From legendary street foods to renowned eateries serving classic bagels, pastrami sandwiches, and pizza, New York City offers endless must-try dishes. Home to Michelin-starred restaurants, vibrant food markets, and cuisines from around the globe, the city’s culinary landscape reflects its rich history and diversity, making it a bucket-list destination for food lovers everywhere. Credit: @deepthi__t on Instagram.
Hometown Classics
Pizza
Credit: @sauced_brothers on Instagram
John’s, Joe’s, Patsy’s—no matter your go-to, New York pizza is simply the best. Try the world’s best pizza at Una Pizza Napoletana in Downtown Manhattan or for a historic touch, head to America’s first pizzeria for coal-fired pies at Lombardi’s in Little Italy. Brooklyn is home to fan favorites like Grimaldi’s, Di Fara, Juliana’s, and Totonno’s, which opened up shop on Coney Island in 1924 and is the oldest continuously-operating pizzeria in the US. For a real slice of New York, pizza is a must.
Bagels
Credit: @cbudzruns on Instagram
Toasted or not? With cream cheese, butter, or a bacon, egg, and cheese? Regardless of how you take your bagel, no trip to New York City is complete without biting into this chewy, delicious doughy delicacy. Try some of the city’s veritable institutions like Russ & Daughters (a must for lox lovers!) and Ess-a-Bagel, newcomers putting their own spin on the classic bagel like PopUp Bagels and Apollo Bagels, and beloved neighborhood favorites from Utopia Bagels in Queens to Bagel Hole in Brooklyn.
Hot Dogs
Credit: Phoebe Baker
From the street carts of Central Park to a Nathan’s Famous on the Coney Island boardwalk, nothing hits the spot quite like a hot dog. Crif Dogs makes the perfect midnight snack after a night out in the East Village, Dog Day Afternoon brings the Chicago-style dog to Brooklyn, and Oh-K Dog and Ugly Donuts & Corn Dogs serve up Korean corn dogs at multiple locations across the city.
New York-style Cheesecake
One of New York’s favorite desserts is a slice of good old-fashioned New York cheesecake. The history of this classic traces back to European immigrant bakers in New York City, who altered Old World recipes that used farmer’s cheese, similar to the cream cheese-based version we love today, complete with a signature graham cracker crust. Today you can find rich and creamy cheesecake pretty much anywhere in the city — from classic diners to Michelin-starred eateries, but you can’t go wrong with a slice from Junior’s, delivering retro diner vibes and legendary flavor at its locations in Brooklyn and Times Square.
Pastrami on Rye
Credit: @natcirio on Instagram
The pastrami sandwich with layers of spiced, smoked, and steamed brisket on rye bread (topped with spicy brown mustard and a Kosher dill pickle on the side) first appeared in Jewish delicatessens on the Lower East Side in the late 19th century. Katz’s Delicatessen’s overstuffed version is perhaps the most famous of the bunch, having sarred in “When Harry Met Sally,” but you can enjoy New York’s “signature sandwich” at other classic delis including 2nd Ave Deli and Ben’s Kosher Restaurant & Delicatessen.
Must-Try Meals
Credit: @cheryl0924 on Instagram
This 3-Michelin star restaurant, situated in a historic Art Deco building overlooking Madison Square Park, takes you on a unique culinary journey with its 8-10 course plant-based tasting menu, emphasizing locally-sourced seasonal ingredients. Guests can enjoy a more abbreviated version of the tasting menu at the bar, along with light snacks, a cocktail or glass from the expertly-curated wine list. Recognized as one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Eleven Madison Park balances creativity with precision with its sophisticated cuisine and innovative flavors. Advance reservations are required and often fill up quickly.
Credit: @nycfoodinsta on Instagram
While soul food got its start in the American South, one can argue that it was perfected in Harlem. At Sylvia’s Restaurant, you can experience the warmth of home cooking from the kitchen of “The Queen of Soul Food.” Treat yourself to iconic dishes like Sylvia’s world-famous barbecue ribs served with the signature “Sassy Sauce,” crispy fried chicken, and savory smothered pork chops. These beloved recipes have won the hearts of presidents, governors, celebrities, and the local Harlem community alike.
More than 100 years on, one of the best spots for freshly caught seafood in New York City resides in the belly of Grand Central Terminal. A rotating daily menu boasting seafood handpicked each morning at the Fulton Fish Market guarantees freshness. The cavernous 440-seat Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant remains as timeless as ever with its elegant vaulted arch tiled ceiling, snaking counters, and extensive wine list, making it a go-to spot for tourists, commuters, and locals alike.
Photo courtesy of Tatiana
Named New York City’s best restaurant by the New York Times, Tatiana is James Beard Award-winning chef and author Kwame Onwuachi’s love letter to New York. From Italian bakeries and Chinese takeout to Caribbean roti shops and local bodegas, the menu takes you on a culinary journey through the flavors of his childhood and heritage within the stylish dining room housed in Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall. Try egusi dumplings with a Nigerian red stew, oxtail and crab rangoon, Mom Dukes shrimp in Creole butter, and for dessert there’s the Bodega Special— a cosmic brownie and powdered doughnut ice cream that will spark childhood wonder.
Seafood is elevated to an art form as this three-Michelin star, James Beard Award-winning French restaurant that has maintained four stars from The New York Times since opening in 1986. The Le Bernardin philosophy is simple: the fish is the star. With Chef Eric Ripert at the helm since 1994, the kitchen turns out sophisticated plates prepared in a classic French style with globally-inspired touches like scallop carpaccio with pickled vegetables and yuzu-ginger broth and baked snapper with twice baked mini potatoes and an uni emulsion.
Unique Dining Experiences
Few restaurants can match The River Cafe’s location in Brooklyn. Nestled under the Brooklyn Bridge, The River Cafe is the picture of romance with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline and an elegant dining room (where jackets are required for gentlemen) draped in the sounds of jazz standards played by the lounge pianist. This Michelin-starred gem features a decadent menu that includes locally-sourced foie gras with spiced maple cider reduction and handmade Brooklyn ricotta gnocchi. The iconic chocolate Brooklyn Bridge dessert (dark chocolate Marquise, passion fruit ice cream, banana macadamia ganache, banana spuma) is a must-try.
When you’re craving grandma’s home cooking, there’s no better place to eat than Enoteca Maria in Staten Island. This intimate, cash-only establishment features a rotating roster of real grandmothers (or nonnas) from around the world sharing traditional, homemade dishes passed down and perfected through the years. You may get to indulge in family recipes from Japan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Greece, Peru, and other countries all in one weekend! The menu rotates frequently and is always a surprise, but the food will always be delicious, authentic, and from the heart.
Dinner is the show at this popular 1950s-themed diner in the heart of the Theater District. Chow down on the All Day Breakfast menu or diner classics from burgers to chicken tenders as their famous singing waitstaff belts out your favorite showtunes from open until close. Several “Starduster” alums have gone on to launch their own Broadway careers and Ellen’s Stardust Diner was even featured in the movie “New Year’s Eve,” starring Sarah Jessica Parker.
Every day is Halloween at this East Village haunt. Beetle House brings the world of Tim Burton to life and pays homage to horror icons from Edgar Allen Poe to Washington Irving with its delightfully dark and gothic decor. Not even the food can escape the Tim Burton influence. The $60 prix-fixe “poltergiest feast” menu features The Edward Burger Hands held together by a pair of scissors and a filet mignon topped with a souvenir straight razor. You may even be joined at the dinner table by the likes of Bettlejuice or Jack Skellington.
In the Little Egypt section of Astoria, Queens, this unassuming seafood spot is serving up some of the freshest catches around. Head to the seafood counter in the back to handpick your meal from a daily-changing selection that typically includes whole fish, octopus, squid, shrimp, and prawns. Then you specify how you’d like it prepared—grilled, baked, fried, or “Egyptian-style,” meaning crispy, blackened, and coated in spices. The food typically arrives fast, hot, and cooked to perfection. While the ambiance is minimal—bright lighting, basic furniture, and no-frills decor—the focus is entirely on the exceptional seafood and the unique, interactive ordering experience.
International Cuisine
Chinatown, Little Italy & More Foodie Neighborhoods
Credit: @jingfongny on Instagram
While New York has no shortage of fine dining concepts, some of the best food in the city is being served by the unsung heroes of international cuisine in its foodie neighborhoods, many of them immigrants cooking up the most authentic versions of the delicious cuisines of their home countries. If you’re in the mood for dim sum and steaming hot noodles, visit the Manhattan and Flushing Queens Chinatowns. For table-grilled Korean BBQ, go to Koreatown in Manhattan or Flushing and Murray Hill in Queens. For Italian food rivaling the old country, head up to Arthur Avenue, known as the Bronx’s Little Italy. For the aromatic spice-rich cuisine of the Indian subcontinent, be sure to visit Jackson Heights in Queens. For the bold flavors of the Caribbean, make your way to Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean and Little Guyana in Queens.
If you’re looking for comfort food Ukrainian-style, Veselka is a must-visit. From a hearty borscht soup to plump pierogi served with a healthy dollop of sour cream and caramelized onions and crisp potato pancakes, this cozy diner is sure to hit the spot. Don’t skip dessert because the sweet cheese blintzes and medovyk (a layered honey cake) are worth a trip alone. The OG location in the East Village has been around since 1954, but newly-opened Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Madison Square Garden, and Grand Central Terminal outposts provide additional opportunities to try this classic NY gem.
Credit: Marta Zielinska
A sprawling food market full of delicacies from Spain is expertly curated by celebrity chefs José Andrés and the Adrià brothers. With multiple kiosks and restaurants all in one space, you don’t have to choose between sampling some authentic patatas bravas, cozying up to La Barra for some tapas, being wowed by gourmet ember-cooked suckling pig or lamb at Leña or the seafood at Mar, eating breakfast for dinner at The Spanish Diner, chasing it all down with some freshly prepped sangria before hitting the churros stand. The market also features foodie gifts that you can take home as a unique memento of your NYC trip. ¡Olé!
If there’s a vegetarian or vegan in your group, Bunna Cafe is a must. This Ethiopian restaurant in the trendy neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn is 100% plant based. Serving Beyaynetu, a traditional family-style platter of Ethiopian dishes, served with Injera (Ethiopia’s signature soft flatbread), every meal at Bunna Cafe offers a kaleidoscope of flavors. There are up to 9 different dishes on offer for you to mix & match. Favorites include Shiro (ground chickpeas simmered with garlic, ginger, and spices), Misir Wot (red lentils cooked with spicy berebere sauce) or Gomen (steamed collard greens with ginger and coriander). Coffee is an important element of Ethiopian culture, and Bunna Cafe hand-roasts their own fresh coffee to serve. Check out their traditional coffee ceremony every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 5pm.
Sweet Treats
Treat yourself to sweet perfection at Magnolia Bakery, arguably one of New York City’s most famous dessert destinations. You can’t go wrong with a classic cupcake topped with Magnolia’s signature buttercream swirl or irresistibly creamy banana pudding that gets better with every bite. With nearly a dozen locations across the city, stop by the original Bleecker Street shop in the West Village and order yourself a Carrie Cupcake (a vanilla cupcake topped with pastel pink vanilla buttercream and daisy decoration) to live out your own Sex and the City moment that rocketed this shop to stardom.
Credit: @deepthi__t on Instagram
This award-winning SoHo bakery blends artistry and flavor in every bite with classic pastries and innovative creations like cookie shots and frozen s’mores. Of course, it’s also the birthplace of the delectable doughnut-croissant hybrid, Cronut. With a new flavor introduced every month (black sesame and coconut for January 2025), you’ll have plenty of reasons to keep coming back for more.
Founded by James Beard award-winning pastry chef Christina Tosi, Milk Bar’s quirky creations pack the sweet taste of nostalgia with every bite. From the Instagram-famous Cereal Milk soft serve with cornflakes to the colorful rainbow Birthday Cake, Milk Bar evokes childhood wonder at locations all across New York City from its original East Village storefront to its two-level flagship at the Ace Hotel where you can customize your own treats or sample goods from the test kitchen.
Credit: @naraeswari on Instagram
Step into a world of whimsy at Serendipity 3, known for its over-the-top desserts, playful charm, and world famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. Where else can you enjoy a foot-long chili dog in a beautiful townhouse decked out with Tiffany glass lampshades and authentic Andy Warhols? A favorite of celebrities past and present from Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe to Kim Kardashian and Beyonce, this Upper East Side staple celebrated 70 years in 2024 opening a second location in Times Square.
Credit: @nat_ventures on Instagram
Since opening its quaint Upper West Side shop as a bread bakery 30 years ago, Levain has reached legendary status in cookie circles. With its decadently crisp outside and delightfully ooey gooey center, every bite of a massive Levain Bakery cookie is pure indulgence. A short walk from Central Park, pop by the original 74th street shop and experience the joy of Levain with a classic chocolate chip walnut or rich dark chocolate peanut butter cookie.
Food-Centric Events
Credit: @emilymccahthy on Instagram
The feast of all feasts comes to Little Italy every September. Dating back to 1926 and spanning 11 city blocks of Manhattan, the Feast of San Gennaro features delicious food from some of the city’s best Italian restaurants, free concerts, the world-famous cannoli-eating competition, and vibrant parades, including the Grand Procession featuring marching bands, floats, and the statue of San Gennaro.
New York City Wine and Food Festival
The glitz and glamor of New York City is front and center at this star-studded wine and food festival in October. Spanning two boroughs and dozens of events, you’ll savor walk-around tastings, intimate dinners hosted by celebrity chefs, pier parties, master classes, culinary demos and much more!
Credit: Sharon Medina/Queens Night Market
Queens is proud to have residents from more than 120 countries, speaking 160 different languages. If you’re in Flushing from April to October, don’t miss the Queens Night Market in front of the New York Hall of Science where the sights, smells, sounds, and flavors of the world come to life every Saturday evening. This large family-friendly open-air market features up to 100 independent vendors serving up everything from Polish pierogi to Cambodian Fish Amok with all bites capped at just $6. There’s also games, artisans, local bands, and performers of every type from African dance troupes to martial arts demonstrations.
Credit: @twogurls_oneplate on Instagram
Calling all foodies! Dubbed “The Woodstock of Eating,” Smorgasburg is the largest weekly open-air food market in America with three New York locations at the Oculus at World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan, Brooklyn’s original Williamsburg waterfront location, and at Breeze Hill in Prospect Park. Feast your way through dozens of vendors selling lobster rolls, barbecue, bao, empanadas, spaghetti donuts, cookies, churros, and so much more on weekends from April through October.
Taking inspiration from a centuries-old tradition recognizing the end of the harvest season, Ferragosto is a celebration of Italian culture and community in the heart of the Bronx’s Little Italy. Head to Arthur Avenue to savor authentic Italian cuisine, enjoy live entertainment, and explore family-owned restaurants, artisan food shops, and specialty stores that carry superb local and imported items. (September 7, 2025)
Don’t forget to post photos of your New York adventures on Instagram and Twitter with #iSpyNY and tag us on Facebook!
