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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.
Di ăn Di differentiates itself from the hordes of Southeast Asian–fusion restaurants in the city with a light- and plant-filled dining room and great recipes made using quality ingredients. Diners rave about the beef pho ha noi, served with an egg yolk, scallions, and Thai red chiles, and the papaya salad with house-made beef jerky, peanuts, and big sesame cracker.
Most Vietnamese food in the United States is inspired by the traditions of southern Vietnam because it was largely Vietnamese from the south who left the country after the war ended in 1975. Hanoi House brings a refreshing—and delicious—taste of the north; the pho here, as done in Hanoi, is meatier, darker, intensely flavorful, and so good.
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.
Pho Ga Vang, serving up the chicken version of Vietnam's national noodle soup, adds to the increasingly excellent Vietnamese dining scene in the city. Owner Tony Le grew up at his family's Vietnamese restaurants in Philadelphia and knows a thing or two about good pho. With a handful of options, the best is the shredded chicken pho—the broth, with a touch of sweetness, has hints of ginger and lemongrass; the thin rice noodles are al dente; and the chicken is fall-apart tender.
Predating the banh mi craze by perhaps a decade, this cash-only storefront serves some of the best Vietnamese sandwiches in the city (some say the best in the country); those in the know opt for the "house special" with Vietnamese cold cuts and creamy pate. The baguettes are crusty on the outside and soft on the inside, just as they should be.
