"Whoever said “cellar door” was the most beautiful phrase in the English language clearly never heard the words “fried cheese.” El Sazón in Chinatown layers their Dominican smashburger with a formidable slice of queso blanco, and this delicious thing has gone viral a few times over. But the cheese is more than just an indulgent gimmick, lending a satisfying squeakiness to every bite. In the same way you might have signed up for an objectively garbage class schedule in high school if it meant closer proximity to your crush, we're so into this fried cheese that we'd order any dish that contains it—like the excellent El Sazón R.D. signature sandwich, which we actually like even more than the burger. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick The traditional Dominican fare here is good too, and there’s a worthy all-day lunch special. Get the garlicky mofongo, and their morir soñando: an unbelievably smooth, liquid creamsicle experience made with Dominican vanilla. There’s almost no indoor seating, but you can take advantage of their outdoor dining structure, or head to Columbus Park around the corner and have yourself a little picnic. Food Rundown Dominican Smashburger The cheese on this smashburger (you can order a single or a double) is fried to a crisp golden brown, and while it is possible to order the burger without it, we aren’t sure why you’d do that, unless you’ve chosen to live life as an extended, cruel prank on yourself. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick El Sazón R.D. Get this sandwich for maximalists with pernil. It features the same fried cheese, a hunk of salt-bomb fried salami, crunchy pickles, and soft chunks of sweet plantain, all spackled together in harmony by a tangy chimi sauce. It’s like standing in the middle of four speakers blasting different radio stations that all happen to mesh together perfectly, without a single note out of place. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick All-Day Special For $11.95, you get a choice of meat with rice and beans, and soda or water. It’s a good deal for a hefty plate of food. The moro is moist and flavor-packed, but we’d skip the roasted chicken (the skin looks great, but it’s dry) in favor of the pernil, the pollo guisado, or the carne guisada." - Molly Fitzpatrick
