New York has such a broad array of cultures and it shows through all the food options.
Below is my list of What I ate and also some places I still want to try.
Nolita
Lombardi Pizza is one of the oldest pizza joints in NYC. Coal-fired and thin crust goodness that uses the freshiest and best ingredients.
Cafe Habana is very tiny establishment with so much character. 3 people in total – We sat by the front window and ordered ourselves 2 orders of the Mexican Corn, a Cuban and a Chicken Diablo sandwich. The corn comes with 2 per order so I took one for the team and ate 2. All the food was fresh and flavourful and we ate every single morsel off the plates. The corn alone is enough to make you want to come back for more.
Lower East Side
Katz Delicatessen– 205 E Houston St
Cash Only Deli.
Hand crafted donuts made with interesting flavor pairings.
Midtown
Great place for lunch if you are craving sushi, bento and other affordable Japanese sweets like red bean buns in the bakery.
Ippudo – 65 Fourth Avenue – 1 other location
High quality ramen that usually has a line out the door.
Bryant Park Grill – 25 West 40th St
This restaurant is located within Bryant Park and hidden gem behind the New York Public Library. It is a great place to people watching. Bryant Park Grill is a American, European steakhouse. It is a little pricey but the food is delicious. I chose the clam chowder to start and for my main I chose the Kumquat Grand Marnier Duck breast with confit leg. it was absolutely mouth watering and ended off the meal with a sweet and savory crepe filled with apple and ricotta cheese.
Little Italy / Chinatown
Ferrara Bakery & Cafe – 195 Grand St
This institution has been around since 1892 and serves up some great gelato and famous for their cannolis and other wonderful Italian pastries.
Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich – 369 Broome St
Highly rated as the best Banh mi. What makes it even better; it is under $5USD – Cash Only.
Excellent quality Chinese cuisine with a contemporary take on dim sum. The Peking Duck sliders are highly recommended.
Chinese cuisine made using fresh ingredients before your eyes where you can get a plate of BBQ Pork or a noodle in soup that is the most satisfying anytime of day. The wonton noodle soup hits the spot.
Xian’s Famous Food – 67 Bayard St
Homemade pulled noodles and Chinese cuisine made Xian-style. This is a place to go when you want something spicy.
North Dumpling – 27A – Essex St.
North Dumpling is literally a hole in the wall but they sure pump out some delicious and cheap dumplings. Whether you are craving fried or steamed – the filling options include pork & chives to vegetable. What’s even better is that you can get 10 dumplings for under $2USD! You heard right. You can see they are being freshly made over the counter as a team of ladies are making magic with their hands. The sesame and scallion pancakes are also delicious items to add to your meal and for all the food, you won’t break your wallet.
East Village
Taiwanese steamed buns
Momofuku Noodle Bar – 171 1st Avenue
A staple ramen spot in the East Village that also offers a roster of dishes such as fried chicken meal. The Noodle Bar also serves slushies and soft serve. They have been quite successful that they have expanded into multiple locations such as Ssäm Bar, Ko, Ma Peche, Fuku and Nishi to name a few. They have even expanded up north to Toronto.
The Halal Guys – 10-02 34th Avenue
Middle Eastern food. They are wildly known for their Halal Guys cart which serves huge portions at killer prices.
Greenwich Village
Piadina serves up rustic Italian fare in a very intimate setting lined with brick walls. Dinner service is run by candlelight making it the perfect date night spot.
Nomad / Midtown / K-Town / Kips Bay
Brasserie Les Halles – 411 Park Ave S
Brasserie Les Halles serves up classics using French techinques. They are known for their escargots and their steak frites for only $22USD. This restaurant is the origin of where Anthony Bourdain once started. Reservations are highly recommended.
Shake Shack – Madison Ave & E.23rd & multiple locations
East coast version of In-N-Out. Fast food chain that serves up burgers & frozen custard. Multiple locations around and yes there are lines. When it gets busy, they give you a buzzer to let you know when your order is ready. The Peanut butter shake is my GOTO and I have it every chance I get.
Trader Joes – 675 Ave of the Americas
I found this treasure when I lived in Los Angeles. This is the best grocery store for anyone who wants good quality items for reasonable prices including organic and all natural ingredients. It is a College kids dream or anyone on a budget type of grocery store similar to Whole Foods.
Yaki Taisho – 5 St Marks Pl #8
Yaki Taisho is an Izakaya located in the heart of St Marks Place – Between 3 people, we ordered Takoyaki (this was just right), grilled squid, a set of skewers, Unagi roll and the Duck sashimi paired with a delicious plum sake.
Zesty wings are the signature, but all chicken dishes at this quick Korean stop are uniquely spiced.
Popular, no-frills staple with buffet-style hot & cold dishes plus prepared foods for a quick lunch.