Grab onto these handhelds
Hot dogs to crunches, region has tasty options
From casual eats to fine dining, it’s no secret that the Capital Region has an incredible food scene. At various restaurants, festivals, farmers markets, you can come across many handheld foods that are worth sinking your teeth into. Manhattan Exchange
607 Union St., Schenectady; 518280-9987, https://www.manhattanexchange.net/
If you crave a little bit of heat and juicy chicken, the Cajun fried chicken sandwich at Manhattan Exchange in Schenectady is something you need to put on your list.
The buttermilk fried chicken is crispy, seasoned with some spice to add some heat, and topped with crispy bacon, tangy slaw, Sriracha mayo and crunchy pickles for a blend of flavors and textures. Famous Lunch
111 Congress St., Troy; 518-2729481, https://www.worldfamouslunch.com/
Famous Lunch dates all the way back to 1932 when it was originally called Quick Lunch. According to their website, “a local marine, twenty-year-old Corporal Gordon Gundrum, stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, just had to have his Troy hot dogs. Several dozen dogs were flown to the embassy by KLM, Royal Dutch Airlines, and were served for lunch that day to Gundrum and the U.S. Ambassador at his 54th birthday celebration.” This was jokingly called Operation Hot Dog. It was all over the news, making these hot dogs famous, hence the name change. These delicious meat sauce-topped dogs really hit the spot.
La Empanada Llama 469 Delaware Ave., Albany; 518-915-1887, http:// www.laempanadallama.com/
These handy little meat pies are stuffed with various spices, meats, vegetables, cheeses and more. La Empanada Llama has a variety of options, like their bestseller the chicken empanada, loaded with juicy, shredded white meat, traditional Peruvian aji amarillo sauce (a creamy sauce usually consisting of the namesake piquant peppers, aromatics and sour cream or mayo). Or try their beef empanada with corn rice and raisins, for a sweet touch. There are empanadas loaded with chorizo, plump shrimp, beans, and more including their arroz con pollo Empanada, one of the restaurant’s most popular entrees that they decided to turn into an empanada.
Druthers Brewing Company
Locations in Albany, Saratoga Springs and Schenectady; https://www.druthersbrewing.com/
Druthers is well known for their wings, but they also have great handheld options on the menu like their very own gordita crunch – a riff on the Taco Bell menu staple – made with roasted chicken, creamy beer cheese, salsa, jalapeño ranch, pico de gallo, crunchy iceberg lettuce, a corn tortilla wrapped with a toasted pita, and pico de gallo on top.
Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Bar
Locations in Albany and Schenectady; https:// www.tanpopoalbany.com/ index.php
Although the restaurant’s namesake, ramen, is not a valid handheld item, they have plenty of other options that you can indulge in, including their bao buns. If you’ve ever had bao buns, the dough is really unlike any other, with a chewy texture, and an almoststicky outer layer. You can get bao buns at Tanpopo stuffed with either crispy flavorful pork belly or tender roasted duck.
Soho Asian Bistro
751 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush; 518-6667888, https://www.sohoalbany.com/
I feel like sushi, in the same vein as pasta, benefits from being shaped in different ways. The different formations can change the entire flavor of the dish. I love the spicy tuna or spicy yellowtail hand rolls from Soho (and there are many other options of those hand rolls available). They’re wrapped in a seaweed cone and stuffed with rice and plenty of the delicious raw fish and vegetables. Because the hand rolls are finished in several bites, in my opinion, the meal lasts longer and still gives you a variety of flavors and textures.