Good Eats!
Urban Hawker
One of NYC's newest food halls that features international street food from different vendors. At URBAN HAWKER you’ll find iconic Singapore flavors by culinary entrepreneurs from UNESCO-certified Hawker Centres in Singapore: Malay, Peranakan, Chinese, Indian, and many more.
Awesum Dimsum
Dimsum 24/7 right in the heart of Times Square! Whether you prefer steamed, fried, or baked, they've got an awesum assortment of this Cantonese delight!
Kung Fu Kitchen
New York has great options for soup dumplings . . . where in one bite you get the nourishing power of soup and the deliciousness of a Chinese dumpling. Try KungFu Kitchen at 610 8th Avenue (at @ W. 40th) for the soup dumplings (try them with vinegar sauce and sliced ginger for the fullest experience) and come again for their hand-pulled noodles.
Urbanspace
Not sure what you're craving? Check out Midtown's newest food hall on West 52nd! Featuring a slew of vendors, you're sure to find something delicious!
Museum of Ice Cream
Checkout this three-story instagram-bait museum devoted to ice cream! Be sure to check out the sprinkle pool and grab a milkshake from the speakeasy-style dessert bar!
Eat & Walk it Off!
This is an article in the Washington Post that explains how you can experience seven different one-food restaurants all over Manhattan and (possibly!) burn off all the calories walking to them one by one.
The Meatball Shop
Stop in here and get a bucket of balls for yourself or to share with a friend!
Cookie Do
A place that serves safe cookie dough in a cone like ice cream!
Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop
Get a great NYC deli sandwich!
The Stonewall Inn
Bi-level gay bar famed as the site of the 1969 riots that launched the gay rights movement. 53 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
Food Trucks
New York has fabulous food trucks where you can get gourmet, soul-satisfying food at a price you will appreciate. Many post where they are via Twitter and Facebook. Be on the lookout for: Korilla BBQ. And check out this post about the best food trucks in NYC! See the Gothamist rankings of the top 10 best in NYC.
Xi'an Famous Foods
If you want to try some authentic street food from China known for excellent and spicy noodles, soup, lamb, or pork, queue up at Xi’an Famous Foods now with five locations in Manhattan.
Sigmund Pretzel Shop
Have a craving for an authentic pretzel? Nothing compares to Sigmund Pretzel Shop at 29 Avenue B between 2nd and 3rd Streets.
Economy Candy
Economy Candy – since 1937, on the Lower East Side. Economy Candy is an old-fashioned, family-owned candy store that sells hundreds of different chocolates, candies, nuts, dried fruits; including halvah, sugar free candy, and, of course, all the old time candy you had when you were a kid.
Rice to Riches
Need a sweet pick-me-up? Try the rice pudding (in more than a dozen flavors, from “Coconut Coma” to “Sex, Drugs and Rocky Road”) and your choice of toppings at Rice to Riches, 37 Spring Street between Mott and Mulberry Streets.
Grimaldi's Pizzeria
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and find Grimaldi’s Pizzeria at 1 Front Street (under the Brooklyn Bridge!) as well as a few more locations around Manhattan. Legions of fans will argue that it’s the best in New York.
Oaxaca Tacos
Tacos, anyone? Stop by Oaxaca Tacos. This little taqueria is getting a name for itself among yuppies and hipsters alike for their local ingredients, cheap prices, and authenticity.
Sabrett's
Eat a hot dog made especially for you by a Sabrett’s vendor. Don’t be afraid of the “street meat”! Eat a hot pretzel while dashing to the subway.
Nuts 4 Nuts
Try some of those fresh-roasted chestnuts at a Nuts 4 Nuts cart you can find on the street corners or in the parks.
Halal Guys
Grab a souvlaki on your way to the theatre from the Halal Guys.
Jackson Hole
Eat the best hamburger you’ll find anywhere at Jackson Hole.
Ben's Kosher Deli
Go for kosher Ben’s Kosher Deli in the theatre district on W 38th St.
Little Poland Restaurant
Chow down on blintzes, knish and pierogies at Little Poland Restaurant, 200 2nd Avenue between 12th & 13th…the food is great, but the patrons alone are worth it.
Veselka
Or give Veselka a shot (144 2nd Avenue) – the chicken soup is to die for and the specialty pierogies can’t be beat.
Katz's Deli
Take a bite out of a sandwich at Katz’s Deli, 205 E. Houston, and recreate the famous scene from When Harry Met Sally. Be sure to hold on to your ticket though…you’ll need it to get out. Don’t substitute other breads for the rye bread unless you want to risk being yelled at by the guy behind the counter.
John's Pizzeria
Stand in line for great brick oven pizza at John’s.
Mamoun's
Have falafel at Mamoun’s on the corner of MacDougal and Bleecker Streets.
Chinatown
Venture to Chinatown for unbelievable (and usually incredibly cheap!) Chinese cuisine. Here are The Village Voice’s choices for the best 10 in the hood. Remember, if you’re paying more than $1 a dumpling, you’re probably paying too much!
Nuvorican Poets Cafe
Socialize at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, 236 E. 3rd St. in New York’s festive Hispanic neighborhood, Loisaida.
Korean Deli
Find your dinner in a Korean deli, either from the produce out front or the food bar inside.
Big Arc Chicken
Want some late night grub? Pizza abounds but for a change of pace, check out Big Arc Chicken (233 First Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets)—a late-night East Village hangout whose menu pleases both carnivores and vegetarians!
Zabar's
Get a bagel with cream cheese and coffee at Zabar’s, Broadway & 82nd St.
Barney Green Grass
Visit the “Sturgeon King” at Barney Greengrass (541 Amsterdam Avenue between 86th & 87th)…you’ll think the prices are outrageous until you try their sturgeon, or sable or lox…suddenly $25 seems more than reasonable.
Beard Papa's
Need something to satisfy your sweet tooth? Wander down to Beard Papa’s on Broadway between 76th & 77th for heavenly cream puffs that are filled when you order them and not a moment before.
Ray's Famous
Eat a slice of Ray’s Famous, in several places around the city.
Dean & DeLuca
Be amazed at the cost of vegetables in Dean & DeLuca, one of New York’s finest gourmet food stores.
The Back Room
Tucked in an alley at 102 Norfolk Street, you’ll find a speakeasy called The Back Room.
Panna II
Experience Little India on 6th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave. For the best food and atmosphere, check out Panna II on the corner of 1st Ave. Be sure to order the Mixed Appetizer Platter for starters.
Little Italy
Sample the tiramisu (or, at the very least, a real cannoli!) in Little Italy on Mulberry. Check out the the local favorite, Ferrara’s for cannoli that is to die for.
White Horse Tavern
Pass some time, as did Dylan Thomas, at the White Horse Tavern in the Village at 11th St & Eighth Avenue.
Sardi's
Conduct a star watch at Sardi’s, 234 W. 44th St. Head to the second floor bar to see where the real deal hangs out.
Veneiro's
Taste a bit of Italy at Veneiro’s, a real Italian bakery at 11th St. between 1st & 2nd Ave. Make sure to try the biscotti and tiramisu!
Virgil's
Missing good ole Southern BBQ? Go to Virgil’s on 45th at 6th Avenue.
Carmine's
Hungry for Italian? Try Carmine’s on 44th between 7th & 8th Avenues . . . cheap!
Hell's Kitchen
For really, really good Mexican food, stroll over to Hell’s Kitchen on 9th Avenue between 46th & 47th. Excellent food, excellent prices. You’ll never go back to Taco Bell. Well. Maybe.
H&H Bagels
Bagels are better in New York than anywhere else. It’s the water. You’ll have no shortage of bakeries to try . . . some like H&H (639 West 46th Street between 10th & 11th Avenues) and some like Absolute (2788 Broadway, between 107th & 108th). A good New York bagel proves that a bagel is like eating five slices of bread all crushed together!
Jacob's Pickles
Like pickles? Visit a restaurant with some Southern flair on the Upper West Side – Jacob’s Pickles. Beer, biscuits and pickles. What more could you want?
Lombardi's
There’s no pizza better than New York pizza. For original New York pizza, visit Lombardi’s at 32 Spring Street (between Elizabeth and Mott). Lombardi’s was the first licensed pizzeria in New York, introducing the pies in 1905. Go with an appetite (or some friends) because you can’t buy a slice (only a pie!) at this New York institution.
Chelsea Market
Are you a foodie? Visit Chelsea Market at 75 9th Avenue (between 15th and 16th), the birthplace of the Oreo Cookie! Celebrate the Hydrox while you nibble your way through Sarabeth’s, Amy’s Breads, Fat Witch Bakery, Hale & Hearty Soups, Chelsea Thai, among others. Upstairs is the headquarters for Rose Brand, one of the leading suppliers of theatrical fabrics and draperies, as well as the Food Network, Oxygen, and Giorgio Armani. Free WiFi!
Union Square Greenmarket
Introduce yourself to local, mostly organic farmers at Union Square Greenmarket on Monday, Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays. Go there early and you may spot one of New York’s celebrity chef’s checking out the loot for their weekend specials.
Magnolia Bakery
Wait in line for 30 minutes for New York’s most famous cupcakes at the Magnolia Bakery, Bleecker St at 11th St. (Other locations: Sixth Avenue at 49th Street, uptown on Columbus Avenue at 69th Street, and Bloomingdales), and watch for passing celebs who live nearby. Or explore the current “cupcake battle” waging in the city between Magnolia and some of it’s offshoots.
Buttercup Bake Shop
Go on a tasting tour and judge for yourself…try Buttercup Bake Shop (51st Street and 2nd Avenue and on the West Side at 72nd Street between Amsterdam and Columbus),
Billy's Bakery
Billy’s Bakery in Chelsea (Ninth Avenue between 21st & 22nd) or try the Tribeca location (75 Franklin Street between Broadway and Church Street)
Sugar Sweet Sunshine
Sugar Sweet Sunshine on the Lower East Side (126 Rivington between Essex and Norfolk).
Momofuku Milk Bar
Got a sweet tooth? Get amped up at Momofuku Milk Bar
Schmakary’s
Hit up Broadway’s favorite cookie shop – Schmakary’s in Hell’s Kitchen.
Li-Lac
You’ll never grab for a Hershey’s bar again…try real homemade chocolates from one of these old school New York confectioners – Li-Lac at 40 Eighth Avenue and Tache Chocolate at 254 Broome Street.
Gray's Papaya... or Papaya King?
Gray’s Papaya or Papaya King? Grab a dog and a papaya juice at each establishment and decide for yourself who wins the hot dog war. Gray’s Papaya’s home at 72nd Street and Amsterdam is open 24 hours so that you can get your fix, anytime day or night. Papaya King has been around since 1932 – 179 East 86th Street, and 3 St. Mark’s Place.
Irving Farm
Need a little java? Visit Irving Farm, which offers local coffee from a roaster in Millerton, NY in the foothills of the Catskills.
Kalustyan's
Interested in cooking? Stock up on spices at New York’s oldest, most revered spice-monger—Kalustyan’s, 123 Lexington Avenue (at 28th Street).
VYNL
Stop in for a stop at the most rockin’ facilities in New York at VYNL. The bathrooms are devoted to music superstars complete with custom mosaics. Visit them in Hell’s Kitchen at 51st Street and Ninth Avenue.
Two Boots
Stop in for pizza at Two Boots. With so many locations all over Manhattan, it is a home-grown neighborhood favorite no matter where you live. Their store exteriors win the award for loudest and proudest!
Cafe Cluny
If you have a little money to spare, drop into Cafe Cluny in the West Village where you will can more often than not be seated next to a celebrity and not know it.
Blockhead's Burritos
Craving Mexican? Try it San Francisco style at Blockhead’s Burritos. The World Plaza location behind New World Stages in Midtown West is a favorite on a warm day for the copious outdoor seating. Don’t forget to order a $5 margarita while you wait for a table. They also have locations in Murray Hill, the Upper West Side, the Upper East Side, Midtown East, The Financial District, and a spin-off restaurant, Benny’s Burritos, in Greenwich Village.
Pinkberry vs Red Mango
Cast your vote in the frozen yogurt battle between Pinkberry and Red Mango. Locations are popping up all over the city and many times these chains open right across the street from each other making the competition fierce.
Joe's Shanghai Restaurant
Joe’s Shanghai Restaurant is home to New York’s most famous (and best) soup dumplings. They have two locations in Manhattan – Chinatown (9 Pell Street) and Midtown (24 W. 56th Street).
Nam Wah Tea Parlor
Head over to New York’s oldest Dim Sum restaurant – Nam Wah Tea Parlor (13 Doyers Street) – established 1920! This place doesn’t take credit cards, so make sure to bring cash.
New York Diner
Rough night? Head to a New York diner for huge amounts of food for small amounts of money. Try the Waverly Restaurant (385 Sixth Avenue at Waverly Place) or Odessa (119 Avenue A at 11th Street).
McSorley's Old Ale House
Have a drink like they did in “Olde New York” at McSorley’s Old Ale House, 15 E 7th St, where they haven’t removed memorabilia from the walls since 1910. Treasures include John Wilkes Booth’s wanted poster, Houdini’s handcuffs, and wishbones that are still waiting for the WWI soldiers who put them there to return.
Kelloggs NYC
Craving cereal? Check out Kelloggs NYC for hundreds of cereal options!
Diller's
In the mood for some fried pickles? Head over to Diller’s for a delicious treat!
Tiger Sugar Tea Shop
In need of a sweet treat? Check out the boba at Tiger Sugar Tea Shop known for their instagramable drinks!
Xing Fu Tang
...or if you're in Queens, check out Xing Fu Tang to get your boba on!
Tea Time!
Are you tired after a long morning walking the streets? It must be time for tea. Eschew Starbucks and do it the way it was meant to be done – a proper English Tea with sandwiches and scones with clotted cream and jam. Try the Two E at the Pierre (2 East 61st Street), Lady Mendl’s (56 Irving Place), Alice’s Tea Cup (3 locations in Manhattan), or Podunk (231 East 5th Street).