This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase. Read Disclosure<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n One of the best and worst things about New York City is the amount of food options. There are more restaurants in NYC than there are polar bears in the North Pole \u2013 28,000 restaurants, in fact, so when you\u2019re looking for somewhere to eat, this may be why you\u2019re struggling to narrow down options.<\/p>\n With this endless supply of amazing places to eat in NYC, finding one that leaves a mark is no easy task \u2013 as honestly, most of them are very, very, good.<\/p>\n So, to help you out, we\u2019ve rounded up our list of the most iconic places you must dine at in NYC. These are places we eat whenever we visit (as we are frequent visitors to NYC) and have found them to be consistently<\/strong> good over the years.<\/p>\n Whether you want to find the quintessential New York City classics or a hidden gem, these are the places I bring out-of-towners because I love them, and I hope you do too.<\/p>\n You can find bagels anywhere in NYC, of varying prices and standards, but my daughter and I recently discovered Tompkins Square Bagels<\/a> on our last visit on a mother daughter trip<\/a>. <\/p>\n They were sensational and are a favorite of Timothy Chalamet (so the rumor goes). It\u2019s unreal how many choices you have for toppings. The bagels are warm and chewy and doughy \u2013 the perfect New York City bagel.<\/p>\n The toppings are traditional, but varied and the prices are cheap. The line is out the door on the weekends, but the wait is well worth it. <\/p>\n My bacon, avocado, and sundried tomato cream cheese on gluten free bagel was divine!<\/p>\n There are three locations in NYC, but we recommend the flagship in East Village.<\/p>\n \n<\/center><\/p>\n A cronut is a combination of a croissant and a donut, and is the brainchild of French pastry chef, Dominique Ansel.<\/p>\n You can try the original cronut from his baked in NYC, the aptly named Dominique Ansel Bakery<\/a>, which features a rotating selection of cronut flavors.<\/p>\n There are lines out the door, so come early to avoid disappointment.<\/p>\n This French-inspired bistro in West Village is cozy and chic, complete with excellent espresso and an exceptional wine list.<\/p>\n I especially love Buvette<\/a> for breakfast on weekdays, since it can get quite crowded for weekend brunch: the multi-grain toast with smashed avocado and the yogurt with muesli, fresh berries and honey are both favorites.<\/p>\n New York City loves brunch and tucked away in a hidden graffiti-lined alley in the\u00a0Lower East Side of New York City\u00a0is fan favorite,\u00a0Freeman\u2019s<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n The clandestine restaurant features a horseshoe bar with tasteful taxidermy, complete with homespun American favorites and artisan cocktails.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be fooled from the outside, or even the inside. This windowless dive bar in Brooklyn is dark and crowded and loud, and the back courtyard is filled with cigarette smoke and cheap patio furniture.<\/p>\n Full honesty here, the service at The Commodore<\/a> isn\u2019t fantastic, per se, but the spicy chicken sandwiches (and the adult grilled cheese, and the nachos) make up for everything. <\/p>\n The food is out-of-this-world delicious making it one of those don\u2019t miss places to eat in NYC! And the ambiance might even grow on you after a while.<\/p>\n I still have friends from California who text me out of the blue reminiscing over the \u201chot breast\u201d chicken sandwich.<\/p>\n The home of \u201cI\u2019ll have what she\u2019s having,\u201d Katz\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>is definitely a touristy spot but for good reason. The hand-carved hot pastrami sandwich is as good as it gets.<\/p>\n Ruebens, latkes, pickles, even egg creams: the traditional deli favorites are some of the best that you\u2019ll find.<\/p>\n It\u2019s so good, the deli doesn\u2019t sleep at the weekend, people come all through the day and night!<\/p>\n It\u2019s not cheap, but holy moly high tea at\u00a0Bergdorf Goodman<\/span><\/a> is such a lovely splurge.<\/p>\n With sweeping views over Central Park \u2013 best in the heart of changing foliage in fall or right after a heavy snowfall in winter \u2013 and pastel-colored fixings, the Bergdorf Goodman\u2019s restaurant is a fun place to people watch the city\u2019s fabulous.<\/p>\n I especially love high tea on Sunday afternoons, complete with a glass of Veuve Cliquot!<\/p>\n You can get a $1 slice of pizza almost anywhere in the city, of varying standards. But Artichoke Basille\u2019s<\/span><\/a> is one of my favorite street joints: it\u2019s open late, and there\u2019s nowhere to sit, but the slices are huge and homemade and tasty.<\/p>\n The special twist is the Artichoke slice: artichoke hearts, spinach, cream sauce, mozzarella and pecorino. Mamma mia!<\/p>\n They have three locations in Midtown Manhatten, but we recommend the one in Chelsea near The High Line as it has great views.<\/p>\n I\u2019m a sucker for speakeasies, especially when they involve cheap beer and juicy cheeseburgers.<\/p>\n Located down a dark unmarked hallway off the luxurious Le Parker-Meridien lobby, the unassuming dive bar vibe of Burger Joint<\/span><\/a> feels ages away from the skyscrapers outside. <\/p>\n And most importantly, the burgers are cooked to perfection. It is probably the best burger I have found in NYC.<\/p>\n A cross between a brownie, muffin, and traditional cookie, each Levain Bakery<\/span><\/a> cookie is six ounces of pure, gooey deliciousness.<\/span><\/p>\n The chocolate chip walnut<\/strong> is especially appealing when it\u2019s still warm out of the oven, although I can never finish it while it\u2019s still hot. I like to slowly munch on it on a long walk through nearby Central Park.<\/p>\n There are several shop locations across NYC and they are all good, but we recommend the one on 74th street as you can easily walk over to Central Park or the Metropolitan Museum of Art and enjoy your cookie outdoors.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also another shop on the other side of Central Park in Upper East Side NYC.<\/a><\/p>\n My daughter and I visited their location in NoHo. I\u2019m not a cookie lover, but these were divine, and I ate the whole thing (and it was gluten free).<\/p>\n The flavors at this hipster favorite ice cream joint in Brooklyn are exactly what you\u2019d expect: artisanal and small-batch, the 14 original flavors change daily and range from burnt marshmallow to Thai iced (tea) cream to black pepper fig.<\/p>\n The best part of Oddfellows<\/span><\/a> is the fresh-baked waffle cones: you can smell them as soon as you walk in the door.<\/p>\n Mamoun\u2019s Falafel<\/a> is the most famous falafel in all of NYC. As soon as you step inside, the smell of onions, kebab meat, and Middle Eastern spices start to make your mouth water.<\/p>\n It\u2019s one of the longest serving Middle Eastern chain restaurants in the city and, as well as falafel, also serves great shawarma and kebabs.<\/p>\n There are four restaurants in New York City, but most people go to the Greenwich Village restaurant as this is where it started.<\/p>\n Although they\u2019ve been open since 2010, the Brooklyn Farmacy<\/a> was never meant to be a new place but a place of history. <\/p>\n Set inside a 1920s pharmacy, this soda shop is like stepping back in time. The store is decorated with antiques and kitschy knick-knacks, from red twirling stools to hand drawn menues. It\u2019s clear that a lot of love goes into this family-owned business.<\/p>\n When it comes to the menu, you\u2019ll find classic American ice cream desserts from sundaes to banana splits to ice-cream topped milkshakes.<\/p>\n Of course, you have to try an ice cream float, a soda with ice cream on top. This is something quintessentially American, so if you\u2019re visiting from overseas, be sure to give this tasty treat a try!<\/p>\n The Big Gay Ice Cream shop is a colorful ice cream parlour (and truck) that has been selling soft serves in NYC since 2009. <\/p>\n Its founders Douglas Quint and Bryan Petroff have become somewhat of a celebrity, having published their own cookbook and appeared on several TV series. They even gave a TED talk.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just about ice cream, which is exceptional, but about the mission this company brings to the table. Their rotating weekly flavors are fun, bold, filled with color and imaginative ingredients. They capture the essence of play and fun, capturing the hearts of both adults and children.<\/p>\n They have several stores over the city, but we recommend head to the one near Penn Station since there\u2019s a ton of attractions nearby to visit. Opening times are varied.<\/p>\n Whenever we visit a city, we like to eat at places that offer variety so that everyone can enjoy something to their taste. With a gluten-free eater (myself) and the world\u2019s fussiest eater (Savannah) it\u2019s important we find options.<\/p>\n From Thai to tacos to doughnuts, cheese, oysters and seafood, fried chicken to corned beef, acai bowls to gelato \u2013 the options are endless.<\/p>\n Chelsea Market offers just that, it\u2019s a food hall with every cuisine you can think of under one roof. <\/p>\n It\u2019s located in a former Nabisco factory, so it not only offers tasty food options, but it\u2019s also a little slice of history. When you walk in, you\u2019re met with a warm, charming warehouse vibe with fun spaces to hang out in.<\/p>\n Magnolia Bakery is a chain of bakeries all over NYC and although I think their cakes are pretty average (except the frosting, that\u2019s the best part), their banana pudding is wonderful and it\u2019s pretty much the desert that put them on the map! <\/p>\n I also like the cheesecake with caramel when I feel like I need something more sugary.<\/p>\n They also serve key lime pies, cream pies, homemade cupcakes. And it doesn\u2019t matter which store you go to; the quality is consistent throughout its stores.<\/p>\n There are several shops all over the city and they are all much of the same.<\/p>\n The original location is in Greenwich Village. Here are other things to do in Greenwich NYC <\/a>while there!<\/p>\n Another restaurant in NYC I like to visit for its history is B&H Dairy, which is located inside a 1940s kosher diner in East Village near Union Square and Washington Square Park. <\/p>\n It serves up vegetarian Jewish cuisine, from borscht, blintzes and matzo ball soup, as well as kosher of course.<\/p>\n The menu and the decor is pretty old-school, with a long bar table with bar stools. It\u2019s quite small, so be prepared to be crammed in, but I personally love the intimate vibe you get with watching the chef prepare your meal in front of you. <\/p>\n The challah french toast (grilled cheese sandwich) are amazing \u2013 it\u2019s big, filling, and the price to quantity ratio is on point!<\/p>\n When I think of old-school Italian restaurants in New York, my mind instantly thinks of Gargiulo\u2019s<\/a> on Coney Island. This fancy joint has that Italian flare that you expect with a fine dining Italian restaurant, with waiters in tuxedoes and white linen table cloths.<\/p>\n The staff are very friendly and attentive, and even the owner is known to pop out and speak to guests and tell them a bit about the history of the place. <\/p>\n But it\u2019s not just the decor or service of this 1907 banquet hall restaurant that attracts people here. The food is exceptional!<\/p>\n The baked clams are a particular house favorite, and one of the main reasons to come here. You can also find other seafood dishes, pasta dishes, and steaks. The portion size is good and the prices are reasonable. <\/p>\n For Japanese food, you\u2019ll want to try Mr. Taka Ramen<\/a>, located on Lower East Side near Williamsburg Bridge. As you might expect from the name, it serves several types of ramen, as well as Japanese appetizers and sake.<\/p>\n Behind the helm are two award winning chefs, one with a Michelin star. Both from Tokyo, these chefs prepare authentic, hearty and delicious ramen, which I honestly believe is the best ramen in NYC.<\/p>\n The only downside to this place is the restaurant is so small. If you weren\u2019t looking for it, you would probably walk right past it!<\/p>\n Olmsted<\/a> is one of the best fine dining restaurants in NYC and offers Michelin star food in a welcoming, friendly-neighborhood style setting.<\/p>\n It\u2019s located in Prospect Heights, a quiet neighborhood on NYC\u2019s Brooklyn, and has a relatively small menu.<\/p>\n Since there\u2019s only 50-seats, diners get a very personal and intimate dining experience. <\/p>\n The menu is seasonal and driven by what ingredients can be freshly sourced from their backyard garden. Yes, the dining room is also where the food comes from!<\/p>\n The portion sizes are also a little on the small side, if I\u2019m being honest, but what you get is excellent flavor and beautiful food styling.<\/p>\n Los Tacos No. 1 is the best place to find fusions of Mexican and Californian blends from the East Coast in NYC. The original store is located in Chelsea Market and they have also opened up in Times Square. I prefer their third store in Noho as it\u2019s quieter.<\/p>\n It has become well known for its tacos, quesadillas and aguas frescas. The Adobada (marinated pork) tacos are particularly flavorful and worth coming here just to try. The Carne Asada (grilled steak) is another popular flavor of taco as well.<\/p>\n If your vegetarian, you might want to try the cactus tacos!<\/p>\n It has a street food-style setup with no tables or chairs, so be warned you have to stand!<\/p>\n I have to include Molly\u2019s Cupcakes<\/a> in Greenwich Village, especially if you are gluten free. It\u2019s a must visit every time we go to New York, and I have so far been four times! <\/p>\n USA Today named it one of the 10 best cupcakes in the country. It\u2019s by far the best cupcake I\u2019ve ever had. <\/p>\n Chocolate lava oozes out of the middle of the moist cake, and the icing is not too thickly caked on that you want to either throw up after or cartwheel out the door because of the sugar hit. <\/p>\n Molly\u2019s bake their cupcakes from scratch in small batches every day. You can create your own flavors or go for their famous center-filled flavors like peanut butter Nutella, creme brulee, and peach cobbler.<\/p>\n There are cute swinging chairs at the counter you can sit at, and the coffee is pretty good here too.<\/p>\n Molly\u2019s Cupcake is only a 5-minute walk from Washington Square, you will find no lines (hopefully) and a place to sit, play a game, and dive into deliciousness. Kids will love this NYC refueling stop<\/a>. We loved visiting it on this Greenwich Village Cupcake walking tour<\/a> during our weekend getaway to NC with teens<\/a>. <\/p>\n In honor of Molly (a former teacher of the owner who inspired this bakery) and as a way to help our children, a portion of Molly\u2019s Cupcake profits is donated directly to schools in the local community.<\/p>\n To help you plan where to eat and find a restaurant near you, here is a map of all the places we\u2019ve recommended in this guide.<\/p>\n1. Bagels at Tompkins Square Bagels<\/h2>\n
2. Cronut from Dominique Ansel Bakery<\/h2>\n
3. Breakfast at Buvette<\/h2>\n
![\"bowl](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Buvette-1.jpg)
4. Brunch at Freeman\u2019s<\/h2>\n
![\"laneway](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Freemans-Alley-1.jpg)
5. Spicy chicken sandwiches at The Commodore<\/h2>\n
![\"Spicy](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Commodore-1.jpg)
6. Katz\u2019s Ruebens at Katz\u2019s Delicatessen<\/h2>\n
![\"Rueben](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Katzs-1.jpg)
7. High Tea at Bergdorf Goodman<\/h2>\n
![\"woman](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/BergdorfGoodman2-1.jpg)
8. Pizza at Artichoke Basille\u2019s<\/h2>\n
9. Cheeseburgers (and beer) at Burger Joint<\/h2>\n
![\"man](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/BurgerJoint-1-1-1.jpg)
10. Cookies at Levain Bakery<\/h2>\n
![\"levain](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/levain-bakery-noho-4-770x1024.jpg)
11. Ice Cream at OddFellows<\/h2>\n
![\"person](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Oddfellows-1.jpg)
12. Falafel at Mamoun\u2019s Falafel<\/h2>\n\n
13. Soda Floats at Brooklyn Farmacy<\/h2>\n\n
14. Soft Serve at Big Gay Ice Cream Shop<\/h2>\n\n
15. Everything at Chelsea Market<\/h2>\n
![\"people](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/chelsea-market-10.jpg)
16. Banana Pudding at Magnolia Bakery<\/h2>\n
17. Challah at B&H Dairy<\/h2>\n
18. Baked clams at Gargiulo\u2019s<\/h2>\n
\n
19. Michelin Star Ramen at Mr. Taka Ramen<\/h2>\n\n
20. Everything at Olmsted<\/h2>\n
21. Tacos at Los Tacos No. 1<\/h2>\n
22. Molly\u2019s Cupcakes<\/h2>\n
![\"woman](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/mollys-cupcakes-2.jpg)
![\"plate](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/mollys-cupcakes-1.jpg)
Map of Places to Eat in NYC<\/h2>\n
![\"person](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/IMG_7989.jpg\"\/)
![\"person](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/tompkins-bagels-union-square-3-770x1024.jpg)
![\"slice](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/12338509_930447310378909_914851880_n-1.jpg)
![\"Taiwanese](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/chelsea-market-12-1024x768.jpg)
![\"person](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/magnolia-bakery-banana-pudding.jpg)
![\"clams](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/baked-clams-gargiulos.jpeg)
![\"people](\"https:\/\/www.ytravelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tacos-no-1-chelsea-markets-768x1024.jpg)