Eating in New York City is one of the best things to do in the city that doesn’t sleep. This is a city where you can eat great food from the crack of dawn until … the crack of dawn.
Discover a dozen NYC food favorites you must eat when you visit the Big Apple.
1. Bagels
Bagels weren’t invented in New York City but they’re better in the Big Apple than anywhere else in the world. Hand rolled and boiled in a mixture of water and malt syrup, these round beauties are both filling and delicious. The key is to find and eat as many of the best NYC bagels as your stomach can handle.
2. Pizza
With thousands of pizzerias in NYC, pizza is the food that fuels America’s biggest city. From dollar slices to loaded pies, pizza is a common denominator among the classes that rarely disappoints. While it’s different from pizza in Italy, the best NYC pizza is some of the best pizza in the world.
3. Hot Dogs
You won’t have to look hard in NYC when you’re craving a hot dog. They’re all over the city at street carts, at dedicated hot dog stands and at the city’s ball parks. There’s really no more classic hot dog experience than enjoying it while watching baseball, America’s pastime, at a Yankees or Mets game.
4. Pastrami Sandwiches
Eastern Europeans brought the Jewish deli concept from countries like Poland and Romania when they fled their homes in search of the American dream. Made with cured and smoked beef brisket, a pastrami sandwich is the classic NYC deli item especially when it has thin layers of pastrami piled high between two slices of seeded rye bread.
5. Burgers
No two NYC hamburgers are identical, with each chef adding his own twist. In just a day, hamburger fans can have two totally different experiences by eating a juicy smashed patty burger at fast food chain Shake Shack or a loaded artisan burger at a top NYC restaurant.
6. Soup Dumplings
Chinese restaurants first popped up in the 1870s when Chinese immigrants started moving to NYC from the West Coast after the Gold Rush ended. Today, NYC has numerous Chinese restaurants in multiple Chinatown neighborhoods. The best ones serve juicy soup dumplings that rival xiao long bao served in Shanghai and Taipei.
7. Brunch
You don’t have to look hard for a spot to eat the best meal of the day on a leisurely Saturday or Sunday in NYC. Choices run the gamut – dim sum in Chinatown, soul food in Harlem, hipster grub in Greenpoint and ‘cheffy’ food in Gramercy Park. However, there’s nothing better than eating a bagel and lox brunch in Manhattan’s Lower East Side – it’s a quintessential New York City food experience.
8. Egg Cream
Don’t be confused by NYC’s egg cream. Despite its name, this iconic fountain beverage doesn’t have either eggs or cream in its ingredient list. Instead, its tasty recipe includes milk, fizzy water and sweet syrup. Popular egg cream flavors include choolate and vanilla.
9. Black & White Cookies
While most people go to bagel shops to eat bagels, some people secretly prefer the black & white cookies sold at most NYC bagel shops. These aren’t typical cookies. Their base is softer and cakier than most American cookies. They’re also topped with equal amounts of chocolate and vanilla fondant. And, as a bonus, they’re often big enough to share.
10. Donuts
Pairing donuts with coffee has been a thing in New York City for decades. Located in all five boroughs, the best NYC donut shops sell a range of options that include traditional flavors as well as modern creations. Some even sell gluten free, kosher and vegan donuts.
11. Cronut
NYC’s cronut took the donut to new heights when it debuted at Dominique Ansel in 2013. Crowds flocked to the West Village bakery to try the unique pastry product. Crowds still queue each morning for their chance to buy the tasty croissant-donut hybrid.
12. Suprême
The cronut isn’t the only croissant hybrid that’s popular at the best NYC bakeries. Lafayette’s suprême debuted in 2022 and has already landed in at bakeries in France where it’s called the New York Roll. Regardles of the name or flavor, this cream-filled pastry is a show-stopper both in appearance and taste. It’s also a popular pastry to post on social media.
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About the Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers their unique taste of the world.
