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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.
Top-quality sandwiches, delicious pastries, market-fresh salads, and a few hot lunch and dinner options are served to eat in or take away at this petite bakery-café that's part of Danny Meyer's empire. There are a few seats but when the weather's nice, take your food to eat on a bench in Union Square.
The cronut, a delectable cross between a doughnut and a croissant, was invented by Dominique Ansel in 2013, and the flaky pastries continue to create a hubbub, with just one inventive flavor available each month. There are plenty of other delightful creations here as well, such as decadent hot chocolate, which you can eat in the café or take with you.
After a fire shut down this popular 24/7 doughnut shop, it reopened in late 2023 to great fanfare among the city's fried dough fanatics. The doughnuts here are always excellent, but if you can magically time your visit for when the morsels are fresh out of the oven, you'll be in heaven. There is now a second location on Broadway and Astor Place that is also open 24 hours.
There’s a reason why these doughnuts in multilicious flavors have become a signature at so many cafés throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, and at this Manhattan outpost of the Bed-Stuy original, you can get them fresh out of the oven. The ever-popular (though odd-sounding) hibiscus doughnut looks gorgeous and has just the right amount of tart fruitiness to balance the sweetness of the dough; other favorites include passion fruit, salted chocolate, and cinnamon and sugar. Some are made vegan, too.
Both a bustling food hall and a marketplace where you can shop for produce, baked goods, prepared foods, and kitchen staples, Eataly is a temple to all things gourmet Italian. You can graze at individual stands, sit down for a meal at one of several restaurants that each specialize in different aspects of Italian cuisine, or head upstairs to Serra by Birreria, a covered rooftop space that's open year-round and serves Italian specialties and microbrews that change with the seasons.
This snug Lebanese café caters to locals with its popular vegan platters, mixed kebabs for two (with kofta, chicken, and lamb), shawarmas, and more. Seating is limited, but if you can snag a seat at lunch or dinnertime, you’re in for a treat. Try the mint lemonade and falafel sandwich, a house blend of chickpeas and fava beans, topped with turnip and pickles. For a carnivorous option, go for the El Toum sandwich, made with ground beef and pine nuts.
On an out-of-the-way stretch of the Lower East Side, Ernesto's refined atmosphere and creative, daily-changing menu of satisfying Spanish and Basque delights transports diners to coastal Spain. This isn't the small plates, tapas-style Spanish restaurant that New Yorkers are familiar with, though sharing dishes like a tortilla española (egg and potato omelet) or creamy croquetas (ham-filled deep-fried fritters) and heartier fare like seared duck breast slathered in a port and foie gras sauce or baked salt cod in a garlicky green sauce is not frowned upon.
Stop by this tiny counter-serve for impressive Asian-inspired vegan snacks like a take on the sloppy joe sandwich, made with mushrooms served on a sesame pancake, and perfectly chewy sticky rice dumplings that get a zing from chili oil. Although there's no actual seating, they do serve canned wine, beer, and sake.
The mantra here is "rice is culture." Chef JJ Johnson, a James Beard Award--winning chef, founded this rice bowl shop in 2019 with a focus on heirloom grains and the countries and places from which they're harvested. Top bowls include crispy chicken with barbecue sauce over Carolina gold rice, sticky rice with shrimp in a green curry sauce, and an Indian-inspired veggie bowl with basmati rice. The crab pockets (Johnson's version of a crab rangoon with garlic herbed cream cheese) are a delicious snack or side. Wash it all down with a pineapple ginger lemonade.
The star of this casual-dining scene is the perfectly crisp fish (made with sustainable cod) and "natural" sea-salt chips, but you can swap in shrimp, lobster, or chicken for the combo if you prefer. Located right behind the Good Morning America studios, it's a prime location for a fried bite (takeaway or dine in) in Times Square. If you're feeling adventurous, the chips are also served in three “dirty” options: truffle, Parmesan, and chives; chipotle, jalapeño, and crisp chorizo; or bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions, and sour cream.
Mike Puma was a burger blogger with a dream: to open his own burger joint. That dream came true in early 2024 when this corner burger shop fired up its burners, grilling thin smash burgers with a nicely charred exterior. There are also fries, onion rings, hot dogs, fried pickles, and a surprisingly good chopped cheese taco, a riff on the sandwich that originated in East Harlem bodegas. The spot is ideally located for a quick bite during a Lower East Side bar crawl.
It's a stand-up (no seats) or take-out dive, but yes, limos often stop here, too, for the legendary hot dogs—they are fresh grilled on a flattop and delicious, and quite the economical meal, even when they're washed down with the eponymous papaya drink. The ongoing recession special is two grilled hot dogs and a fresh fruit drink for just $7.50, and cheap breakfast offerings include the quintessential egg and cheese on a roll.
Friendly, family-run Gregorys is a staple for hurried New Yorkers, who appreciate the quality coffee, tea, baked goods, sandwiches, and more from this and other Midtown locations. Gluten-free and vegan options also are on the menu. Expect some seating inside, but mostly aim to grab and go.
With colorful bottles of Jarritos (a Mexican soft drink) lining the window and sepia-toned photographs adorning the yellow walls, this small, no-frills café named after the Mayan calendar serves Mexican breakfast all day, as well as an array of tacos, tortas (sandwiches), Mexican coffee (made with star anise, cinnamon, and piloncillo, or Mexican brown sugar), chilaquiles (a breakfast dish made with fried corn tortillas and eggs), and aqua frescas. You can also order beer, cocktails, or a michelada.
With a mission to "change the community, one biscuit at a time," Harlem Biscuit Company is doing just that. Run by chef Melvin “Boots” Johnson (you can call him chef Boots), the biscuits at Harlem Biscuit Company are made fresh in a variety of flavors (classic buttermilk, chive cheddar, everything, and weekend-only black truffle), and can be ordered as is, with a selection of jams and spreads, or in sandwich form. For a hearty meal, go for the Langson, with fried chicken, pickles, and chili garlic honey. To start your day off on the right foot, the Bodega is a solid choice, with bacon, egg, and cheddar. Note that this spot closes at 2 pm every day, so you'll want to plan your visit accordingly.
Named after architect Hugh Stubbins, who designed the Citicorp Center building in which it's housed, this food court boasts 15-plus eateries, bars, and restaurants whose culinary offerings are as diverse as the city itself. Choices can extend to New York--style pizza, breakfast pastries, masala fries, Berlin-style döner kebabs, and Jamaican patties, among others, or later on order a cocktail at The Boardroom, a speakeasy. Sit at a table or along the adjacent staircase, while looking up at a lighting fixture by Parsons School of Design and School of Visual Arts students.
Linger over a danish or a slice of Sacher torte and bottomless cups of coffee at this old world–style bakery-café in Morningside Heights, where you'll rub elbows with students and professors from nearby Columbia University and locals who often line up before opening time to get pastries fresh from the oven. It's also near the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine.
After doing some shopping at NiLu next door, stop into this spacious, rustic café with exposed brick that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Specializing in Italian American cuisine with popular options like penne alla vodka, there are also Asian-inspired dishes (like the Korean barbecue lettuce wrap made with marinated beef rib eye) and a wide selection of paninis. When the weather’s nice, there’s outdoor seating in the front or you can just grab a quick latte to-go before heading off to explore the area.
Steps from Union Square, this busy café (known to locals as 71 Irving, aka the address) roasts its own beans and serves excellent people-watching along with espresso drinks, sandwiches, muffins, and snacks. There are now locations around the city.
