When people ask about new york food, they usually want to know what is worth eating and how to do it without wasting a day in lines. Here is the short version: eat a pizza slice, a bagel with cream cheese, a deli sandwich and something from a street cart, then spend the rest of your appetite on whatever the neighbourhood you are in does best. New York is a city of immigrant cooking, so the most interesting meals are often not the famous ones.
The classics you should try once
Pizza by the slice
The New York slice is large, thin, foldable and cheap compared with sit-down meals. You will find slice shops on nearly every commercial block. Order a plain cheese slice first, since it shows how good the place is. Fold it lengthwise and eat it standing up if you want to feel local. Whole pies are fine too, and the city has a long tradition of coal-oven and wood-fired pizzerias, but you do not need a reservation-only spot to eat well.
Bagels
New York bagels are boiled and then baked, giving a chewy crust and dense middle. Get one toasted or fresh with cream cheese, or with smoked salmon (often called lox) if you want the traditional version. Neighbourhood bagel shops open early and often sell out of favourites by mid-morning, so go before nine if you can.
Deli sandwiches
Pastrami on rye is the famous order, piled high and usually served with a pickle. Old Jewish delis on the Lower East Side and in Midtown are the historic homes of it. Portions are huge, so share one sandwich between two people. Check current prices before you go, since they have risen across the city.
Street carts
Halal carts selling chicken or lamb over rice with white sauce and hot sauce are a New York institution. Hot dogs from a cart are the touristy option and perfectly fine for a snack. Pretzels, roasted nuts and fresh fruit cups also pop up around parks and subway exits.
New York food by borough
Manhattan
- Lower East Side and Chinatown: old delis, dumpling shops and bakeries within a short walk of each other.
- East Village: cheap ramen, Ukrainian diners and late-night counters.
- Harlem: soul food and West African cooking, along with a strong jazz-and-supper culture.
- Midtown: convenient but crowded. Walk a few blocks off Times Square for better value.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is where many food trends start. Williamsburg and Greenpoint have everything from Polish bakeries to specialty coffee. Brighton Beach is known for its Russian and Eastern European food. Sunset Park has Chinese and Latin American restaurants that locals prize over the Manhattan versions. The food hall scene in places such as Dumbo is handy for groups who cannot agree.
Queens
Queens is often called the most diverse county in the United States, and the food proves it. Jackson Heights has superb South Asian and Latin American cooking. Flushing has one of the largest Chinese food scenes outside Asia. Astoria is known for Greek food, and Corona for its Italian ices and Latin American restaurants. The 7 train is practically a food tour on its own.
The Bronx
Arthur Avenue in the Belmont neighbourhood is the old Italian-American centre, with bakeries, delis and butchers. The Bronx also has strong Dominican, Puerto Rican and West African cooking.
Staten Island
Skip it for food unless you are already there. The ferry ride is free and offers skyline views, though, and Little Sri Lanka near the ferry terminal is a real draw for fans of South Asian food.
How to eat well without overspending
- Lunch specials at sit-down restaurants are often much cheaper than dinner menus.
- Look at where locals queue, not where tourist buses stop.
- Remember that tipping is expected in restaurants, commonly around 18 to 20 percent. Check current norms, since they shift.
- Carry a card, but keep a little cash for small bakeries and carts that may be cash only.
- Reservations matter for popular dinner spots. Apps and restaurant websites can help, but check them directly.
Sample day of new york food
- Breakfast: a toasted bagel with cream cheese and coffee from a neighbourhood shop.
- Lunch: pastrami sandwich or a halal cart plate.
- Afternoon snack: a pizza slice or an Italian ice in warm weather.
- Dinner: dumplings in Flushing or Chinatown, or a sit-down meal in Brooklyn.
- Dessert: cheesecake, a black-and-white cookie or a bakery pastry.
One honest warning
Do not try to eat everything famous in one weekend. You will spend most of your time in lines and end up with a mediocre version of each dish. Pick three or four things, eat them well, and leave room for whatever you stumble across.
For official visitor information and event listings, see NYC Tourism. Whatever your plans, treat new york food as a way to explore the neighbourhoods, not a checklist to complete.
Photo: Jazz Guy from New Jersey, United States, CC BY 2.0, source.
