Pao De Queijo At Pao De Queijo
A dollar definitely goes far at this convivial Astoria-based Brazilian joint, thanks to empanadas , pasteis , peanut balls , linguica sausage sandwiches and even acai bowls . But it’s always smart to hone in on a restaurant’s namesake dish — in this case, baked puffs of tapioca flour and cheese, served seven to a basket for a mere $3.
Chicken Adobo At Papa’s Kitchen
Sandwiches and pizza abound, but it’s tough to find a protein-based, nutritionally balanced entrée in NYC for under $10. But Papa’s Kitchen, a sibling-owned Filipino cafe, fills a void from its standalone micro-house in Woodside, Queens. Made from a treasured family recipe, the Philippines’ national dish of banana leaf-wrapped chicken adobo is a paragon of form comprising fall-off-the-bone chicken pieces braised in garlic, vinegar and soy, all over rice.
Belgian Fries At Pommes Frites
Can you make a meal of fries? It’s pretty easy to fill up on burnished Belgian frites at this West Village mainstay. And we’re not talking about a basic pile of unadorned potatoes. Priced at $6.25 for a regular, $8 for a large and $9.75 for a double, orders come with free garnishes that include raw onion, jalapeno, and mayo, ketchup, mustard and malt vinegar. A whopping roster of 34 highly creative sauces is also available for $1.75 each. Think Vietnamese Pineapple, Smoked Eggplant, Tequila-Lime-Chipotle, and Bordeaux Wine-Figs-Sage.
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Seafood Tacos At Los Mariscos
Los Mariscos is the seafood-focused offshoot of Chelsea Market’s massively popular Los Tacos No. 1, and you’ll be shocked by how affordable it is, for an eatery devoted to underwater delicacies. Fabulous fish or shrimp tacos can be had for under $4 each, and utterly fresh ceviche is amazingly a budget option too. So is the all-in Especial, a $6.45 goldmine of scallops, octopus, shrimp and clams.
What Food Should I Try In New York
Ummbasically everything on this list of places you must eat in NYC. LOL. But in all seriousness, here are some of the best food in New York that you should 110% eat.
- Pastrami sandwich from Katz Deli
- Bagel with lox and cream cheese from Russ and Daughters
- Bacon egg and cheese from Sunny and Annie Deli
- Slice from Joes Pizza
- Coffee from Little Collins or Abraço in the East Village
- Grays Papaya hot dog
- Falafel from Mamouns
- Black and white cookie from Zabars
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Oysters At Maison Premiere
Come happy hour, many bars and restaurants around town shuck pedestrian Bluepoints for a buck. But for over-the-top oystesr, it’s well worth plotting an early escape from work to hit Williamsburg’s French Quarter-inspired Maison Premiere between 4 and 7 p.m. That’s because almost any fresh-shucked oyster from the lengthy list can be had for a mere dollar from deep-cupped, full-bodied Moonstones to dainty, clean-tasting Kusshis via Deep Bay, British Columbia. Pair the slurps with absinthe drips, tableside martinis and sherry cobblers from the James Beard Foundation Award-winning beverage list.
Places You Must Eat In Nyc
And now insert drumroll here please its time for my top picks for twenty-five places you must eat in NYC.
No really, trust me on this people. Eat at any one of these fun places to eat in NYC and you will not regret it.
I mean, not only is the food beyond delicious, but many of these places are super affordable too since we locals pay a lot of money in rent and dont really have a ton of extra cash to spend $50+ per person for a single meal.
So, this list is mostly damn good, NYC cheap eats that youll find scattered all across the city that never sleeps.
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Slice Of Pizza At Joe’s
Most of New York’s pre-eminent pizza parlors are actually better associated with whole pies Joe’s, however, is the rare spot enthusiastically devoted to a great slice. Cooked on gas decks instead of in fancy wood-fired ovens, the thin-crusted, gold-standard pies are made the same way — and with the same ingredients — as when Pino “Joe” Pozzuoli opened his Greenwich Village flagship in 1975. And though it’s spawned three more locations since then, city-dwellers know that Joe’s is still one of the most-satisfying and reliable places to burn $2.75.
My Favorite Place For Cuban Food In The City Is Victor’s Caf In Midtown West
With colorful murals, palm trees, and hanging vines, I feel like I’ve jetted off to the Caribbean whenever I step into Victor’s Café.
Owned by the same family since 1963, Victor’s serves an evolved interpretation of Cuban cuisine. The menu’s variety of flavors reflects Cuba’s diverse cuisine, shaped by the waves of immigrants from Spain, France, China, and Africa who came to the island nation and put their gastronomic stamp on the cuisine.
Must try: Ropa Vieja is the house specialty. This slowly braised skirt steak is cooked in an energetic garlic, tomato, onion, and pepper sauce, presenting flavor without excessive heat.
Price: Moderate to expensive
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I Like Aldama For Mexican Street Food With A Twist In Williamsburg
Chef Gerardo Alcaraz is from Leon, Guanajuato, an inland region of Central Mexico that’s an unsung culinary giant. He mixes his hometown’s street food recipes with trendy molecular gastronomy techniques.
I find his infusion of gels and emulsifications yields inventive, unexpected, and scrumptious results.
With a creative cocktail menu and natural wine program, Aldama is an excellent place for serious drinkers. The backyard patio is perfect for keeping distance amid COVID-19, too.
Must try: The taco de trompo with pork belly, flank steak, adobo, pineapple, and a dash of serrano gel atop an heirloom corn tortilla, is a standout.
Price: Moderate to expensive
Sylvia Woods, aka “The Queen of Soul Food,” opened her namesake restaurant in 1962. What started as a luncheonette has grown to be one of Harlem’s most beloved eateries with seating for several hundred diners.
Over the decades, tourists, numerous US Presidents, celebrities, and locals like myself have come for the generous helpings of home-style cooking and live gospel music.
Southern-style recipes include ribs, mac and cheese, collard greens, smothered chicken, black-eyed peas, and triple-strength hot sauce.
Must try: Fried chicken and waffles.
Price: Moderate
I Head To Katz’s For Authentic Deli Food On The Lower East Side
When I was a little kid, delis and New York City were a team, like milk and cookies. Today, Katz’s Delicatessen is one of the few remaining spots to sample a taste of bygone New York.
Family-run for over a century, little has changed, including the vintage signage. Diners can still sample Jewish deli classics like piping-hot chicken broth with floating matzoh balls and sturdy knishes stuffed with fluffy mashed potatoes.
Must try: The pastrami makes for a zaftig sandwich served on Katz’s signature chewy rye.
Price: Moderate
Find out more about Katz’s Delicatessen here.
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Bodega 88 Has A Menu Of Spicy Nibbles On The Upper West Side
At first glance, it seems like this sports bar’s main attraction is the Yankee game on television.
And while I do come here to watch sports, I look past the multiple screens straight into the compact kitchen, which is the heart of Bodega 88.
Us local gastronomes come here to tuck into Dominican, Cuban, Argentinian, and other Latin-style nibbles, from pernil to tostones. These bites have powerful flavors that stand up to the strong margaritas and fruity sangria.
Must try: The pulled pork sliders boast a tender mound of meat doused in a sticky guava barbecue sauce.
Price: Inexpensive
My Breakfast Haunt Is Good Enough To Eat On The Upper West Side
With its country bric-a-brac, Good Enough to Eat looks like a Vermont farmhouse. Homestyle cooking starts at breakfast, which is when I order waffles that are so light they might levitate, accompanied by a big jug of organic maple syrup and strawberry butter.
Soups and sandwiches at lunch are joined by more substantial fare, like meatloaf, and roast turkey with all the trimmings is my favorite at dinner.
Must try: The house-made desserts, including layer cakes, berry crumble, and pies exploding with fruit, are displayed outside in a glass case, tempting bypassers.
Price: Moderate
Find out more about Good Enough to Eat here.
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Classic Ramen At Hide
Though supermarket ramen cups will always be a frugal diners go-to, the quality restaurant-procured noodle bowls can be pretty costly, thanks to long-simmered broths, heritage pork and hand-pulled noodles, among other reasons. At the two well-trafficked locations of Hide-Chan a true office workers oasis in Hells Kitchen and Midtown East traditional Hakata-style tonkotsu broth is culled from pork bones, cooked for hours on end to release iridescent pools of intensely meaty marrow, and firm, thin noodles are specially designed to absorb the soup without getting soggy. Yet while add-ins can up the price still further, Hide-Chans original bowl is only $11.
Where To Eat Near Times Square:
Times Square is one of the most visited places in the world, attracting over 50 million visitors a year! These days, the biggest risk is bumping into Elmo and Olaf, rather than getting mugged or worse. And that means the only companies that can afford the preposterously high commercial rents are also the biggest brands in the country . So dont visit Times Square expecting to find local dining options.
And one of our most important pieces of advice as tour guides for you, as New York City visitors, is to avoid eating in Times Square at all costs. You probably didnt the money and time to fly across the country to overpay for an average meal at Applebees, Olive Garden, or Hard Rock Cafe .
So the general rule of thumb is: Eat and drink BEFORE or AFTER visiting Times Square, but not IN or AROUND it. But if you absolutely MUST eat in Times Square, here are a couple of quality local options, which at least are not national chains:
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Where To Eat In Little Italy:
Over the past century, Little Italy has gradually transformed from a crowded, bustling immigrant enclave to a mere four blocks of tourist traps. And yet there are still a few original family-run institutions there worth patronizing. These include Di Palos for imported Italian meats and cheeses , Ferraras and Caffe Roma for coffee and Italian pastries, and even a few sit-down restaurants.
Here are two of our favorites:
When I Want To Eat Food From Every Corner Of The Globe I Go To The Queens International Night Market In Corona Park
The borough of Queens is a smorgasbord of global cuisine that makes a long ride on the 7 train well worth it.
The Queens International Night Market is modeled after the popular open-air night markets in east and southeast Asia, offering street food that showcases the diversity of the borough.
I’ve come to the market many times to order from stalls selling Haitian, Korean, Trinidadian, Brazilian, Romanian, Bangladeshi, Burmese, West African, Filipino, and Jamaican food, all with wallet-friendly prices.
Must try: The Japanese grilled Dango at Oh Dango! is not to be missed.
Price: Inexpensive
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Sunny And Annies Deli
Tucked away in Alphabet City, this low-key convenience store/deli is known for creating an epic version of one of NYCs most immortal breakfast sandwichesthe bacon-egg-and-cheese .
And yes, we really do pronounce this all as one word. And, again, yes, you really are forbidden from leaving the tri-state area without ordering at least one of these amazing sammies.
Luckily for you though, you now know that Sunny and Annies Deli is one of the places you must eat in NYC for a classic, bacon egg and cheese.
Also, if you want to be like a REAL New Yorker, you should get it on a roll, not on a bagel like pictured above. #justsayin
Pro Tip: There are no seats here so feel free to picnic it up in nearby Tompkins Square Park. They also serve a delicious BLT wrap which is a classic BLT that comes with avocado, cheddar, sprouts, and Russian dressing.
Address: 94 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009
Hours: Open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Price: $2.50 for a bacon egg and cheese on a roll.
How to Get There: Take the F train to Second Avenue station or the 6 train to Astor Place station and walk to the deli from there.
Knishes At Knish Nosh
When it comes to cheap and filling, it’s hard to beat a palm-sized mound of pastry-wrapped mashed potato. The knish is king at Knish Nosh, a Queens-based temple of Eastern European fare, ranging from $3.70 for the classic version of straight-up spiced spuds, to $4 for kasha, mushroom, spinach or broccoli, and $4.25 for cabbage, sweet potato, or compressed crumbles of meat.
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Lakruwana Restaurant On Staten Island Is Where I Was Introduced To Sri Lankan Cooking
This Sri Lankan restaurant in the Stapleton neighborhood of Staten Island prides itself on authentic recipes and a free hand with the fragrant spice palette.
Curries are tempered with fruits like coconut and tamarind, served in edible bowls made from a thin batter of rice flour that’s shaped while still warm.
Must try: Don’t leave without eating lamprais, steamed packets of long-grain rice blended with curry and wrapped in a banana leaf.
Price: Inexpensive to moderate
Where To Eat Near Rockefeller Center:
30 Rockefeller Center features several quality food options on the lower level Dining Concourse, which is especially convenient before or after visiting Top of the Rock. While most of the food establishments down there are chains, given the high commercial rents, some are popular and local brands that are worth your time and money. All are casual lunch options:
Hale & Hearty Soups popular New York chain for tasty soups, sandwiches, and custom salads.
Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar Great option for quality, fresh sushi.
Tri Tip Grill popular sit-down option for hearty breakfast sandwiches, and burgers, platters, salads, or steak for lunch.
Be sure to swing by Jacques Torres Chocolates, while youre in the Dining Concourse, for a treat.
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Jajaja Plantas Mexicana Offers A Plant
Casual JaJaJa Plantas Mexicana serves a plant-based, fast-casual menu packed with healthy ingredients without a faux or synthetic product in sight. Jackfruit, hearts of palm, coconut, beets, and pumpkin all come together to make for a patchwork of flavor.
Upbeat decor with colorful textiles and pastel accents pair with fun food and playful drinks, including a selection of Mezcal, Tequila, and Mexican beers on tap.
Must try: The nachos, laced with fermented black beans and a touch of turmeric, are drool-worthy.
Price: Inexpensive
Find out more about JaJaJa Plantas Mexicana here.
Chinese Steamed Buns At Bunsmith
It’s all about Chinese steamed buns at the aptly named Bunsmith, which boasts two Brooklyn spots. The squashy, Pac-Man-shaped sandwiches average a mere $5 a pop, and appeal to vegans and hardened carnivores alike. You can even go the bun route for dessert, with an unexpectedly delicious option layered with cookie butter and Spam.
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Fun & Unique Restaurants In Nyc
1. While Maille isnt exactly a restaurant, this Upper West Side Manhattan mustard shop offers 50+ mustards to sample as well as mustard tastings and an onsite mustard sommelier.
2. Mollys Cupcakes lets you be a kid again by eating homemade small-batch cupcakes that you can eat on swings while playing board games.
Theyre often stuffed with fillings like Nutella, butterscotch caramel pudding, and cheesecake.
Options change by season, so whether youre visiting NYC in fall, spring, winter or summer, you can find unique options.
3. If you have a sweet tooth, The Sugar Factory offers whimsical candy, decadent fondues, delicious diner food, and outrageous desserts imagined in your most sinful dreams .
The real reason to visit though is their crazy Goblet concoctions monster-sized themed cocktails laced with candy that definitely help to make this one of the !
I love the blue Hpnotiq-focused Ocean Blue with swimming gummy sharks!
Bonus:
Theyve got multiple locations, so itll likely be near your hotel no matter where you stay in New York City.
4. Musical Pairing has popup events throughout the year where youll not only pair dishes with alcoholic and non-alcohol drinks, but also different tunes to see how melodies affect flavor.
Cocktails are the star of the show, and drinks are crafted with quality ingredients and served in gorgeous glassware.
That being said, their nibbles are also tasty, from the homemade focaccia and ricotta to the caprese mini tacos.
Bonus:
This Curated List Of Great Places To Eat In Nyc Grouped By Different Parts Of Manhattan Should Help Get You Started
As New Yorkers and tour guides, we are always out and about the city looking for a great bite, so we are pleased to present some of our favorite dining options. But we must also mention that this list is by no means comprehensive and any guide claiming to be that or definitive is just looking for clicks. In fact, with thousands of restaurants to choose from in Manhattan alone , even a curated list like this one is bound to be very narrow and subjective.
But thats the honest truth. You ask a hundred New Yorkers for their favorite restaurants and you will get a hundred unique lists. So use this as a guide for great places to eat, curated by us at CityRover, tour guides and discerning lovers of New Yorks culinary variety.
Now, lets eat!
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