwan beer well. The biggest gripe I had with 886 was the service. Our waiter spent the whole hour I was there talking to two girls, as I waited for someone to ask me if I wanted more drinks. I'm unsure if he was spitting game or he already knew them (and I guess in that case he could still be spitting game)886 isn't going to be the most authentic Taiwanese place in town, but it is a good experience if you're coming for good food and with good company.

Absolutely delicious food, friendly service and street style seating. Not the most comfy plastic stools but the food is def worth it.Lo Ba Beng is still my favorite after trying it 6 years ago. Tangy flavor of the pickles plus perfectly cooked eggs and soft saucy rice. All melts in your mouth.They're doing a $5 daily taco special. Fish and sauce and slaw, so flavorful.The peashoots were a little overcooked and drowned in sauce but paired well with the texture of the tofu skin.The dry beef noodle is spicier than I had anticipated and I eat a lot of spicy food. It was slightly salty but the perfect comfort food for a cold winter night.

Cool, compact Taiwanese restaurant. Tight but welcoming quarters. We were able to get a 6 top reservation (which isn't easy a lot of places): think round table with small stools. Dishes are flavorful, good-sized portions, and perfect for sharing (the scallion pancake beef wrap, for instance, comes cut into about six portions, easy to hand out to everyone at the table). Servers were friendly if a little distracted (it was a busy Saturday night); one of our dishes didn't come out and after a significant wait we had to ask about it. Still a good dining experience overall.