Milk Bar

Many years have passed since Momofuku Milk Bar became just Milk Bar, and almost as many have passed since the chain appeared to be following (now mostly silent) partner Momofuku’s lead in focusing more attention on mail order sales and packaged goods than opening retail locations. Yet there are nearly a dozen Milk Bar locations – three times as many as remaining Momofukus – and two are on the West Coast: one at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the other in Los Angeles. (Seven more are in various parts of NYC, with two in Washington DC and Washington State, and a new location announced in late 2024 for Chicago.)

The one-time big draw at Milk Bar, originally called “Crack Pie” with a wink, a smile, and absolutely no shame, was apologetically renamed “Milk Bar Pie” in 2019. (That’s because actual crack is bad and it’s insensitive to compare actual crack with a slice of buttery fat and sugar shaped like a slice of pie.) It was also relegated to third-tier status on their menu.