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We admit we never set foot into Hip Hop Chow, much as we do love us some chicken and waffles — nonetheless we were slightly bummed to see it replaced by yet another Japanese restaurant off St. Marks Place. Still, the new owner and namesake Nori Nishida, previously a manager at Takahachi in Tribeca, is optimistic. “People told me to be careful,” he says, “but no matter where we go, there must be competition.” Nori says he’s still experimenting with unusual dishes such as the flounder burger. Good thing, because he’s going to need them to lure us away from the bull’s penis at Kenka, the deep-fried alligator at Natori, and Yakitori Taisho’s mysterious “chicken chunck” [sic]. Mmmm, chicken chunck. — Daniel Maurer