When we went to see a movie at Regal Theater next to Essex Market, we decided to check out the market. It used to be a dingy, low-ceiling market called Essex Street Market. It went through a beautiful renovation, and now have more light, more space, and higher ceiling. It had so many shops and eateries in here, including Heros & Villains, it was really nice in here!
While we were walking around, checking all the food options, we thought, why not get a light lunch here. It was not easy to decide on one spot, but after some debate, we chose Heros & Villains, who offer bodega-inspired sandwiches from Smorgasburg.
They had their offerings on the top of the counter as samples. A good way to bring the customers in, it is always good to know what they look like before we put in the order.
Another thing that caught my eyes was their guide to first aid for choking. It was not only bright and vibrant, but also, the illustration was quite intense in a funny way. Next to that was some press on Heros & Villains. My expectation is getting higher…
Since they are a sandwich shop with no seating, we had to find somewhere to sit. Luckily, they have a quite large space on the top floor with a good amount of seating. We took counter seats, overlooking the shops and eateries below.
For the sandwich, we went with Sando Calrissian ($9.50), made with Fried Chicken, Miso Aioli, Pickles, Stoney Sauce, Slaw on a bun or hero. We kept it on a bun instead of making it a hero. We also got a side of Regular Fries ($3.50). They had 10% off for student, so if you are a student, bring your student ID!
The sandwich was a good size. Since we wanted a light lunch, we only ordered one to share. It was a good size to share among the two of us, plus the fries. They are made to order, so it takes a little bit for your order to come out. But, you do get super fresh sandwich!
It had a large piece of chicken, hanging over the soft buns. Super juicy with brilliant crunchy exterior. Sauce was really good, tangy with subtle sweetness to it. Pickles added crisp texture and contrasting acidic flavor that balanced the whole sandwich. Fries were thin and crispy, yet soft and potato-y. Addicting! Came with one wet nap, which was very much appreciated
It was a really nice lunch, we enjoyed the fried chicken sandwich from Heros & Villains a lot! It was tasty and satisfying. The staff was not the most friendly person, but he was efficient, and kept order after order coming out. We’ve had some really good fried chickens everywhere. I think the one we had from Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ in Orlando is still one of the top few on our list. This one from Heros & Villains was pretty good too, and since they offer other kinds of sandwiches, I would definitely want to try other sandwiches in the future too!
Heros & Villains – 88 Essex St, New York, NY 10002