886 Shines Light On Taiwanese Cuisine With A Fresh Twist

@EightyEightSix

Saint Marks Place has another gem on its well-renowned street with the newly-launched 886, a brand-new Tawainese restaurant that presents cultural dishes with a modern-day twist. Just a day before their grand opening, NYC Plugged visited the 42-seat eatery to preview the menu and learn a little bit more about the newest hot spot in town.

Inside the dark halls of the neon-lit venue, media from all kinds gathered together on a humid Tuesday evening to taste the cuisine from the East Village restaurant. As a collaboration between co-owners Eric Sze and Andy Chuang, 886 brought re-imagined visions to Taiwanese staples as the menu went from spicy and savory.

Far beyond the usual routine stir-fry options, 886’s press menu brought us several items, including the “Three Cup” Glazed Chicken Wings (Taiwanese take on buffalo fried chicken), Sausage Party (homemade pork sausage, sticky rice, peanut, cilantro and cured duck yolk), Danzai Mian (a shrimp-based soup with bean sprout, pickled red chili and Shimamoto noodle) and much more. But on an average night, the venue named after Taiwan’s country code has plenty of other small plates perfect for sharing like the Black Pepper Steak Sammi (beef patty, Taiwanese A1, and white bread) and Blackened Onions & Beef.

When it came down to the beverage program, 886 offers usual selections like beer and wine. However, their sake on tap remains the highlight as it’s straight from Brooklyn Kura, New York City’s first sake brewery. Beyond the cuisine, co-owners Sze and Chuang made sure to make their way around the intimate venue to chat with each outlet and, more particularly, offered NYC Plugged extra plates and good ol’ fashioned conversation.

Even though 886 is placed in a neighborhood that already presents a lot of Asian cuisines, the restaurant strives towards a more youthful crowd. With a subtle and tidy approach to lighting and decor, it’s a venue that remains casual but polished. Traditional but progressive, dining in New York City feels almost beyond the cuisine. Yes, we want tasty food and exceptional service, but we also want experience. Thankfully, 886 checks all three boxes without trying too hard.

886 is currently open from Tuesday – Sunday, 5:30pm – 12am

886
26 Saint Marks Place
Instagram: @EightyEightSix

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