NYC is bursting with entertainment—and even more food! Here’s the ultimate foodie's guide to New York City.
I am obsessed with NYC. I’ve already written a traveler’s guide[a] on it, and promised to write a separate foodie’s guide to the city. Today, I finally sat down to have it done!
Ask a New Yorker, “What’s your favorite restaurant?”, and you’ll get a long list of answers. In a city with more than 8 million people—and some 25,000 places to get a meal—everyone has at least five favorites. And three of those top picks may change the following week (it’s not indecisiveness, it’s ambition).
Let’s just say, NYC is home to way-too-many gastronomic pleasures. You can dine out every night of the week and still barely scratch the surface.
That said, a short trip to the city means you have a limited number of days to experience its food scene. I traveled to NYC with some friends and through some trial-and-error, found my way to some of its BEST eateries. Today, I’ll share my top picks with you so you can skip the mediocre and devour the good stuff!
Breakfast
We often have those snooze-button days on trips—but that doesn’t mean resorting to a banana and coffee, especially when in NYC. New York City makes the most important meal of the day a lot more than basic! Fancy yourself at one of the following spots…
B&H Dairy
This venerable lunch counter still serves those kosher dairy dishes it’s been loved for since 1938. My favorite breakfast here—two eggs any style, home fries, challah, orange juice and coffee/tea—is still under $10!
Veselka
If you start your day late—Veselka serves breakfast all day. This is a Ukrainian restaurant that first opened in 1954. Today, it’s one of NYC’s favorite spots. I especially loved their Monday-Friday only special with four pierogi topped with two eggs and a choice of bacon, sausage, kielbasa, or avocados + a side of beet and horseradish salad and coffee or tea.
Cafe Chelsea
Chelsea’s cafe-inspired menu is modest—but offers a nice breakfast selection of egg dishes, pastries, fruit and granola, and sandwiches. If you’re OK with the weekend crowds, you’ll be rewarded with some more options, like oysters and caviar.
Brunch
The best brunch can be found everyday in NYC! If you’re enjoying breakfast and lunch together, here’s where to head—
Sailor
Sailor recently added brunch service to its hours, and you can find menu items like a soft omelette with goat gouda and a burger with melted onions plus cheddar. You also want to leave room for dessert: their vanilla sugared donuts await!
Old John's Luncheonette
This operated for 70 years and was then relaunched in January 2021. The spot has charming and nostalgic elements, while their menu is updated with delish items. For brunch, you can consider their turkey clubs, breakfast burgers, and omelets.
Henry Public
Another great NYC spot for brunch. The large booths are comfortable (the tiny tables near the windows, less-so), the back can accommodate larger parties (reservations accepted for 6+), and, in addition to eggs in several ways, French toast and burgers, this place makes the BEST turkey sandwich.
Ess-a-Bagel
Breakfast without bagels—and when in NYC? Nope! Bagels are a favorite in the city. But there’s little consensus among New Yorkers as to where you can find the best ones! I personally tried a few spots, and loved the large, crusty bagels with pillowy insides at Ess-a-Bagel. Their turkey club sandwich (basically a bagel sandwich) was a hit!
Lunch
Ah, lunch. The midday meal to refuel your energy for the rest of the day. New York has so many restaurants, perfect to enjoy some delish food.
Cafe Boulud
Here, you can find an a la carte menu of hamachi, oysters, a salad, and mains like fusilli primavera. Mains aside, I absolutely loved their appetizer of Parisian steak tartare. Lunch is available from 12 to 2:30 pm.
Burmese Bites
A taste of Myanmar right in New York! They cook up chicken curry with flaky palata bread (vegan version also available), shan kaukswe (rice noodles with chicken curry and pickled greens), and nan gyi thoke (rice noodle salad). They’ve also got daily-changing specials—all available for takeout or dine-in.
S&P
There’s really no better daytime restaurant. Pull up a seat at their 40-foot counter and order from a selection of sandwiches topped with olives and cream cheese; peanut butter and bacon; and tuna salad and cranberry sauce. Don’t worry, you can also find more standard lunch fare, including burgers and matzoh ball soup.
ThisBowl
Styled in chrome, ThisBowl looks somewhere between a fashion boutique and a high-end fitness studio. But damn…if it isn’t one of the best chain lunch bowls in New York City right now! You want to order the Sophie’s Way with poached chicken, shredded nori, purple cabbage, and red onion in a green curry dressing. Mhm.
Dinner
Dinner is NYC’s favorite meal—you know, just the beginning of a night full of fun. Some of the best eateries for a delicious dinner are:
Gage and Tollner
G&T is beautiful! Its interior is enveloped in crimson velvet with towering mirrors reflecting its splendor. The menus are amazing, too, full of steaks, seafood towers, chops, and sensational fried chicken. They also had a recent addition of weekend lunch service.
Rezdora
Dinner here will feel like a new culinary experience—even if you’ve grown up on pasta night. Its $98 regional pasta tasting is an exciting tour of the best the restaurant has to offer. Individual plates are available, too.
Sushi Nakazawa
The primary option here is their Omakase—a set menu of nigiri sushi featuring high-quality fish that has been sourced globally. You can expect different cuts of tuna, salmon, scallop, uni (sea urchin), and other seasonal selections. All served with detailed explanations from the chefs.
Semma
This one’s great for Indian dishes. While the dosas are good enough reason to visit, the tamarind-laced snail dish Nathai Piratta should be added to your appetisers, while the fragrant lamb is enough to keep you (and me) coming back time and time again.
Latenight Munching
You had dinner—and then some fun—and now, you’re hungry again. Fret not; NYC has some amazing late night spots to enjoy!
Roti Roll
Kathi rolls are roti wrapped around fillings like egg and marinated lamb. They come in several preparations for about $5 to $10 each, like creamy chicken malai and pickled paneer.
Jonny’s Pizza
NYC’s pizza is that good ole comfort food you’ve been craving. Johnny’s Pizza sticks to the classics: pepperoni, vodka, and plain slice. On Friday and Saturdays, it stays open till 3:30 a.m.
Papaya Dog
This is one of those brightly lit corner tube steak places. You’ll find hot dogs, hamburgers, and fish sandwiches (no veggies in sight). And the cheese? It flows like a molten river of lava—24/7!
Coffee and Desserts
Who cares about the calories when on vacay? There’s always a little room for dessert—and lots of coffee!
The Donut Pub
They’ve got the classic donut flavors. But you also want to try their new releases, like tiramisu and apple caramel. The affordable jelly donut comes covered in powdered sugar 😋
Lady M Cake
You’ll find the signature 20-layer crepe cakes here—they’ll be even better when enjoyed on the stone tables and Venetian wood chairs of the cafe! My favorite was the green tea mille; it was light and not overly sweet.
Not As Bitter
Who’s looking for a cold brew with a side of… well, fruit? Not As Bitter creates coffee that’s sweet, tart, and anything but bitter. I loved to have a fresh strawberry matcha in their colorful cups (it really was a good afternoon pick-me-up, even if I enjoy some bitter black coffee in the morning).
Sey Coffee
You can watch coffee being roasted in-house at this coffee shop. There’s also something exciting here: “cupping sessions”—where you can sniff, swirl and sip any number of beans 😁
