38th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue may not be considered a gourmet destination, but it does offer some diverse options.
Closer to 8th Avenue you will find one of my personal favorites - Go! Go! Curry!, a cult-like curry house whose mascot is a guerilla. I usually go for the original made with a spicy curry ssauce and pork. This brownish blob may not be great to look at, but it is flavorful and the shop has quite a following. You can get the curry topped with shrimp, chicken, sausage or pork. The "grand slam" offers a little bit of everything.
A few doors away is Black Iron Burger, which is billed a one of the city's best burgers. They include the "Black Iron," a double 4-oz patty with horseradish, cheddar and caramelized onions. Looking for a beer and a bite, head to District Tap House, a neighborhood watering hole. Dishes include everything from deviled eggs to mac & cheese to braised pork belly. Pizza and other Italian specialties await at Lazzara's (antipasti, pizza, pasta, heros, calzones and more), while one floor below is a Middle Eastern spot called Tagine offering Moroccan cuisine, cocktails and belly dancers.
And we're not done yet. Closer to 7th Avenue there is a huge Kosher deli called Ben's where you can chow down on an overstuffed corned beef sandwich or maybe pastami. A few steps away, Bonchon is selling its tasty Korean-style fried chicken. Eat up!
