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Ready to take a bite out of New York? Hope you've come hungry. In a city where creativity is expressed in innumerable ways, the food scene takes center stage, with literally thousands of chances to taste what Gotham is all about. Whether lining up at street stands, gobbling down legendary deli and diner grub, or chasing a coveted reservation at the latest celebrity-chef venue, New Yorkers are a demanding yet appreciative audience.
Every neighborhood offers temptations high, low, and in between, meaning there's truly something for every taste, whim, and budget. No matter how you approach dining out here, it's hard to go wrong. Planning a day of shopping among the glittering flagship boutiques along 5th and Madison Avenues? Stop into one of the Upper East Side's storied restaurants for a repast among the "ladies who lunch." Clubbing in the Meatpacking District? Tuck into a meal at eateries as trendy as their patrons. Craving authentic ethnic? From food trucks to hidden joints, there are almost more choices than there are appetites. Recent years have also seen entire food categories, from ramen to meatballs to mac 'n' cheese, riffed upon and fetishized, and at many restaurants you find an almost religious reverence for seasonal, locally sourced cuisine.
And don't forget—New York is still home to more celebrity chefs than any other city. Your chances of running into your favorite cookbook author, Food Network celeb, or paparazzi-friendly chef are high, adding even more star wattage to a restaurant scene with an already through-the-roof glamour quotient. Newfound economic realities, however, have revived appreciation for value, meaning you can tap into wallet-friendly choices at every level of the food chain. Rest assured, this city does its part to satisfy your appetite. Ready, set, eat.
Don't let its generic-sounding name mislead you into thinking they serve the usual Indian fare; this contemporary eatery specializes in dishes from the Indian state of Goa, whose long history of trade has led to a fusion cuisine of Indian and Portuguese flavors. In fact, a lot on their menu uses Portuguese words, including xacuti de galinha (a curry with chicken) and caldinha de bhendé (a curry with okra).
This British-style gastropub with exposed brick walls and wooden tables and floors is named for—and located in—the iron foundry that was located here in the late 1800s, when it created staircases, doors, and even manhole covers for a growing city. There’s an extensive list of beers, ales, and wines, and the Euro-style menu includes beef bourguignon alongside light and flaky fish-and-chips. Traditional favorites like bangers and mash, Scotch egg, and sticky toffee pudding are also available. The lovely garden dining area is open in season.
In Serbia, a kafana is a neighborhood tavern with a menu of hearty Serbian staples like ćevapi, finger-size minced beef sausages, or karadjordjeva, a tubular pork schnitzel stuffed with ham and rich, creamy kajmak cheese. This rustic cash-only Serbian eatery, located in the wilds of the East Village on Avenue C, has excellent artery-hardening fare and an impressive list of natural wines from Serbia. Top off your meal with a shot of rakia, the potent fruit brandy that is ubiquitous in the Balkans.
The New York outpost of the 154-year-old pizzeria in Naples that the travel memoir "Eat, Pray, Love" single-handedly turned into a must-visit stop on the tourist trail, this West Village pizzeria opened in late 2022 and has managed to quickly become one of the best Neapolitan-style pizzerias in the city. The menu here is much more expansive than the original, treading into all-encompassing trattoria fare, such as pastas and salads, but stick to the classic Margherita pie and you'll walk out of here a very happy eater.
Staten Island has one of the largest Sri Lankan communities outside the South Asian nation, which means it's the perfect place to taste its cuisine. Along an unassuming strip of restaurants and groceries is this acclaimed, standout restaurant, tastefully adorned with Sri Lankan curios. During the week, different curries accompany à la carte dishes known as lamprais, kottus, and hoppers, however, on weekends there's an all-you-can-eat buffet of greatest hits for $22.
When Harlem resident Susannah Koteen opened Lido in 2011, she became one of the pioneers of Restaurant Row, which blossomed along Frederick Douglass Boulevard. A laid-back yet classy restaurant with boundless appeal, this authentic Italian eatery is a neighborhood go-to for a casual dinner and the perfect date spot. The restaurant's interior and its menu were designed by Serena Bass, a James Beard Award winner. Try the Tuscan crostini with burrata and poached pears drizzled with honey and topped with sage as a starter and wash it down with an Emerald City cocktail, made with pineapple-infused mezcal, jalapeño cilantro syrup, and fresh lime. For brunch, don’t skip the braised short rib hash or spaghetti with veal meatballs. And to top it off, add bottomless mimosas and sangria (white or red) for $20.
Pastry chef Eunji Lee’s exquisite creations at Lysée are easily New York’s most stunning desserts. Infused with Korean flavors—like toasted brown rice—and crafted with French techniques, each confection is edible art—especially her signature corn cake covered with delicately piped kernels of corn mousse. Grab one to-go from the minimalist bakery upstairs or savor four decadent delights by reserving the prix-fixe in the downstairs dining room.
Yakitori—tasty morsels on skewers—has long been a staple of Japanese cuisine. As the name would suggest, this restaurant takes the age-old concept and runs with it in a faintly Gallic direction, its open kitchen churning out grilled bites on skewers, artfully arranged on plates, or, in the case of the pommes dauphines (crispy spheres of potato), wrapped in paper cones with a delectable dipping sauce. Don't miss the cocktails on tap and delicate desserts, both of which also have a creative East-West slant.
Mam is not your typical stateside Vietnamese eatery. This diminutive spot, where guests sit on tiny plastic stools just like at restaurants in Vietnam, serves the large-format Hanoi dish bun dau mam tom: cold vermicelli noodles, fried tofu, herb leaves, pork belly, and sometimes blood sausage that all play a supporting role for the star of the show, the mam tom, or funky fermented shrimp sauce. A tray arrives at your table and you go to work, grabbing bunches of the supporting cast and dipping it in the mam tom.
This innovative food hall opened in spring 2023 to great fanfare. Run by the James Beard Foundation and set on historic Pier 57, the market boasts a lineup of 15 food stalls from James Beard Award–winning chefs. Some standouts include Bessou, a modern take on Japanese home cooking; Mijo, a taqueria by chef Fany Gerson—the taco Arabe (spiced pork with a spicy chipotle sauce) is one of the best tacos in the city; Sahadi's, Middle Eastern fare from a legendary Brooklyn grocer; and Zaab Zaab, an outpost of the celebrated Thai spot in Queens.
David Chang's first restaurant, a riff on the Japanese ramen bar, opened back in 2004, and it's still a strong crowd favorite for the daily changing menu of ramen, steamed buns, and various other innovative options. The spare, bright space has plenty of counter seating and a few low tables that you might end up sharing communal-style.
David Chang opened Ssäm bar two years after his original Noodle Bar, and the stylish spot easily shows the multicultural bent of its creator. A selection of country hams is a surprising but delicious way to start a meal, perhaps followed by an Indian-inspired curry and potato appetizer, perfectly glazed barbecue ribs, and a whole-fish preparation. For a serious splurge, opt for the $135 rotisserie duck.
A quaint, whitewashed facade highlighted by a colorful vegetable mural hints what lies within this sustainability-minded and kosher café: a daytime menu of produce-forward dishes, including shakshuka (eggs in a spicy tomato sauce), salads, and a tasty tofu banh mi, plus an evening menu of salmon soba noodles and fish tacos. Indoor seating is limited, but outdoor seating is on a relatively quiet and picturesque side street.
This standard Greek-named diner, next to the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, offers a full-service coffee bar, a wide range of omelets, and sandwiches. Try the "signature Nisi creation," comprised of your choice of pancake, waffle, or French toast topped with decadent and some cleverly named offerings, like the Elvis (peanut butter chips, sauce, and bananas); Oreo Cookie (cookie crumbles, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and, of course, whipped cream). There's also some vegan lunch and dinner dishes and a "build your own burger" menu with a wide array of choices of patties, cheeses, toppings and even dressings.
Tucked into the ground floor of a cozy, brick-walled town house, this West Chelsea favorite is just steps from the area's blue-chip galleries. The vibe is laid-back, with leather banquettes and a back garden perfect for summer. The menu offers comforting American-inspired dishes—spicy crab spaghetti and chicken Milanese are must-tries—along with creative, seasonal cocktails from behind the sleek, marble-topped bar.
Just north of the mediocre restaurants of Little Italy but miles away in terms of quality, Pasquale Jones serves crispy pizza, al dente pasta, and inventive takes on Italian dishes from the wood-fired oven. A meal in this cool, minimalist restaurant may be slightly more expensive than what you'll find a few blocks down on Mulberry Street, but if you're looking for a meal you'll remember in a chic-but-casual space, this is the real deal.
The New York outpost of Andy Ricker’s famed Portland, Oregon restaurant continues to serve delicious Thai food that goes well beyond the dishes typically found on menus here. Knockouts include the pork belly and pork curry, the boar collar, the wings, and the papaya salad, but it’s hard to go wrong—and the servers give excellent guidance.
This new bagel outpost is serving up twists on an iconic NYC classic. Just-out-of-the-oven bagels, sold only in packs of three, six, or a dozen, come with a container of cream cheese (or two when a dozen is ordered) and diners are expected to rip and dip. This fast-growing chain, with locations around the city and some out of state, offers a new cream cheese flavor and a different butter every week. Long lines spill onto the sidewalk on the weekends and funky decor, including a disco ball, are part of the hot spot. Indoor seating is limited but patrons are expected to walk around while eating. PopUp has many celebrity backers, including Michael Phelps, Paul Rudd, Michael Strahan, Donald Glover and more.
Named after the Thai capital's original moniker (Phra Nakhon), this outstanding restaurant occupies an attractive two-story space inspired by Bangkok's bustling street-food scene. The extensive menu highlights hawker favorites from north to south, many derived from family recipes. The pork dishes are especially noteworthy. Don't miss the fried-egg-topped krapow moo sub (pork stir-fry) or the zesty namtok kor moo yang (grilled pork) salad.
Roberta's completely transformed this industrial district in 2007 with its destination wood-fired pizzas topped with hyperlocal ingredients—many herbs come from their garden on-site, a former garage and yard. Their acclaimed pies with innovative combinations and signature crusts have wowed pizza connoisseurs so successfully, Roberta's has expanded well beyond this groundbreaking original location, with a frozen pizza line and outposts as far as Singapore. Here, where it all began, there are also pastas and mains, served in a room that extends to a patio and tiki bar.
Locals have shown an insatiable appetite for this bustling but sophisticated Italian-American eatery serving high-quality, classic Italian dishes. You can't really go wrong, so share an order of pasta alongside a Staten Island–style thin-crust pizza and maybe a fork-tender chicken Milanese.
