The Tyger (Soho)
For fans of Southeast Asian food and excellent atmosphere, The Tyger in Soho is an excellent restaurant and one of NYC’s most vibrant dining establishments.
Located on Howard Street, the Tyger is the modern interpretation of Southeast Asian food as imagined by Chef Paul Donnelly and his crew.
To begin, the interior of the restaurant is warm and inviting, yet it has a certain chic charm that combines both modern and more traditional design choices. The inside is alive with conversation, and the tables outside are also filled with chatty customers, often in large groups.
And for this reason, The Tyger is a great place for a large get together, whether it be to celebrate birthdays, or to just hang out on the weekend with some old friends. The staff is extremely accommodating of large parties, and they are attentive to everyone’s dietary needs when placing orders. If desired, groups can also opt for a prix fixe option for a flat fee, making the ordering process even easier.
And while I could not get photos of every dish ordered for our large table, I wanted to highlight a few of the ones that I was able to get photos of:
The Tyger’s array of skewer dishes are all a great starting point as appetizers to share. In particular, the marinated chicken satay skewer is a great choice for those wanting a lighter, meat-based starter. The skewers are coated in a Thai-style peanut sauce and cooked to a balanced tenderness on the inside. The chopped peppers on top act as a refreshing garnish with a slight hint of spice, making it an overall enjoyable and palatable item to enjoy with your group.
Next up, the “Nasi Goreng” crispy squid ink fried rice is another great dish that has plenty to go around. For those worried about the squid ink portion of the name, there is nothing to worry about as it is flavorless and just gives the rice a unique, blackened look. The rice is cooked with calamari and topped with a chopped up fried egg. It carries a deeply creamy and risotto-like profile, making it a great carb dish to complement the main meat courses.
A notable highlight in my opinion is the salt & pepper crispy snapper tempura. While you may be imagining little balls of fried fish on a plate, the dish is presented with sections of fried meat still attached to the whole fish, lending itself to a very unique visual presentation that is sure to impress. And while fried fish can sometimes be too salty or too chewy, The Tyger’s version is as soft as a cloud and melts in your mouth with a perfectly balanced taste. This dish left the biggest impression in my mind and I would order it again without hesitation, especially if I was trying to impress first-timers.
While I do not have photos for the other dishes we ate this time, some notable mentions go out to the roasted duck breast, house made noodles (also a must-have), and the Newton circus style beef sirloin saté skewer. All in all, The Tyger’s repertoire is expertly crafted and you cannot go wrong with any of the dishes. For a fun night out in Soho with a large group of friends or family, The Tyger remains a true local institution of modern-day lower Manhattan.
