20 Foods You Have To Try In New York

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New York City’s energy is infectious, and nowhere is that more apparent than in its incredible food scene. This city is a true melting pot, and its culinary landscape reflects that diversity beautifully. From Michelin-starred temples of gastronomy to humble street carts serving up legendary bites, eating your way through the five boroughs is an essential part of the New York experience.

Exploring neighborhoods like Little Italy, Chinatown, the Lower East Side, or venturing out to Queens or Brooklyn reveals a world of flavors. Every corner seems to offer something delicious, whether it’s a classic dish with a long history or a trendy new creation. Get ready to dive in and discover why New York is one of the world’s ultimate food destinations. Here are some bites you absolutely have to seek out.

New York Pizza Slice

The quintessential New York food experience might just be grabbing a slice. We’re talking a thin-crust, wide wedge, often sold from unassuming storefronts. It’s designed to be folded in half lengthwise, making it easy to eat on the go. Toppings range from classic cheese or pepperoni to more elaborate options, but the simple cheese slice is the true test.

You’ll find pizzerias everywhere, from iconic spots like ‘Joe’s Pizza’ near Times Square or in Greenwich Village to countless neighborhood joints. Grabbing a cheap, satisfying slice late at night or for a quick lunch is a New York ritual. Look for places with a bit of char on the crust and just the right ratio of sauce to cheese.

Bagel with Lox and Cream Cheese

A New York breakfast institution. The NYC bagel is distinct: dense, chewy inside with a slightly crisp exterior, traditionally boiled then baked. Topping it with cream cheese (schmear) and thinly sliced cured salmon (lox) is the classic move, often accompanied by capers and red onion.

Legendary bagel shops like ‘Ess-a-Bagel’, ‘Russ & Daughters’, or ‘Absolute Bagels’ are worth seeking out, though good bagels can be found across the city. Expect lines, especially on weekend mornings. Getting a fresh bagel piled high with lox is a perfect start before exploring museums like the Met or strolling through Central Park.

New York Cheesecake

Forget light and fluffy; New York cheesecake is dense, rich, and creamy, typically made with cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and heavy cream on a simple biscuit crust. It’s decadent, smooth, and utterly satisfying. While variations exist, the classic plain version lets the pure flavor shine.

Iconic spots like ‘Junior’s Restaurant’ (famous for its Brooklyn location but also found near Times Square) or the more delicate style at ‘Eileen’s Special Cheesecake’ in Nolita are popular choices. Many classic diners and bakeries also serve excellent versions. It’s the perfect indulgent end to a meal.

Street Cart Hot Dog

An iconic New York street food snack. Hot dogs are typically boiled or grilled by vendors in ubiquitous silver carts, served on a soft bun. Common toppings include mustard, sauerkraut, sweet relish, or onions in a tomato sauce. They’re simple, cheap, and part of the city’s fabric.

You’ll spot hot dog carts all over, especially around tourist hubs like Times Square, Central Park entrances, and outside museums. Places like ‘Gray’s Papaya’ or ‘Papaya King’ are famous for their “recession special” – multiple dogs and a tropical drink for a low price. Grabbing a dog while walking around is a classic NYC moment.

Pastrami on Rye

A towering testament to New York’s Jewish deli culture. This sandwich features thick-cut, steaming hot pastrami – beef brisket cured, smoked, and spiced – piled high between slices of rye bread, typically served with deli mustard. It’s fatty, peppery, salty, and incredibly flavorful.

‘Katz’s Delicatessen’ on the Lower East Side is the most famous purveyor, an experience in itself with its ticket system and bustling atmosphere. Other great delis like ‘2nd Ave Deli’ or ‘Pastrami Queen’ also serve excellent versions. Be prepared for a hefty sandwich and a price tag to match, but it’s worth it.

Black and White Cookie

This distinctive New York treat is more like a flat, soft, cakey cookie than a crunchy one. It’s instantly recognizable by its half-black (chocolate fondant) and half-white (vanilla fondant) icing. It’s a simple, nostalgic sweet found in bakeries and delis across the city.

Look for them at classic bakeries like ‘William Greenberg Desserts’ on the Upper East Side or large delis like ‘Zabar’s’. The quality can vary, but a good one has a tender crumb and distinct vanilla and chocolate flavors from the icing. It’s often seen as a symbol of harmony, or just a tasty cookie.

Halal Cart Chicken/Lamb Over Rice

Known affectionately as “street meat,” this platter from ubiquitous halal carts is a New York staple, especially for lunch or late-night eats. It consists of chopped grilled chicken or lamb gyro meat served over yellow or orange rice, often with a side salad, topped generously with creamy white sauce and fiery red hot sauce.

The most famous is ‘The Halal Guys’ (who started with carts near MoMA), but countless carts across the city serve delicious versions, each with slightly different seasonings or sauce recipes. It’s incredibly filling, flavorful, and usually very affordable – a true taste of NYC street food culture.

General Tso’s Chicken

While found nationwide, this dish holds a special place in the landscape of New York’s American Chinese cuisine. Deep-fried chunks of chicken are coated in a sweet, slightly spicy, tangy sauce. It represents a whole category of Chinese food adapted for American palates, born partly out of NYC’s immigrant history.

You can find General Tso’s at countless neighborhood Chinese takeout restaurants throughout the five boroughs. It’s familiar comfort food for many New Yorkers. Exploring different local spots might reveal subtle variations on this popular dish.

Matzo Ball Soup

A comforting classic found in Jewish delis. Matzo ball soup features light, fluffy dumplings made from matzo meal, eggs, and fat (often chicken fat or oil), simmered in a clear, flavorful chicken broth, sometimes with noodles or vegetables like carrots and celery.

Again, places like ‘Katz’s Delicatessen’ or ‘2nd Ave Deli’ are benchmarks for this soul-warming soup. Many neighborhood delis and even some diners offer their own versions. It’s considered a cure-all by many, perfect on a chilly day or when you need some comfort.

Cronut® Pastry

This hybrid pastry, a cross between a croissant and a doughnut, became a global sensation after its creation at the ‘Dominique Ansel Bakery’ in SoHo. It has the flaky layers of a croissant but is shaped and fried like a doughnut, then filled with cream, rolled in sugar, and glazed. The flavor changes monthly.

To try the original, you need to visit the ‘Dominique Ansel Bakery’. Be prepared for lines, especially early in the morning, as they make a limited amount each day. While the initial intense hype has calmed, it remains a unique and sought-after New York treat.

Classic Burger

New York offers burgers for every taste, from high-end restaurant creations to classic diner versions. The rise of chains like ‘Shake Shack’ (which started as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park) brought high-quality fast-casual burgers to the forefront. A good NYC burger often features a juicy patty, soft bun, and classic toppings.

Besides ‘Shake Shack’, check out legendary spots like ‘Minetta Tavern’ for its upscale Black Label Burger, or countless neighborhood pubs and diners serving satisfying versions. Grabbing a burger and fries is always a reliable choice in the city.

Street Cart Pretzel

Another iconic New York street food, the soft pretzel is instantly recognizable. Large, chewy, and sprinkled generously with coarse salt, they’re often found hanging on wooden dowels on street carts. Best eaten warm, perhaps with a smear of mustard.

You’ll find pretzel vendors near major landmarks, park entrances like Central Park or Bryant Park, and busy street corners. They make for a quick, salty snack while sightseeing. Just holding a warm pretzel on a crisp New York day feels classic.

Oysters

New York has a long history with oysters, once abundant in its harbor. Today, enjoying fresh oysters is a popular pastime, often served raw on the half shell with lemon, cocktail sauce, or mignonette. Oyster happy hours are a common feature in many bars.

The historic ‘Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant’ located in the stunning lower level of Grand Central Terminal is a must-visit for oyster lovers. Many other seafood restaurants and dedicated oyster bars across the city offer excellent selections from both the East and West Coasts.

Egg Cream

This classic New York soda fountain drink paradoxically contains neither egg nor cream. It’s a frothy concoction made simply with milk, seltzer (carbonated water), and chocolate syrup (Fox’s U-bet is traditional). It needs to be mixed just right to achieve its signature bubbly head.

Finding an authentic egg cream is becoming harder, but old-school diners and soda fountains like the ‘Lexington Candy Shop’ on the Upper East Side still proudly serve them. It’s a nostalgic taste of old New York, refreshingly sweet and fizzy.

Cannoli

A beloved Italian-American pastry. Cannoli consist of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough filled with a sweet, creamy ricotta cheese mixture, often flavored with vanilla or citrus and sometimes containing chocolate chips. The ends might be dipped in chopped pistachios or more chocolate chips.

Head to Little Italy in Manhattan (historic spots like ‘Ferrara Bakery & Cafe’) or Arthur Avenue in the Bronx (often called the “real” Little Italy) for some of the best cannoli. A good cannolo shell should be crisp, filled fresh to order.

Reuben Sandwich

While its exact origins are debated, the Reuben is a fixture in New York Jewish delis. It typically features corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian or Thousand Island dressing, grilled between slices of rye bread until the bread is crisp and the cheese is melted.

Many of the same delis famous for pastrami, like ‘Katz’s’ or ‘2nd Ave Deli’, serve excellent Reubens. The combination of salty corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, creamy dressing, and melted cheese is legendary comfort food.

Dim Sum

Thanks to its vibrant Chinese communities, New York offers fantastic dim sum – a Cantonese brunch tradition involving small, shareable dishes, often served from rolling carts. Think dumplings (har gow, siu mai), steamed buns (char siu bao), rice noodle rolls (cheung fun), and savory pastries.

Manhattan’s Chinatown has numerous options, from bustling banquet halls to historic spots like ‘Nom Wah Tea Parlor’. Flushing, Queens, boasts an even larger Chinatown with arguably more authentic and diverse dim sum experiences. Going for dim sum on a weekend morning is a popular New York activity.

Lobster Roll

Though strongly associated with New England, the lobster roll has become incredibly popular in NYC, especially during summer. It features chilled lobster meat, often lightly dressed with mayonnaise or warmed with butter, served in a top-split, toasted hot dog bun.

Places like ‘Luke’s Lobster’ (which started in the East Village) specialize in Maine-style (mayo-based) rolls, while others like ‘Pearl Oyster Bar’ offer excellent versions. They can be pricey but offer a taste of coastal luxury right in the city.

Chopped Cheese

A true New York bodega hero sandwich, born in Harlem and the Bronx. It features ground beef (hamburger meat) chopped up with onions and peppers on the flat-top griddle, topped with melted cheese, and served on a hero roll or round roll with lettuce, tomato, and condiments.

You’ll need to venture to local neighborhood delis or bodegas, particularly in Upper Manhattan or the Bronx, to find an authentic chopped cheese. It’s cheap, filling, and beloved by locals – a genuine taste of neighborhood New York.

Falafel

Deep-fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, herbs, and spices. Falafel is a Middle Eastern staple that has become incredibly popular street food in NYC. It’s often served in a pita pocket with salad, tahini sauce, and hot sauce.

The legendary ‘Mamoun’s Falafel’ in Greenwich Village has been serving cheap and delicious falafel since the 1970s. Many other street carts and Middle Eastern eateries across the city offer excellent versions, making it a fantastic, flavorful vegetarian option.