New York food is famous for a handful of dishes that started with immigrant communities and became part of the city: the thin, foldable pizza slice, bagels with lox, pastrami on rye, cheesecake and the Coney Island hot dog. Most of them are cheap, fast and eaten standing up.
This guide lists 15 foods NYC is known for and where to try each one, then the most famous restaurants for first-timers and the neighborhoods where NYC food lovers eat.
What food is NYC known for?
| # | Food | Where to try it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A plain slice of New York pizza | Joe’s Pizza, Greenwich Village, since 1975 |
| 2 | Bagel with cream cheese and lox | Russ & Daughters, Lower East Side, since 1914 |
| 3 | Pastrami on rye | Katz’s Delicatessen, Lower East Side, since 1888 |
| 4 | New York cheesecake | Junior’s, Downtown Brooklyn and Times Square, since 1950 |
| 5 | Coney Island hot dog | Nathan’s Famous, Coney Island, since 1916 |
| 6 | Chicken over rice | The Halal Guys cart, 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue, since 1990 |
| 7 | Black-and-white cookie | Delis and bakeries all over the city |
| 8 | Giant chocolate chip cookie | Levain Bakery, Upper West Side, since 1995 |
| 9 | Egg cream, a chocolate soda with no egg or cream | Old-school diners and soda fountains |
| 10 | Chopped cheese sandwich | Bodegas in Harlem and the Bronx |
| 11 | Dumplings | Manhattan’s Chinatown |
| 12 | Soft pretzel | Street carts in Midtown |
| 13 | Potato knish | Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery, Lower East Side, since 1910 |
| 14 | Cronut, a croissant-doughnut | Dominique Ansel Bakery, SoHo, since 2013 |
| 15 | Porterhouse steak | Peter Luger, Williamsburg, since 1887 |
The Lower East Side has 3 of the most famous names, Katz’s, Russ & Daughters and Yonah Schimmel, within a few blocks, so you can try pastrami, a bagel and a knish in 1 afternoon.
Best restaurants in NYC for first-timers
The best NYC restaurants for a first trip are the old institutions that shaped New York food. They’re busy, but most don’t need a reservation:
- Katz’s Delicatessen, for pastrami since 1888
- Russ & Daughters, for bagels and smoked fish since 1914
- Grand Central Oyster Bar, under the arches of Grand Central Terminal since 1913
- Peter Luger in Williamsburg, for a classic steakhouse dinner; book ahead
- Joe’s Pizza, for a slice to eat standing at the counter
For a bit of everything in 1 stop, go to a food hall like Chelsea Market or Essex Market on the Lower East Side.
Chinese food in NYC
New York has 3 big Chinatowns, and each is worth the trip:
- Manhattan’s Chinatown: dumplings, roast duck and dim sum on Mott, Pell and Doyers Streets
- Flushing, Queens: the largest and most varied, with food courts and regional Chinese cooking, at the end of the 7 train
- Sunset Park, Brooklyn: dim sum halls and bakeries along 8th Avenue
Go for dim sum before noon on weekends, when the most dishes are served.
Mediterranean food in NYC
For the best Mediterranean food in NYC, head to the neighborhoods where those communities live:
- Astoria, Queens: Greek tavernas with grilled fish, souvlaki and spanakopita, especially around Ditmars Boulevard
- Bay Ridge, Brooklyn: Lebanese, Syrian and Yemeni restaurants along 5th Avenue
- All over Manhattan: falafel and shawarma counters and carts for a cheap, fast lunch
Where NYC food lovers eat
Many of the best meals in New York are outside Midtown, in neighborhoods built by immigrant communities:
- Arthur Avenue, the Bronx: the city’s classic Little Italy, with bakeries, delis and an indoor market
- Jackson Heights, Queens: Indian, Nepali, Tibetan, Colombian and Mexican food within a few blocks
- Koreatown, Manhattan: Korean barbecue and late-night spots on West 32nd Street, near the Empire State Building
- The Lower East Side: old delis next to new restaurants and Essex Market
- Smorgasburg, Brooklyn: an outdoor food market on weekends from spring to fall
Want to plan the rest of your days? Pair these with our list of things to do in NYC, and use our NYC travel guide to get around by subway.
Tips for eating in New York
- Tip 18 to 20% at sit-down restaurants and bars
- Eat your big meal at lunch; many restaurants have cheaper lunch menus
- Book popular dinner spots ahead, and go early or late for walk-in tables
- Food carts and slice shops are the cheapest meals in the city
Food is a big part of any New York budget. See how much a trip to New York costs for daily food budgets, and our guide to where to stay in NYC to stay near the neighborhoods you want to eat in.
FAQ
Pizza by the slice, bagels with lox, pastrami on rye, New York cheesecake, Coney Island hot dogs, black-and-white cookies and halal cart chicken over rice.
The classic institutions: Katz’s Delicatessen, Russ & Daughters, Grand Central Oyster Bar, Peter Luger and Joe’s Pizza.
Flushing, Queens, for the widest range, and Manhattan’s Chinatown for dumplings and dim sum close to the sights.
Astoria, Queens, for Greek food and Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, for Middle Eastern food.
Final takeaway
New York food is best eaten by neighborhood: a slice and a cookie in Manhattan, pastrami and a bagel on the Lower East Side, then a trip to Flushing, Astoria or Arthur Avenue for the meals locals line up for.
