Dining at Uncle Ray's was kind of trippy, since I'm so used to Tradisyon being in this space. It's like the food decided to start identifying as Singaporean instead of Pinoy. But I'm here for it. Uncle Ray's, in case you aren't aware, is the glow-up version of the old Lou Yau Kee stall at the now-defunct Urban Space food hall in Union Square (which closed due to rent issues, IIRC). Chef-owner Raymond Kiang moved to this space when his friend, the owner of Tradisyon, moved to a new space as well. It's like a game of restaurant musical chairs, and everyone gets a chair of Southeast Asian deliciousness. Since we know Chef Ray, we got some additional surprises off-menu. But I'll stick to the on-menu loveliness. It's worth noting that while the prices are a bit higher now, the portions are still pretty decent. Certainly better than the typical Manhattan $20 for 2 bites dishes that seem to be everywhere. If you just want the classics, get the Roasted Chicken Rice or Trio Combo Chicken Rice (which comes with a mix of poached, roasted chicken and char siu). If you want something new, the Hainanese Pork Chop Rice is beautifully battered and perfectly crispy. The Coffee Short Ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender, though the sauce is a bit sweet. Add in some crispy Kailan for a healthy veggie side, and wash it all down with the bottomless, complimentary Cabbage Soup, which comes piping hot and hits just right. I'm not always a fan of glow-ups, but I'll happily accept this one. Short of a $2K flight to Singapore, this is the next best thing when I need my HCR fix. read more