Republic

After 12 years, this Pan-Asian hot spot, off Union Square, is still packing ‘em in to their sleek, blond, communal tables. The key to their success must be the consistently satisfying bowls of noodles like spicy coconut, Vietnamese vegetable and pad thai for cheap. Speedy service keeps the waiting-for-a-table times short and the long roomy bar is a nice place to enjoy the din of this bustling New York staple.