In a nutshell
- Wondering where to eat in New York? We’ve personally tested all these spots and are sharing only our genuine favorites.
- For us, great food is just as much a part of a trip as the top attractions in New York. These picks will give you the full New York food experience.
- P.S. Kitchen wows with creative vegan dishes in a stylish atmosphere — and every meal supports social projects. Our absolute favorite.
- Bocca di Bacco is our top pick for Italian food lovers: homemade pasta, an elegant vibe, and great wine. Perfect for a special evening out.
- When hunger strikes fast, nothing beats Shake Shack — iconic burgers, crispy fries, and that authentic New York fast-food feeling.
P.S. Kitchen
You’ll find P.S. Kitchen in Midtown, just a short walk from Broadway and Times Square.
The restaurant serves only vegan food — but it’ll win over even the most skeptical meat-eater. We can wholeheartedly recommend it. And bonus: the profits go toward social projects, so every meal does some good.
Expect to pay between $20 and $40 for a main course.
Sun–Mon: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wed–Sat: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
246 W 48th St
Bocca di Bacco
The Italian restaurant Bocca di Bacco has three locations across New York.
We visited the one in Hell’s Kitchen and can highly recommend it. The space is cozy and stylish, and the pasta is seriously excellent. If you’re looking for a special evening out, this is our top pick for Italian food in the city.
Salads start at $14, pasta at $18, and a beef steak will run you $30.
Mon–Thu: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Fri: 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Sat & Sun: 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM ; 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
828 Ninth Ave.
Shake Shack
No trip to New York is complete without a Shake Shack burger. It’s basically a rite of passage.
It all started back in 2001 with a small hot dog cart in Madison Square Park. Today there are over 200 locations worldwide — but the original is still right there in the park.
Burgers run between $5 and $10, with options for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike.
Basti was genuinely surprised by how good it was. Totally worth trying — don’t skip it.
The original spot (a pavilion with outdoor tables) is in Madison Square Park, and there are plenty of other locations scattered around the city.
Tonchin New York
Ever since we traveled through Japan, we’ve been completely hooked on ramen — that deeply satisfying Japanese noodle soup. If you’ve never tried it before, Tonchin in Midtown is the perfect place to start.
It’s just a short walk from the Empire State Building and Macy’s, so you can easily pair it with a visit to one of those nearby highlights.
An authentic bowl of ramen will set you back around $17.
Rubirosa
Rubirosa is tucked into the heart of the Nolita neighborhood, and honestly, this place completely won us over.
You can share one huge pizza between two people, with each person picking the toppings for their half. We did this more than once and loved it every time. One of our top places to eat in New York, full stop.
A large pizza costs around $25.
By the way: You’ll also find Rubirosa in our guide to eating cheap in New York.
Pastrami Queen
As the name of this little deli suggests, you come here for one thing: pastrami.
Not sure what pastrami is? It sounds Italian, but it’s not. It comes from Jewish cuisine and has long been a cult dish in New York. Think incredibly tender, flavorful beef — cured, then smoked and cooked — served sliced paper-thin in a sandwich.
The Pastrami Queen on the Upper East Side, just east of Central Park, has only a handful of simple tables. Come outside of peak meal times and you’ll usually snag a seat without a wait. It’s a perfect stop if you’re already in the area — say, after visiting the Guggenheim Museum.
There’s now also a second location at Times Square.
Our advice: order the “Our World Famous Hot Pastrami” for $18 and split it between two people. Trust us on this one.
Daily 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
1125 Lexington Ave
No online menu available
Joe's Shanghai Restaurant
Getting a table here isn’t always easy — the place is consistently packed. But if you have a little patience, the wait is usually manageable.
Show up outside of peak meal times and you can often walk straight in. Whatever you order, make sure the soup dumplings are on the table. Honestly, everything we tried was really, really good.
Los Tacos No. 1
If you’re in New York and craving seriously good tacos, head straight to Los Tacos No. 1 in Chelsea Market.
The spot is small and often busy, but the wait is absolutely worth it. The moment you step inside, the energy hits you — it feels like a little slice of Mexico right in the middle of Manhattan.
The tacos are made right in front of you with homemade tortillas, juicy meat, or grilled vegetables. The Adobada (marinated pork) and Carne Asada (grilled beef) are especially popular. Wash it down with a horchata or a classic Mexican soft drink.
Whether it’s a quick snack or a proper culinary detour — this is one of the best places to eat in New York if you love tacos.
Mon–Sat: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sun: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
201 W 33rd St
Leon's Bagel
Leon’s Bagels is the perfect stop when you’re in the mood for a really great cream cheese bagel. The shop is small and set up for takeout — no indoor seating — but there’s a bench right outside where you can sit and enjoy your bagel in peace.
The neighborhood around Leon’s is also really lovely — quiet, charming, and quintessentially New York, without the hustle and bustle. A stroll through the streets is definitely worth it, especially with a fresh bagel in hand.
787 Coffee
787 Coffee is a fantastic stop if you want a genuinely special cup of coffee while exploring New York. They serve varieties with hints of cinnamon or rum that you won’t find just anywhere — a real change of pace, flavor-wise.
The locations are small to-go shops, but there’s usually a bench or a little corner to sit down.
What really stuck with us: the cookie. Fresh-baked, soft on the inside, slightly crispy on the outside — probably the best one we’ve ever had. Not the cheapest, but absolutely worth every cent.
Daily 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
204 W 10th St
No online drink menu available
sweetgreen
Sweetgreen is a popular chain in New York when you want something fresh and fuss-free. There’s a wide selection of salad bowls that you can either build yourself or pick straight from the menu — all made with high-quality ingredients and really well seasoned.
It’s perfect for a quick, healthy bite between sightseeing stops. And by New York standards, the prices are genuinely reasonable.
Mon–Fri: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Sat & Sun: 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM
1164 Broadway
Laboratorio & Briciola
These two restaurants are connected and close to each other, so we’re grouping them together here.
You’ll find both Italian spots on 51st Street between 8th and 9th Avenue in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.
All pasta dishes cost $16, and the ones we tried were really, really delicious — great value for the quality.