Bite Of The Day: Living In Miso Butter At Hunger Pang

As we emerged from Hunger Pang (1021 Church Avenue) last night, trading a world of mushroom rice and steamed fish and Chinese long beans for an autumn evening deceptively cloaked in the kind of warmth that makes you forget the nearness of winter, it was declared: We will live in miso butter. Forever.

This conclusion was drawn following our first meal at one of Church Avenue’s newest restaurants, a place that describes itself as “new American-Asian,” and which had a launch that drew attention from throughout the city, even being named one of the most anticipated openings in Brooklyn this fall.

And the hype? Is it deserved? After our meal there last night, we’d say so. The menu is varied and friendly for vegetarians and carnivores, with prices ranging from $4 for a fresh silken tofu appetizer to $18 for an entrée of grilled sliced hanger with miso butter fries. We tried the frisee shiitake salad, which was $15 and included crispy pork belly, poached egg,  and warm schallot dressing, as well as the steak with miso butter fries. Everything was fresh and delicious and, after we had placed hands on stomachs, insisting we could eat no more, there came the offer of tofu flan. So, putting aside all protests of a full belly, we gladly accepted – and were happy we did.

At the end of the meal, we were greeted by Hunger Pang’s owner and chef, Kensington native Medwin Pang, and his wife, who were contacted by the owners of The Dogwood to take over the space after they decided to bid adieu to the neighborhood. The two have clearly thrown their all into the restaurant and Medwin, who previously worked at such places as the Park Avenue Café, NOBU, and Roundsman at Balthazar, has talked to us about the importance of owning a restaurant in the community where he grew up – and still lives with his wife and two dogs.

“When my family migrated to the states in 1973 (when I was one month old), we lived above Carvel on Church & E 2nd (and) moved around different parts of Brooklyn but always ended back in the Kensington area,” Medwin previously wrote to us. “I wanted to give back to the area that had given me so much growing up. It was very important to us that we found a location along this strip of Church Ave.”

Medwin, who said he hopes to promote Church Avenue as the borough’s “new restaurant row,” will be doing a variety of activities to support the businesses in the area, including holding restaurateurs’ nights for local restaurant owners, chefs, and staff to get together to discuss the market and food trends.

To find out more about Hunger Pang, you can follow it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Hunger Pang is located at 1021 Church Avenue and can be reached by calling (718) 552-2869.