My favorite thing to do when visiting New York is to eat my way through the city! New York City is a foodie’s paradise with a diverse range of restaurants, cafes, and street vendors offering mouthwatering dishes from around the world.
We’ve visited the Big Apple quite a few times over the years and I’ve compiled a list of our favorite places to eat in New York City, so keep reading!
The Best Places to Eat in New York City
Table of Contents
- Jacob’s Pickles
- Xi’an Famous Foods
- Los Tacos No. 1
- B Side Pizza & Wine Bar
- Mom’s Kitchen and Bar
- Alimama Tea House
- The Halal Guys
- Liberty Bagels
- Gnocchi on 9th
- Bibble and Sip
- Joe’s Pizza
- Dough Doughnuts
- Momosan Ramen
- Magnolia Bakery
- Stuffed Ice Cream
- Anita La Mama Gelato
Jacob’s Pickles
If anyone asks for food recommendations in New York, Jacob’s Pickles is the first place I always suggest.
It is located on the Upper West Side near Central Park and the Museum of Natural History and fits perfectly into a 3 Day New York City Itinerary.
This Southern-inspired restaurant is known for its innovative comfort dishes made from scratch using fresh ingredients. The portions are generous, so you could easily share a few plates.
You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but our favorite is the Chicken Biscuit Sandwich.
The handmade biscuit is stuffed with buttermilk fried chicken and topped with pickles and honey. It is served with a side of tasty cheese grits.
We also love the Biscuit French Toast piled high with fresh strawberries and dusted with powdered sugar.
Xi’an Famous Foods
Xi’an Famous Foods started as a small food stall in the Queens neighborhood of Flushing. Over the years, it has grown into a beloved chain serving authentic dishes from Xi’an, China.
There are several locations around the city, but our favorite is in Chinatown on Bowery and Bayard Street.
The menu highlights the bold, spicy flavors of Xi’an, and we can’t get enough of their fresh hand-ripped biang-biang noodles! Our favorite is the Pork Zha Jiang Hand-Ripped Noodles.
Los Tacos No. 1
Los Tacos No. 1 was rated as the best taco shop in New York City by Yelp. With a 4.7 rating and about 3,500 reviews, we knew we had to give it a try, and it did not disappoint!
Los Tacos No. 1 is located in Chelsea Market, a famous New York City food hall, and is the best place to go for authentic Mexican street tacos.
It was founded by three friends from Mexico and California and offers fresh tacos bursting with flavor.
Our favorites are the adobada (marinated pork) tacos and carne asada tacos served on corn tortillas and topped with their freshly made pico and guacamole.
B Side Pizza & Wine Bar
There is no shortage of pizza shops in New York City! If you’re looking for a step up from a $5 slice from a corner shop, then B Side Pizza is the place to go.
B Side Pizza is located in Hell’s Kitchen and serves wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas and oven-baked pastas.
The menu adds a modern twist to classic Italian dishes and we love the cozy and chic atmosphere.
For the appetizers, try the Cauliflower Cacio e Pepe, the Burrata, or Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad. Our favorite pizzas are the Killer Bee, Meat Packing, and Tie-Dye Pie. The Fusilli Alla Vodka baked pasta is also delicious!
Mom’s Kitchen and Bar
Mom’s Kitchen and Bar is a retro diner also located in Hell’s Kitchen. It is known for its all-day brunch, oversized comfort food, creative menu, and funky vibe.
Try their famous Pancake Burrito with scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and cheese wrapped inside of a pancake and topped with syrup.
Their Bedrock Pancakes, Apple Cinnamon French Toast, Mom’s Burger, and Buffalo Mac & Cheese Balls are also delicious!
Alimama Tea House
Alimama Tea House is a favorite dessert shop in Chinatown. It combines modern desserts and teas with traditional Asian flavors.
Our favorite is the Milk & Honey Cream Puff and the Brown Sugar Boba Cream Puff.
Their Mochi Donuts have also gone viral on social media and they look as beautiful as they are delicious! We love their unique chewy texture.
You’ll also find an extensive drink menu featuring creative teas and drinks like White Peach Sencha, Mix-Berry Hibiscus, Lychee Rose, and Turmeric Spiced Chai.
The Halal Guys
The Halal Guys started as a humble food cart on 53rd and 6th Street and over the years they have become a global sensation.
They are famous for their Middle Eastern chicken and beef gyro plates and wraps drizzled with their secret white sauce. It has a little bit of a kick and is bursting with flavor!
The portions are generous and they have a reputation for serving the best street food in New York!
There are several carts around the city now, but I recommend going to the original location on 53rd and 6th. It is just around the corner from Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center.
There are plenty of things to do in the area, for a list of recommendations see our guide 14 Things to Do on Your First Trip to New York City.
Liberty Bagels
New York really does have the best bagels in the world!
There are a few factors that make them stand out. Some believe that it is the high quality soft water from the Catskills that the dough is boiled in, others attribute it to the technique that involves cold fermented hand-rolled dough.
Whatever it is, New York bagels have the perfect blend of chewiness and flavor. They are made even better when topped with gourmet “schmear”, or flavored cream cheese.
You’ll find bagel shops on every corner, but our favorite is Liberty Bagels. It is the home of the rainbow bagel with hand-rolled bagels made in a variety of vibrant rainbow colors.
Our go-to is the rainbow bagel with birthday cake cream cheese, so good!
There are a few different locations around the city, we like the one in the financial district.
It’s easy to stop and grab a bagel after taking the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, or walking on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Gnocchi on 9th
I am a bit of a snob when it comes to gnocchi, and Gnocchi on 9th serves some of the best gnocchi I’ve had outside of Italy!
This cozy little Italian eatery is in the East Village and specializes in handmade gnocchi, or potato dumplings, with a variety of sauces. There is no indoor seating, everything is ordered to-go.
Our favorite is the Gnocchi Alla Vodka with Burrata. The combination of the silky gnocchi and creamy burrata literally melts in your mouth!
The pomodoro, pesto, and cacio e pepe are also divine. Just be sure to add the burrata on top!
Bibble and Sip
Bibble and Sip is a Japanese bakery that has made the rounds on social media.
This Midtown gem specializes in Asian-inspired pastries and is known for creating desserts shaped like characters. Try the adorable panda bear cake or their berry tarts shaped like piglets and llamas.
The S’mores cream puff, caramel banana cheesecake, and milk cloud cake are our favorites too!
Joe’s Pizza
Joe’s Pizza is a beloved New York institution that has been serving classic thin-crust New York-style pizza since 1975.
There are several locations around the city, but the original shop is in Greenwich Village on Carmine and Bleecker Street.
When you walk in, you’ll see celebrity photos plastered on the walls including the likes of Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Bil Murray, Joe Jonas, and dozens more. Peter Parker even worked here in Spider-Man 2, and it has also been featured in Along Came Polly and Sex and the City.
When you go, keep it simple and just order a slice of plain cheese or pepperoni for the quintessential New York experience!
Dough Doughnuts
Dough Doughnuts is arguably one of the best donut shops in New York City. They are known for their oversized, pillowy artisan doughnuts. These donuts are huge!
Along with traditional flavors, they also offer unique flavors and seasonal favorites like Hibiscus, Dulce de Leche, Earl Grey, Cheesecake, Blood Orange, and White Chocolate Raspberry.
A few more of the best donut shops in New York include Peter Pan Donut, Supermoon Bakehouse, and Doughnut Planet. You also have to try the Cronut from Dominique Ansel Bakery!
Momosan Ramen
There is something about a steaming bowl of ramen that hits just right on a cold day in New York.
One of the best places to get a bowl of ramen in the city is Momosan Ramen in Midtown, owned by celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto.
Momosan Ramen serves traditional Japanese and Asian-fusion dishes in a cozy modern atmosphere.
In addition to ramen, the menu also includes sushi and rice dishes. I recommend the Tonkotsu Ramen with a side of spicy wontons.
Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia Bakery is another iconic New York dessert shop that everyone needs to visit at least once when they’re in the city!
The original Magnolia Bakery opened in the West Village on Bleecker Street in 1996, and they have been serving their world-famous red velvet cupcakes and banana pudding ever since.
Our favorite is their classic banana pudding, but we also like their seasonal specialties like Red Velvet Banana Pudding that is available during the holidays.
For more holiday recommendations, see our guide 12 Bucket List Things to Do in New York at Christmas.
Stuffed Ice Cream
Stuffed Ice Cream is the marriage of two popular sweets and the result has earned this ice cream shop national accolades!
Their signature dessert is the “Cruff”, a warm glazed donut stuffed with your choice of ice cream and sprinkled with toppings.
This sweet treat is sinfully delicious and has even been featured on the Food Network, BuzzFeed, the New York Post, and more.
Anita La Mama Gelato
Anita Gelato is our favorite gelato shop in New York. Judging by the line that is continually wrapped around the building, we are not the only ones who love it!
The origins of this gelato shop go back to a small family kitchen in Netanya, Israel in the early ’90s. Anita Avital and her son started crafting homemade recipes and flavor combinations after her husband passed away due to an illness.
From its once humble beginnings, Anita Gelato has now expanded to 25 locations around the globe. They serve the most delicious artisanal gelato with natural ingredients and an array of toppings
The New York location is near Times Square and the darling shop is Instagram-worthy! There are so many delicous flavors to choose from, but the Vanilla Crumble Cheesecake & Mixberries is my personal favorite.
I hope this guide will help you discover some of the best places to eat in New York. The list really is never-ending, but this will give you a good place to start!
As a side note, Washington D.C. is a 3 1/2 hour Amtrack train ride or 4-hour drive from New York so it’s easy to see both cities in one trip. If you do plan to visit Washington D.C., our 4 Day Washington D.C. Itinerary is a helpful guide!
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- 7 LDS Church History Sites in Palmyra, New York
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