Japanese16 places
Raku
Japanese Restaurant
Get: Niku Udon (so comforting), Yasai Kakiage Udon, Sabazushi. One of Diana's personal favorites; handmade chewy noodles. The East Village location tastes best (also Soho and Midtown). Small dining room. Reservations: several days out.
4.5(1,423 reviews)
Okiboru House of Tsukemen
Ramen Restaurant
Get: tsukemen. Michelin-rated dipping ramen with handmade chewy noodles. Counter seating only; order and pay by QR. Save some dipping sauce and ask for soup at the end for a brothy finish. Just walk in.
4.5(848 reviews)
TONCHIN NEW YORK
Ramen Restaurant
Get: tebasaki wings, smoked dashi ramen, kakigori. Tokyo tonkotsu chain (also Williamsburg). Very loud; ramen saltier than expected but delicious. Reservations several days out; walk-ins possible.
4.6(3,937 reviews)Michelin Bib Gourmand
TORIBRO Ramen
Ramen Restaurant
Get: Toribro Spicy (spicy paitan). Small, cozy, feels like a ramen bar in Japan. Best chicken paitan in the city. Just walk in.
4.7(871 reviews)
Ramen Ishida
Ramen Restaurant
Get: New Tokyo Style Shoyu Ramen. Tiny but turns over fast; shoyu that's lighter than tonkotsu but no less flavorful. Also in Chelsea. Just walk in.
4.6(976 reviews)
Sushi 35 West
Sushi Restaurant
Get: Sushi Regular, Sushi Premium. Hidden takeout-focused sushi gem upstairs above a smoke shop. Two tiny tables; order and pay online.
4.5(575 reviews)
Taku Sando
Sandwich Shop
Get: tonkatsu sando, ramen egg sando, matcha strawberry fruit sando. House-made shokupan and a backyard garden. Ask about fruit sandos (secret menu). Just walk in.
4.4(450 reviews)
Izakaya MEW
Japanese Izakaya Restaurant
Get: kimchi cream udon, karaage, Mew special roll, omusoba. Underground late-night izakaya right off K-town. Good food at reasonable prices; loud but good vibes, great with friends. Sweet-leaning drinks. Reserve days ahead or expect a 30-60 min walk-in wait.
4.5(3,559 reviews)
Kimura
Japanese Restaurant
Get: collagen nabe, shabu shabu. All the hotpots (nabe) are delicious; skip the sushi. Reservations: several days out.
4.6(1,063 reviews)
konban NYC
Japanese Izakaya Restaurant
Get: tenderloin katsu (their favorite), pork loin katsu, sabazushi, sashimi set, mazemen (very, very good). Stylish izakaya, originally from Korea; clean woody aesthetic. Reserve days in advance.
4.7(1,129 reviews)
Noz Market
Sushi Restaurant
Omakase. The "affordable" casual offshoot of two-Michelin-star Sushi Noz. You won't leave full, but it's one of the higher-quality omakases in NYC. Pretty easy: book about a day ahead.
4.4(188 reviews)
Thirteen Water
Sushi Restaurant
Often recommended for omakase around $100/person. Diana and David haven't tried it themselves.
4.6(456 reviews)
Tomoni
Restaurant
Honorable mention: rare high-quality sushi/chirashi in Queens. Small portions, very pretty bowls.
4.9(212 reviews)
Izakaya Juraku
Japanese Izakaya Restaurant
Honorable mention: decent yakitori, skewers and ramen. Nice owner, good vibes.
4.7(644 reviews)
TabeTomo
Ramen Restaurant
Get: tonkotsu chashu tsukemen. Very thick noodles with an incredibly decadent dipping sauce. Just walk in.
4.5(1,238 reviews)
Verge
Sushi Restaurant
Honorable mention: reliably good-quality takeout sushi on Uber Eats. Their pre-long-flight sushi tradition.
4.7(427 reviews)
Korean21 places
Cho Dang Gol
Korean Restaurant
Get: bossam, cod roe omelet, spicy seafood tofu stew, eggplant rice. One of their favorite Korean spots, wonderfully homey. Tofu specialists, so order something with tofu. Hard to get in: walk-in waits easily top an hour.
4.6(3,283 reviews)Michelin Bib Gourmand
ARIARI
Korean Restaurant
Get: makhwe (raw fish), dolsot albap, duck bulgogi, spicy fish stew. Busan-inspired menu that rarely misses; the free kimchi is super delicious ("tastes cheesy"). Reservations usually available 2-3 days out.
4.6(585 reviews)Michelin Selected
SEOUL SALON NYC
Korean Restaurant
Get: soy scallop with gim rice, spicy raw crab noodles, wagyu tteokgalbi. Industrial space; food can be mediocre but has a few standouts. Book 2-3 days out, or walk in with a 30-60 min wait.
4.6(708 reviews)
Take 31
Korean Restaurant
Get: honey makgeolli (a must!!!), perilla leaf and shrimp mandu, wagyu chapaguri. Korean gastropub with a street-food twist; the menu changes often. Book 1-2 days out, or walk in with a 30-60 min wait.
4.4(1,243 reviews)
Nowon East Village
Korean Restaurant
Get: cheeseburger with kimchi sauce (top 10 in the city), black sesame caesar, chopped cheese rice cakes, garlic honey butter tots. The $52 set menu is 100% worth it and a ton of food. Dive-bar vibe. Also in Bushwick. Reservations can be hard but are highly recommended.
4.5(878 reviews)
Thursday Kitchen | Korean
Korean Restaurant
Get: kimchi paella, steak, lucky noodle. Korean tapas with French and Spanish influences; fun food and drinks that always surprise them. Walk-in only, 30-90 min wait.
4.6(1,472 reviews)
8282
Korean Restaurant
Get: tuna tartare, littleneck sujebi, 8282 steak. Hip modern Korean that punches above expectations and is very well executed; good drinks too. Book at least 2-3 days ahead.
4.6(687 reviews)Michelin Bib Gourmand
Somssi
Restaurant
Get: potato, bluefin tuna, gulf shrimp. Korean-owned wine bar from the team behind Atoboy, Atomix and NARO. Small portions but top-tier execution; not strictly Korean, with occasional Korean touches. Usually bookable within 1-2 days.
5.0(23 reviews)
Moono
Korean Restaurant
Get: galbijjim, bossam, Pyongyang cold noodles. The only true North Korean-style cold noodles in NYC. Upscale but faithful; unique, excellent kimchi. From the Michelin-starred chef behind Jua. Usually bookable within 1-2 days.
4.4(567 reviews)Michelin Selected
HOJOKBAN NYC
Korean Restaurant
Get: Hojok galbi (a must), perilla oil noodle. Modern Korean. Usually bookable within 2-3 days.
4.6(699 reviews)
Olle
Korean Restaurant
Get: naengmyeon (cold noodles, made in-house). The galbijjim is good mostly as the classic pairing for the noodles. Usually bookable within 2-3 days.
4.5(819 reviews)
HOWOO
Korean Barbecue Restaurant
Get: duo prime (serves 2-3), which comes with in-house cold noodles. Very similar to Nubiani, but the banchan leans more traditional (e.g. mustard green kimchi). Reservations basically required, 1-2 days out.
4.5(473 reviews)
Jongro BBQ
Korean Barbecue Restaurant
Get: marinated galbi, boneless galbi, spicy green tea noodles. Rambunctious and fun with solid food; the cold noodles are great but not always icy enough. Walk in; waits 30-90 min.
4.5(5,562 reviews)
NUBIANI - Koreatown
Korean Barbecue Restaurant
Get: beef small package (serves 2-3). Their favorite KBBQ in the city: premium cuts, grilled for you, delicious kimchi with an oyster tinge. Also in Midtown East. Reserve several days in advance.
4.5(1,096 reviews)
Hahm Ji Bach
Korean Barbecue Restaurant
Get: marinated galbi, black pork samgyupsal. Open 24/7, a reliable Korean spot in Flushing. Not on Main St: a bus ride or 20-min walk away. Just walk in.
4.1(1,794 reviews)
Rice Thief
Korean Restaurant
Get: Gunsan Platter, Half+Half, Wild Red Argentine Shrimp. The best Korean marinated raw crab in the city; get the Gunsan crabs if available, and don't sleep on the red shrimp. Book 1-2 days out.
4.4(485 reviews)
IZAKAYA SEASUN
Japanese Izakaya Restaurant
Get: assorted sashimi, mala sukiyaki, peach highball. Korean gastropub with a retro Japanese look; the sashimi and nabes are the move. Book 2-3 days ahead.
4.6(501 reviews)
Her Name is Han
Korean Restaurant
Honorable mention: great Korean brunch sets. Skip it for dinner; go to Take 31 next door instead.
4.5(2,873 reviews)
Ahgassi Korean Barbecue
Korean Barbecue Restaurant
Honorable mention: the LA KBBQ spot known for grilled intestines (BTS's favorite in LA). The non-intestine meats are good too.
4.8(3,185 reviews)
KJUN
Korean Restaurant
Honorable mention: possibly the only Cajun-Korean restaurant you'll ever find. Passionate head chef; meticulously, stunningly plated dishes.
4.8(2,552 reviews)
Daori BBQ
Korean Restaurant
Honorable mention: one of the best KBBQ spots in Murray Hill, Flushing. Stands out for its banchan variety and service; specializes in duck barbecue and Iberico pork.
4.5(225 reviews)
Thai10 places
Fish Cheeks
Thai Restaurant
Get: somtum corn salad, grilled pork cheeks, zabb wings, steamed whole fish with Thai herbs. One of their favorites; every dish is good, and the chef's selection is a great intro. Colorful and lively but tight, so avoid big groups. Also in Brooklyn. Book at least 2-3 days ahead.
4.7(5,371 reviews)
Soothr
Thai Restaurant
Get: chicken khao soi, si-krong pad ped (spicy ribs), koong karee. Bib Gourmand and popular for good reason. Go to the East Village flagship; the LIC branch feels chaotic and rushed. Book 1-2 days ahead.
4.8(6,621 reviews)Michelin Selected
Thai Diner
Thai Restaurant
Get: Thai Diner Egg Sandwich, Thai Disco Fries, khao soi. Thai food with an American diner twist; go for lunch or brunch. Book a week ahead or walk in.
4.4(2,915 reviews)Michelin Bib Gourmand
Bangkok Supper Club
Thai Restaurant
Get: Chilean Sea Bass Chakram Curry, Crying Tiger, Chutoro Laab, Pandan Coconut Cake. Amazing, thoughtful Thai inspired by Bangkok's late-night scene, from the Fish Cheeks team. Book several weeks ahead.
4.6(892 reviews)Michelin Selected
Saranrom Thai
Thai Restaurant
Get: fried fish filet with mango salad, pad kee mao, pad thai, nam tok boat noodles, pineapple curry duck, clams with basil. One of their favorite restaurants in the city; the waiters greet them by name. Bib Gourmand. Call a few days ahead or walk in (30-90 min); it blew up on RedNote.
4.8(1,375 reviews)Michelin Bib Gourmand
Ayada
Thai Restaurant
Get: ribeye with drunken noodles, seafood mango salad, pad spicy catfish. Their OG Thai go-to when they first moved to NYC, and still fantastic. The drunken noodles lean slightly sweet. Also in Chelsea Market. Just walk in.
4.4(1,668 reviews)
Eim Khao Mun Kai
Thai Restaurant
Their only dish: Hainanese steamed chicken over fragrant rice with ginger-garlic sauce (they ask for no gizzard or liver). Cash only, no reservations, only a few tables. Just walk in.
4.4(685 reviews)
Khao Kang
Thai Restaurant
Get: spicy herbal fish, garlic black pepper pork, 5-spice pork belly. Cafeteria-style: pick from the steam-table pans over rice. Great for lunch, with tables inside. Cash only. Just walk in.
4.5(503 reviews)
Hug Esan
Thai Restaurant
Honorable mention: cash-only and unapologetically flavorful. Get the grilled or crispy fish to wrap with vegetables and sticky rice, with a zippy lime sauce.
4.6(358 reviews)
SAPPEISAN
Thai Restaurant
Honorable mention: a bit expensive, but they love the tom yum tiger prawn hotpot. Their waiter turned out to be a Saranrom alum; so many fond memories here.
4.9(6,483 reviews)
Vietnamese7 places
Their admission: Vietnamese is the one thing NYC doesn't do well.
Bánh Anh Em
Vietnamese Restaurant
Get: Bánh Cuốn Hà Nội, Bún Riêu, Bánh Mì Heo Quay (bread made in-house). Bib Gourmand; everything is good. Dinner opens at 6PM; line up before 5:30 to make the first seating (there's a line every day).
4.4(548 reviews)Michelin Bib Gourmand
Little Kirin
Sandwich Shop
Honorable mention: more pan-Asian, but the pho sandwich is a signature standout.
4.7(406 reviews)
Mắm
Vietnamese Restaurant
Bún đậu mắm tôm platters, street style. The menu changes too often to pick a favorite. Cramped, and the food doesn't hold back, but it's very good. Book about 3 days ahead.
4.2(598 reviews)
Saigon Social
Vietnamese Restaurant
Honorable mention: familiar Vietnamese done in a modern way; one of the first to test NYC's appetite for it. Get the banh mi burger and oxtail fried rice.
4.4(538 reviews)
Sao Mai
Vietnamese Restaurant
Honorable mention: the very first Vietnamese restaurant they tried in NYC, the OG spot in their hearts.
4.6(963 reviews)
Nom Nam
Vietnamese Restaurant
Honorable mention: unassuming but solid. The broth is a bit spiced and salty for them; they like the variety, including cơm tấm.
4.7(401 reviews)
5ive Spice Tacos & Banh Mi
Vietnamese Restaurant
Honorable mention: decent pho for NYC, best known for bánh xèo tacos. Several locations; hits the Vietnamese craving.
4.4(370 reviews)
Chinese23 places
Chongqing Lao Zao 重慶老灶
Hot Pot Restaurant
Get: medium spicy broth, cilantro meatballs, celtuce, lava tofu. The best spicy hotpot in NYC. Poor ventilation, so you WILL smell like hotpot. Walk-in only, 1-3 hour waits: add your name in person, then kill time in Tangram mall next door (Gatcha arcade).
4.6(1,883 reviews)
Café China
Chinese Restaurant
Get: spicy fish fillets (crispy, succulent, a bit spicy), tea smoked duck, pork dumplings in chili oil. Traditional Sichuan with 1930s Shanghai decor. Book 1-2 days ahead.
4.3(3,145 reviews)
CHILI 美麗
Asian Restaurant
Get: pork dumplings in chili oil, mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork. Founded by part of the Cafe China team; similar food, but they find the chili oil and sauces better here. Book 1-2 days ahead.
4.6(1,522 reviews)
Alley 41 蜀巷
Chinese Restaurant
Get: sesame cold noodles with sliced pork belly in garlic sauce, Sichuan-style sautéed sliced pork, sautéed cauliflower with soy sauce. Mostly Chinese diners for a reason: legit, if very oily. Just walk in.
4.6(865 reviews)
Mountain House Flushing 川山甲
Chinese Restaurant
Get: pepper salted duck, Yibin-style ran noodles, wok-fried chicken with fresh peppers. Beautiful woody interior. Dishes are either mild or very spicy; can be hit or miss, but great for a first Sichuan meal. Strongly prefer Flushing over the St Marks location. Just walk in.
4.7(3,097 reviews)
Potluck Club
Chinese Restaurant
Get: endive salad, salt and pepper chicken with scallion biscuits, oyster mushroom rice roll noodles. Bib Gourmand, playful Cantonese-American; less for traditionalists. Book about 3 days ahead.
4.6(864 reviews)Michelin Bib Gourmand
Liu Liu Sheng Jian
Chinese Restaurant
Get: sheng jian bao (think crispy soup dumplings), the only excellent ones in NYC. In New World Mall's basement food court, with plenty of other great options around. Don't burn yourself on the soup! Just walk in.
4.5(134 reviews)
Joe’s Steam Rice Roll
Dim Sum Restaurant
Get: Shrimp Party (fresh and dried shrimp) with cilantro and corn. Build your own Cantonese rice roll: pick a protein, egg and add-ins. Consistently good, fast, and light. New World Mall food court. Just walk in.
4.3(877 reviews)
Shanghai You Garden
Chinese Noodle Restaurant
Get: pork soup dumplings, Shanghai special chicken. Free jiu niang tang yuan at the end, plus a free basket of soup dumplings when you spend $10+ dining in. Walk in; 15-30 min wait possible.
4.3(2,558 reviews)
Mei Lai Wah
Chinese Restaurant
Get: baked roast pork bun, pineapple bun with roast pork (much sweeter). Generous, fatty filling. Chinatown bakery; long lines, and the cash line is much faster.
4.4(3,865 reviews)
Shoo Loong Kan
Hot Pot Restaurant
Honorable mention: Chengdu hotpot and their second choice when Chong Qing Lao Zao's wait is too long. Big sauce bar with fruit and snacks, attentive staff. Join the online waitlist 30-45 min before.
4.7(1,863 reviews)
Maxi's Noodle
Cantonese Restaurant
Get: wonton noodle soup with dumplings. Massive wontons, small menu, everything good; rivals (or beats) many Hong Kong wonton shops. Just walk in.
4.3(811 reviews)
TAI ER SICHUAN CUISINE 太二酸菜鱼 (FLUSHING)
Chinese Restaurant
Honorable mention: very solid 酸菜鱼 (sauerkraut fish). The fish "soup" is big, so you don't need much else. Big space in Tangram Mall; just walk in.
4.5(1,129 reviews)
Gao's BBQ & Crab
Barbecue Restaurant
Honorable mention: their favorite skewer spot in the city (Dongbei-style chuan'er). Also get the Northern Dan Dan and Northern Cold Noodles. Fast food, so-so service; easier with a Chinese speaker.
4.6(2,217 reviews)
Jiang Nan Flushing
Chinese Restaurant
Honorable mention: decent Flushing walk-in backup (still join the online waitlist). Maybe the best Beijing roast duck in the city, and fire 擂椒茄子 (smashed pepper eggplant).
4.7(2,853 reviews)
Hay Hay Roasted
Chinese Restaurant
Honorable mention: US char siu and roast meats trail Hong Kong's, but this is one of the best in NYC.
4.3(712 reviews)
ER HOT POT - 6TH AVE 贰火锅
Hot Pot Restaurant
Honorable mention: their frequent hotpot fix between Bryant Park and K-town. Fresh sliced beef cut thicker than usual; the summer beef bone and tomato broth special was very good.
4.8(1,832 reviews)
uluh
Dim Sum Restaurant
Honorable mention: one of their favorite Sichuan spots in Manhattan; somehow does Peking duck and soup dumplings well too. Get the duck and the mapo tofu.
4.3(1,271 reviews)
by Antidote
Chinese Restaurant
Honorable mention: the Flatiron follow-up to Williamsburg's Antidote. Fun Sichuan fusion and cocktails, familiar to Sichuan lovers. Century egg with burrata and youtiao, anyone?
4.7(441 reviews)
Peppercorn Station 青花椒 纽约
Chinese Restaurant
Honorable mention: inconsistent, but really good when it's on, with stronger flavors than most Sichuan spots. Get the hot and sour glass noodles and the tofu dishes (mapo, crab).
4.4(567 reviews)
South of the Clouds 云之南 Greenwich Village
Chinese Noodle Restaurant
Honorable mention: often recommended as the best Yunnan rice noodles in town. Diana and David haven't been themselves.
4.4(947 reviews)
Sky Pavilion 川雲涧
Chinese Restaurant
Honorable mention: right by AMC Empire 25. On a good day the mapo tofu could be the best in the city; the appetizers lack flavor.
4.7(746 reviews)
Red Sorghum 夜宴
Chinese Restaurant
Honorable mention: Hunanese restaurant and baijiu bar; their quick dinner-and-drinks spot with great cocktails. Get the sautéed celtuce with garlic, mala squid and chives, Changsha spiced chicken, dry pot potato.
4.5(1,332 reviews)
Pizza9 places
Rubirosa
Pizza Restaurant
Get: tie dye pizza, carbonara, lumache alla vodka. Staten Island-style cracker-thin crust; half-and-half pies available. Don't sleep on the pastas. Book a week ahead.
4.6(7,334 reviews)
L'industrie Pizzeria - Williamsburg
Pizza Restaurant
Get: burrata pie, New Yorker (pepperoni, sausage, ricotta); the fig jam and bacon is popular too. Standing room only, very long lines. Order whole pies online up to a day ahead to skip them. Williamsburg flagship (also West Village and Little Italy).
4.7(5,796 reviews)
Mama's TOO! Pizzeria West Village
Pizza Restaurant
Get: Angry Nonna square slice (spicy soppressata, mozzarella, chili oil, hot honey). They love the square slices. Also on the UWS. Just walk in.
4.3(1,937 reviews)
John's of Bleecker Street
Pizza Restaurant
Get: build your own (they do pepperoni, basil, onion), mozzarella sticks. Brick-oven whole pies only. Can be hit or miss, but they love the crust, and on a good day it's top-tier. Walk in; usually a 30-45 min line.
4.6(8,547 reviews)
Cello's Pizzeria
Pizza Restaurant
Get: vodka slice, pepperoni and jalapeño. 90% as good as L'Industrie with far less wait. A bit salty, but one of their favorite quick slices. Just walk in.
4.8(1,010 reviews)
Mano's Pizzeria
Pizza Restaurant
Get: Spicy Vodka. Artisanal fermented dough; the best pizza shop in Queens. Walk in or order out.
4.7(882 reviews)
Scarr's Pizza
Pizza Restaurant
Get: Hotboi slice (pepperoni, pickled pepper, hot honey). Dough from flour milled in-house, and you can taste it. A pre-covid favorite of theirs. Just walk in.
4.4(4,783 reviews)
Prince Street Pizza
Pizza Restaurant
Honorable mention: not what it used to be, but still a guilty pleasure. Oily, crunchy, fluffy pan pizza with cupped pepperoni. Get the Spicy Spring square.
4.4(9,183 reviews)
Lucali
Pizza Restaurant
Honorable mention: maybe the best pizza in the city, and the calzone is even better (get the calzone). Brutal wait: queue, then grab a drink nearby until they call you.
4.2(3,074 reviews)
Burger6 places
Don't forget Nowon (in Korean) — one of the best burgers in the city.
7th Street Burger East Village
Hamburger Restaurant
Get: spicy jalapeño double cheeseburger with extra grilled onions (and a little ghost pepper sauce). Cheap, fast, reliable smashburger, open late. Many locations. Just walk in.
4.6(1,853 reviews)
Emily
Restaurant
Get: the Emmy double stack burger on a pretzel bun (incredible). The Detroit-style square pizzas are very good too. Also in Brooklyn. Book 1-2 days ahead.
4.5(3,750 reviews)
Lord’s
British Restaurant
Get: Welsh rarebit burger, curried lamb scotch egg. English nose-to-tail bistro; only 12 burgers a night, gone within 30 min of opening. Book 1-2 days ahead.
4.5(460 reviews)Michelin Selected
Au Cheval
American Restaurant
Get: double cheeseburger with egg (a must; bacon optional), bologna sandwich. Nearly the same burger as the impossible-to-get 4 Charles Prime Rib. Book a few weeks ahead.
4.7(6,632 reviews)
Minetta Tavern
French Restaurant
Get: Black Label burger, any of the steaks, aligot, soufflé for two. Very bougie: a $38 burger without cheese. Great, but not among their absolute favorites. Book a few weeks ahead.
4.5(2,884 reviews)Michelin Selected
The Lions Bar & Grill
Bar and Grill
Get: hamburger, mortadella sandwich, fried mozzarella (phenomenal). The burger is a spiritual cousin of the famous Red Hook Tavern burger. Classic martinis. Just walk in.
4.5(187 reviews)
Italian8 places
Torrisi
Italian Restaurant
Get: tortellini pomodoro, Sicilian tuna, cucumbers New Yorkese, cavatelli with Jamaican beef ragu, frozen yogurt. The best Italian restaurant in the city. Reservations are basically impossible, but the bar is walk-in: line up 45-60 min before opening.
4.6(949 reviews)Michelin
L'Artusi
Italian Restaurant
Get: wagyu carpaccio, perciatelli nero, bucatini, olive oil cake. Their wedding rehearsal dinner spot; every dish was incredible. Loud. Book a week ahead, or walk in with a 30-60 min wait.
4.6(2,587 reviews)
Via Carota
Italian Restaurant
Get: insalata verde, tonnarelli cacio e pepe. Rustic, cozy trattoria. Book a month ahead, or line up 30-60 min before opening; putting your name down and grabbing a drink nearby is the move.
4.4(3,235 reviews)Michelin Selected
da Toscano
Italian Restaurant
Get: black tagliatelle al limone, agnolotti, garganelli verde. "Pasta is the thing to get here" — it is. Warm neighborhood spot. Walk in for the bar, or book 2-3 days ahead.
4.7(734 reviews)
Fiaschetteria Pistoia
Italian Restaurant
Get: pappardelle al ragù, tagliatelle al tartufo. Honest Tuscan food with Italian wines; watch them make pasta in the window. Mostly no reservations: line up 15-30 min before opening. Also in the West Village.
4.6(1,144 reviews)
VITE vinosteria
Italian Restaurant
Get: polpette di manzo Kobe, polpo e cannellini, pappardelle alla Bolognese. The daily specials are where it's at (look for mussels in spicy tomato sauce). Just walk in.
4.6(833 reviews)
Casa Della Mozzarella
Deli
Honorable mention: cheese made in-house, as fresh as it gets. They still dream about the mozzarella-stuffed sandwiches from a Bronx Zoo day.
4.8(1,255 reviews)
Piccola Cucina Osteria Siciliana
Italian Restaurant
Honorable mention: pasta served in iconic metal pans; all the locations are good. Get the tagliatelle verdi con ragù and the fusilloni di Gragnano.
4.6(2,662 reviews)
Mexican9 places
Birria-Landia
Taco Restaurant
Get: tacos, consommé (a must), mulita cheese quesadilla. The truck that made birria popular in NYC; the Jackson Heights truck is the best. Lines up to 15 min.
4.7(2,546 reviews)
Taqueria Ramirez
Mexican Restaurant
Get: al pastor taco, campechano taco. Excellent, CDMX-faithful tacos (still not quite SoCal level). Walk in; 15-30 min line.
4.7(2,018 reviews)
LOS TACOS No.1
Taco Restaurant
Get: adobada taco. Pay at the register, show the ticket, choose corn or flour and toppings ("con todo" for everything). Good, though it pales next to SoCal. Several locations, standing only.
4.8(15,540 reviews)
Mariscos El Submarino
Seafood Restaurant
Get: Craken taco (grilled octopus and cheese), verde aguachile, El Submarino ceviche. Any aguachile or ceviche is good, with a fun spread of hot sauces. The Jackson Heights original. Walk in; lines can hit 30-60 min.
4.4(1,177 reviews)
Son del North
Burrito Restaurant
Get: carne asada burrito. Rice-free Sonoran burritos on handmade flour tortillas, with salivatingly smoky meat. Takeout only, no seating.
4.3(565 reviews)
Beto’s Carnitas & Guisados
Mexican Restaurant
Get: carnitas taco, chambarete en salsa morita taco, gordita. Family-run, the kindest people; tortillas made only after you order. Limited counter seating. Just walk in.
5.0(103 reviews)
Casa Enrique
Mexican Restaurant
Honorable mention: get the mole chicken.
4.5(3,067 reviews)Michelin Selected
Mayamezcal
Cocktail Bar
Honorable mention: get the skirt steak.
4.4(467 reviews)
Cuerno
Mexican Restaurant
Get: taco taquero (skirt steak and bone marrow, chopped tableside), ribeye con tuétano. One of the best steaks they've had in ages: decadent and tender. Book 1-2 days ahead.
4.8(1,432 reviews)
Miscellaneous9 places
Places they love that don't fit the categories above — many of their most beloved restaurants.
Adel's Famous Halal Food
Halal Restaurant
Get: mix platter with white sauce, green sauce and extra hot sauce. Hugely popular halal cart open until 4-5AM. 30-60 min lines; sometimes you can order ahead on Seamless.
4.3(5,523 reviews)
Taste Good
Malaysian Restaurant
Get: sizzling bean curd, roti canai, fragrant fish, Hainan chicken. Small, long-running Malaysian spot (laksa too). Brusque service, good food. Cash only, no reservations.
4.3(948 reviews)
Sumatera Restaurant NYC
Indonesian Restaurant
Get: nasi campur ayam goreng, nasi goreng special. Small family-owned Indonesian spot. Cash only for dine-in (sometimes Venmo/Zelle). Walk in; maybe a 15 min wait.
4.8(903 reviews)
Abuqir
Seafood Restaurant
Get: grilled scallop (incredible), grilled shrimp, baked fish, eggplant tomato. Egyptian-style seafood with a fish market inside. Just walk in.
4.2(1,093 reviews)
Union Square Cafe
American Restaurant
Get: broccoli appetizer, mafaldine all'anatra (duck ragu), half chicken scarpariello. Salty, yes, but a classic. Where their parents first met, and everyone loved it. Friendly, efficient service. Book 2-3 days ahead.
4.6(2,568 reviews)
Salty Lunch Lady's Little Luncheonette
Sandwich Shop
Get: Chicky, Dill Party, and ANY of the cakes. They've had every sandwich and they're all really, really good: perfect bread, great combos. The cakes are phenomenal (they joked about asking for a wedding cake). Travels well for delivery. Just walk in.
4.4(316 reviews)
Casa Mono
Spanish Restaurant
Get: pan con tomate (a must, even if basic), razor clams, yellowfin tuna, creamy eggs. Michelin-starred Spanish tapas in Gramercy; a bit salty but fun for groups. Book a week ahead.
4.3(1,972 reviews)Michelin
Adda
Indian Restaurant
Get: butter chicken, ideally the "butter chicken experience", made to your spec in front of you (book weeks ahead for it). Even better since moving from LIC to the East Village. Otherwise just walk in.
4.6(1,036 reviews)Michelin Selected
Angel
Indian Restaurant
Get: butter chicken, goat dum biryani, lotus root kofta, chole bhatura (especially good with the fried bread and achar). Their go-to Indian restaurant, North Indian with lots of vegetarian dishes. Just walk in.
4.7(3,814 reviews)
Bagels6 places
Utopia Bagels
Bagel Shop
Get: The Worth It (nova, cream cheese, tomato, red onion, capers). Bagels made fresh; everything they've had is good. Also in LIC and on Third Ave.
4.6(1,716 reviews)
Tompkins Square Bagels | East Village Bagels
Bagel Shop
Get: The Weezer (chorizo, egg, cheddar) or a BEC. Timothée Chalamet's favorite bagel shop; ferking good sandwiches. The East Village flagship is best.
4.5(2,281 reviews)
Between the Bagel NY
Bagel Shop
Honorable mention: Korean-owned bagel shop. What if the B in BEC stood for Bulgogi? Damn good.
4.8(978 reviews)
Apollo Bagels
Bagel Shop
Get: everything bagel with cream cheese and tomato. Small menu, all good; non-traditional, open-faced, with fluffier, lighter dough. Multiple locations.
4.5(1,131 reviews)
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
Bagel Shop
Get: Srirachacha (sausage, egg and cheese with honey bacon sriracha cream cheese). Everything's good, and they love the spread options. Multiple locations.
4.3(815 reviews)
Popup Bagels
Bagel Shop
Honorable mention: more fresh baguette than bagel, and David's mom's favorite. Order 3 at a time plus a tub of spread; always hot, rip-and-dip. Tons of locations.
4.5(1,163 reviews)
Bakeries8 places
Radio Bakery
Bakery
Get: literally everything; the brown butter corn cake and the sandwiches are unskippable. Their favorite bakery in the world, with incredible weekly specials. Very long lines, worth even a 30-min wait. Also in Prospect Heights.
4.5(1,125 reviews)
Librae Bakery
Bakery
Get: butter croissant (one of their favorite plain croissants in NYC). Viral for the rose pistachio croissant and tahini chocolate chip cookie. Drinks are just OK. A must on any East Village bakery tour.
4.5(1,302 reviews)
Crispy Heaven
Bakery
Get: anything on their baguette, which won best NYC baguette in 2024. The bread is often better than whatever's inside the sandwich.
4.7(699 reviews)
Le Fournil
Bakery
Get: almond croissant (maybe NYC's best) and the baguette (a standout). Lots of French baked goods.
4.5(497 reviews)
Aux Merveilleux de Fred
Bakery
Honorable mention: not their favorite croissant, but they swing by for an often-warm, fresh pain au chocolat. They've only been to the Midtown location.
4.5(923 reviews)
Takahachi Bakery
Bakery
Honorable mention: Japanese-owned bakery that does the classics well. Try the matcha crêpe (towel cake).
4.6(1,189 reviews)
Win Son Bakery
Bakery
Honorable mention: the East Williamsburg original (also in the East Village). Love the scallion pancakes, especially the mortadella one; the mochi donut is unlike any other.
4.5(1,591 reviews)
L'Appartement 4F
Bakery
Honorable mention: viral for mini croissant cereal, but the croissant game is strong. The raspberry almond croissants are *chef's kiss*.
4.5(1,131 reviews)
Sweet Treats23 places
Myka Greek Frozen Yogurt
Dessert Shop
Get: medium natural (original) with strawberries x2; also try the seasonal flavors (passionfruit, matcha and raspberry sorbet were past favorites). Long lines (30-45 min), slow-ish service, texture varies, but creamy days are so good. Few fresh fruit toppings. West Village flagship (also Union Sq and Rockefeller).
4.3(362 reviews)
Culture An American Yogurt Company
Dessert Shop
Get: original tart with strawberries, mango, mochi (a must) and raspberry sauce. Their favorite froyo shop: always high quality, with great fresh fruit. The line moves fast; some seating. Greenwich Village flagship (also Park Slope).
4.2(494 reviews)
Mimi's Frozen Yogurt
Dessert Shop
Self-serve, Australian-inspired froyo, paid by weight. Huge, high-quality toppings bar: sauce fountains, honeycomb, Swedish candy, lychee, brownie bites (Diana's fave). Come for toppings and variety; the froyo itself is weaker. Line moves quickly.
4.3(315 reviews)
Lysée
Dessert Shop
Get: VIC (Very Important Chocolate Cake), any madeleines, any brioches. Korean- and French-inspired pâtisserie; "perfection". The chocolate cake was their wedding cake.
4.4(795 reviews)
Red Gate Bakery
Bakery
Get: any of the cakes and buns. The best cakes in the city, with unexpected flavors, but they sell out early.
4.4(270 reviews)
Spot Dessert Bar East Village
Dessert Restaurant
Get: matcha lava, golden toast, yuzu eclipse (summer special). Asian-inspired, desserts-only bar; consistently good and a great date spot. Also in Flushing, LIC and Astoria.
4.5(3,212 reviews)
Veniero's Pasticceria & Caffe
Bakery
Get: NY-style cheesecake, possibly the best in the city (no graham crust; for that, go to Eileen's). Italian bakery since 1894.
4.6(5,429 reviews)
Caffè Panna
Ice Cream Shop
The best ice cream shop in NYC, with flavors that change daily. Insane weekly sundaes (blackberry-chocolate was a favorite; sticky mango rice went viral). Greenpoint has shorter lines, more space and granita; also at Irving Place. Lines usually 30+ min.
4.6(367 reviews)
Rivareno Gelato
Ice Cream Shop
Get: anything coffee or chocolate (friends love the pistachio). Their favorite gelato in NYC, from Bologna. Seasonal flavors are good too; the key lime pie stood out.
4.6(347 reviews)
Kora
Bakery
Get: leche flan donut, any of the crullers, apple and tamarind fritter. Filipino-inspired bakery with amazing donuts; drinks are just OK. Sells out early some weekends.
4.6(867 reviews)
Fong On
Korean Restaurant
Get: tofu pudding with brown sugar or ginger syrup, plus taro balls, boba and jelly. Tofu pudding made in-house; warm, stomach-soothing, savory or sweet.
4.6(544 reviews)
Doughnut Plant
Donut Shop
Get: crème brûlée donut, vanilla bean and blackberry jam donut. By far their favorite donut chain in the city: fluffy, light yeasted donuts, properly filled. Multiple locations.
4.5(2,377 reviews)
Eileen's Special Cheesecake
Bakery
Honorable mention: fun-sized personal cheesecakes to go (with a graham crust). The strawberry is the classic; friends like every flavor.
4.6(3,342 reviews)
Hani’s bakery + café
Bakery
Honorable mention: popular triple chocolate cookie (too sweet for them). Get the honey cake, or any cake; in summer, the evening soft-serve sundaes are phenomenal.
4.4(563 reviews)
I'm donut ? times square
Donut Shop
Honorable mention: from Japan, with addictive, slightly mochi-like donuts. The matcha donut is their favorite.
4.0(799 reviews)
Harbs SoHo
Cafe
Honorable mention: very, very expensive Japanese cakes for an occasional treat. The fresh fruits cake is their favorite.
3.8(641 reviews)
Lady M Cake Boutique - Bryant Park
Cake Shop
Honorable mention: the best crêpe cake; the passionfruit is their favorite. Many locations.
4.1(1,257 reviews)
Lady Wong Patisserie East Village
Pastry Shop
Honorable mention: Malaysian-French bakery that marries Southeast Asian flavors and French technique: Thai tea crêpe cake, black sesame passionfruit tart, calamansi-passionfruit cake.
4.6(525 reviews)
Seoul Sweets
Dessert Shop
Honorable mention: a bit overpriced, but surprisingly chill for K-town. Get bingsu, ssal (rice) cake or the DIY strawberry tteok, and sit upstairs.
4.3(684 reviews)
ANDO patisserie
Dessert Shop
Honorable mention: inventive modern Chinese bakery. Get the pandan pineapple roll, the durian parfait and basque cheesecake slices. Little seating.
4.4(643 reviews)
Cha-An
Tea House
Honorable mention: often busy; matcha parfaits and Japanese desserts. The "mochi mochi" is their favorite, plus the ichigo daifuku (inspiration for Diana's VTuber ears).
4.2(1,316 reviews)
Culture Espresso
Coffee Shop
Honorable mention: David's favorite cookie in the city. He'll detour for the chocolate chip cookie within a 5-block radius.
4.6(2,447 reviews)
Mango Mango Dessert - Flushing
Dessert Shop
Honorable mention: everything mango, in several locations. The mango juice with fresh mango and rice balls is a staple.
4.5(1,768 reviews)
Cocktails8 places
Double Chicken Please
Bar
Get: Japanese Cold Noodle, Key Lime Pie and Red Eye Gravy cocktails, plus the hot honey fried chicken sandwich (phenomenal, from the front). The famous cocktails are only in the back ("the coop"). Book weeks ahead, or line up an hour before opening.
4.4(2,368 reviews)
Sip&Guzzle
Cocktail Bar
Get: addictive cabbage, tavern burger, Hi-Chew chu-hi. Two Japanese-leaning bars: Guzzle (ground floor) has the interesting food, Sip (basement) the elevated cocktails. Book a week ahead; walk-ins possible.
4.2(776 reviews)
Katana Kitten
Bar
Get: Ichigo Fizz, Sour Cherry Crush, mortadella katsu sando. Fun Japanese-leaning bar with playful food; their stop while waiting for dinner. Just walk in.
4.5(1,215 reviews)
NBetween
Cocktail Bar
Get: Morning Glory, Viewer Discretion Advised. Asian-inspired cocktails with izakaya-style plates near Chelsea Market; their close-out after the High Line. Just walk in.
4.4(238 reviews)
Angel’s Share
Cocktail Bar
Get: Flirtibird. Legendary Japanese-style speakeasy with craft cocktails and jazz. Just walk in.
4.4(1,844 reviews)
TIN’s
Bar
Get: Mango Pinacolassi (frozen), Breakfast in Bangkok, Timmy's Brain Blaster, cong you ban mian. Shanghai-inspired, with balanced, delicious cocktails, each with a story from the owner couple. Food is OK. Upstairs bar and downstairs "diner" pour different drinks. Book 1-2 days out; walk-ins possible.
4.7(53 reviews)
25 HOURS
Cocktail Bar
Get: 15:00 (melon, elegant, juicy), 19:00 (aromatic, savory, crisp), 20:00 (bittersweet, balanced, berry). Asian-inspired, with drinks named for hours on the clock; experimental music, clocks everywhere, next door to a club that hosts raves. Book 1-2 days ahead.
4.9(119 reviews)
Evil Twin Brewing NYC - DUMBO
Brewery
Brewery, not a cocktail bar: stouts, IPAs, and the fruity sours they're known for. Grab a few 5 oz taster pours; the "Make It Fruity" line tends to be good. Also in Ridgewood. Just walk in.
4.6(574 reviews)
Boba1 place
Their old Flushing favorite, Molly Tea, has closed. It rebranded as "? tea" and is noticeably worse.
Auntea Jenny - Flushing
Tea House
Love-hate, but they grab it more than they'd admit. Popular: Mango Pomelo Sago Latte, Strawberry Jasmine Milk Tea Daifuku. Skip the NYU/Greenwich Village location.
4.7(1,033 reviews)
