INTEL: Where to eat at the Albany-Rensselaer train station
In spite of the shiny $50 million makeover 20 years ago, it’s still slim pickings for food at the Albany-Rensselaer train station. There’s a Dunkin Donuts within striking distance, but can pre-formed hash browns count as real food? If a hard roll and yogurt at the station cafe isn’t hitting, you may hope for a cafe car only for that first announcement confirming it’s not open on your Empire route today. Instead, plan ahead for a little more time and you could be unpacking enviable takeout for the ride.
Where to eat at the Albany-Rensselaer train station
Granted, these options are not physically inside the station so you’ll need to plan to have enough time, but all are in walking distance and you’ll might be surprised what you can score for your ride.
Son of Egg 483 Broadway, Rensselaer Visit
After bursting on the dining scene as a tiny shop in Albany, Son of Egg gained a cult following for Korean-fusion street foods, kimbap and bulgogi to-go boxes, quirky merch, Korean ice creams and soft drinks, and their skewered, spiral-cut tornado potatoes. Since then, Son of Egg has moved into larger space in Rensselaer, a stroll from the train station (in the former Baking You Crazy) and raised the bar by opening the built-in bar with Korean-inspired cocktails built around Korean soju and Asian snacks, all ideal fodder for the train. Try the Seoul Mule, a ginger beer and soju cocktail sweetened with yu ja cha, the honey-lemon-tea “jam” or Bong Bong Beer (a pairing of Miller Lite with grape sac sac), or perhaps best of all their Soju Yogurt Blast with Korean drinking yogurt and soju shaken together and topped with a maraschino cherry and Sprite. With the owner’s son now scheduling live bands, trivia and comedy events upstairs, Son of Egg is good for takeout or delivery but is also a destination in its own right.Shwe Burmese, 909 Broadway, Rensselaer Visit
Just over the bridge from the station is an unassuming restaurant in a residential house. Shwe Burmese is the area’s only Burmese restaurant and the owner and his mother converted their front living room into a sunny yellow dining room with checkered tablecloths and tea hurried to the table as soon as you sit. With influence from neighboring Thailand, India and China, Burmese cuisine is known for mellow flavors that carefully balance sweet, sour, salt and spice with less heat than Indian dishes and less vivid tartness than Thai, with a boost from pickled vegetables, bitter melon, salt-fermented fish and shrimp condiments and Burmese laphet (pickled tea leaf.)There are four pages of rice dishes, noodles, soups, dumplings and Burmese curries, most under $10 each and ideal for sharing if you dine in or order a few to go. The surprising full page of sushi is there because the owner worked in several sushi restaurants from Miami to Saratoga. Not sure what to choose? Try mohinga (spelled out as mote him khar on Shwe’s menu), a fish noodle soup with rice noodles and boiled egg that’s the Burmese national dish. For the train, pork dumplings with dipping sauce, shan noodle salad, or palata, a buttery, flaky Burmese fried flat dough like roti served with chicken-potato stew would all travel well. And maybe add some sticky rice balls for dessert.
Illusive Restaurant & Bar, 3 Ferry Street, Rensselaer Visit
Illusive is a little further down the road from the train station (past Dunkin Donuts) so unless you have time to kill you may need to order ahead and pull up by car. To be honest, the full menu at Illusive can be a mixed experience and in spite of a full bar, well drinks are better than elaborate cocktails that run sweet. But there are some stand out items that Illusive does exceptionally well. Nearly all of those are grouped under “Sandos and whatnot” on the menu and there’s a separate burger list with some excellent combos so let that intel steer you. The owner previously had a tiny breakfast sandwich spot called Shakin Bacon famed for the candied bacon that shows up on several Illusive sandwiches that are fat, stacked and fully loaded. Get the crispy chicken and candied bacon ‘Eff Popeyes’ or the spicier version with Thai chile mayo called Dragon’s Breath. An Italian Big Anthony classically pairs prosciutto, soppressata and mozzerella, but don’t sleep on the Harlem Chopped Cheese, Boss Hog BLT or Cowboy Curtis with slow-roasted pork shoulder. You might also like one of their hearty salads, a gyro or pulled pork mac n cheese.
