Munchies: Danny Bowien

We met with Danny Bowien from San Francisco's Mission Chinese for a night of delicious Chinese food, fresh crab, and plenty of booze.
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[@aliockisity]

This whole need to "elevate Chinese food" that they were talking about rubs me the wrong way. As if Chinese food isn't developed enough? Chinese people spend thousands of years developing their culinary skill. I get if he wants to change it / be creative I hate the notion that Chinese food isn't already developed and elevated

[@irunwiththedead9777]

@@mastercheif878 You're calling a Korean dirty when I've seen the kitchen of a few Chinese owed restaurants. It was atrocious. Clean your own litterbox before you start flinging shit around, chief.🙄

[@L2kneel]

One of the best episodes. Restaurant with crazy food to drink with and ended up cooking a wild drunk dish at the end came out well

[@BeerHombre]

a mix of Steve Aoki and Skrillex

[@오세륜]

BeerHombre true ahaha

[@234netklh27]

"Best part about Chinese food...More people you have the better, because you can order more stuff," So so true...

[@は私です彼の名前]

And for our evening house special: Animal cruelty and torture. Enjoy! Could he have "napped" it or killed it *before* freaking dismembering the poor thing?

[@jerryxiao2595]

It frustrates me how Brandon Jew talks about nobody making Chinese food better. It's a three thousand year old cuisine. You don't need to fuck with it, just do it right. The fact that he was even apprehensive about anything they ate at the Schezwan restaurant shows how little he knows about Chinese food.

[@MrJin520]

You are 100% right. I'm not even Chinese (Korean) and I've eaten all that stuff before, especially the pig intestines and blood. And honestly, David Chang isn't even making Korean food "better", he's making it more mainstream and accessible to the American palette. His signature dish (bosam) is a 1000 times better here in Korea town, LA.

[@achineseguyineurope8590]

Jerry Xiao I completely disagree with Brandon's thing that "no one is making chinese food better". There are a shit ton of chefs trying to make it better. Just off the top of my head, in the past 50 years, SEA Chinese and Taiwanese (due to influx of chefs) have really experimented and improved on their techniques. When I went to Shanghai I also saw newer techniques from chefs there, reinnovating old techniques. Progress is a good thing. Bubble Tea isn't a 3000 year old creation, it's a 30 year old creation. Many chinese dishes have been reinvented or created in the past 50 years. Everyone on that table other than Danny seemed kinda racist to me, they were just trying to reaffirm the stereotypes that chinese are uncreative and steemed in tradition. Fuck that.

[@elefunkman]

This will always be my favorite episode. The second time I saw this I drove up to SF to get drunk and eat bomb food but it didn't work out as smoothly unfortunately.

[@taylorfern9351]

i live right in Berkeley and have been to Mission Chinese many times, place is fire!

[@JVKINGersgamertag]

Vice u guys should get a seperate 'Like' page on fb for Munchies! really enjoying some of the recent ones eventhough they stopped getting waisted..

[@eternityras]

he's so modest

[@SanitiveRevolution]

So many sanitary violations.

[@RiceCake45]

By far my favorite episode of munchies, keep up the great work vice! This episode was by far one of the most inspiring episode yet!

[@imhellag]

Cigarettes and milk has to be one of the worst combos ;/

[@robtaggore9931]

hahahahahahaha

[@ZKZ123]

The hottest chef in NYC right now. This guy is super talented, and very humble. Back in 2008, he won the World Pesto Championship in Genoa, Italy beating 100 other talented chefs from Italy.

[@TXmadeTXpaid1989]

This is far superior to do's and don'ts so if this is what we get while waiting for the great stuff im all for it

[@zalannoszek]

I love watching munchies at midnight, when I am freaking starved and all the food looks great! Keep them coming!

[@mikefromkollab]

for a minute there, I thought it was about Danny Brown and Munchies.

[@DaStig]

There's is a tiny place in my area called ni hao. really tiny, can fit about 4 people in just to order. takeaway only. open kitchen so you can see the cooks cooking it. Nobody speaks English except the receptionist. The best Chinese food I've ever tasted. but to look at it from the outside you would never guess especially from a takeaway! every time I go there I'm just amazed at the skills. They make it look so easy!

[@EdwardFrank]

You can taste the love in the food at Mission Chinese. Definitely try the thrice cooked bacon. I've heard the Spices on 8th avenue is better than the one they went to...don't know if that's true. The pork shoulder is off the hook though - they're spot on about that! Doin' it!

[@KavaKavana]

First cut to crab should be down center of head to face (to kill it) then butcher... Not butcher(torcher) while it's still alive. No wonder it clawed you. Respect and revere the animals that feed us, don't drunkenly giggle as you torcher the living shit out of it.

[@-_glowing.redmoon_-]

That stirred fried crab at the end looks mean and yummy! Good on you, Danny. Congratz on your success.

[@sterk267]

+yujil da uhm dat comment has no purpose here.

[@warlicht]

Love Munchies and Vice. Pretty disappointing to see how Ian Muntzert is disrespecting the ingredients he is cooking with....

[@konalily]

Neil Warlicht they were pretty inebriated. We can cut them some slack.

[@Gummo22]

one of my fav web series. keep it up.

[@cafarker]

I'd hate to eat anywhere Danny Bowien cooks. He didn't even control his hair when he cooks. Then he bites into his hair while eating Chinese food.

[@sugarsuren0813]

im stoned eating pizza watching documentaries about food... best day ever!!!

[@Jppppppppppppppaapi86]

I just worry for the guy that has to clean up after the drunken cooking

[@Jordcurious]

I lol at your enthusiasm

[@MrBlackychan2010]

how they killed the crabs was inhumane cmon your a chef even if your drunk do it right dont rip it apart.

[@LadyPenelope]

Well, never eating there....cruelty to crabs is the stuff psychos are made of.. SH3THEAD.

[@throwindembows]

I'm drunk and eating frozen pizza. I'm ashamed.

[@shinfeels]

Dude, you live in L.A... You're right next to Alhambra, Monterey Park, and San Gabriel - Chinese food mecca. Just yelp some restaurants.

[@leathery420]

drunk cooking always goes wrong unless your a cook. I know many people (me included) who have almost set the place on fire passing out lol

[@malinkulasekera69]

"Make food for people i can relate to" aka hipsters.

[@IRTOMM]

hey vice, ever plan on doing a british version of munchies? i'd love to see some cool restaurants over this side of the pond.

[@fryBASS]

Yeah I've been doing this for like a year and I don't know what I'm doing... Rated #1 in the country like a boss

[@MObar]

I don't even really like Mission Chinese that much but I have respect for Danny Bowien and what he's doing.

[@orsonzg]

love szechuan cooking ;D

[@francisc144]

How can you make Chinese foods better!!! 5000 years of cooking and passed through the Emperors approval.

[@grexrr1434]

or half an hour, depends on how close you're closer to him. We got a tradition of corruption you know.

[@jerensteinbear]

I wasn't complaining, I was making an observation. Stop complaining.

[@mhofkp]

Peter Chang is doing some pretty amazing Chinese here in Richmond va. Just saying.

[@toneboat923]

Dude prides himself on ripping off other dishes, kitchen is filthy, serves guests his left overs. You're better off making a video about me making pb&j.

[@TheCoolmandingo]

word? thats real cool. i will def make surei check it out. if you know any others please share. have a great one

[@AgentIzzy35]

Saw him in Bon Appetit magazine. It's good that he is getting all of this attention.

[@BKOBatista]

For the people that complain about the hair, just think about the authentic Italian restaurants with their probably over weighted, crazy hairy beard and arms , chefs. And for the smoking, the same for any Japanese cuisine with actual Japanese chefs (a great part of all Japanese, they all smoke). Their food is art, they don't just play as a cook. And they at least not spiting on people's food like in most of fast-food chain, because those people actually hate their jobs. Give it a thought.

[@justlobitupthereillgetit5713]

I'm not sure they all swear enough

[@TamalCosmico]

i think electrocuting is fine, but ripping the shell off while its still alive is wrong

[@fightthepower07]

Look at his fucking kite when his mate drops the crab, it was like 'I'm so embarrassed to have you as a friend, you have just took the camera off me, when I'm trying so hard too be a renegade, don't give a fuck cook but the reality, is I was planning this impromptu meal for at least a week, you fucking bastard, aaaargh!!!!'

[@tommygibs]

the asian hipsters have a humility to them. they are my favorite "hipster" to date.

[@mikeknight42]

Love how he just throws a make out session in there randomly before crabs. And then a white guy drops a crab on the kitchen floor and they still throw it in the pot. Keep doing your thing mate. You are awesome.

[@nephildevil]

"no asians can drink milk" lol yeah, they are pretty much all lactose intolerant :D

[@roggy87]

should probably wear a hair net....

[@HeadlessChickenTO]

No one is taking the torch for Chinese food...well thats because its there isn't much to do. Traditional Chinese is the oldest and most evolved cooking culture in the world, anything you do to it like the whole asian fusion doesn't take it to another level but puts it into another category no longer considering it Chinese cooking. Arguable there are a few exceptions like Alvin Leung of Bo Innovations.

[@wendytaucher]

Please. Put on a hairnet.

[@Blueswailer]

I wonder if the production budget included the weed they had to smoke to be able to down that amount of food. Also, who the hell is that Ian Muntzert guy? Generally I like Vice, and I love this Munchies-series but there always seems to be that one guy in every episode who just seems like an obnoxious douche.

[@KeetyPooh]

Blueswailer high horse much?

[@Blueswailer]

Keety Mang Not really, no. You must be projecting shit you do on to me, thinking I'd reflect back on something I said almost a year ago after you spit out three words. Well done. Thanks for the laugh though, always good to start a day that way.

[@KeetyPooh]

Blueswailer Keep thriving at life...

[@throwindembows]

well that's easy to say when you're not eating frozen pizza and drinking!

[@nephildevil]

lol wasn't on purpose, i like their food too, this vid not so much however

[@ducciboi]

I honestly don't give a shit as long as they make great food.

[@vllncor]

That guy's hair is awesome!

[@shinfeels]

Vice, you just showcased some guys who critique that no one is taking the helm for progressive "Chinese food." Apparently, they don't watch your channel or know who Eddie Huang is.

[@udaaz]

Variety is the spice of life I agree. Howeve Eddie Hurang guy is is crass and classless. From what I have seen... no talent he doesnt hold the audience. Likening him to Bourdain is an insult to Tony cause he is a tried an true entertainer and holds the crowd and is on network television and Eddie is an internet ass that got picked up by Vice and they are showing their ass by keeping him around, infact I would think Eddie Hurang on the line up would hurt Vice with vested relationships for them.

[@vvohvaelez9277]

did you not see the end? its not exactly a high end restaurant. this is just a middle job for this dude. Hes opening a restaurant in ny and has got acclaim from GQ and Anthony Bourdain. In the start of the ep he says the restaurant is never busy and they dont really care if its successful because they own the building.Youre never going to eat there, what is there to complain about

[@JackpotJunkiee]

Touché

[@calvin0416]

I remember when VICE used to actually document important and meaningful topics like wars, oppressions, gov't coverups, real societal issues....lately, all they've been posting is the usual trash like tattoos, skateboarders, eating junk food....c'mon VICE, stop preoccupying us with insignificant issues....get back to exposing the truths about our world and corrupt governments.

[@tellemhowbeer3517]

Awww man!! You showed up right before closing? Lol

[@Ken-vl4wk]

To be honest I didn't like his style. I would never step in to eat in any of his restaurants. Totally not sanitary. He was also not very carefull on what he was doing. Tried to put the crab in the bowl that was in front of him and totally missed it. He should change career. Construction maybe?

[@BKOBatista]

I never connected them, actually I just told that they do NOT have any relation. Good food is good food, the best cuisine exist on the weirdest/dirtiest/most unorthodox places in this world, creativity and intelligence are the only limits. Btw, just a question... what does "Sheople" mean?!!

[@sdka4488]

Vice isn't just about making Docs. You obviously are new to the Vice culture. If you've ever read any of the Mags you would know that Vice explores everything from Food, Cultures, to the bizarre. That's what makes Vice, Vice. Your probably one of those who only knew of Vice because of LameTv.. err MTV.

[@skiie]

People actually think EMT is about cooking? Also do you really think those documentaries are easy to do? you simply just don't walk into some of the hardest hit places in the world and flip out a camera, that shit takes planning and some sort of thought even though it looks like it.

[@jpedraza253]

This is a documentary. They did not show you how to cook the meals you saw. This series is more or less about the people cooking and why they do it.

[@macht4turbo]

Actually you should. New studys came to the conclusion, that crabs might feel pain! science.time.com/2013/01/18/do-crabs-feel-pain-maybe-and-maybe-we-should-rethink-eating-them/ Apart from that. What is not cruel in opening a living animal alive?

[@LauraTeAhoWhite]

Another way to kill crabs is to place them into a pot of water and slowly bring up the temperature to boiling point, you can place them in the freezer too. Both methods are kinder to the crabs than ripping off the shell.

[@billyboy8888]

The English speaking world is pathetic at accepting other cultural foods. The offals are the best part of animals, the most delicious, but people are just close minded and not willing to try it or accept it.

[@macht4turbo]

Where is you respect for animals? You opened the body of this crap and then let it live for 2 minutes or so? Fine, if you want to eat animals, but kill them as quick and painless as it can be...this was just cruel.

[@BigSpecialK23]

I bet Chef Ramsay would be pissed seeing them walking out with bags and bags of leftovers at that Spiced restaurant..lol.I can see it now..."Those are your profits in those fuckin doggy bags!"

[@JeanLaFlare]

He's basically a white guy that looks Korean. He's adopted so when he says he's a Korean cooking Chinese food it sounds stupid because there is no real irony to it since he has no Korean culture.

[@yourboykarp]

he looks like mike myers character in waynes world.

[@Kkidzz]

I'm still looking for one of these vice chefs who've got a circuit-bent 606 and a monotron stashed in the corner while they're waiting for the 'steaming' portion to finish....

[@TERRYEE88]

The best thing about crab is that you slowly eat your way into the crab's meat. You suck it out slowly. Having it harder to finish it while it give you some time to enjoy it. Yummy.

[@VinDieselsCat]

the thing is, epic meal time is a bunch of drunken idiots poisoning themselves and telling the same jokes over and over, vice munchies is really cool people talking about their restraunts

[@phonzzfortheworld]

The beginning was the drunk cooking from the end. I'm pretty sure he puts his hair up when he's actually at work. No worries.

[@Sojerothetenkin101]

An Asian who fails at using chopsticks. The guy's a fucking goof ball. Love it.

[@ColoredStripes]

This guy is disguistibg

[@absurd_patience]

That's crab abuse!

[@dismonarch5634]

Instantly turned off by the fact that he doesn't put his hair in a bun or net when cooking

[@nephildevil]

what information? asian animal cruelty? hair eating grossness?

[@Greensmoke05]

Wear something on your head dude its really disgusting to find a foot long hair in your food....and this is coming from a chef...hygiene over hipster

[@Trumpetnote]

I like it when you get that long hair stuck half way in and half way out. You pull on it and the pain is enough to make you swallow the rest of the hair.

[@Trystaticus]

starts the video by bitching about Popeye's two piece Tuesday. I love it.

[@timothykim8951]

He said it wasn't busy in the past, i.e. before he partnered with the owners. I have been to the restaurant and I can tell you it is quite busy.

[@jerensteinbear]

How is it that asian guys seem to have the most americanized names? My asian friends are roy and jim, and this guys name is dan. Fuck.

[@mobspeak]

wear a hair net

[@Ti5qu4ntum]

I loved Danny Bowien food and restaurants in NYC, but he was so cocky , his places went down the drain. Like - Sit down, be humble 🎵🎶

[@BIGDRXXMR444]

im watching this,meawhile only thing is my fridge is like meat and sauce for pasta ,bt no more noodles.

[@SgtMantis]

Sorry, ive had too many whiskies and beers to acknowledge that the spell check fucked up my word.

[@maxx87]

A korean hipster who rides a japanese bike and owns a chinese restaurant...this dude is my hero!

[@crimsonmamba]

Only Muchies I've disliked so far. What a horible way to kill the crab and made worse by their laughing and "bro-ing" out.

[@Lornograph]

I've killed many a crab by ripping the shell off and scooping the innards out. In a dinner rush ain't no quicker way!

[@nickskaterguy]

Did anyone else think it said 'Danny Brown. Munchies' and clicked it before you realized it wasn't danny brown? lol

[@LymanZerga1]

How can u kill a crab like that and not throw the fuck up

[@joey88906]

They're chefs lol

[@sykora10]

+Caruthers Theyre men, not sissies.

[@yashespatel]

This guy is living the dream: give 0 fucks about anything apart from having people enjoy the food you cook.