top food tours in nyc

10 Best Food Tours in New York City

Home | Travel | North America | United States | New York | NYC | 10 Best Food Tours in New York City

Many people consider the Big Apple to be one of the best food cities in the US , so if you want to eat your way through the city, take a New York City food tour . These are some of the best tours in NYC , and a great way to learn more about the different neighborhoods that make up Manhattan.

That said, you can find NYC foodie tours in the other boroughs, particularly Brooklyn. So, to help you find your perfect tour, I’m sharing the 10 best food tours in New York City :

• Manhattan Food & History Tour
• Little Italy Food Tour
• Brooklyn Food Tour
• Greenwich Village Cupcake Walking Tour
• Pizza Bus Tasting Tour
• NYC Lunch, Brunch, or Dinner Cruise
• Hell’s Kitchen Walking Food Tour
• Chelsea Market Food Tour
• Williamsburg Food Tour
• Flatiron Food, History & Architecture Tour

Keep reading to learn more about the top bus and walking food tours in New York City , as well as what to expect from each tour, including price and duration. And of course, arrive hungry, because you’ll get to sample some of the most delicious snacks, dishes, and desserts in the city !

1. Manhattan Food & History Tour, one of the best food tours in NYC

First, this Manhattan food tour is the perfect combination of food, history, and culture, making it one of the best walking food tours in New York City . It lasts for 3 hours and includes several delicious stops across the Lower East Side, such as Chinatown and Little Italy.

As you eat your way through Manhattan, you’ll visit some of the area’s most popular eateries and markets, as well as historic landmarks like the NY Supreme Court, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Sara D. Roosevelt Park, the Tenement Museum, and the African Burial Ground National Monument. You’ll also learn how the city became a melting pot of cultures and flavors, thanks to an influx of immigrants, which is why it’s considered one of the best things to do in NYC.

Bring your friends and enjoy mouth-watering Chinese fried dumplings, Italian cheeses from the Nolita neighborhood, and potato knishes from an Ashkenazi Jewish bakery. There are other scrumptious treats to enjoy, so it’s one of the best food experiences in NYC if you want to try something new.

• Price : $79+
• Duration : 3 hours
• Highlights : Chinatown, Little Italy, Nolita neighborhood, food tastings

2. Little Italy Food Tour, a savory foodie tour in New York City

Little Italy is one of the coolest places in Manhattan , and the perfect spot for an NYC pizza tour , so it’s no surprise that I recommend this 2-hour food tour . During the tour, you’ll visit four family-owned eateries and learn about the culture and history of Little Italy.

This neighborhood became a hub for immigrants in the 20 th century, many of them from Italy. By booking this tour, you’ll get skip-the-line access to some of the most prolific restaurants and bakeries in the area, some of which are over 100 years old.

Check out the prosciutto-infused bread at Parisi Bakery , a favorite of Frank Sinatra’s, then dig into a slice from the brick coal oven at Lombardi’s Pizza , which is over 105 years old. You’ll also visit Ferrara Bakery and Alleva Dairy , one of the oldest cheese shops in the country that sells amazing mozzarella and ricotta.

This Little Italy New York City food tour also includes a stop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Prohibition-era Curb Exchange depot, and filming locations from The Godfather and Donnie Brasco .

• Price : $50+
• Duration : 2 hours
• Highlights : Visit historic sites in Little Italy and enjoy food tastings from four local restaurants

3. Brooklyn Food Tour, another top food tour in NYC

As I mentioned, Brooklyn is home to some of the best foods of New York , so check out this 3-hour tour with a local guide. They’ll share their recommendations and take you to some of the best foodie spots in the borough.

You’ll learn just how diverse Brooklyn is in terms of flavors and food trends, many of which have stood the test of time. Among the food tastings you’ll do here, you’ll try goodies from the oldest Middle Eastern bakery in the city and visit an old-fashioned soda fountain and ice cream parlor.

Visit some local mom-and-pop shops, an Italian restaurant, and a contemporary American café for some artisanal products, delicious cheeses and breads, and scrumptious pastries and coffee. If you’re looking for a variety of textures, flavors, and aromas, this Brooklyn foodie tour is for you!

• Highlights : Join a local guide to the best mom-and-pop shops, Italian cafes, Middle Eastern bakeries, and New American restaurants in Brooklyn

4. Greenwich Village cupcake walking tour

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you must do this Greenwich Village cupcake tour , which will take you to the best boutique bakeries in the area. As you walk through Washington Square Park and the West Village, you’ll learn about the history of the cupcake and how it has transformed into a huge culinary craze.

Of course, you’ll also do a cupcake tasting, sampling a variety of flavors from traditional chocolate and red velvet to experimental creations. If the sound of strawberry shortcake and buttercream icing has your mouth watering, then it’s time to book this NY food tour !

Besides the delicious flavors, this Manhattan food tour will also take you to some historic spots in Greenwich Village, making it one of the best walking tours in NYC .

• Highlights : Cupcake tastings at several sweet shops and bakeries in Greenwich Village

5. Pizza Tasting Bus Tour, a delicious NYC food tour

For the ultimate NYC pizza tour , I suggest doing this half-day bus tour to visit four pizzerias across NYC’s boroughs . The tour is led by Scott Wiener, a foodie and pizza enthusiast who has been featured on Food Network, the Travel Channel, and in the New York Times .

Scott will take you to his favorite pizza joints across Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island while sharing insights about the origins and history of one of the best foods in NYC . Learn the ins and outs of the city’s oldest pizzerias, from the brick ovens to the perfect ratio of cheese and sauce.

The roster of pizzerias you’ll visit changes every week, but may include Joe’s Pizza, John’s of Bleecker Street, Lombardi’s, Di Fara’s Pizza, and Patsy’s.

Finally, this tour wouldn’t be complete with some classic New York pizza slices! Enjoy the thin, crispy crust, tangy sauce, and gooey cheese of this food tasting tour in NYC .

• Duration : 4.5 hours
• Highlights : Half-day bus tour to four pizzerias, led by travel guide Scott Wiener

6. NYC Lunch, Brunch, or Dinner cruise, an NYC food tour to do as a couple

This sightseeing cruise is one of the best boat rides in NYC combined with a delicious NYC culinary experience . Choose from a brunch, lunch, or early dinner cruise in New York Harbor complete with live music, narration, and lovely views of the Manhattan skyline.

You’ll board the Bateaux New York , a sightseeing cruiser with an open-air platform and a glass-enclosed deck that gives you 180° views while protecting you from the weather or wind. The boat departs from Chelsea Piers, then sails through the harbor along the Hudson River before winding back up the East River.

Throughout the tour, you’ll be able to see famous landmarks like the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Along with the beautiful views, you’ll enjoy a gourmet 3-course meal at a private table, making this a good New York City food tour for couples.

The brunch option includes unlimited mimosas and dishes like French toast casserole, roasted salmon Provençale, eggs, pastries, and fresh fruit. The lunch cruise includes a chef-prepared menu with dishes like Caesar salad, maple glazed chicken, and NY-style cheesecake. The brunch and lunch cruises include live music accompaniment by a professional pianist.

If you choose the dinner option, you’ll dine on delicacies like lobster bisque, mushroom ravioli, herb-roasted shrimp, braised short ribs, and chocolate mousse. After the meal, enjoy some post-dinner dancing accompanied by a jazz guitarist, bassist, and pianist.

• Price : $105+
• Duration : 2-3 hours
• Highlights : Sightseeing cruise in a glass-enclosed boat, 3-course brunch, lunch, or dinner, live entertainment

7. Hell’s Kitchen Walking Food Tour, another NYC food tour you should do

Another great NYC food tour is this one through Hell’s Kitchen, which boasts a diverse culinary landscape shaped by the different cultures here.

Hell’s Kitchen was once an Irish-American working-class neighborhood, which led to some cultural tensions and struggles throughout the years, some of which inspired the events of West Side Story . Eventually, the neighborhood went through a gentrification period, and today, it’s home to some of the priciest properties in Manhattan.

As your guide takes you through the city streets, you’ll stop at five distinct eateries and sample some international cuisine. Try some Mexican empanadas , Indian curry puffs, Turkish delights, and other delicious snacks. This Manhattan food tour will expose you to the flavors of the Caribbean, China, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, and Thailand, so your stomach will be very happy.

• Price : $99+
• Highlights : Walking tour through Hell’s Kitchen to learn about its history and taste a diverse menu of cultural dishes

8. Chelsea Market Food Tour, a fun NYC food tour for all ages

The Meatpacking District is another part of Manhattan that offers all kinds of art, history, culture, and gastronomy, so consider this Chelsea Market food tour . You’ll join a local guide who will share insider food secrets and take you to the best attractions in the area.

First, explore the Meatpacking District, which was filled with slaughterhouses and packing plants in the early 20 th century. Five meatpacking companies still operate here, but the rest of the neighborhood is now filled with boutique shops and trendy bars and restaurants.

Then, visit Chelsea Market, where you’ll get a VIP tote bag with goodies. Indulge in food tastings ranging from Japanese-style tacos, NY-style pizza slices, Greek halva and tahini, and mini donuts from the Doughnuttery. You’ll also visit Artists & Fleas, a collective of vendors selling crafts, jewelry, antiques, and clothes that is one of the best flea markets in NYC .

After Chelsea Market, you’ll go to the High Line, New York City’s only elevated park. Here, your guide will point out some lovely viewpoints and architecture along the route, with some buildings dating back to the 1840s. You’ll end this New York food tour at Hudson Yards, where you’ll get to sample some artisan Belgian chocolates from Neuhaus.

• Price : $68+
• Highlights : Tour through the Meatpacking District, the High Line, and Chelsea Market with five food tastings

9. Williamsburg, a great NYC food tour in Brooklyn

This 3-hour tour through Williamsburg is another great Brooklyn foodie tour that covers a lot of ground in just a few hours. You’ll travel as a small group to six Brooklyn cafes and restaurants, where you’ll sample delicious offerings like tacos, dumplings, and barbecue ribs. Williamsburg is one of the best neighborhoods in Brooklyn to visit , so it’s impossible for you to get bored!

Check out the flavorful Mexican food at Tacombi, then nosh on traditional Polish snacks at Northside Bakery. You’ll also visit Mable’s Smokehouse for Oklahoma-style BBQ and eat some of the best pizza in Brooklyn at an award-winning pizzeria. Finally, you’ll get a sweet ending at the Milk Bar, where you can sample a delicious dessert.

This NY food tour also combines art and culture, and your guide will show you some of the most popular places to visit in Brooklyn including beautiful street art and murals. Pass by the artsy boutiques, galleries, cute bars, chic coffeehouses, and landmarks like the Williamsburg and Brooklyn Bridges.

• Highlights : Small-group tour to six eateries in Brooklyn, and views of the public art, murals, and popular landmarks

10. Flatiron Food, History & Architecture Tour

Finally, this 3-hour food and history tour through the Flatiron District is an awesome NYC food experience , especially if you’re into architecture. You’ll walk together as a small group through Union Square and the Flatiron District, two areas of Manhattan with stunning buildings and delicious eateries.

To start off, grab some Italian breakfast focaccia from Caffe Lavazza at Eataly. As you enjoy the warm, fluffy bread, you’ll learn about this impressive restaurant complex run by professional chef, Mario Batali. Then, head to Madison Square Park, where you’ll see the iconic Flatiron Building. Capture a photo of this dizzying structure, which is just 25° at its narrowest corner, before heading to your next destination.

Throughout the tour, you’ll bite into gourmet food from four renowned eateries while being entertained by your storytelling guide. Bite into a classic NY-style Reuben sandwich at Zucker’s Bagels, then savor a cheese platter and the best grilled cheese from Beecher’s Cheese Shop, which makes its cheese right in Manhattan.

Lastly, take a walk through Union Square, one of the best parks in NYC , before heading into Bread’s Bakery for a warm and delicious pastry. It’s the perfect ending to one of the coolest food tours in Manhattan .

• Highlights : Gourmet food tastings from four eateries in Union Square and the Flatiron District, guided walk past several architectural landmarks

That’s it for the 10 best food tours in New York City ! Is your stomach growling yet? I know you’ll enjoy any of these NYC foodie tours , although if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave me a comment below. I’ll be happy to answer you. Until then, have a delicious time in the Big Apple!

Ascen Aynat

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The 7 Best NYC Food Tours [2024 Reviews]

There’s no denying that New York City is one of the most diverse cities in the world, so it’s no surprise that the metropolis also boasts one of the most diverse culinary scenes.

You’ll find specialties in each of its neighborhoods, with a variety of dishes, snacks, drinks, and cultural experiences. If you’d like to dive deep into the best of NYC’s food scene, we can’t think of a better way than to experience one of these top NYC food tours.

These unique, memorable gastronomic experiences are led by experienced guides who are experts in the history and culture surrounding them. Let’s jump right into it!

Best New York City Food Tours

Quick answer: the 7 best rated nyc food tours for 2024.

• Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest
• New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen: Walking Food Tour
• Best of Brooklyn Half-Day Food and Culture, Bus and Walking Tour
• Food Tour of Greenwich Village
• New York’s West Village Food Tour
• New York City: Half-Day Pizza Tasting Bus Tour
• Half-Day Hell’s Kitchen Food Tour and Central Park Stroll

NYC Food Tour Reviews

1. chinatown and little italy food fest.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Departure:  30 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
• Departure Time: 10:30 AM
• Includes:  Food tasting, Local guide, Detailed itinerary, Alcoholic Beverages

Chinatown is a vibrant, bustling neighborhood in Lower Manhattan that offers authentic Chinese cuisine and an amazing cultural experience. NYC’s Little Italy is a charming, historic neighborhood located nearby and known for its rich Italian influence and food.

With the Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest Tour , you’ll be able to see them both the way they were meant to be.

It’s no secret that these are 2 of the top foodie neighborhoods in the Big Apple, which is really saying something if you know anything about the world-class food scene, here!

Checking them out on your own can be undeniably intimidating, and can be hard to know where to start. After all, you want to see taste the best that each one has to offer!

Meet up with your guide at the Silk Road Cafe, and head off through the once predominantly Italian immigrant epicenter. The neighborhood is bursting at the seams with amazing restaurants and trattorias offering pasta, pizza, cannoli, gelato, espresso, and other classic Italian dishes. While chowing down, enjoy notable landmarks like the Church of the Most Precious Blood!

Expand To See More See Less

Next up is Chinatown, which is one of the biggest and most famous Chinatowns in the entire world. You’ll be all but transported right to China, with colorful storefronts, streets illuminated with red lanterns, traditional markets, and of course a myriad of restaurants, bakeries, and street vendors.

You’ll find everything from dim sum and noodles to roasted meats and fresh seafood. All the while, your local guide will lead the way to the best hidden gems as well as some of the most notable tourist hot spots.

Perfectly melding history with the culinary scene, you’ll experience a well-rounded tour enriched by funny stories, anecdotes, and lots of insider tips that only a local would know. Make sure to come hungry, because there’s a ton to try!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience, 2. new york city’s hell’s kitchen: walking food tour.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Departure:  Gyu-Kaku, 321 W 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues
• Departure Time:  12:30 PM
• Includes: Guide, food stops at 5 locations

Hell’s Kitchen may sound a bit intimidating by the name alone, but it’s one of the most high-spirited, diverse neighborhoods in the city. In fact, the historic spot boasts one of the best restaurant communities, from Peruvian and Brazilian to Uzbek and Thai.

While I definitely recommend spending some time there on your own, if you want the ultimate way through HK, you have to partake in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen: Walking Food Tou r!

Having started in the mid-19th century by mostly Irish refugees from the Great Famine, Hell’s Kitchen had humble beginnings. After meeting up with your guide, they’ll take you all through the ins and outs of this neighborhood and tell you about the infamous location’s history.

Learn how it got its unique name and how it became the inspiration for the super-popular ‘West Side Story’ musical! Along the way, you’ll pay visits to some of the best Caribbean, Chinese, French, German, Mexican, Thai, Italian, etc. eateries in midtown!

The Argentinian empanadas and custom-made donuts were some of the highlights for me, though the exotic curry puffs were super special, too!

Some visits are already very well-established restaurants while others are known for their unique history and relevance in local culture.

Our guide really made this tour as memorable as it was, intertwining fascinating tales and relating it back to the dishes we tried and the places we visited. My only possible “complaint” would be that it was so fun it just flew by in those couple of hours!

3. Best of Brooklyn Half-Day Food and Culture, Bus and Walking Tour

• Duration: 4.5 hours
• Departure:  301-303 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014
• Departure Time: 11:00 AM
• Includes:  Transport by climate-controlled bus, Licensed NYC sightseeing guide, Luggage storage available upon request; your luggage is stowed at the rear of the bus, Multiple Food tastings

Brooklyn is easily one of the best places to live in the city, full of a rich art scene, beautiful waterfront views, and of course, fantastic food. In fact, you could spend your entire life in Brooklyn and likely always have a new eatery to discover.

With the Best of Brooklyn Half-Day Food and Culture, Bus and Walking Tour , you’ll take a journey from traditional ethnic locales to foodie hotspots.

This notoriously trendy borough has a more open, residential vibe to it with DUMBO being its most scenic neighborhood.

Today, you’ll get to try some sweet treats here and head through various other parts of Brooklyn like the iconic Williamsburg and Polish enclave of Greenpoint. Before anything else, though, you have to meet up with your licensed NYC sightseeing guide and hop on board your air-conditioned coach!

This makes it a much easier way to explore in a relatively short amount of time, as walking is going to take a whole lot longer.

Your tour starts off at 11:00 am and lasts almost 5 hours which perfectly covers lunch and dinner so you won’t have to worry about eating too much at once.  The first stop is in Williamsburg which is home to tons of ethnic spots, as well as the super Orthodox Hasidic Jewish community.

Next is Greenpoint, where you’ll get to try some incredibly authentic kielbasa and pierogis. Enjoy the gorgeous Prospect Park while chowing on a big slice of Neapoloitan Pizza for the ultimate NYC experience.

Then, in DUMBO you’ll get to try the Jacques Torres Bonbons at the chocolate factory for a delicious dessert.

4. Food Tour of Greenwich Village

• Departure: Jackson Square Park, cross section of 8th Ave & 13th St.
• Includes: Guide, food stops

Greenwich Village or just “the Village” is known for its incredible cultural history, brownstones, bohemian atmosphere, and intense art scene. In fact, Edgar Allan Poe, Jackson Pollock, Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg were just a few of the notable minds drawn to this neighborhood.

If you’d like to try its equally-rich culinary scene, don’t hesitate to sign up for the Food Tour of Greenwich Village !

What I love about Greenwich Village is how walkable, green, and friendly it feels. There’s so much history to this place, and with this 2-hour tour we were able to travel through so many different eras and feelings through food and eateries. This area started off with Dutch and English colonial roots, and you still see evidence of that today with certain food trends.

The guide took us through tons of place that tied into the history lessons offered, like legendary jazz clubs, independent bookshops, boutiques, cafes, and lots of artsy locales. They perfectly balanced the older and more historical places with the new and trendy, which are simultaneously worlds different but somehow the same.

I do recommend bringing some comfortable walking shoes, as you’ll be doing a lot of walking (but this is one of the best places in NYC to do so).

One thing that many understandably worry about, is attending a food tour and having to eat until they’re uncomfortable. As this tour was so well-timed and planned, we ate and then walked around as we listened to our guide’s history stories and anecdotes.

It not only kept us interested and entertained, but made it so that we always had room and enthusiasm once we arrived to our next eatery.

5. New York’s West Village Food Tour

• Departure: 201 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012
• Includes: Professional guide, 6 food tastings, lunch

Boasting charming, tree-lined streets, amazing historic architecture, vibrant art scene, and world-class dining, the West Village is understandably many visitors’ top destination.

On this tour, you’ll be able to experience multicultural flavors like never before, with a passionate and educated local foodie who knows this area like the back of their hand. The New York’s West Village Food Tour  is some of the most fun I’ve had here, and in the City That Never Sleeps, that’s really saying something!

Start off by meeting your guide at the conveniently-located Bleecker Street right to the west of the incredible Greenwich Village (hey, why not try both tours?!). Starting at 11:00 am, I found it to be the perfect timing as I just skipped breakfast and ended up being full all day after the tour.

Once everyone has arrived, you’ll set out through this exquisite location on a fun little walking tour. You’ll stop at 6 reputable local eateries, starting things off right at the renowned Hudson Bagels for some of the most delicious baked goods and cream cheese around.

Sit back and enjoy the cool and beautiful Washington Square Park before passing by the Friends building, as well as Cafe Wha? – the former hangout spot of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and others.

Next up is Faicco’s Italian Specialties for tasty Aranchini before making your way to Molly’s Cupcakes and build your own!

Take some time to walk around and explore before arriving at Bleecker Street Pizza, which has been named the best pizza in New York for 2 years now, by Food Network. However, (in my opinion) the star of the show really is Mamoun’s falafel, which has been operating since 1971!

Not to mention, it has an unbeatable family vibe where you just feel like you’re in the presence of friends.

6. New York City: Half-Day Pizza Tasting Bus Tour

• Departure:  Keste Pizza & Vino
• Departure Time:  11:30 AM
• Includes:  Course  on the history of pizza,  Pizza slices at 4 of the best pizzerias on the planet,  Transportation by big yellow school bus ,  Guidance by a certified pizza enthusiast (and licensed tour guide)

If someone asks you where the best pizza in the world is offered, chances are you’re likely to answer “New York” instead of Italy. The thin, foldable crust is hand-tossed and stretched to perfection before the highest-quality ingredients are added.

On the New York City: Half-Day Pizza Tasting Bus Tour , you’ll learn anything you could ever want to known about this culturally-iconic pie!

Sure, you can find incredible and authentic New York pizza in just about every neighborhood in the city. However, this tour was so amazing to me not only from the actual food itself, but for the history lessons and people we were able to meet. Start off by boarding a big yellow bus and start learning about why the pizza here is so unique!

For example, local tap water affects the flavor and consistency thanks to its unique silt and mineral composition which changes the dough’s texture and overall taste.

There are places all over the US that sell “NY pizza” and actually have NY tap water  flown in  to make it as authentic as possible! As it is such a competitive scene, great effort is put forth to ensure these pizzerias maintain the highest quality standards out there.

I love how each tour is unique, so you won’t always visit the same places each time. I mean, there is simply too much amazing pizza in New York to only focus on the same few. However, this tailored excursion will bring you to 4 different venues, including classic counters, oldest brick ovens, and much more.

7. Half-Day Hell’s Kitchen Food Tour and Central Park Stroll

• Duration: 4 hours
• Departure:  321 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
• Departure Time: 12:30 PM
• Includes: 2 walking tours, food tastings, water, guide

I loved Hell’s Kitchen cuisine so much, I couldn’t leave off adding this second tour to this guide. No trip to New York City is complete without a visit to Central Park, and it’s much more enjoyable if you are snacking on something tasty while you stroll around!

In fact, the  Half-Day Hell’s Kitchen Food Tour and Central Park Stroll is one of the best ways you could possibly spend an afternoon in the Big Apple.

This 4-hour tour perfectly combines eating delicious food and walking tours, so you’re learning and tasting as you go (the best way to learn, if you ask me). You’ll start off by meeting your guide in Hell’s Kitchen, where they’ll offer up interesting stories and anecdotes about the area.

Our first stop was an incredible Middle Eastern eatery, followed by some Latin American and Cajun dishes as we learned the cultural relevance of each.

I enjoyed this tour because it didn’t take us to only the Michelin-star-rated restaurants, but actually, those that are the most underrated. You’ll learn about the rich immigrant history here, gang life at the docks, and how local cuisine was affected by it all.

It’s really interesting to see how everything started, and how they’re still vital parts of New York’s culture, today.

Follow all of that tastiness up with a fun-filled walk at the iconic Central Park. Clocking in at well over 800 acres, this green escape is the perfect retreat from the concrete jungle.

There are ponds, fountains, playgrounds, and plenty of quiet space to just take it all in while learning about its 150-year history.

FAQs About New York City Food Tours

Q: what foods is new york city famous for.

• Pizza : New York-style pizza is thin, crispy, and foldable, and it’s sold by the slice or by the pie. You can find pizza joints all over the city, but some of the most iconic ones are Lombardi’s, Joe’s, and Grimaldi’s12 . You can top your pizza with anything you like, but the classic cheese and tomato sauce combo is hard to beat.
• Hot dogs: Nothing says New York like a hot dog from a street vendor or a stand. These hot dogs are usually boiled and served on a bun with mustard, sauerkraut, onions, ketchup, or relish. Some of the most famous places to get a hot dog are Gray’s Papaya , Nathan’s Famous , and Papaya King12.
• Bagels with lox: A bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon is a quintessential New York breakfast or brunch. The bagels are boiled and baked to create a chewy and dense texture, and the lox adds a salty and smoky flavor. You can also add capers, onions, tomatoes, or cucumbers for some extra crunch. Some of the best places to get bagels with lox are Russ & Daughters , Ess-a-Bagel , and Zabar’s12 .
• Cheesecake . New York-style cheesecake is rich, creamy, and amazing! It’s made with cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and sour cream or heavy cream, and baked in a springform pan with a graham cracker crust. It’s usually served plain or with fruit toppings like strawberries or cherries. Some of the best places to get cheesecake are Junior’s, Eileen’s Special Cheesecake , and S&S Cheesecake23 .
• Black and white cookies : These cake-like cookies are half-frosted with vanilla and chocolate icing, creating a striking contrast. They’re soft, moist, and sweet, and they’re often sold at bakeries and delis.

Q: Why does NYC has such good food?

• Diversity: NYC is a melting pot from people from all over the world. They bring their culinary expertise and influences with them. You can find authentic and fusion dishes from almost every country and region, from pizza and bagels to hot dogs and cheesecake12. You can also discover new and exciting flavors from emerging cuisines, such as Jamaican beef patties, soup dumplings, and spicy cumin lamb noodles34.
• Quality: NYC’s food is not only diverse, but also high-quality. The city has some of the best ingredients, chefs, and restaurants in the world. There are Michelin-starred restaurants, bakeries famous legendary eateries that have been serving customers for decades. There is some of the freshest seafood, produce and meat from local farms and markets.
• Creativity: NYC’s food is not only high-quality, but also creative. With the competition of so many restaurants, chefs are constantly coming up with new ideas. There are food trucks, pop-ups and themed restaurants that offer unique experiences. You can also try some of the most original and inventive dishes, such as cronuts, ramen burgers, sushi burritos, and rainbow bagels.
• Accessibility: NYC’s food is not only creative, but also accessible. You can find something you like no matter what your taste, budget, or dietary preference. You can find cheap and delicious street food, cozy and casual cafes, elegant and upscale restaurants and everything in between.

Q: Why should I do a NYC food tour?

History : You’ll learn about the history and culture of NYC through its food. A food tour is not just about eating, you can learn a lot about the city a the same time. You’ll discover how different cuisines and dishes came to be in NYC, and how they reflect the diversity and identity of the city. You’ll also hear stories and anecdotes from your guide, who is a local expert and a passionate foodie.

Variety : You’ll sample a variety of foods in one day. There is no better way to try different foods in one day without having to worry about planning. You’ll visit several places in different neighborhoods, and taste some of the most popular and representative foods of each area. You’ll also get to try some hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path spots that you might not find on your own.

Fun : You’ll have fun and meet new people. A food tour is a great way to spend half a day with your friends, family, or even solo. You’ll join a small group of fellow travelers who share your love for food and adventure. You’ll also interact with your guide and the local vendors, who will welcome you with warmth and hospitality. You’ll have a blast eating, chatting, and laughing along the way.

Tips : You’ll get tips and recommendations for your trip. A food tour is a great way to get insider tips and recommendations for your trip in NYC. You’ll also get a map and a list of the places you visited on the tour, so you can go back or explore more on your own.

Q: What is the best NYC food tour?

A: If you can afford to spend a little extra we recommend the Best of Brooklyn Half-Day Food and Culture, Bus and Walking Tour . With this tour you will go to some premium restaurants and try some of the finest food in NYC!

Q: What is the cheapest New York City food tour?

A: If you are on a budget we recommend the New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen: Walking Food Tour . This is a little shorter so you won’t get to try as many types of food but what you do is still awesome!

Foods Tasted

Tour guides.

The Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest is our Editors Choice for the best NYC food tour

Krysha Thayer

Related articles, the 7 best key west snorkeling tours [2024 reviews], the 8 best maui & molokini snorkel tours [2024 reviews], 🚁 the 7 best oahu helicopter tours [2024 reviews], top 15 things to do in maui.

Celebrating 12 Years of Delicious Food Tours - Small & Large Group Team Building Available

Food Tours in NYC

– A CULINARY EXPERIENCE COMPANY –

Experience the Best Walking Food Tours in NYC

New York City is a food lover’s dream! If you want to taste the flavors of NYC, Sidewalk Food Tours has a full menu of culinary experiences to help you get to know the city like a local. Our New York food tours include delicious favorites, like pizza, beer, falafel, and more. Choose an experience below. Your NYC food tour is waiting!

• Featured NYC tour!
• Map Marker New York City
• Clock 11am-2pm
• Calendar Sunday & Monday

LOWER EAST SIDE FOOD TOUR

Join us as we explore what was once an immigrant and working-class neighborhood rich in ethnic diversity and culture. Savor foods from world-renowned 100+ year-old Jewish food institutions.

• Calendar Friday & Saturday

WEST VILLAGE FOOD TOUR

The tastes, traditions, and old-world class of these landmark establishments make for a true New York experience. It’s no coincidence these foods can all be found in the historic and savory West Village.

• Clock 3pm-5:30pm

PIZZA, BEER, & HISTORY TOUR

Enjoy learning interesting tidbits and increase your cultural knowledge, all while savoring three pizza samplings and two beer tastings in historic Greenwich Village.

• Info Private Only
• Clock 11am-1pm
• Calendar Monday - Friday

DOWNTOWN NYC FOOD TRUCK TOUR

We take you to the downtown food trucks that the locals frequent so you can experience the real flavors, people, and culinary energy that you can only find in NYC!

MIDTOWN FOOD TRUCK TOUR

We’ve done the legwork so we can guide you to the tastiest and most innovative cuisines prepared and served on the street.

• Calendar Thursday & Friday

MAD MEN COCKTAILS TOUR EXPERIENCE

On this tour, we’ll sip cocktails from three different establishments featured on the show. Your Mad Men guide will discuss the significance of the different locations and show you clips of Mad Men to see how they re-created New York City in the 60s on an L.A. set.

CUSTOMIZABLE TOURS

• Clock Flexible
• Calendar 7 days a week

NYC PRIVATE FOOD TOUR

Sidewalk Food Tours of New York City offers the best private walking food tours for all our tour options. The Sidewalks team will work with you to create the perfect tour suited to your group’s interests and showcasing your desired city’s best foodie neighborhoods!

NYC CORPORATE TEAM BUILDING TOUR

Sidewalk Food Tours specializes in curating the best corporate team building food tour experiences in New York City. Our tours are a great opportunity for your team to get outside of their usual office environment and hit the streets to taste delicious treats from our favorite spots in your city’s neighborhood!

Your Ultimate NYC City Guide

14 actually fun things to do on the lower east side new york city.

Written By: Emily Walton    New York’s Lower East Side is the perfect mix of tradition, art, and modern life. No matter what you are looking for, you can find it here. The Lower East Side has everything. They’ve got trendy bars, nightclubs, museums, and establishments that celebrate the community’s heritage.    There are many…

July 5, 2023

The Location of Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment Building in New York City

Carrie Bradshaw’s House From Sex And The City Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment building in Sex and the City is as iconic as her white tutu and pink tank outfit. We see her walking up her New York City brownstone steps throughout the show. From first dates to first heartbreaks, that apartment saw it all.    Since…

March 1, 2023

GET TO KNOW SIDEWALK FOOD TOURS

- new york city -.

Join us as we eat our way through the West Village, the Lower East Side, and the food trucks in Midtown and the Financial District. In addition to all the delectable foods you get to savor, your food tour guide discusses the history, culture, architecture, and food scene of the neighborhood. We showcase the best restaurants, food trucks, mom-and-pop shops, and ethnic eateries.

However, our tours are about more than just the food. We offer you a side dish of the interesting history and culture of four amazing neighborhoods. Our guides are the best darn storytellers in the business.

Our goal is to provide an exceptional food and culture experience so our guests can revisit the neighborhoods with confidence to take advantage of the array of food and cultural options they have to offer. Come eat with us!

Follow us on Instagram  @sidewalkfoodtours  and tag your food photo with #sidewalkfoodtours!

REVIEWERS CALL OUR TOURS THE "BEST FOOD TOURS" IN NYC!

Very enjoyable. Great way to get a taste of one of Manhatten's neighborhoods, whether you are a tourist or a local. Our guide shared many wonderful stories about the history of various sites and we learned so much that was very fascinating!

Loved the whole feel of this tour. The old versus the new cuisine - the authentic stores and the quality of the food was excellent. Matt was extremely easy going very knowledgeable and I definitely would recommend taking this tour if you have never visited the Lower East side - even if you live here in NYC :))

We had a great tour! It was cool to learn the history of the Lower East Side and the food was delicious. Our guide was knowledgeable and did a wonderful job being prepared with plates, silverware, napkins etc. he got us in and out of even the busier spots.

We had the best time! We're New Yorkers but got this tour as a wedding gift. It was a great way to spend an afternoon getting to know the neighborhood!

My husband and I had a great time on the Pizza, Beer and History tour. We got the tour as a wedding gift and we're so glad we did! We live in NYC and Adam, our awesome guide, still had tons of facts and info that we'd never heard before. And of course the pizza was delicious! Highly recommend whether you live in NYC or are visiting.

My daughter and I loved this tour. Great food and lots of it. Matt was very knowledgeable of the area and the people. Definitely recommend.

I just got back from taking a tour and I can't wait to take my next one! I had so much fun and our guide was fantastic. And the food- it was so good! I highly recommend checking out one of these tours!

It was a great way to get introduced to a number of restaurants that we otherwise might never have happened into. Some of the best falafel, great Cuban food, and fun customizing cupcakes.

My boyfriend and I did the Lower East Side Tour with Matt and it was great! Matt knew so much history and really made the tour fun. The places we went were awesome too. I can't wait to do our Food Truck Tour in December.

See what Sidewalk Food Tours is all about!

Fill out the form here and choose your city of interest to receive our specialized local restaurant recommendations on the house.

Email Address *

City of Interest *

Chicago Los Angeles New Orleans New York City Paris San Diego San Francisco

How Did You Hear About Us? *

Google Search Other Web Search Trip Advisor Yelp Air BnB Gold Star Friends & Family Previous Customer Word of Mouth Travel Agent Concierge Other

Manhattan Food Tours uses cookies to give you the best possible service. If you continue browsing, you agree to our use of cookies. More details can be found in our terms and conditions .

• [email protected]
• +1 (914) 564-0461
• Open Facebook account in a new tab.
• Open Instagram account in a new tab.
• Open Tripadvisor account in a new tab.
• Open Twitter account in a new tab.
• Open Yelp account in a new tab.

Visit  Manhattan Walking Tour  for even more experiences!

You just found the best New York City food tour!

Food captures the essence of a neighborhood, greenwich village food tour, hell’s kitchen food tour, east village food tour, chinatown food tour, the best local guides.

It’s like having a friend show you around! What better way to experience the best food Manhattan has to offer than with real New Yorkers? Our expert, local tour guides have years of experience helping guests learn the history and culture that is NY, not to mention the best restaurants.

Semi-Private Tour

Unlike a typical New York City food tour, ours are never more than 8 people – guaranteed. Your guide is always standing right next to you and interacting with the group. He/she not only gives you great information but is available to answer all of your questions, whether about the history or where to get the best cocktails. This is a unique, intimate, personal experience.

Amazing Food

Each of these walking food tours New York include the price of food and are enough for a full lunch. Nothing comes on little toothpicks, we feed you well! Make sure to have a light breakfast on the day of your tour.

The best walking food tour NYC has to offer

Tours sell out fast, so purchase your tickets today.

Manhattan Food Tours offer the most exciting foodie experiences in New York City! This town is the ultimate home for food lovers and our tours are designed to delight each of your senses. Our ethnically diverse New York City food tour is not only delicious but full of interesting facts about the history and culture of the neighborhoods in which we visit. For a truly intimate culinary experience, there is nothing better than our small group size – 8 people or less guaranteed! A semi-private tour with lots of food, fun and facts, courtesy of some of the city’s best guides – that’s our formula. You’re sure to get the most out of your NYC food tour experience when you eat your way through Manhattan with us. It’s like having a friend show you around the best spots in town.

Just choose from our food tours below, come hungry and take a bite out of The Big Apple!

Read What They Said

Just returned from a family reunion in New York with my two sisters and their families (ages ranged from 18-65 years old). The highlight of our trip was the Greenwich Village food tour with Alex. This was my third food tour with Alex and my daughter’s fourth. […] We had a larger group than normal and Alex was able to manage all the different personalities while making each person feel special. Read Full Testimonial

This tour was a great way spend the afternoon. Since we had such a small group, our guide Nancy was able to answer everyone’s questions. She treated us like we were her friend’s visiting. I was not expecting such a large amount of food at every stop. Read more

January 2019

We went on the Hells Kitchen food tour during our recent visit. Our guide was Annabel and she was awesome. I’m so glad we got to go with her. She was very knowledgeable and friendly. She remembered everyone’s names, which is very impressive as our group had 8 people on it. […] If you are looking for a Hell’s Kitchen food tour, this is the one you want. Read more

Food, Facts and Fun

Combining all the best the big apple has to offer in four amazing food tours..

At Manhattan Food Tours, take a journey into the past with one of our knowledgeable tour guides. We concentrate on fun while giving you a historic view of the neighborhood we are eating our way through. Add in the best food New York City has to offer, and our tours bring the neighborhood to life. Our tours are like having a friend in New York showing you around their neighborhood and making sure to give you and your guests the most delicious culinary experience.

Check Us Out On Instagram

@manhattanwalkingtour, manhattanwalkingtour.

One of everything please 😍🍕 ...

One of everything please 😍🍕 @villagesquarepizza 🎟 Book your spot on our East Village Food & History Experience using the Linktree in bio ⬆️ #mwtnyc #manhattan #nyc #eastvillage #eastvillagehistory #eastvillagefoodtour ...

Come have fun with @meatballers on our Hell's...

Come have fun with @meatballers on our Hell's Kitchen Food Tour 😍🤤 🎟 Use the link in bio to book your tour ⬆️ #mwtnyc #manhattan #hellskitchen #nyc #meatballs #mozzysticks ...

Come try these marvelous pastries on our Greenwich...

Come try these marvelous pastries on our Greenwich Village food tour 😍 @auxmerveilleuxdefrednyc 🎟 Linktree in bio for tickets ⬆️ #mwtnyc #manhattan #newyorkcity #foodtour ...

@crifdogs #iykyk 🌭🍸

@crifdogs #iykyk 🌭🍸 ...

😍🍕 @bleeckerstreetpizza #mwtnyc ...

😍🍕 @bleeckerstreetpizza #mwtnyc #manhattan #newyorkcity #pizza #foodtour ...

🚨 NEW TOUR! East Village Food & History ...

🚨 NEW TOUR! East Village Food & History Experience! Rock, Riots, & Rebels! Feeling nostalgic for an Egg Cream?! This unique tour blends the neighborhood's diverse culinary offerings with its rich historical narrative. Explore the neighborhood roots forged by 19th century immigrants. Walk in the footsteps of legendary artists & musicians. Indulge your taste buds in the eclectic flavors of this dynamic enclave! This immersive tour encapsulates the essence of New York City's past, present & future! 🎟 Use the link in our bio for tickets ⬆️ #mwtnyc #newyorkcity #eastvillage #eastvillagefoodtour #eastvillagehistory #eeeeats #eggcream #punkrock #manhattan #birria #pizza #hotdogs #pastry ...

Loving the new @leosbagels expansion ...

Loving the new @leosbagels expansion ❤️🥯 Everything with scallion cream cheese & bacon 🥓 Our favorite order 😉 #mwtnyc #newyorkcity #manhattan #eathere #fidi #lowermanhattan #bagels ...

View never gets old 😍🌁🏙🗽 ...

View never gets old 😍🌁🏙🗽 #mwtnyc #nyc #newyorkcity #brooklyn #brooklynbridge #manhattan #cityscape ...

HUNGRY FOR MORE INFO?

Food Tours in NYC

Best food tours in nyc for your next culinary journey.

With so many iconic eateries and culinary experiences waiting around every corner, food tours in NYC are an incredible way to explore one of the best foodie cities in the world. From chasing down hard-to-find food trucks to discovering an artisan chocolate factory to wandering through local markets and off-the-beaten-path hideaways, the best food and drink tour guides in the city promise an unforgettable experience for all. Book a food tour in NYC today!

Eat your way through New York City with a food tour led by a top local guide! Learn all about the culture and history of neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, Brooklyn and more as you explore both hidden and popular restaurants. Perfect for date nights, while on vacation, birthdays, team building activities and more. You'll avoid tourist traps and discover favorite food spots only a local food expert would know about.

1 - 12 / 34

Greenwich Village Culinary Adventure

Explore the flatiron and union square, walking and tasting tour of williamsburg, traditions of greenwich village, local favorites in nyc.

The perfect gift for any occasion, any time.

Landmarks of Manhattan

Stroll through hell's kitchen, local eats in greenwich village, immigrant influence in nyc, the best of brooklyn, discover williamsburg in brooklyn, delicious diversity in greenwich village.

Showing 1 to 12 out of 34 results

Most Popular NYC Food Tour Neighborhoods

Other experiences in nyc.

This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website.

We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.

This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.

New York City Food Tours

SD › New York Food Tours Updated: October 9, 2023 By Santorini Dave

• Where to Stay in NYC

We loved the Pizza Tasting Bus Tour through Brooklyn. Wonderfully fun and informative.

The 10 Best Food Tours in NYC 1. The Story of the Lower East Side’s Food Culture Lively tour of the Lower East Side, Chinatown, and Little Italy. There’s a fair bit of walking in this one. Lots of great food and interesting NYC history. 2. Brooklyn Food & Culture Bus Tour Wonderful half-day tour of Brooklyn food, history, and culture. Tastings vary but often include meatballs, knish, falafel, pirozhki, pierogi, kielbasa, coffee, cannoli, apple pie, chocolate, and some amazing pizza. Plenty of vegetarian options are also available. This is probably the best food tour in New York City. (If it’s sold out, the Brownstone Brooklyn Food Tour is also very good.) 3. Private Food Tours If you’re looking for something more private and with fewer people there are several excellent private food tours in NYC. Two of our favorites are the Brooklyn Pizza & Brewery Tour and Greenwich Village Food Crawl . Best Private Tours in NYC (not food related) • Manhattan Walking Tour • Manhattan Helicopter Tour 4. Lower East Side Food Tour Great tour of a historic NYC neighborhood. Stops include legendary places like Russ & Daughter’s, Katz’s Delicatessen, Kossar’s Bialys, Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery, the Doughnut Plant, The Pickle Guys, and North Dumpling. 5. Food Tour of Greenwich Village Pizza, bagels, cupcakes, artisanal mac and cheese, bread, prosciutto, donuts, french pastries, cannoli, coffee, and more. Great tour and lots of fun. (If sold out try the Original Cupcake Tour of Greenwich Village .) 6. Pizza Tasting Bus Tour Take a deep dive on New York City pizza. Guides are pizza fanatics. Tour starts in Manhattan and takes you to 4 pizzerias in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Highly recommended.

I’ve done so many great food tours of Manhattan and Brooklyn and have never really done anything close to bad. The best food tours are a fantastic and fun way to learn about the city’s culture, history, and heritage. The 3-hour Lower East Side Food & Culture Tour is the single best food walking tour in the city.

7. Hell’s Kitchen Walking Food Tour Get generous tastings from some of the best restaurants in New York. Hell’s Kitchen is the lively and diverse neighborhood just west of Times Square and a great area to learn about the city’s architecture and history. 8. Brunch, Lunch or Dinner Cruise Cruise New York Harbor on board an all-glass boat (the Bateaux New York) for a 2.5 to 3-hour sightseeing cruise departing from Chelsea Piers in Manhattan. Aweseome views of the city! 9. Guided Delicious Donut Tour Start at Eataly and hit some of the city’s top donut spots such as Doughnut Plant, Donut Pub, and the Doughnut Project. 10. Flatiron Food, History, & Architecture Tour Fun tour with 4 gourmet tastings. Eataly (the Italian food market) is the highlight for many – but there’s lots to see in this wonderful food district in Midtown Manhattan.

The Lower East Side Food Tour is the best food tour for first-time visitors to New York City.

About Santorini Dave

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Reserve Your Spot with Confidence! Full Refunds with 24 Hrs Notice. Reschedule at any point, even after tour, if space allows!

The Best Food Tours in NYC

Free Tours by Foot is proud to present the only pay-what-you-like food tours of New York City.

If you are looking for a food tour that leaves your stomach full but your wallet empty, then Free Tours by Foot food tours may not be for you.

Why Choose Us?

• Greenwich Village Food Tour

Lower East Side Food Tour

• Self-Guided Tours

If you are looking for a fun, filling, and affordable way to take a bite of the Big Apple, come to join us.  

We offer food tours every day of the week, but not all tours run daily.  

We recommend that you take a look at our full schedule to see whether or not a particular food tour listed below will be running when you are in NYC.

Like always, our New York food tours are free to take. We believe in allowing you to name your own price, even free after the tour is finished.

And our reviews speak for us. See what others say about our local guides on Google , TripAdvisor , and Yelp .

And unlike costly food tours that decide for you what and how much you'll be eating, we believe in giving foodies the choice to decide what to eat, how much you eat, and how much you spend.

Each tour stops at 4-5 scrumptious food shops that serve up incredibly delicious and inexpensive cuisine served in portions that can be easily divided and shared or singularly devoured.

Our guides make recommendations and facilitate ordering, but you have the final say.

You choose your own food and pay for it directly (usually between $7-$15).

In between the food stops, you'll have time to digest your food as well as the history of the neighborhood, as told to you by our entertaining and knowledgeable local New York tour guides.

Our Greenwich Village Food Tour explores the restaurants, shops, food, and architecture of the West Village, one of Manhattan's most historic neighborhoods.

Greenwich Village is a visitor favorite for visitors and locals alike for its shady, winding streets with 19th Century houses, its bohemian roots, and historic Washington Square Park.

But the Village's tree-lined streets are also lined with some of the best restaurants and food specialty shops in all of the Big Apple.

You'll crunch your sweet tooth with scrumptious desserts, indulge in prosciutto arancini (rice balls) from a shop 100 years old, and eat falafel at one of the first Middle Eastern establishments in the United States.

And in a city known for its pizza, you will try not one but two of the city's best-rated pizzerias, including one called Artichoke Pizza.

Eateries and Foods:

• Mamoum's Falafel
• Hudson Bagels
• Faiccos Rice Balls
• Bleecker Street Pizza
• Artichoke Pizza
• Varsano's Chocolate
• Molly's Cupcakes
• and much more!

Audio Tour Version

You can also take our Greenwich Village Food Tour on your own with our self-guided audio tour.

Here is a sample of our  GPS-led audio tour version  of this tour.

Download this audio tour .

Check out our blog post on  things to eat in Greenwich Village  which describes some of the below-mentioned locations.

The Lower East Side is known for its blend of cultural diversity and rich history. It's also known for its great food.

This walking tour is a food-tasting tour and is the perfect way to discover this fascinating neighborhood. 

The streets of the Lower East Side tell the tales of struggling immigrants - Eastern Europeans, Russians, Germans, Puerto Ricans - who came to America in search of opportunity.

They brought with them recipes from the 'old world' and you can still taste these foods today. 

Bagels, Knish, and Dumplings: Join us on our Lower East Side Food Tour, and explore food influenced by immigrant cultures from Eastern Europe, Russia, Germany, Puerto Rica, and many more!

Many of these stops are mom-and-pop shops that have been in business for over 100 years.

Food shops we stop at:

• Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery (see video below)
• Kossar's Bialy and Bagels
• North China Dumpling
• Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery
• The Pickle Guys*

We don't stop inside Katz's Deli, but you can go inside to taste their delicious pastrami on rye sandwiches.

We also have 3 more food tours that run less often.

• East Village Food Tour
• Chinatown Food Tour
• Williamsburg Food Tour

Seasonal Food Tours

• Flatbush Brooklyn Food Tour
• Greenwich Village Dessert Tour
• Harlem Gospel Tour and Soul Food Experience
• East Village Pub Crawl

We also offer several self-guided New York Food Tours

• Chelsea Market
• Harlem Soul Food
• Arthur Avenue in the Bronx
• Lower East Side Food and History
• Historic New York City Bars
• Where to Find New York's Best Bagels
• Be sure to also read our blog post on eating well for little money in New York City .
• How to Order at Katz's Deli

If our guided food tours schedule doesn't work for you, there are other companies offering guided food tours.  

If you are considering getting a tourist pass, you should know that many include guided food tours.  

We wrote a post to help you determine whether or not a tourist pass is for you .

For those interested in an extensive tour covering the culinary and cultural history of various neighborhoods, you may want to consider a Secret Food Tour.

This company currently offers the following outings:

• Brooklyn Food Tour
• New York Pizza Tour

You can also search for individual guided food tours  with Viator.

Choose a Destination... I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Amsterdam Berlin Boston Charleston Chicago Dubai Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Nashville New York City New Orleans Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome San Francisco Washington DC

About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

“Go early in your visit so you can try out the places recommended or return to the places you went”- Gill, United Kingdom (Online Review)

“It’s really casual (tour) and we really appreciated that we could choose what we would like to eat at each place” – Oz2, Australia (Online Review)

Book a Public NYC Food Tour Here

EAT LIKE A NEW YORKER…

Food on foot: award-winning public & private guided ny food tours, group tastings, drinking crawls, traveler restaurant services, sports tours, party tours & events.

With an array of services to suit every food lover Food On Foot has become the go to New York company for food fun in New York. Well past our roots as a food tour company we work with individuals, couples, families, businesses, schools, tour groups and operators, anyone looking to have fun with food in the New York City metropolitan area. We are known for our passion and caring because it’s real. Our company was founded by a local who didn’t want visitors to go to a chain restaurant in Times Square or settle for bad food because they thought New York restaurants were too expensive.

Today we offer out-of-towners and locals unique tours and events on both a scheduled and by appointment basis as both private and customized experiences. Our Food On Foot Tours are award winning, our hosted Gourmet NY Tasting food hall events are loved by groups and we have services for individuals and families with our Self-Guided Tours and Customized Restaurant Recommendation Service.

Are you looking for a unique celebration space for a baby or wedding shower, business meeting or birthday party? Would your group love an escorted sports tour with Food For Fans? Have a foodie in the family who would love to hang out with us instead of having the same old birthday party?

If you or your group loves to eat or someone you love loves to eat, get in touch with us. We’d love to hear from you because we’d love to eat with you!

TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Award Winner:

Creativity & Customization

We love to have fun and we know that not everyone wants do the same thing. Part of the fun of what we do is being creative and talking through ideas with you to develop the best event, party or tour that fits what you and/or your group wants. Would you like to add a wine or beer tasting at the end of a food tour? That works. Want to enjoy a progressive food crawl, appetizer at restaurant one, entrée at restaurant two and dessert at restaurant three? Let us know. Want to do something in the suburbs instead of the city? We’ll be there. Is your budget limited? You’ve come to the right place. Lots of options there too. We look forward to providing you with an experience you’ll love. We treat you like a friend, not like a customer.

Food On Foot Tours-Hudson Valley, Long Island & New York City

Available as both public and private Food On Foot Tours we are unique authentic local experiences that are very different from standard food tours. We are a ten-time TripAdvisor Award Winner, earning the Certificate of Excellence and Travelers’ Choice Awards from 2011-2020. On a Food On Foot Tour, you’ll visit real non-tourist New York City neighborhoods or suburban towns and villages while stopping at places where the people who live there eat. Many tours bring you to places because they are receiving money back from the stops. Not us! We only take you to places we like but our stops feed us and we love it! The tour is a quality fresh food eating tour and not the standard sampling tour. You’ll choose what you like at every stop and how much. Our public tours are known for being relaxed in a larger group format where you not only see and feel the real New York but you meet and mingle (or not) with others from around the world. Because you choose what you like all our stops are a surprise and we know from our years of tours that it’s much more fun that way. The tour replaces a meal. And because we care about your whole trip or your eating as a local, we help out with unbiased restaurant recommendations, if you like, to help you eat great and save money for the rest of your stay. Many of our 3,000+ excellent reviews say take our tour as early in your stay as possible to get the most out of tours and the recommendations we provide. We care about what you eat while you’re in New York. That’s why our slogan is Eat Like A New Yorker!

Gourmet NY Tasting- Hosted Food Hall Event

Imagine walking into an indoor food festival in the middle of New York City with hundreds of high- quality gourmet choices of international foods from New York curated by local chefs and restaurants and choosing whatever you like. Food On Foot Tours has created the perfect New York experience for groups with the Gourmet New York Tasting. This hosted event at six Manhattan food halls including an Asian one, is designed for groups and provides a unique experience for any meeting, party, shower or get-together. How much more fun can it be than having a space where all your guests or participants choose what they like from an amazing array of culinary treats?

Food For Fans Sports Tours

PRIVATE, SMALL, & LARGE GROUP OPTIONS

Food For Fans Sports Tours takes the guesswork out of bringing your group to the biggest sporting events and games. We enhance your experience so let us handle everything on a scheduled public, group or private tour. We’ll coordinate tickets whether you’d like to sit in a suite or upstairs. Our host will join your group and escort you to the game by private bus or by mass transit. Plus, you can add great amenities and your host will a stadium or arena walk-through (when available) and history tour. Public Guided Sports Tours outside of Manhattan use mass transit to travel to venues in the New York metropolitan area.

Spirits On Foot

THERE IS “SPIRIT” IN OUR STORY

Thousands and thousands of visitors had taken a Food On Foot Tour by 2017. Many guests had asked us to add pub crawls to our food tour menu. The response of our founder was always the same thing said in different ways but the overall theme was the same, “It’ll never work, I don’t drink”. Most guests stopped right there but with one reply one of our guests changed everything when he said, “you’d be the perfect tour guide because you don’t drink”. And a great new experience was born!

Self-Guided On-Your-Own Tour Experiences

EAT & SAVE LIKE A LOCAL, WITHOUT THE LOCAL!

Our unique and personalized service is designed to help you eat great while visiting. Since our inception, the word we have heard most often from our over 30,000 guests is overwhelmed! And that is about food in NY! Visitors don’t know where to go, what’s best, what’s great value, where places are, and so on. Our service takes the guesswork out of all of that. We can potentially save you hours of aggravation and even hundreds of dollars but it is mostly like having a friend make recommendations for you based on your plans.

New York Personalized Restaurant Recommendation Service

EAT & SAVE LIKE A LOCAL

Our unique New York Personalized Restaurant Recommendation Service is like having a best friend in New York. This is a curated service personalized for you by real people. There is no computer. This is the modern version of being on the phone with your friend or a friend of a friend getting local tips. When you order the New York Personalized Restaurant Recommendation Service we send you a questionnaire where list your preferences from cuisine to budget to location you’re staying in to attractions you’re seeing and we coordinate a personalized list for you. And we include tips about New York from tipping to using the subway to saving money from the airport. We’ll help make your trip a REAL New York experience!

WE LOVE ANSWERING QUESTIONS!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to contact you.

Our office is not staffed at all times and because of time differences the best way to contact us is by e-mail for the quickest response. If you leave a phone message (voice mail box #2) please let us know how late we can call you in the evening or how early in the morning. Please reference NY time as we receive calls from all over the world.  Because of time differences we do not return calls outside the U.S. or Canada.

Food On Foot P.O. BOX 444 Wheatley Heights, NY 11798 Phone: 1-631-491-0326 Email: [email protected]

HOW DO FOOD ON FOOT PUBLIC GUIDED TOUR TICKETS WORK?

       Our Food On Foot Guided Public Food Tour calendar posts on the 16 th day of the previous month up 

       to two months earlier. Since our food tours are different than standard food tours and you choose       

       what you like at each stop you may choose tickets with a food credit or tickets where you

       pay-as-you-go. Either way the tour is the same but each ticket type has different cancellation options

       so choose your ticket based on your needs.  We do not deviate from the terms for the ticket you buy.

       Like any concert, sports or theater ticket your ticket(s) are considered a purchase and you are

       responsible for the cost of your tickets or cancellation fees based on the terms of the ticket you buy. 

       Our spaces are very limited and once you book a ticket you are preventing someone else from 

       booking that space so cancellation options are not free and are considered a courtesy. Cancellation     

       fees increase the closer you get to your tour date. There are no cancellations of any type for any      

       reason within 24 hours of tour start times. Private travel insurance is available on the open     

       market as we do not issue refunds for free at any time for any reason. These rules also apply to any 

       tickets offered by travel partner companies unless otherwise stated in their agreement or on their 

       listing or app. If you are part of a program that offers tickets that are booked under their terms it is 

       important to note that we do not decide what to offer you. That is strictly their decision.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO BOOK A TOUR OR EVENT?

For public tours and events the only way to purchase tickets is online here or via the book button above. The public food tour schedule posts on or before the 16th of the previous month. Public food tours run from mid-March until the first week of January.  Other public tours including Spirits On Foot and Food For Fans Sports Tours have a varied schedule. Private tours are available all times of year based on availability. For private and group tours and events please contact the Food On Foot office directly.

IS FOOD ON FOOT A TOUR COMPANY?

Food On Foot started as a food tour company but we are now full service offering all types of food and sports related tours and events for individuals and groups.

WHAT DOES FOOD ON FOOT OFFER?

Let’s start with what’s made us famous, our Food On Foot Guided Tours both public and private. Other tours that we offer include our Spirits On Foot Tours (21 and over please), Food For Fans Group Sports Tours and the Self-Guided On Your Own Neighborhood Food Experiences. Our events include the Gourmet NY Tasting- a unique experience for groups in New York’s leading food halls for local meetings, events, parties and visitor groups and the Queens-Flushing Meadows International Food Excursion. We also offer our curated unbiased Custom Restaurant Recommendation Service for travelers coming to New York. We help you in enhancing your New York experience!

ARE THESE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE EVENTS AND TOURS?

Most of our events and many of our tours are for small private or larger groups. Publicly scheduled events and tours are listed on our calendar as they become available and require the purchase of tickets. Public events include Food for Fans Guided Sports Tours. Food On Foot Scheduled Guided Food Tours, Spirits On Foot Tours and the Queens-Flushing Meadows International Food Excursion.  All other events, services and tours are private for individuals, couples, families and any type of small and large group.

WHAT IF I BOOKED TICKETS OR HAVE AN OFFER THROUGH AN OUTSIDE SOURCE?

Food On Foot does have on-going and changing relationships with companies in the travel industry. If you have an offer through an outside vendor you must follow the instructions provided by that vendor on their app or website and use any booking codes they provide. If you book tickets through us and then go to any outside vendor for tickets your tickets may be non-refundable or incur a cancellation fee based on the type of ticket you purchased.

WHAT ARE THE TERMS ON PUBLIC TOUR AND EVENT TICKETS? CAN I GET A REFUND?

All of our public tours and events have one or more ticket options. You need a ticket for our tours and events because capacity is limited. We do not accept reservations under any circumstances no matter how or where you purchase your tickets. Scroll down on the booking platform for each tour/event to see ticket types. If you want a cancellation option do not purchase non-refundable tickets. Like concert, sporting event and theater venues we do not refund those tickets under any circumstances, personal or otherwise. These tickets are often the lowest cost option because you are guaranteeing your full payment at booking. Tickets with cancellation options incur a fee.

ARE EVENTS & TOURS YEAR-ROUND?

Events can be booked all year based on their availability. Not all events and tours are available year around. Always come hungry!

Proud Member:

10 of the BEST food tours NYC has to offer (with secret tips from a local)!

By: Author Girl with the Passport

Posted on Last updated: January 23, 2023

Categories New York City

Looking for some of the best food tours NYC has to offer?

If you are then you have come to the right place.

Step into my proverbial office and prepare to have your mind BLOWN!

Okay, maybe not blown. Maybe you’ll just have your curiosity piqued.

But either way:

You’ve come to the perfect person. Someone who can totally DISH (sorry but we’re going full throttle with the bad puns people) about all of the best and most delicious New York food tours.

Because honestly:

Not only have I lived in NYC WELL over twenty years (I’ve been a resident of this fantastic city a whole lot longer but no way am I going to tell you exactly how long so that you can do the math and determine my age), but I also love food about as much as I love breathing.

Breathing wins out ever-so-slightly, but only because I can live without food a whole lot longer than air. 

What I’m trying to get at is that if anyone would know all about good food in NYC, it would be this chick right here. 

WOOT, WOOT! So:

Grab a decadently delightful snack and be sure to have a moist towelette handy because we’re about to swan dive into ten of the most drool-worthy food tours NYC has for fine, food-loving folks such as yourself. 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

🏆 Looking for the BEST HOTEL IN NEW YORK CITY? Reserve a room at The James New York  and feel extra special while indulging in a bit of luxury.. 🏨

Where To Stay In NYC?

Kasa The Duffy Time’s Square – Rooms at this chic, Hell’s Kitchen hotel start at $149 per night and include fridges, flat-screen TVs and iPod docks. There’s even a working fireplace in the lobby!

The James New York – Chic, modern rooms at this Soho hotel start at $177 per night and feature high ceilings, floor to ceiling windows, glassed-off bathrooms, plush linens made from natural materials, and more

The Bowery Hotel – Rooms at this 5-star, Nolita hotel start at $300 per night and are cozy, but stylish, with free Wifi, free bike rentals, exquisite city views, and more

Pod 39 – Located in Murray Hill, this pod hotel sits inside a residential home from 1918. Rooms here start at $120 per night and are cozy and outfitted with queen-size beds or stainless-steel bunk beds with individual TVs and bedside shelves.

🏆 Looking for the best FOOD TOURS in NYC? The book the CUPCAKE Tour through Greenwich Village. It is hands down the most highly rated food tour in NYC! 🚁

1.  Take A Cupcake Tour Through Greenwich Village

⭐️ Rating: 4.3/5.0 (239 Reviews) Price: $70 per person Duration: 2 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Southwest corner of Union Square, at the intersection of East 14th Street and Union Square West Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

In my humble opinion:

Life is uncertain and you should forever and always eat dessert first.

That’s what my mom told me and I am definitely sticking with her sage advice. Which is why this epic cupcake tour is perfect for someone like me who has a sabertooth tiger size sweet tooth!

Not only does it reinforce all of the ULTRA-IMPORTANT life lessons that my dear mother taught me (LOL), but it’s also a dream activity for anyone out there who basically never met a piece of cake that they didn’t like or who wants to know exactly where New Yorkers eat . 

“Mallory was awesome! She was very knowledgeable, very friendly and engaged with the whole group. Even our 5 year old was engaged and had a fantastic time. Yes, the cupcakes were all great, but the experience as a whole was without doubt one of the best food tours we have ever participated in.” Cathy ( read more reviews now! )

Because I mean really:

Where else in the world are you encouraged to not only eat dessert but to eat MULTIPLE desserts within a two-hour time frame?

Yeah, the answer is nowhere, that’s where!

That’s why,  this cupcake tour is like this super awesome, alternate reality where you’re encouraged to “try” as many desserts as possible.

And I for one am forever down with any and all New York food tours that make it socially acceptable for me to eat like 12 desserts in one sitting.

The desserts you get on this tour are just tiny “samples” that obviously contain like one calorie a piece.

At least, that’s what i tell myself to rationalize my sugar addiction. In reality:

You’ll actually stop at like 6 different locations (Stops include Molly’s Cupcakes, Baked by Melissa , Amorino, Milk & Cookies, etc.) and will definitely not leave this tour hungry.

But not to worry because if you get full along the way:

You can just take some of the cupcakes home with you, minus the gelato since that food really isn’ a save for later kind of food.

And while all of the fine purveyors of dessert that you’ll sample along this NYC food tour are good…

My personal fave will always be Molly’s Cupcakes! I’ve been there a couple of times and am OBSESSED with building my own cupcake here (it also doesn’t hurt that this store sits along the beautiful perimeter of Washington Square Park).

Last time I was here:

I ordered a vanilla cupcake, with brown butter frosting, and DUH, rainbow sprinkles. 

Yeah, I STILL dream about that cupcake since it was that amazing.

Address:  The meeting point for this tour is at the Southwest corner of Union Square, at the intersection of East 14th Street and Union Square West.

Hours:  Tours start at 3 pm, last two hours, and run every day, except Monday and Tuesday.

Price:  $25 per person (Trust me, this is a VERY reasonable price for a food tour in NYC)

How to Get There:  You can take the 4 or 6 train and get off at Union Square/14th Street Station or take the Q train and get off at 14th Street Station.

2. Sidewalk Food Tours: Pizza, Beer, & History Tour

⭐️ Rating: 5/5.0 (23 Reviews) Price: $79 per person Duration: 4.5 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Keste Pizza & Vino Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Here’s the thing:

When you come to New York City, you need to have at least one slice of New York-style pizza while you’re here.

Preferably more, but one will suffice if you’re lactose intolerant.

With like a billion pizza places on every corner (literally), things can go very, very wrong, very, very quickly.

That’s why:

If you’re dying to try some of New York’s absolute best pizza, then this pizza filled food tour through NYC’s Greenwich Village is a must. Plus you get to sit on a funky bus and enjoy the ride.

Why stop at pizza? Why not really go for the glory and pair that pizza with an ice-cold beer (Or two…or ten. Because in my world, things always escalate quickly)?

Because let’s be real:

Beer and pizza perfectly go together, just like peanut butter and jelly.

And in case PB and J was never your thing:

What I’m trying to say is that pairing pizza with beer is a flippin’ match made in heaven.

While we’re at it, why not learn a thing ot two about the grand ol’ history of NYC?

Because yes:

 All history lessons should be served with a slice of pizza and an ice, cold beer.

Here’s the thing though:

To guarantee that you adequately retain all of this juicy, NYC-related, historical info, the price of your tour includes three slices of pizza and two beer tastings.

Consuming anymore more than that would just leave you with not-so-delightful thoughts like, “Who am I? Where am I? And wait, who are you?”

Here at Girl with the Passport, we try to encourage responsible drinking (the keyword there is “try”).

But, enough about drunken shenanigans, let’s talk about the pizza!

Because  on this tour , you definitely won’t be getting any rando, greasy AF pizza from some lame, run of the mill pizza joint (Oh hell to the no).

In truth, the pizza maybe a little greasy but in a good way since the gastronomic gurus over at Sidewalk Food Tours’ will have you devouring slices from THREE of the area’s finest purveyors of pizza.

And added bonus?

You’ll also get to watch in delight as the masterful pizzaiolos (aka pizza makers), from each of these shops actually hand toss the perfect pizza, right before your eyes.

It really doesn’t get any more authentic than that.

Stop counting calories for the day and eat all the pizza…in the name of culinary research!

But wait, what about the beer?

Ah, so glad you asked!

Greenwich Village has long been a hub of sorts for aspiring artists, musicians, and writers alike. And what do each one of these starving artists love with all of their heart? Yup, one word, alcohol. 

“Scott is so much fun and has all of the pizza knowledge and facts. He took us to four delicious pizza places. It was a blast riding on a school bus to all of the locations. My 13 year old son especially loved the tour and says we will have to go again when we visit NYC again.” Nicole ( read more reviews now! )

Greenwich Village is now home to some of the oldest and most famous speakeasies in all of NYC.

And because  this NYC food tour  is super awesome:

You’ll definitely get the chance to sip a beer at one of the most famous speakeasies in the entire city.

Raise a glass, to one of the most epic food tours in NYC; a culinary experience that will have you doing an impromptu bar crawl in the immortal, alcohol-ingesting footsteps of legendary artists like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Bob Dylan, and Jackson Pollock.

And trust me:

This tour is 100% safe since you’ll have a belly full of pizza to soak up all that beer.

Address:  The meeting point for this tour is in front of Porto Rico Importing Co., at 201 Bleecker Street.

Hours:  Tours start at 13 pm, last two and a half hours, and run on Fridays and Saturdays.

Price:  $69 per person 

How to Get There:  You can take either the A, C, E, B, D, or F trains and get off at West 4th Street station.

3.Sidewalk Food Tours: West Village Food Tour

⭐️ Rating: 5/5.0 (1 Reviews) Price: $ per person Duration: 3 hours 📍 Meeting Point: In front of the Porto Rico Importing Co Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now !

When you’re in New York:

it’s pretty easy to accidentally walk into one of those lame, over-priced restaurants that you’ll likely find in areas that are heavily frequented by tourists (cough, Times Square).

But who can blame you?

Not only are you new to the city, but you also probably have images of iconic New York hot dogs and pretzels swirling through your head.

Grabbing a hotdog, or pretzel, from a local street vendor, has got to be a  quintessential, New York City experience…right? Buehler?

See, if you do this, you’ll be missing out on one of the best parts of New York City’s food scene, the chance to experience a melting pot of different cultures through the city’s neverending diversity of cuisine.

And that’s where this amazing, West Village Food Tour comes in.

They’ll basically do all of the hard work for you and escort you to seven different, totally epic, totally delicious, foodie hotspots du jour.

All of these places sit practically right on top of one another, allowing you to quickly and easily sample some of the best food in NYC.

All you have to do is show up and let the foodie magic happen during this 3-hour food tour of NYC.

Oh, and you have to pay. Paying is kind of essential.

Also, do yourself a HUGE favor and hold off on consuming any meals before embarking on this journey.

This  West Village Food Tour really is one of the best food tours NYC has to offer, and as a result, is quite filling since you’ll basically want to finish EVERYTHING that they put in front of you.

You’ll start your foodie journey at Cuba Restaurant, where you can enjoy some of the best and most authentic Cuban food outside of Havana (Think fried plantains and thin and crispy empanadas).

“Your tour with great food. You will leave stuffed!!!” Susan ( read more reviews now!)

Trek on over to the OLDEST falafel shop in all of New York City, Mamoun’s Falafel, for some next-level awesome falafels that will leave you feeling like you’ve died and gone to foodie heaven

(PSST: This shop sits right next door to NYC’s Immortal, Comedy Cellar. Info that will be incredibly useful to all of my comedy-lovin; homies out there).

And so on and so forth until your day of indulgence is finally complete.

But wait, it gets better!

Because this NYC food tour will make your foodie journey through the city even more memorable by taking you to places that aren’t just mouthwateringly delicious, but that are also historically and culturally significant to NYC’s food scene.

And if that’s not enough:

Sidewalk Food Tours’ West Village Food Tour will also take you past other, uber-popular NYC landmarks, like the Friends apartment building (cue theme song… because I know you just sang it to yourself).

What? Getting tired just thinking about all this walking?

Well, trust me, after stuffing yourself silly on this NYC food tour, you’ll be only too happy to take a nice stroll through some of the most picturesque, tree-lined, cobblestoned streets in the West Village.

And Vegetarians:

Feel free to rejoice because this tour is 100% vegetarian-friendly, with veggie options available at each and every stop (And If you have any other dietary restrictions, just give them a call and they’ll hook you up! Yeah, Sidewalk Food Tours is SUPER nice like that).

Address: The meeting point for this tour is in front of Porto Rico Importing Co., at 201 Bleecker Street.

Hours: Tours start at 11 am, last three hours, and run on Fridays and Saturdays.

Price: $60 per person (Trust me, this is a VERY reasonable price for a food tour in NYC)

How to Get There: You can take either the A, C, E, B, D, or F trains and get off at West 4th Street station.

4. An NYC Food Tour Through Hell’s Kitchen

⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5.0 (3 Reviews) Price: $124 per person Duration: 4 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

I hate to break it to you:

 But this top NYC food tour has absolutely nothing to do with Gordon Ramsay and his infamous, insult slinging at aspiring chefs, in the show of the same name.

Don’t get me wrong.

I love that show. But, this food tour is definitely better since you don’t just get to see food on TV, but you actually get to eat it too!

NOM, NOM, NOM!

Because believe it or not, Hell’s Kitchen is actually home to some of New York’s finest restaurants, all of which are located within a single block of one another.

And if that’s any indication of what hell might be like:

Then sign me up because I am all in!

Bring on the fire and brimstone baby!

All kidding aside though:

Hell’s Kitchen actually started out as a neighborhood that was home to a WEALTH (Sorry, I had to! This pun was just singing to me) of poor, working-class immigrants from Ireland and Germany.

But as time went on (like it inevitably does):

There was an influx of Puerto Rican immigrants into the neighborhood, during the 1950s. 

The result?

An escalation in ethnic tensions that inspired the creation of the immortal, Broadway Musical, West Side Story, which is actually now back on Broadway (Find out how to get discount tickets to Broadway musicals  here )!

Today, Hell’s Kitchen is still one of New York City’s most ethnically diverse neighborhoods. 

And you know what that means right?

Yup, the foodie scene here is BUMPIN’!

If you’re just not sure where to start, that’s totally okay because that’s where this Hell’s Kitchen Food tour comes in handy.

“This was a relaxing tour offering a good variety and amount of food. Our guide Nancy was very friendly and genuine and we felt in very capable hands. We especially appreciated the thought in providing bathroom stops and help with the subway.” Warwick ( read more reviews now! )

It highlights some of this neighborhood’s finest cuisine (along with the area’s rich history), which includes everything from custom made doughnuts to empanadas to Bourekas (AKA flakey, phyllo dough pastries with a sweet or savory filling). 

And because enjoying all of this foodie goodness could send you into a severe food coma:

This tour also includes a walk through one of NYC’s most iconic attractions…Central Park.

After indulging in all of the decadent delights that Hell’s Kitchen has to offer, you’ll then be taken to Central Park.

You’ll be introduced to the history of the park, explore some of the area’s many hidden gems, and even see some famous filming locations along the way, all in an effort to help you get your digestive swerve on.

It’s basically like two awesome tours in one, which is why the price of this NYC adventure is a steep, $125 per person; a price that is totally justified since you’ll spend four hours enjoying all that Hell’s Kitchen and Central Park have to offer.

Address: The meeting point for this tour is Gyu-Kaku, at 321 West 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, New York.

Hours: Tours start at 12:30 pm and are conducted every day of the week.

Price: $125 per person

How to Get There: Take just about any subway line imaginable to the 42nd street and Times Square station, and walk from there.

5. Tour Through Manhattan’s Street Food Scene on one of the BEST Food Tours NYC has to Offer!

⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5.0 (10 Reviews) Price: $54 per person Duration: 2 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Southeast corner of 6th Ave and 42nd St on the edge of Bryant Park Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Sorry guys but hot dog carts, nuts 4 nuts stands, and pretzel guys do NOT count when it comes to street food in Manhattan.

That doesn’t mean that Manhattan is totally devoid of amazing food trucks for you to enjoy.  It just means that not all food trucks in NYC are created equally. 

Learning to differentiate the good food trucks from the bad food trucks is something that just comes with experience.

You probably can’t afford to spend the next two months of your life food truck hopping through NYC especially since the price of a small concrete slab of an apartment, in a mildly okay area, will cost you upwards of $2,000 a month!

I know. 

I cry a little every time I pay my rent (Where’s a trust fund when you need one? Am I right?)

That’s where this  gem of a food tour NYC comes into play. It will help you find some of the BEST street food in Manhattan, and all without going totally broke in about 2.5 seconds flat.

Reserve a spot on this NYC food tour of awesome and prepare to be whisked away to Midtown Manhattan’s 6 best, straight up award-winning (Yup, you read that correctly. “Award Winning”), food carts.

These chefs are no joke since you’ll encounter everyone from struggling immigrants to culinary school drop-outs to former, 4-star restaurant chefs during your two-hour, foodie journey through Midtown.

Because thankfully:

Not all of the city’s top eats are found at a bougie AF, upscale dining room where you’re forced to pay an obscene amount of money for a small glass of water (and yes, ice will cost you extra).

No way could I afford that kind of price tag on the reg, which is why  this tour is perfect for locals and budget NYC travelers alike.

“The guide was knowledgeable about the status of food trucks and the food they make. Also the delivery of the information was fresh and not just about tasting food but the history that come with it!” Thabang ( read more reviews now! )

The best part though?

This food tour gives you a behind the scenes look at the lives of the proprietors and shows you exactly how these culinary wizards manage to cram an entire kitchen into an itty bitty food cart. 

I’ve always kind of wondered that myself. Just as long as no clowns pop out, like in those teeny tiny cars at the circus.

God, I hate clowns (Shudders). But I digress. 

So, wear your finest pair of elastic waist pants and prepare to taste an array of cuisines from exotic places like Kores, India, the Middle East, and more!.

Before you go though, one little FYI:

Be sure to wear an uber-comfortable pair of shoes since you’ll be doing a lot of walking and standing during this food tour.

That’s a good thing! Because the more walking and standing you do, the more calories you burn, and the less guilty you’ll feel about ingesting all of this magical, foodie goodness.

Address: The meeting point for this tour is on the west side of 6th Avenue, in front of the Bank of America Tower (between 42nd and 43rd Streets), in Midtown Manhattan.

Hours: Tours start at 2 pm on Fridays and 1 pm on Saturdays.

Price: $54 per person

How to Get There: Take either the B, D, F, or M trains and get off at the 42nd Street and Bryant Park station.

6. An NYC Food Tour Through NYC’s Chinatown

⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5.0 (54 Reviews) Price: $70 per person Duration: 2 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Outside the black door that says “119” Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Are you a fan of Asian cuisine?

Yup, you and me both.

You’ll probably want to stop by Chinatown during your visit to NYC.

Chinatown is a beast of a neighborhood and chocker-bok full of eateries to choose from, not to mention the throngs of fast-moving people and the proliferation of Chinese only signage.

Yeah, you definitely feel like you’re in a foreign country at times.

This part of NYC can be a little intimidating to navigate all on your own, even if you’re a local.

But whatever you do, don’t panic.

Because if you’re looking for the most authentic Asian cuisine in all of Chinatown, then this New York food tour is now your new best friend.

It’ll guide through one of the craziest parts of town and introduce you to some of the most authentic Chinese food in the entire country.

We’re talking authentic with a capital ‘A’ here people.

“Although I have been to NYC several times, I have never been to Chinatown or Little Italy, so this was the perfect tour for my daughter and I to learn some history, sample the cuisine, familiarize ourselves with the neighborhood and have a lot of fun together. Big shout out and thank you to our tour guide, Wes who was fantastic!! Highly recommend this experience to others.” Deborah ( read more reviews now! )

Contrary to what the neighborhood’s name might suggest, Chinatown is also full of cuisine from other amazing Asian countries too; places like Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, just to name a few.

So, all I have to ask you now is, are you ready?

Because this NYC food tour  includes a stop at the best soup dumpling shop in NYC and a special dessert from the best Chinese ice cream factory in the United States (Trust me, there are more stops than that, I just don’t have space to list them all here).

And as you indulge in all of this gastronomic goodness:

You’ll also learn about the history of Chinatown and its dense, but diverse community, as you spend two hours eating your feelings…I mean way through this amazing neighborhood.

And like with all of these amazing, NYC food tours:

DO come with an empty stomach,

You really are gonna need all the space you can get (Unless you’re bovine and have like four stomachs to distribute everything in between).

Address: The meeting point for this tour is at the NYC & CO Info Kiosk at the corner of Canal Street and Baxter Street.

Hours: Tours start at 12:30 pm every day of the week.

Price: $99 per person

How to Get There: Take either the J, Z, N, Q, R, W, or 6 train to Canal Street Station and walk from there (FYI, there are three DIFFERENT Canal Street stations in the area).

7. An NYC Walking Food Tour Through Brooklyn

⭐️ Rating: /5.0 (2 Reviews) Price: $68 per person Duration: 3 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Brooklyn Center for History building Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

In the last decade:

Brooklyn really has become THE place to be in NYC.

I know, I know.

It’s usually associated with overly cool hipsters who are drinking Kombucha, sporting a man bun, and extolling the virtues of an all-vegan lifestyle.

And while Brooklyn may indeed be hipster central:

It’s also home to some of the coolest and most delicious eateries in all of NYC.

Why roam alone when you can enjoy Brooklyn’s fine, foodie offerings with some of your not-so-closest friends (Don’t worry, it’s a nice, small group so you can easily move at you own pace)?

I laugh in the face of stranger danger! Ha ha ha!

Embrace the hipster within and join this EPIC, 3-hour long walking tour through Brooklyn.

And on the menu for the day?

Why, nothing short of culinary nirvana with a selection of bread, cheeses, and pastries for you to swan dive, headfirst into.

And the best part?

Your local guide will take you to a ton of different mom-and-pop shops, food courts, and lesser-known hole-in-the-wall restaurants; places that are all frequented by authentic, local Brooklynites.

As you stroll down the brownstone laden streets of Brooklyn, prepare to partake in a worldly assortment of foods that include New American cuisine, Italian pastries, and even Middle Eastern pastries from the OLDEST, Middle Eastern bakery in New York.

This food tour will also introduce you to some of Brooklyn’s best cafes.

Coffee lovers of the world, feel free to rejoice because this tour is for you.

Because honestly?

Brooklyn really is the rising star of New York’s culinary scene. 

And the best way to navigate through all of this foodie awesomeness is by using one of the best food tours NYC has to offer.

#justsayin’

Address: The meeting point for this tour is at Stinky Bklyn, which is located at 215 Smith St. Brooklyn, NY 11201. Your guide will be holding a sign that says, “Urban Adventures”.

Hours: Tours start at 12:00 pm every day of the week.

Price: $79 per person

How to Get There: Take either the F or G train to Bergen Street station and walk from there.

8. Mafia and Gangster, Crime Food Walk

⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5.0 (3 Reviews) Price: $119 per person Duration: 3 hours 📍 Meeting Point: In front of the main entrance to the East Village Theatre Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

No, you read that right.

But don’t worry, because no one is going to get hurt during this food walk . I’ll just make them an offer they can’t refuse.

Haha. Totally kidding!

But what I’m not kidding about is the fact that New York City was, and still is, a well-known haven for members of the Mafia, as well as various other types of gangsters.

The tour guide has extensive mafia knowledge! The tour is very exciting, I can recommend it.” Nuhl ( read more reviews now! )

If you’re like me and have some uber-weird obsession with all things Investigation Discovery, then why not fuse your love of crime with a food walk through the East Village and into Little Italy?

Your tour guide for the day is actually a retired member of the NYPD!

No, seriously!

This law enforcement professional is totally legit and has even consulted with film crews for several different TV shows, and movies, about real-life crimes.

He’s even appeared in an episode of Law & Order himself!

Which is why this NYC food tour is a one of a kind experience that will take you to several “notorious” locations in NYC, where former crime families used to hang out, eat, party, or run the “family business”.

Now, in terms of food:

You’ll be treated to nothing less than some of the best and most authentic Italian food in the city since one of the stops along this tour includes a meal at  a popular mafia “red sauce joint”; an iconic, NYC eatery that serves up fresh pizza, meatballs, cannolis, mozzarella, and hand cured sausages to devoted patrons on the daily.

And as you’re hoovering down all this glorious food:

Your tour guide will regale you with some real-life crime stories from his very own career as a police officer.

Pretty cool right?

So, If you’re looking for a unique, informative, and just plain amazing tour, that also involves tons of delicious food, then this is the experience you’ve been waiting for.

9. Take a Tour of Latin American Cuisine in Queens

Want to sample food from a variety of different Latin American countries? And all without ever leaving the borough of Queens?

If you’re emphatically nodding your head yes, then you’re in luck because this personalized, food tour will allow you to indulge in some of the most delicious Latin food that Queens has to offer.

Because believe it or not:

Queens is actually known as, “the world’s borough” since the 2.4 million people who live here actually speak more than 138 different languages.

Crazy, but true! So:

Why not sample some of the area’s rich diversity through a super yummy food tour ?

Not only is this tour led by a local, Queens resident, who also happens to be a culinary school graduate, but it also takes you through many of the unique, Latin American cultures that call Queens home.

Awesome places like Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, and Argentina, just to name a few.

Many of the stops along the way are small, family-owned businesses, that are operated by hard-working members of the local, immigrant community.

Therefore: 

You know that all of the food on this tour is without a doubt legit. You can also feel SUPER good about using some of your hard-earned coin to help support small, local businesses.

Your guide is SOO nice, that he’ll actually meet you in Manhattan and then take the train with you, ALL the way back to Queens.

Aww! I love it.

Because honestly, most New Yorkers really aren’t that nice (me included).

And along the way:

He’ll even tell you all about his family and explain the history behind some of the stops along the tour!

Not gonna lie, it’s pretty flippin’ epic.

10. Eat Your Way Through Brooklyn…Sustainably

Let’s be real for a minute guys.

Because I’m not gonna lie, eating sustainably can be HARD!

There are so many questions that need to be asked when it comes to determining the sustainability of our meals.

Trying to find sustainable eats while you’re on vacay can feel a whole lot like mission impossible.

This food tour in NYC is here to help and can make eating sustainably feel about 10,000 times easier.

That and it will also help you reduce your carbon footprint. Something that sounds like a win-win to me!

Here’s how it works.

Brooklyn, AKA land of the craft beer-loving hipsters, is actually known for being a really eco-conscious community.

What better way to immerse yourself in local, Brooklynite culture than with a sustainable food tour ?

Okay, I get it.

I know sustainable eating doesn’t exactly come naturally to most of us.

This tour will not only show you how to find sustainable foods but it will also teach you how to reduce your overall food waste.

Because during this tour:

You’ll visit several local businesses, and duh, restaurants, that are all paving the way when it comes to sustainable, urban living.

You’ll even get to taste a variety of different foods that are all made using sustainable, cooking practices, and see how all of these businesses are actually making a difference when it comes to the preservation of our planet.

Your tour guide is actually a green blogger who loves showing others how to implement small changes in their lives so that they can help take better care of the environment.

It really is a unique tour that will not only fill not just your belly, but your soul, as you learn how to  better both your life and the environment.

Food Tours In NYC FAQ

Are food tours in nyc worth it.

NYC happens to be a bustling city with a mix of different cultures. It does not come as a surprise that along with the mix in cultures comes a diverse mix of cuisines. I kid you not! You can get almost every cuisine that you want in the city and you will find that it isn’t just good but it is cooked to perfection.

If you aren’t a local then it is pretty hard to know exactly where to go especially when you have a limited time frame. That is where these epic food tours in NYC come in. So yes! Food tours in NYC are totally worth your time and money!

What Type Of Food Is NYC Known For?

While NYC has almost every cuisine under the sun, what the city is really known for is its pizza and its cheesecake. Oh and yes! The bagel! You can get all kinds of bagels in NYC and you get them everywhere. 

If you aren’t sure where to start, then read all about the best places to eat in NYC before heading out into the bustling city. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about because I’ve lived here for years!

How To Organize A Foodie Tour In NYC?

There are many ways to go about this. If you are a local or have been staying in NYC for long, reach out to your favorite restaurant and ask them if this is something that they could arrange. Many restaurants would be happy to accommodate you.

Another way is to use platforms like Getyourguide and Viator. This is simpler, less time consuming and you can even read the reviews about the tours.

There ya have it kids who are infinitely cooler than me. 10 of the very best food tours NYC has to offer. 

If you’re anything like me, then you’re a food-obsessed traveler who basically wanders the world, searching for ways to kill time in between meals., and no, i’m not exaggerating since my love of food really is that serious., so, if you feel like i do and this post has given you this inescapable urge to plan one epic, foodie filled voyage to nyc, then pin this now and read it again later, come on, you know you want to.

Monday 18th of November 2019

i love this article... and so much details. thanks for sharing

girlwiththepassport

Wednesday 20th of November 2019

Thank you so much for reading! I am so glad that you enjoyed it!

Privacy Overview

• Destinations    
• Private Tours
• Historical Tours
• South Korea
• United Arab Emirates
• Czech Republic
• Brussels NEW
• Belfast NEW
• Copenhagen NEW
• Palermo NEW
• Netherlands
• Stockholm NEW
• San Sebastián NEW
• Valencia NEW
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Los Angeles
• Philadelphia
• Portland, Oregon
• Washington D.C.
• San Francisco
• Houston NEW
• Mexico City
• Rio De Janerio
• Greenwich Village Food Tours
• Brooklyn Food Tours
• Chinatown & Little Italy
• Mastering Tagliatelle
• Pescatarian and Vegetarian Poke Bowls
• Simplified Sushi-Making
• Homemade Quesadillas and Fresh Tortillas
• Master the Classic Sunday Brunch
• Brooklyn Tour Drinks Upgrade
• Chinatown & Little Italy Tour Drinks Upgrade

New York Food Tour - Secret Food Tours

Hey, let me tell you something about NYC... There are countless places to visit and mouth-watering bites to try, but it can be challenging when it comes to choosing the right ones and really getting the best out of your time in the Big Apple.

But don't worry! We've got you covered with three amazing Secret Food Tours experiences that are guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds! You can savor the iconic flavors of Greenwich Village, indulge in the historic charm of Bensonhurst in Southwest Brooklyn or even discover international specialties in Chinatown and Little Italy. So what are you waiting for? Let's eat!

Our Best-Selling food experience in NYC, and not by chance! Let our local guides lead you on an award winning adventure of the city's quintessential foods!

Experience the vibrant food scenes of Chinatown and Little Italy in NYC! Our guides will take you on an unforgettable culinary journey, introducing you to family-owned businesses that have been serving up delicious dishes for generations!

Discover Brooklyn's gastronomical secrets by understanding how this home to immigrants - from the Netherlands, England, Italy, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America - has become a must-visit place in NYC for trendsetters and foodies!

Step back in time and discover the captivating history and culture of New York with our range of cultural and historical tours. From the famous Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour to the scenic Central Park and The Met Museum Private Tour, we offer an amazing variety of options for you to choose from.

• Book Your Tour
• Our New York Tours:
• Food Tours NY - Greenwich Village
• Food Tours NY - Brooklyn
• Cooking Classes
• Photos/Video
• Destinations
• Group & Private Tours
• Read About Us
• San Sebastián
• New York City
• Rio de Janerio

Purchase a Gift Card! Click Here

Nice Guy Food Tours NYC

Walking food tours | new york city.

Walk. Talk. Eat. Repeat.

Chow down on all three of our delicious food tours!

• Most Popular!
• Vegetarian Friendly
• Calendar Tuesday-Sunday
• Info 6+ Stops
• Clock 3 Hours

Greenwich Village Food Tour

Greenwich Village is arguably still the coolest neighborhood in New York City. On this walking food tour, we visit iconic spots around Washington Square Park and the West Village! Enjoy everything from cupcakes to pizza and allow us to paint your palate! Vegetarian friendly!

beer and wine available for purchase

• Dairy and Gluten-Free Options
• Calendar Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Lower East Side Food Tour

On our Lower East Side walking food tour, we explore an area going through more changes than any other in Manhattan. You learn about the area’s rich history while indulging in many of its famous eats! Enjoy everything from the best pastrami ever to doughnuts!

• Calendar Any Day Of The Week!

Corporate & Team Building Private Food Tours

We offer private Greenwich Village, Lower East Side and/or Astoria walking food tours for groups of all sizes and are happy to cater to any of your needs. Corporate private food tours are tailored  culinary experiences for groups. It’s a fun and unique way for your employees to interact with their colleagues while exploring various neighborhoods,  culture and history, and trying out great food (of course!)

What makes our walking food tours so nice?

Best food. best people. best city..

Nice Guy Food Tours was founded by Dante Mercadante, who sets out to disprove the myth that New Yorkers are “not nice” with each and every tour. While touring with our NYC walking food tours, you learn about New York’s rich history while munching on city eats throughout the city streets, stopping to talk about landmarks and eating at the best establishments along the way. Nice Guy Tours is an experience like no other.

“When you take one of my food tours, I make three guarantees: you will leave full, learn something, and have fun.” – Dante Mercadante, CEO

Greenwich Village Food Tour Highlights

In Greenwich Village, we’ll take a stroll through iconic spots like the legendary Washington Square Park and its famous arch while feasting on a variety of different food that’s authentic New York City – from a “real” slice of pizza to the tastiest falafel at the oldest Middle Eastern restaurant in the city.  You’ll experience the best fries you’ll ever taste in your life at Pommes Frites and discover a whole new appreciation for artichokes at Artichoke Pizza. They’ll be walking, talking, cupcakes, and so much more!

Lower East Side Food Tour Highlights

On this Food Tour, you’ll learn all about this ever-changing yet historical section of Lower Manhattan.  You’ll eat at some of the oldest and most famous eateries in all of the city, savoring pastrami from the infamous Katz’s Deli and diving into the best authentic NYC bagel of your life at Kossar’s. Enjoy pickles, sweets, and everything in-between. If you’re not full by the time the tour’s over, we’ll take you around again. We’ve yet to see that happen!

niceguytours

We're rated five stars with over 2,000 reviews on TripAdvisor!

Adam’s tour was great, nice and relaxed. It felt like a chilled stroll rather than a formal group event. My tip - arrive hungry, really hungry! We learnt a lot and even saw Chris Rock…twice. Although he’s not a guaranteed part of the tour!

I set up this tour for a corporate team building event. The tour was the perfect balance of site seeing, sampling food, and socializing. It wasn't too rushed, and certainly wasn't boring. Dante has great interpersonal skills and was able to remember all 23 of our names by the end of the tour. I would definitely recommend this tour!

Great tour! Adam, our guide, was very friendly and helpful. All the food tastings were fantastic! It was a relaxed and fun experience. Highly recommend these guys.

Dante was a great and fun host, and the "nice guy" tour is appropriately named. Over three hours, he took us to seven food stops in Greenwich Village and discussed the history, culture, and architecture of the village along the way. Among the food stops, there were two VERY different styles of pizza, one of which I had never heard of (and I eat a lot of pizza). It was a really fun time!

Such a friendly guy, Ian introduced himself to each of the 12 in our group, and he constantly checked in with us to be sure we were enjoying ourselves. The West Village is a fascinating web of small streets and interesting businesses, particularly the restaurants on the tour.

Today my husband and I did the Greenwich tour with Dante. We were recommended by a friend, and couldn’t have been happier! Not only did we eat great food, but we learned about the area and history as well. You can truly tell how much Dante loves his hometown, but I was more pleased to see the great relationship he seemed to have with the restaurants we went to. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a taste of the city.

We enjoyed this tour! All the samples were so delicious and we were so full at the end! Dante is so friendly and knowledgeable and we felt like family immediately. We cannot wait to purchase the Greenwich Village tour next! Make your reservation immediately, as this is a great way to learn about the Lower East Side and all of its iconic places!

This was our second tour with Dante, and it was like seeing the city with an old friend. Very relaxing and fun afternoon! Loved the variety of foods - a great way to sample many different foods, and Katz deli pastrami sandwich was delicious. Loved the doughnuts from Doughnut Plant and pastries from Russell and Daughters as well. Dante is a great tour guide and this tour is an excellent way to get an overview of the foods of NYC.

SUPPORT A LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESS THAT SUPPORTS OTHER LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES

Like A Local Tours

Eat your way through Greenwich Village while supporting women and immigrant owned small businesses!

Insider Access to New York City & Brooklyn We offer SMALL GROUP tours with local guides who bring neighborhoods to life!

UNIQUE PRIVATE & GROUP TOURS We offer customization including drinks packages, sit down restaurants and more! Contact us today for your special event!

Thursdays & Saturdays Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Food Tour

Fridays & Saturdays Immigrant New York Food Tour: Lower East Side, Chinatown & Little Italy

Join Our Tours in NYC and Travel #likealocal!

Join our sustainable food tours in Manhattan and Brooklyn! Explore the city’s culinary wonders while making a positive impact. Last year, we contributed almost $25,000 to our Social Impact Partners and $125,000 with local small businesses . Your patronage fuels these efforts!

As featured in:

5-star Rated NYC & Brooklyn Food Tours

• Tag Public tour

Chelsea Market + High Line + Hudson Yards Food & History Tour

Combine your love of food + famous NYC landmarks! Visit Chelsea Market, the High Line & Hudson Yards (including the Vessel) on this VERY popular foodie tour! Enough food for lunch! Available 7 days a week.

¡Únase a nosotros los viernes a las 4:30 p. m. para el recorrido en español!

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Food Tour

Dive into the history of Brooklyn Heights & DUMBO, with tastes of the neighborhoods best spots! Plus spectacular vistas of the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline as well as incredible Brooklyn history and a partial walk on the Brooklyn Bridge!

Williamsburg Bites: A Brooklyn Foodie Adventure

An epic culinary expedition through the vibrant streets of Brooklyn! From heavenly pizza to delectable pastries, bagels, sizzling BBQ to savory pierogis, and a whole lot more. Indulge in a feast of epic proportions and discover the irresistible flavors that make Brooklyn a true culinary gem!

Flatiron Food, History & Architecture Tour

From indulging in delicious treats at Eataly to sinking your teeth into NYC’s best bagel, this tour is a lunchtime adventure like no other. Munch and stroll, soak in fascinating history and marvel at stunning architecture that’ll have you snapping pics at every turn. Fodor’s recommends it too! 🍕🥯🏙️

Immigrant New York Food Tour: Lower East Side, Chinatown & Little Italy

Embark on a mouthwatering journey through America’s ultimate melting pot! As you sample delicious cuisine from around the globe, you’ll hear the fascinating stories of the resilient immigrants who made these neighborhoods their home.

Hell’s Kitchen Dessert Tour

Discover some of the best hidden bakeries and off the beaten path gems where the locals go in Hell’s Kitchen. Guides dish out equal helpings of delicious treats and the neighborhood’s cultural and culinary history on this unique dessert tour!

Chelsea Market & West Village Dessert Tour

Explore the delectable bakeshops of Chelsea and the charming streets of the West Village, while also taking in the bustling energy of Chelsea Market, Market 57 and the scenic views along the High Line! Plus we take you to a secret rooftop with incredible views! 🧁🍪🥳

Seeing is believing!

So... Why choose Like A Local Tours?

From epicurean adventures to must-see sights, our unique and memorable tours are your one-stop source to experiencing some of NYC’s best neighborhoods … like a local.

Frequently listed as one of the Top 10 Tour Companies in NYC & annually awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, our vibe is gourmet food, street art, hidden gems, history, architecture, wine, craft beer, and…you get it.

We are made for locals and tourists alike! We give you personalized NYC tours that are led by guides that are working actors. So you’ll get incredible stories, cultural anecdotes and lots of laughs during your time with us.

Like A Local is redefining urban adventures by adding a social impact element to every tour. Each adventure you take with us has a positive impact above and beyond just the experience. Take a tour or contact us to learn more!

What are you waiting for? Book a tour with us today and see the city like a local!

Explore with one of Brooklyn's top 5 food & drink tours on TripAdvisor!

Had an amazing tour with Juan of Chelsea Market, the Highline, and Hudson Yard. Juan was very knowledgable about the area, the history and fun facts along the way. He made sure we had everything we needed and kept us moving at a good pace. He was upbeat, fun and caring. I would request Juan for another tour for sure.

Fantastic food tour (Williamsburg Bites Brooklyn Food Tour). Plenty of food and a great variety. Our guide even entertained my teenagers and made sure my seven year old always had something he liked. A great way to spend the afternoon.

Our guide knew the area's history and current best places to eat. She was both interesting and pleasant. Our tour turned out to be a private one, because the other tourists couldn't make it, but I would think she would be able to make it a nice tour for a group as well. The area is full with history and very good places to eat, I had never eaten so good in NYC.

I was recommended this tour through a friend and it was the best decision I made during my weekend trip to N.Y. from Toronto. I have visited N.Y. several times but had never ventured into Brooklyn. Walter our guide was funny, knowledgeable and kept things interesting. The spots were EXCELLENT! A great way to tour the area and get a mini history lesson as well as delectable bites!!

Our guide was waiting for us and began immediately (we were a group of 2). She was uber-generous with her stories; witty and fun and sooo informative. Learned so much and kept having the most lovely surprises, as food materialized in front of us over and over. Take this tour!! So worthwhile, and puts a lot into context for the remainder of your time in the city.

The tour guide was so knowledgeable about the area, funny, friendly, extremely personable. I would say that the tour guide really made the tour memorable. They took us to a area in Williamsburg that was on the river and had the greatest view of the city, something we would have never found on our own. I would definitely suggest this tour if you are visiting and want to have a fun experience in Brooklyn.

A fabulous combination of one of NY's best food hotspots, and the superb High Line linear park winding it's way through incredibly varied architecture and art installations. The selection of Chelsea Market outlets we visited trying many and varied food samples was very well chosen. Our guide Kate was very knowledgeable and a great companion. Definitely a 5*+ experience.

Part of all of our work is to bring awareness to these lineages that came before us. We, at Like A Local Tours, are situated within an interwoven network of historical and contemporary relationships with the Lenape people, whom we wish to honor and acknowledge as the original stewards and caretakers of this land, the elders and ancestors who have lived here far before we arrived. The traditional Lenapehoking stretches from upstate New York and the Catskills to the Delaware Bay.

It is within Like A Local Tours’ responsibility as a current steward and actor of this sacred land to disseminate knowledge about Native peoples and the land’s history with them. One of our commitments is to respect diversity and inclusion. To this regard, we are currently also going beyond this land acknowledgement and are seeking to integrate the acknowledgement by building relationships with Lenape and other indigenous communities and initiatives through partnerships, historical recognitions, service and learning efforts to implement Lenape wisdom into our processes and life-way. We are looking forward to supporting initiatives through our business and your support and purchases of our beautiful flowers such as the Redhawk Native Arts Council, the Lenape Center and the Manahatta Fund.

likealocaltours

13 Best Food Tours In NYC To Check Out In 2024

Looking for the best food tours in NYC? Well, you’re in the right place!

A bustling metropolis known for its iconic landmarks, New York City also delivers with their culinary scene. From renowned pizza joints to hidden gems serving up global delicacies, these food tours promise to introduce you to the heart and soul of New York City through its food.

Below, we’ll take you through the 13 best food tours in NYC that feels like a warm embrace to your soul.

This article contains affiliate links where we may get a small commission if you click on the link and purchase. No extra cost is added to you.

Find Cheap Flights To New York:

1. chinatown and little italy food tour.

Have a taste of history at two of New York City’s most iconic neighborhoods with the Chinatown and Little Italy Food Tour. This tour offers a blend of history, culture, and delicious food that will leave you dreaming of it 24/7.

Kickstarting in the historic Chinatown, you’ll get to taste Hong Kong-style sponge cakes and traditional Chinese dumplings. As you navigate through the winding streets and Columbus Park, your local historian guide will share fascinating insights about the area’s history and culture.

From there, you’ll head to Little Italy where you’ll get to savor a slice of pizza and cannolis from a 130-year-old bakery called Ferrara’s. As you stroll down Mulberry Street, learn about the neighborhood’s history and the influence of the mafia.

This tour is not just a food tour— it’s a glimpse into immigrants’ lives who shaped these neighborhoods. Come hungry and leave with a deeper appreciation of New York City’s rich cultural tapestry.

2. Lower East Side Food Tastings and Culture Tour

Unearth the wonders of Lower East Side Food Tastings and Culture Tour— a must-do for foodies and history buffs. This tour takes you through markets and eateries where you can taste some of the best eats in the city. 

Kick off the culinary journey with some fried dumplings in Chinatown before savoring classic Italian snacks in Little Italy. The tour continues in Nolita, where you’ll have the pleasure of trying knishes—a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish snack.

As you wander the streets of the Lower East Side, your knowledgeable guide will regale you with stories about the immigrants who once settled here, leaving an impact on the city’s culinary scene.

You’ll also have the opportunity to witness significant local bakeries, churches, and landmarks, including the poignant African Burial Ground Monument and the New York Supreme Court.

3. New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen Walking Food Tour

Step into the culinary heart of New York City with the Hell’s Kitchen Walking Food Tour. This remarkable food adventure takes you to one of the city’s most aromatic neighborhoods, renowned for its diverse food scene and fascinating history.

The tour begins with a visit to five eateries, each an enchanting gateway to flavors from around the globe. Satiate your palate with the savory delights of Japan, Georgia, and India, all in one gastronomic escapade. As you relish these culinary treasures, your seasoned guide will narrate Hell’s Kitchen’s past, revealing its intriguing origins and the enduring influence of the Irish-American community.

You’ll also uncover the neighborhood’s transformation from a hub of crime and gang violence to a beloved haven for food lovers. This tour also includes a visit to landmarks like West Side Story and the city’s most prestigious properties.

4. Mafia Tour and Food Tastings with Local Guide

Explore the riveting world of the infamous Mafia crime families of New York City through the Mafia Tour and Food Tastings with Local Guide— a walking tour, accompanied by two sit-down tastings. Stroll through the vibrant and enthralling gangland area, encompassing the East Village and Little Italy neighborhoods.

Led by an insider’s perspective, this tour gives you insights into the hidden history of the Mafia in New York City. As you traverse the streets, you’ll discover the stories that shaped the city’s notorious crime families. Walk in the footsteps of the mobsters as your guide shares enthralling tales of their influence and activities.

But this tour isn’t only about the intriguing past; it also treats your taste buds to an authentic experience. Enjoy two sit-down tastings and immerse yourself in the essence of Little Italy as you indulge in mouthwatering dishes.

5. NYC Little Italy Italian Food Tasting Tour

Are you a fan of Italian food? Treat yourself to the flavors of Italy with an American twist on a 2-hour food tour through Manhattan’s most vibrant neighborhood. Get your Italian food fix as you devour mouthwatering pizzas, prosciutto, and cheeses with the Little Italy Italian Food Tasting Tour!

This culinary tasting tour takes you through the lovely streets of Little Italy, where you’ll discover the rich history and culture of this beloved neighborhood. Visit family-run bakeries and dairies, each carrying with them a tale of tradition and love for their craft.

Savor the authentic tastes of Italy blended with American ingenuity as you explore the colorful corners of Little Italy. This food tour promises to be a delightful celebration of culture and culinary delights that will leave you with a true taste of Italy— American style.

6. Luxury Brunch, Lunch or Dinner Harbor Cruise

Experience New York City in style with the Luxury Brunch, Lunch or Dinner Harbor Cruise. Step into a European-inspired, all-glass dining vessel and set sail on a spectacular cruise through the enchanting New York Harbor. Your journey will be accompanied by live entertainment, courtesy of an onboard pianist.

The cruise departs from Manhattan’s Chelsea Piers and takes you on a scenic journey along the Hudson and East Rivers. Designed with curved ceilings and walls, the cruise boasts a 180-degree sightseeing experience. As you sail along the Hudson and East rivers, you’ll enjoy the awe-inspiring Manhattan skyline, the majestic Freedom Tower and the iconic Empire State Building, while getting up-close views of the celebrated Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges.

Get your camera ready to capture the picture-perfect moments of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Revel in unobstructed views from the open-air decks, and immerse yourself in the elegant atmosphere enhanced by attentive service as you dine on a delectable brunch, lunch, or dinner, all thoughtfully prepared by the skilled chef.

The dinner cruise brings even more entertainment with an acoustic trio, featuring a baby grand piano, upright bass, and jazz guitar, adding an extra layer of charm to your evening. If you choose the brunch option, savor bottomless mimosas while indulging in the breathtaking views of the city.

7. NYC Museum of Ice Cream

Venture into a world of frozen delights with your entry ticket to the Museum of Ice Cream in New York City! This experience goes beyond your wildest dreams, taking you on an imaginative journey through a wonderland of art and ice cream. Did we mention you get unlimited ice cream as you explore?

Slide down an epic three-story slide, take a celestial ride on a pink Museum of Ice Cream subway, or take a dip in the world’s largest sprinkle pool! While you’re at it, get to know intriguing facts about the history of ice cream, and savor delectable treats that will transport your taste buds to new heights.

Suitable for all ages, this tour is a fantastic outing for families, friends, or a special date. Even if you’re not an ice cream connoisseur, the Museum of Ice Cream turns you into one with an experience of a lifetime!

8. The Original Cupcake Tour of Greenwich Village

Satisfy your sweet tooth with the Original Cupcake Tour of Greenwich Village, and discover why trendy cupcake shops have become all the rage in New York City. This 2-hour tasting tour takes you on a sweet journey through some of the city’s finest bake shops, each offering their one-of-a-kind takes on the beloved cupcake.

In small, intimate groups, you’ll enjoy seven tastings at favorite venues, starting with the scrumptious bites at Baked by Melissa. Continue your cupcake adventure at Magnolia, where more than 50 cupcake varieties are baked fresh daily.

While this tour is dedicated to cupcakes, the amazing gelato at Amorino in Greenwich Village deserves a visit. Here, you can savor the exquisite pleasure of sampling 22 different gelato flavors in one bite— a delightful addition to your cupcake journey.

9. 3 Neighborhoods Tour : Soho, Chinatown & Little Italy

Embark on an extraordinary cultural journey through three diverse neighborhoods with the 3 Neighborhoods Tour: Soho, Chinatown & Little Italy. This tour will give you insights into the identities of these Manhattan districts, each with its own history and mouthwatering cuisine.

The adventure begins in Soho, an epitome of NYC’s trendiness, where posh bakeries, shops, and restaurants beckon with their alluring charm. and Marvel at the beautiful architecture lining Greene Street, including the iconic Haughwout Building and the Old Police Station.

A quick stop in Nolita treats you to a delightful sample of cheesecake before you venture into the historic enclave of Little Italy. Here, the senses are tantalized with the delectable aromas of cannolis, gelato, pizza, and more. Mingle with the locals and get the inside scoop on famous spots along the enchanting Mulberry Street.

The tour then leads you to Chinatown, a bustling neighborhood with a rich cultural heritage. Visit the Mahayana Buddhist Temple and catch a glimpse of the awe-inspiring 16-foot Golden Buddha. Meander past the Manhattan Bridge, immersing yourself in the heart of Chinatown. Delight in treats from The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory while tracing the neighborhood’s humble beginnings.

10. NYC Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour

Take a step back in time with the NYC Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour. In this tour, you’ll step into the clandestine world of the speakeasies where history, culture, and delectable drinks merge.

This tour will take you through some of New York City’s historic speakeasies where the Prohibition-era’s secrets still linger. Take a sip on classic cocktails or out-of-this-world creations while listening to stories of the city’s mysterious past.

Don your most stylish walking shoes and ensure you have your ID ready, as you’re invited to the hidden world of speakeasies with the NYC Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour! This experience will whisk you away to a time of secret societies, intrigue, and unforgettable libations in New York City.

11. NYC Rooftop Bar and Lounge Night Tour

Get ready to drink and dance the night away with the NYC Rooftop Bar and Lounge Night Tour! This enthralling experience will take you to four venues, from historic bars and charming speakeasies to majestic NYC rooftop bars & lounges, all with complimentary and skip-the-line admission for your seamless enjoyment.

You’ll get to savor the ambiance of each location, from the intimate setting of a speakeasy to the breathtaking views from a rooftop lounge without a worry.

Revel in the city’s after-dark allure with fellow adventurers from all over the world. Your insider host will ensure that you steer clear of the common tourist traps, allowing you to fully relish the wild spirit of the city that never sleeps. 

12. Chelsea Market, Meatpacking, High Line Food & History Tour

Are you ready for an unforgettable food and history adventure through the heart of New York City? Say hello to the Chelsea Market, Meatpacking District, and High Line Food & History Tour— a culinary journey that’ll raise your standards in food!

The tour starts at Chelsea Market where you’ll get to eat your way through. There, you’ll walk the famous High Line, a former railway line that’s been transformed into a beautiful park.

As you walk, you’ll learn about the history of the area and get a mini architecture tour of the incredible buildings that “line” the High Line. Pun intended.

But this tour is not just about history and views. It also includes several savory and sweet stops, ensuring that you’ll leave with a full stomach. As you wander through the historic Meatpacking District, you’ll be immersed in stories and incredible insights into the area’s rich past. This neighborhood has seen it all, from a bustling hub of slaughterhouses to the vibrant district you see today, filled with chic boutiques and lively bars.

13. Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest

Take your taste buds on a whirlwind tour of Chinatown and Little Italy with the Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest!

Navigating these bustling neighborhoods can be overwhelming, but fear not! With an expert guide leading the way, you can focus on the flavors, culture, and traditions without a worry.

Picture yourself strolling through the streets of Chinatown and Little Italy, your senses alive with the aromas of sizzling dumplings and the sweet scent of cannolis. The guide as your personal food guru, sharing personalized recommendations and fascinating insights as you delve into the heart of these iconic foodie havens.

And here’s the best part: feel free to arrive hungry! The tour includes several tastings that will more than equate to a delicious meal. From seated tastings at local favorites to on-the-go delights, you’ll experience a mix of flavors that will leave your taste buds singing.

As you walk, eat, and immerse yourself in the rich culinary traditions of Chinatown and Little Italy, you’ll learn about their history, cultural significance, and the important people who shaped their identities.

Exploring New York City through its food is an adventure like no other. Each neighborhood offers its own flavors with stories that warm the soul. So, make sure to visit these food tours when you’re in the city!

If you’re planning a trip to the Big Apple, head on over to our list of the best things to do in NYC for a seamless experience. Have a great day!

Sign Up For NomsMail

Protect Your Trip »

The 5 best nyc dinner cruises for food & views.

These dinner cruises provide some of the best views of Manhattan.

The Best NYC Dinner Cruises

Courtesy of La Barca Cantina

When you're strolling the streets of Manhattan, it can be difficult to grasp the magnitude of the city, with its skyscrapers and densely packed landmarks. The solution? A boat ride. A breezy sail in New York Harbor can feature everything from an elegant dinner to a live jazz band to tacos and tequila. Read on to discover the top-rated New York City dinner cruise options as determined by travel expert opinion and recent reviews.

City Cruises New York Bateaux Premier Dinner Cruise

Price: From $144 Duration: 3 hours Standout perk: This all-glass boat delivers panoramic skyline views.

Climbing aboard the Bateaux feels like stepping into a greenhouse, with its glass-enclosed structure and water views in every direction. There are no bad seats on this boat, but as an upgrade you can reserve a window table for the best views of the Hudson River, the East River and the New York Harbor. This cruise is a match for anyone seeking elegance: The tables are covered in crisp white cloths, wine and cocktails are served in sparkling glasses, and a three-course a la carte dinner is served at a relaxed pace (no buffet here).

The Bateaux cruise is an experience to get dressed up for, where the dress code is semi-formal and dinner is accompanied by live music. The sunset can provide the perfect backdrop for pictures, and don't forget to snap a shot of the Statue of Liberty . Children younger than 6 are not permitted on this cruise, so expect a polished, for-adults atmosphere complete with creative cocktails and dancing under the stars. The Bateaux has rightfully earned a reputation for its fresh food; this three-course, plated menu includes several tempting a la carte options from a ravioli starter with crispy pancetta to osso bucco with cauliflower polenta.

Check prices & availability on:

City Cruises New York Signature Dinner Cruise

Price: From $109 Duration: 2.5 hours Standout perk: A live DJ gives this dinner cruise an extra dose of atmosphere.

Looking for a casual night of dining and dancing with the addition of a skyline backdrop? This dinner cruise offers just that. Set sail from Chelsea Piers in a climate-controlled boat along the Hudson and East rivers, admiring New York City landmarks like the Empire State Building . For dinner, indulge in a chef-prepared buffet with a wide range of options from Greek salad to oven-roasted salmon with miso to Caribbean jerk braised pork. If you're bringing a sweet tooth on board, be sure to check out the ample dessert station.

After snapping some pictures on the open-air deck, return to the cabin for cocktails from the cash bar, interactive games and upbeat music from the onboard DJ.

Those traveling with young kids will be pleased to know that infants younger than 3 cruise free – so feel free to bring your little ones along to enjoy the experience with you.

La Barca Cantina

Price: Varies Duration: 2 hours Standout perk: You'll find an extensive tequila and mezcal list on board to accompany the Mexican fare.

One criticism of New York dinner cruises is that they don't offer good value for money, but the "taco boat" challenges that critique with ceviche, tacos, churros, cocktails and skyline views for an affordable price. Climb aboard a yacht at Pier 81 to experience a youthful, modern interpretation of a dinner cruise – think: low lighting, couches for lounging and three bars, complete with Latin pop, salsa and dance music playing in the background. Raise a glass while the yacht sails south on the Hudson River to check out world-famous Manhattan skyline views.

La Barca Cantina also offers a bottomless brunch cruise with a DJ, as well as special events.

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks Newsletter

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

Classic Harbor Line NYC Evening Jazz Cruise

Courtesy of Classic Harbor Line

Price: From $108 Duration: 1.5 hours Standout perk: A jazz trio typically featuring a sax, keyboard and drums plays live on board.

Listen to jazz standards aboard a 1920s-style yacht with this fun sightseeing cruise departing from Pier 62 in Chelsea Piers. Choose between kicking back in the climate-controlled cabin or on the open-air deck throughout this evening cruise, which includes views of Manhattan landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Live music is played outside on the deck or inside the salon, depending on the season (and the boat, Manhattan or Manhattan II).

While this cruise doesn't offer dinner, one complimentary alcoholic beverage is included, and a cash bar offers additional drinks and snacks. Listen to music by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and more as you sail past the twinkling Manhattan skyline. Those traveling in a group should keep in mind: Tickets are slightly discounted for groups of 4 to 16.

Circle Line New York City Harbor Lights Cruise

Courtesy of Circle Line

Price: From $54 Duration: 2 hours Standout perk: This no-fuss, excellent-value cruise option has drinks and snacks available for purchase on board.

When you're craving panoramic views rather than a three-course meal, choose the Circle Line's Harbor Lights cruise departing from Pier 83. This sightseeing sailing delivers an up-close experience of the Manhattan skyline lights coming to life, while cruising past landmarks including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Chrysler Building . A live guide provides narration and historical context for what you're seeing. As the sun sets behind New Jersey, watch the glow of the sinking sun reflect in the windows of skyscrapers.

Food from the onboard cafe – like salads, sandwiches and snacks – as well as beer, wine and cocktails at the bar are available for purchase. This is an ideal situation for groups with varying levels of hunger and thirst. Sit alfresco in the breeze or indoors in the climate-controlled cabin – it's up to you.

Non-English-speaking guests can download the Circle Line app for narration available in several languages; just be sure to bring your own headset.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Jessica Colley Clarke is a New York-based freelance writer. She loves to take visiting family and friends out on the water in the New York Harbor for a fresh perspective on the Manhattan skyline and beyond.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top New York City Tours
• The Best Hotels in New York City
• The Top Observation Decks in New York City

Tags: Travel , Tours

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

Top things to do in new hampshire.

Timothy J. Forster and Mariya Greeley June 14, 2024

The Best Scotland Tours

Marisa Méndez June 13, 2024

Flight Canceled or Delayed? What to Do

Amanda Norcross June 13, 2024

How to Renew a Passport Online

The Best Small Group Tours of Italy

John Rodwan and Ann Henson June 12, 2024

Crystal Symphony Review

Jill Schildhouse June 12, 2024

Fall in New England

Amanda Norcross June 11, 2024

Fun Things to Do in New Mexico

Alissa Grisler and Ashley M. Biggers June 11, 2024

Travel During Hurricane Season

Top Orlando Theme Parks

Lyn Mettler and Timothy J. Forster June 11, 2024

Share this story

• 23 Classic Restaurants Every New Yorker Must Try
• The Best Soft Serve in New York City
• 17 Great Breakfast Options in Manhattan

The Most Iconic Dishes in NYC

The most famous pastrami sandwiches, pizza slices, and soup dumplings

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Twitter
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: The Most Iconic Dishes in NYC

The dishes presented here provide a taste of New York City. They have achieved a distinguished reputation and shaped our modern dining scene. Many originated long ago, while others appeared in recent years and are already local legends. Some are expensive, but most can be obtained for a few dollars. Together they contribute to what makes our city one of the most exciting places to eat right now.

Cannoli at Madonia Bakery

Filled-to-order cannolis at this 100-year-old Sicilian bakery are a must, with its not-too-sweet ricotta and flaky shell. Don’t skip other regional favorites like the pane di casa, the ciccola (lard bread), or rainbow cookies, too. Be sure to get there early for plenty to choose from and good people watching.

• Open in Google Maps

Also featured in:

Where to Eat Around Fordham

The Best Restaurants on Arthur Avenue, the Little Italy of the Bronx

Fried chicken at Charles Pan-Fried Chicken

Charles Gabriel first started selling his crispy, golden fried chicken on the sidewalks of Amsterdam Avenue before running a food truck and, later, a small storefront. He opened this restaurant in Harlem in 2022, where the chicken is better than ever . He fries each piece in massive cast-iron skillets, and there’s a full menu of barbecued items, like pulled pork and ribs.

23 Restaurants That Show Off the Upper West Side

21 Great Restaurants to Try in Harlem

Franks at Gray's Papaya

Snappy, all-beef hot dogs and gritty but somehow refreshing fruit drinks are the hallmarks of this Upper West Side old-timer founded by Paul Gray in 1973. It also reflects a distinctive New York City frankfurter that originated a century earlier in Coney Island. Topping choices are limited to mustard, sauerkraut, brown-stewed onions, and ketchup, though true New Yorkers never use the latter.

30 Snappy, Standout Hot Dogs Around NYC

Cheeseburger at JG Melon

JG Melon is not the best burger in New York. And yet, this old-school haunt with a watermelon theme is one of the most charming places to eat, making its solid cheeseburger a favorite among locals. The restaurant stays open late, most days until 3 a.m., but it’s the perfect spot to saddle up for dinner with a martini any time of day.

The Best Burgers in New York City

19 Places to Eat and Drink on the Upper East Side

Soup dumplings at Joe's Shanghai

Plenty of restaurants serve good soup dumplings, but Joe's is the one that kickstarted New York's obsession when it opened in Flushing in 1994. Filled with a scalding broth, these purse-shaped dumplings were an immediate hit.

Manhattan clam chowder at Grand Central Oyster Bar

This New York institution is better than you remember it, tucked in the tunnels of the city’s most beautiful train station. Try to get a seat at the bar, and order the city’s namesake chowder, a lightly spicy soup full of clams, potatoes, and vegetables.

• Book with OpenTable

Crowd-Pleasing Restaurants for a Group Dinner in NYC

Sign up for the newsletter Eater NY

Sign up for our newsletter.

Thanks for signing up!

Check your inbox for a welcome email.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.

Mutton chop at Keens Steakhouse

Keens, one of the oldest steakhouses in the country, is most famous for its mutton chop . This massive, flavorful cut is well worth a trip to the restaurant, especially with a wedge salad or a side of prime rib hash. Part of the fun is the clubby, 19th-century ambiance, from the days when Keens was a meeting place for actors and other theater professionals. It opened in 1885.

Al pastor tacos at Los Tacos No. 1

Taco Mix may have popularized al pastor in New York, but Los Tacos perfected it. This small chain of Manhattan taquerias, often called “número uno,” draws lines with its adobada tacos. The marinated pork is charred on a twirling spit, then sliced to order and hucked into a tortilla with salsa, cilantro, onion, and a wedge of pineapple. The flour and corn tortillas are equally good.

NYC’s Essential Mexican Restaurants

Egg cream at S&P

One of New York City’s most quizzical dishes is the egg cream, generally available in flavors that run to chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and sometimes coffee. What’s so unusual about it? Despite the name, there’s no egg or cream in the recipe, just seltzer, whole milk, and syrup titrated with seltzer in a tall glass as a long-handled spoon is twirled. It’s a refreshing beverage that’s all the more enjoyable at S&P , a new restaurant with the feel of a classic.

15 of the Hottest Lunch Spots in NYC Right Now

The 38 Essential Restaurants in New York City

Banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery

The cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery may have become famous from a cameo in Sex and the City , but locals know to go for the banana pudding. Each container is packed with banana slices, lush vanilla pudding, and vanilla wafers that crumble and squish — the banana flavor is strong in every bite. There are multiple locations.

Coal-oven pizza at John's of Bleecker Street

John’s of Bleecker Street was founded by John Sasso in 1929, making it one of the city’s oldest pizzerias, and one of the originators of the city’s original coal-oven style. The pies come in two sizes, smoking hot and dappled with char, with modest strews of ingredients that can be ordered individually, like black olives, ricotta, pepperoni, Italian sausage, crushed garlic, and sliced onions, in addition to very fresh mozzarella.

The Essential Pizzerias of New York City

The Most Kid-Friendly Restaurants in NYC

Plain slice at Joe's Pizza

There are better slices of pizza in New York City, but are any as famous as Joe’s? The original slice shop opened on Carmine Street in 1975 and customers still crowd the small storefront for greasy slices of pizza with simple toppings like sausage and pepperoni. The restaurant now has five locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and two more in Michigan and Florida.

Hop on This Bus and Eat Your Way Through Lower Manhattan

Falafel at Mamoun's

Mamoun's falafel is inexpensive, filling, and delicious. The original Mamoun's on MacDougal introduced the falafel sandwich to the city in 1971, and it became a mega-hit, first with NYU students and hippies, and later with the general public.

Pierogi at Veselka

Open since 1954, Veselka is New York’s best-known Ukrainian restaurant. It’s revered for several dishes, including its stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and borscht, but the pierogi are the most popular by far. The half-moons of dough are filled with ingredients like potatoes, sauerkraut, cheese, ground pork, and even sweet fruit.

22 Restaurants That Define the East Village

Bagel with lox and cream cheese at Russ & Daughters

New York might have better bagels, but there’s no better bagel and lox experience than the one at Russ & Daughters . Four generations of family ownership and over one hundred years of business give this place a certain gravitas, but it's the quality that keeps people coming back.

More in Maps

Pastrami on rye at katz's deli.

Katz's serves New York's favorite pastrami sandwich, a meat central to the city’s carnivorous identity, and indeed it may have originated here . At Katz’s it's not just a humongous pile of pink cured beef, but one in which the flavor is richer and emphatically smokier than other popular versions served around town. It's a dish that New Yorkers have craved and relished for over a hundred years. And this is one of the few places that still cuts it by hand.

Rice To Riches

Rice to Riches is the only dessert shop entirely devoted to rice pudding with cheeky flavors like “Fluent in French Toast” and “Sex Drugs and Rocky Road.” Since opening in 2003, the business — with its futuristic interior design — has become something of New York lore and was once featured in the television show Girls . There’s now a second location on the Lower East Side.

Char Siu at Wah Fung No. 1

While you can find similar char siu at other spots in Chinatown, Wah Fung No. 1 has remained a mainstay for its no-frills set-up and affordability: $5.50 for a big portion of roast pork over rice. There aren’t any seats at Wah Fung No. 1 itself, but New Yorkers know to take their tinfoil containers across the street to the park. Expect a long line.

Jerk chicken at Peppa's

Founded by Gavin Hussey (nicknamed Peppa) in the ’90s, this storefront produces some of the city’s best Jamaican jerk chicken. And while jerk pork was the standard dish back in Jamaica, jerk chicken is more popular in Brooklyn. Finished over flame, Peppa’s rendition has a charred exterior and vinegar tang. The jerk sauce adds fiery notes of allspice and scotch bonnet pepper.

Eater 38 Restaurants Still Open for Top-Notch NYC Eating

Roast beef sandwich at Brennan & Carr

Established in 1938 in Sheepshead Bay when the surrounding area was still farmland, Brennan & Carr is New York’s answer to LA’s fabled French dip sandwich . A flavorful pile of beef, awash in its steaming juices, is layered on a kaiser roll. The beefy aroma arises from the sandwich like an early morning fog.

22 Restaurants Still Offering NYC’s Most Iconic Dishes

NYC’s 26 Most Iconic Meat Dishes

• 16 Great Manhattan Spots to Dine Outside
• 25 Places to Eat and Drink in Asbury Park
• 22 Great Places to Drink Wine

Related Maps

Follow eater ny online:.

• Follow Eater NY on Twitter
• Follow Eater NY on Facebook
• Follow Eater NY on Youtube
• Follow Eater NY on Instagram

Site search

• Los Angeles
• New Orleans
• Philadelphia
• Portland, OR
• San Francisco
• Twin Cities
• Washington DC
• Neighborhoods

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

Get us in your inbox

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest and greatest from your city and beyond

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Awesome, you're subscribed!

The best of New York for free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy New York without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Attractions
• Los Angeles

The 50 best restaurants in NYC right now

Including dazzling newcomers and familiar favorites.

Photograph: Courtesy of Heather Willensky

Choosing a favorite restaurant in New York City is a joyful task with myriad possibilities depending on the occasion, mood and even the time of year. Your favorite dive , fine dining  destination and 'any night' type of place might all occupy top spots on your personal best list in spite of their disparate qualities. 

Our list of NYC’s 50 best restaurants is the same, spanning each of those categories and more to comprise a catalogue of all the places we wish we were at right now. They don’t have to be the newest or the most recently reviewed , just places that we want to return to again and again, and that we think that you will, too. 

RECOMMENDED: NYC's best new restaurants of 2023

Note: Many of the city’s best chefs, restaurants and concepts have been welcomed into the Time Out Market . Because that is the highest honor we can award, establishments related to the market have not been ranked here, but you can see them below. 

Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our   free weekly newsletter  to get   the latest in New York City news, culture and dining.  

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Time Out Market New York

• price 1 of 4

We really like eating around the city, and we're guessing you do, too. So lucky for all of us, we've packed some of our favorite restaurants under one roof at  Time Out Market New York . The Dumbo location at Empire Stores boasts Bark Barbecue, Clinton St. Baking Co., Wayla and  more sensational spots sprawling across  two floors, with dazzling views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline.  

Best restaurants in NYC

1.  gage & tollner.

• Downtown Brooklyn

What is it?  At once an emblem of Old New York and a relative newcomer, Gage & Tollner was revived well over a century after first opening at this location in 1892. A trio of  Brooklyn hospitality pros, including chef Sohui Kim, reopened the august institution to quick acclaim in 2021. 

Why we love it? G&T's  landmarked interior, which hosted several unrelated businesses before its latest unveiling, is beautiful: enveloped in crimson velvet, gilded and appointed with towering mirrors to reflect all its splendor. The menus are terrific, too, abundant with steaks, chops, seafood towers, sensational fried chicken and best-in-class desserts. The recent addition of weekend lunch service makes the tough-to-book Brooklyn jewel a little bit easier to get into, and G&T recently started making its sensational pastries available for pre-order .  Check out Sunken Harbor Club upstairs, too, if you get the chance.

2.  Crown Shy

• Financial District

What is it? A n excellent entrée to NYC’s nicer-than-normal restaurants, Crown Shy is as suitable for a special occasion as it is for an evening that unexpectedly turns a bit fancy. The 2019 opening  was longtime chef de cuisine at Michelin-starred   Eleven Madison Park   James Kent’s first solo venture.

Why we love it?  Handsome, distinguished, and ultimately as delightful as a twirl around a ball, a visit to this sweeping space, where the spirits are as high as the ceilings, simply always seems important. The soothing Gruyère fritters that helped launch it all in 2019 are still here, and the related upstairs bar,  Overstory  is a knockout spot for drinks with a view after dinner. Crown Shy also hosts guest chefs some Sundays, with Kent leading a morning after running club subsequent Mondays. 

3.  Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi

• Upper West Side
• 5 out of 5 stars
• Recommended

What is it?  Last year's  buzziest restaurant (which actually opened in 2022) is as good as you’ve heard, and maybe even better. It follows Bronx-raised chef  Kwame Onwuachi's D.C. restaurants,  Top Chef   season and James Beard award. 

Why we love it?  Its ethereal space, where sunshine streams in by day, and light fixtures fashioned after clouds are suspended overhead, is as comfortable as it is cooly grand. Its Afro-Caribbean-influenced menu lists one stunner after another, and its short rib pastrami is New York City’s can’t miss dish. 

4.  Gramercy Tavern

• American creative
• price 4 of 4

What is it?  A New York City classic among New York City classics, Gramercy Tavern is both a special occasion destination and an every day, but better, kind of place. It’s the special sort of spot where you arrange to go after you’ve become engaged, or simply slip into to escape a sudden rain.

Why we love it?  Big night out atmosphere crackles in the dining room in the back and the tavern space up front, with a bar that that feels like the place to be. The dining room’s $168 five-course tasting, which presently includes Arctic char and roasted duck breast , is splendid for a splurge, or you can order à la carte in the (also lovely) tavern section, where every main is $38 or less. 

5.  Dhamaka

• Lower East Side

What is it? NYC’s dazzling best new restaurant of 2021 with dishes seldom seen on local menus. 

Why we love it? T he unstoppable Unapologetic Foods  team spotlights what they refer to as “the forgotten side of India.” Dhamaka recently updated most of its menu, but favorites like the gurda kapoora (goat kidney, testicles, red onion and pao)  and champaran meat (mutton, garlic, red chili) remain. The group has continued opening new venues since Dhamaka, including Rowdy Rooster , which serves the best new fried chicken sandwich in NYC, and Masalawala & Sons , which was one of 2022's best new restaurants . 

6.  Kochi

• Hell's Kitchen

What is it? Per se alum chef Sungchul Shim’s $145 nine -course tasting of skewers inspired by Korean royal court cuisine.  A sool pairing is also available for $105.

Why we love it?  Kochi first opened in 2019 and was   subsequently awarded   a Michelin star. Ordering everything on the menu is usually relegated to daydreams, but at Kochi, it’s possible. Courses include items  like charcoal grilled Spanish mackerel and braised short rib.  Shim followed Kochi's success with five-star restaurant  Mari  late in 2021, which also collected a sparkler  in 2022 . His latest, Don Don, was also recently awarded four  Time Out  stars in these pages . 

7.  Rezdôra

What is it?  New York City's best Italian restaurant . Rezdôra follows chef Stefano Secchi's turn at highly-regarded Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy.

Why we love it? Dinner at Rezdôra feels like a new culinary experience even for people who grew up on pasta night. Individual plates are available, but its $98 regional pasta tasting is an exciting tour of the restaurant's best. Prime time reservations are still tough to acquire, but you should be able to ease in for weekday lunch. 

8.  Sushi Nakazawa

• West Village
• price 3 of 4

What is it?   Incredible omakase from  Jiro Dreams of Sushi’s  chef Daisuke Nakazawa.

Why we love it?   This city’s full of expensive omakase, and Sushi Nakazawa has all the exquisite quality and reverent ambiance of its tip-top price peers for a slightly less account-clearing sum. It is not unexpected to see $300+ chef’s selections at  NYC’s best sushi restaurants , but reservations at  Nakazawa’s  counter are $180 for about 20 palate-changing courses like fatty tuna, sea urchin and yellowtail. It’s $150 in the peaceful dining room, and perfect sake pairings are $90. Nakazawa followed his eponymous first spot with  Saito  in 2022.

9.  Untable

• Carroll Gardens

What is it? Just joining its esteemed peers here, this self-billed “unconventional” Thai restaurant on a darling Brooklyn block is NYC’s best new restaurant of 2023 . 

Why we love it? Untable’s outstanding drinks defy the conceit that all the good cocktails already exist , menu items like the crab croquettes with tom yum purée, tiger shrimp and “what the hell” fried rice (named for its fiery heat) are best in class, and the hospitality is warmly inviting. It also does not accept reservations, so prepare to wait for a table at last year’s finest debut. 

10.  Clover Hill

• Brooklyn Heights

What is it?   One of 2022’s   best new restaurants   on a picturesque block in Brooklyn. In addition to our early five star review, the special occasion tasting spot went on to further accolades like  a Michelin star and the guide’s young chef of the year award for co-owner Charlie Mitchell. 

Why we love it?  In New York City, nothing is truly ever “off the beaten path.” So-called hidden gems are somebody’s regular. But a place can be a bit more tucked away than the rest, mapped as hard to reach in paces from the subway. Sweet, petite Clover Hill is just that, situated on an almost unbelievably telegenic little reach of westernmost Brooklyn Heights. Starting at $305 per person, the relaxed fine dining destination is priced to match its excellently sourced and executed, multi-course, seasonally updated menu. 

11.  Gator

What is it? “C ontemporary Americana with a flair for sustainability.”  

Why we love it? It uses ingredients that would otherwise be relegated to waste in its fantastic preparations; it’s fresh and has  knockout flavor combinations. The beets, mac and cheese, hake and pork chop are all superb and it is c harming, comfortable and romantic in that carefree, French cinema kind of way.

12.  Figure Eight

What is it?  Another newcomer among the best new restaurants of 2023, Figure Eight on lovely Cornelia Street " celebrates the culture and culinary richness of the lower Atlantic coast through a Chinese-American lens. ”

Why we love it?   Its   seafood tower  is among the best in town, a particularly delicious and   celebratory addition to an already festive category. Its drinks, ribs and fried fish are real hits, too. 

13.  K'Far

• Williamsburg
• 4 out of 5 stars

What is it?  A pretty Israeli restaurant by way of Philadelphia in Williamsburg’s Hoxton hotel.

Why we love it?  That K’Far might be better known as Laser Wolf’s related downstairs neighbor is a quirk of the headline cycle. The latter’s nice, and lovely, too, on the hotel’s 10th floor. But K’Far is superb on the lobby level, with large dining rooms arranged a few ways and a chicken schnitzel to recall again and again, along with savory baklava, Palestinian lamb tartare and world class dorade. 

14.  Cote

What is it?  “New York City’s first Korean steakhouse"—among the best in both categories.

Why we love it?  Cote  is sleek, stylish and superb, with gleaming, bronzed inset grills to heat all manner of meat at your table. It’s butcher’s feast cannot be beat, replete with American Wagyu beef and the requisite cumulous egg soufflé, duo of stews and banchan. 

15.  Atoboy

What is it? Chef Junghyun Park’s array of modern Korean small plates are presented in five courses for a set price of $75. Fried chicken with  gochujang and spicy peanut sauce is available as an add-on for $28. 

Why we love it? Tasting menus are one of the best ways to sample as much as possible, but some are too rigid and prohibitively expensive. Park’s prix-fixe is more affordable than most, and you’ll get to choose from a few options for some courses. 

16.  Sofreh

• Prospect Heights
• price 2 of 4

What is it? O ne of NYC's few Persian restaurants where plates like  roasted eggplant dip, beef kebab and rosewater sorbet shine bright. 

Why we love it? The Prospect Heights favorite is o ne of the best and only representations of Persian cuisine in town. Sofreh's lengthy cocktail list is also unlike most others in the area.

17.  Ugly Baby

What is it? Booming on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens since 2017, Ugly Baby is a Thai restaurant that will test the limits of your heat tolerance. Fiery flavors abound in the “stay-away spicy Udon Thani’s duck salad," and orders of soothing tue ka ko will slake any palate flames. 

Why we love it? Ugly Baby’s use of spice is a master class in heat notable to aficionados and novices alike. Like a lot of the city's best no-reservations restaurants, the wait for tables can be long, and if you don't nab a spot close to 5pm, expect to linger for a while. 

18.  Elias Corner

What is it? A familial seafood spot on a cozy Queens corner.

Why we love it? If you know anything about Elias Corner for Fish, you know that the decades-old local favorite eschews menus in favor of a catch of the day display case. Choose from whole fish, octopus, bivalves and other fantastic sea fare. There’s a nice, breezy side deck in addition to Elias’ homey dining room. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elias Corner (@eliascorner)

19.  Oxomoco

What is it?  Michelin-starred Oxomoco (f rom the team behind Speedy Romeo) focuses on wood-fired dishes. Taco options include beet “chorizo," fish and lamb varieties.

Why we love it? The food is serious and the atmosphere is buoyant and the whole place is a lot of fun. Case in point: Oxomoco has frozen drinks on its cocktail list, which many restaurants of this caliber can’t even. 

20.  Cadence

• East Village

What is it? A vegan soul food restaurant led by executive chef Shenarri Freeman that recently relocated from a slip of an address to a new, 80-seat space nearby. Cadence is part of Overthrow Hospitality’s group of NYC plant-based restaurants. 

Why we love it? Freeman’s menu is a list of hits like the rich, expertly-textured grits and excellent hearts of palm cakes. The southern-fried lasagna with pine nut ricotta, spinach and a red wine Beyond Meat bolognese is a can't-miss dish.

21.  Lillo

• Cobble Hill

What is it? Excellent neighborhood pasta worth visiting in spite of its caveats. 

Why we love it? Maybe it's because we first started visiting when Lillo still had a de facto BYOB policy and before it became almost impenetrably popular, but we keep recommending this tiny pasta shop even though it doesn’t have booze, a bathroom, hardly any seats or take credit cards. We’re just so fond of Lillo’s no-nonsense meatballs, fettuccine with speck and zucchini, branzino, broccoli rabe and lasagna, that we’re willing to wait for one of it’s smattering of tables and pay cash for the pleasure. Head to Henry Public next door for great drinks after dinner.

22.  Van Da

What is it? A Vietnamese restaurant that lit up the neighborhood when it first opened in 2019 and earned notices like a star in the New York Times and a Michelin Bib Gourmand nod in short order. 

Why we love it? Van Da still has some items from its opening menu —a good thing since it was never easy to nab a table. Early hits like the short rib grilled cheese with a shot of pho, shaking beef and shrimp and pork tapioca dumplings are as wonderful to return to as they are to taste for the first time. 

23.  Di Fara Pizza

What is it? A favorite among favorites in a city with plenty of pizza . 

Why we love it? Ask any new or old pizza-maker about their inspiration, touchpoint, or simply their favorite pie, and Di Fara, which dates back to 1965, will come up again and again. Toppings include all the hits–sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms and so on–in addition to extras like soppressata, broccoli rabe and artichokes all atop thin, crispy crust.

24.  Dirt Candy

What is it? Chef Amanda Cohen’s Dirt Candy was dishing out creative, satisfying, wildly popular vegetarian food before going plant-based became headline news . 

Why we love it? Cohen’s prix-fixe changes seasonally, so there's always a reason to come back. The present, $105, five-course menu includes inventive preparations of mushrooms, squash and cabbage. 

25.  Hometown Bar-B-Que

What is it? NYC’s best barbecue destination. 

Why we love it? Hometown is in top form after more than ten years in Brooklyn. Lines still form and stretch all the way out the door for ribs, pulled pork, towering sandwiches and nice sides. It also has even more space to accommodate the crowds than when it first opened, both inside the warehouse-sized dual dining areas (each with its own bar), and outside at a multitude of picnic tables.  

26.  Olmsted

• Contemporary American

What is it?  An accolade-collecting special occasion destination with a focus on seasonality. 

Why we love it?  Olmsted became almost impossible to book with it first opened in 2016, and its still worth the lower effort today. Its expertly executed and frequently rewritten menus are presently configured into an $89 dinner tasting, with ingredients like duck liver and sunchoke. 

27.  Leland Eating and Drinking House

What is it? A charming neighborhood restaurant on a quaint corner that you might find yourself unexpectedly going out of your way to return to.

Why we love it? A relatively small menu actually allows for myriad combinations, visit after visit. We expect to try them all some day, once we can resist the temptation of Leland’s trout rillette, charred lemon skillet mussels and whole fried fish. The kitchen also turns out some of the best bread you’ll find in or out of NYC’s finest bakeries. 

28.  Pata Paplean

What is it?  Now operating for more than a decade, this is a cozy noodle bowl destinarion (we’d recommend the boat variety) where you’re sure to be satisfied.

Why we love it?  These noodle soups are so fine you'll still want to seek them in the steamy summer. Colorful cocktails will cool you down when temperatures rise above the broth this season. 

29.  Rangoon

• Crown Heights

What is it? What began as a Burmese cuisine pop-up by chef Myo Moe in 2015 became a brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2020. 

Why we love it?  Rangoon's southeast Asian cuisine is less commonly seen in NYC, and Moe’s menu displays a nice array. Vibrant  dishes like lemongrass fish noodle soup and curry varieties are served in the bright, sleek space. Its email list also includes special offers with surprising frequency, and Rangoon has gone on to open a Manhattan location .  

30.  Bo Ky

What is it?  Bo Ky’s menu is one of few specializing in Chaoshan region cuisine. Its noodle menu is long, and you'll find roasted duck and rice dishes too.

Why we love it?  Bo Ky is not only one the most comprehensive, but also one of the best noodle shops in the city, and it performs above its dollar sign designation. 

31.  The Freakin Rican

• Puerto Rican

What is it? What first came into existence as a street fair staple, executive chef/owner Derick López’s The Freakin Rican gained critical acclaim shortly after going brick and mortar. 

Why we love it? The plantain and pork pasteles alone are worth the trip to Astoria if you aren’t a local.

32.  Usha Foods

What is it? A vegetarian Indian food destination in Queens specializing in fast casual bites, savory snacks and colorful desserts. 

Why we love it? Generous portions and myriad combo platter options that let you try almost everything in just a few visits make this one of the borough's highest-ranking meatless options.

33.  Bunna Cafe

• East Williamsburg

What is it? A vegetarian Etheopian go-to with an abundance of items like red lentils in berbere sauce, ground split peas simmered with tomato and sautéed crimini mushrooms. Cool the heat of spicier bites with a bit of injera.

Why we love it? Individual orders are like a mini buffet . And Bunna’s sharable quality makes it a delightful date spot.

34.  Raoul’s

What is it? Soho’s most West Village-esque restaurant with Alsatian flair

Why we love it? Raoul’s romance feels thrillingly incidental; like a place that you and an as-yet affectionate associate can accidentally stumble upon and fall in love. The dining room’s a little moody, its art’s a little nudie and these rhymes must end now but the steak here is quite good. You can also get oysters, of course, and tartare, foie gras, moules frites and roast chicken. Even confirmed cocktail devotees will be tempted by Raoul’s deep French reds. 

35.  Tanoreen

• Mediterranean

What is it? T his Middle Eastern destination in Bay Ridge has been a standard-bearer in its category since 1998. Palestinian-born chef-owner Rawia Bishara deftly captures the flavors of her Nazareth childhood—charring eggplants in charcoal, rolling out pita, hand-making savory yogurt. 

Why we love it? Tanoreen’s staying power alone is evidence of its excellence, and it comes up often when you ask locals for restaurant recommendations. Try the  variety of silky spreads like lemony labna and smoky baba ganoush.

36.  Sushi 35 West

• Midtown West

What is it? A tiny, two table spot owned and operated by chefs from some of NYC’s best (and most expensive!) sushi restaurants for far less cash. 

Why we love it? Even with its slightly hard-to-find, second floor location and paucity of seats, we will happily take Sushi 35 West’s sensational salmon roe, sea urchin, Spanish mackerel and striped jack to go for the opportunity to taste exceptionally sourced fish improved by beautiful knifework. 

37.  Com Tam Ninh Kieu

What is it?  A pair of previous  Hanoi House staffers took over this neighborhood spot  in an  area that was once an enclave of New York's Vietnamese population. They stayed  true to the kitchen’s comforting recipes and incorporated a few updates.  

Why we love it?  There's a share of great Vietnamese restaurants in NYC, and Com Tam Ninh Kieu's homestyle preparations have become increasingly unique among them. 

38.  Taverna Kyclades

What is it? A perpetually-packed Greek restaurant that commands crowds even in a neighborhood saturated with the cuisine. 

Why we love it? Although Taverna Kyclades keeps it casual, lively lunch and dinner here always feel like an event. This is also the rare spot that maintains a long menu where everything (like the grilled octopus, saganaki, lamb chops and swordfish) is consistently good.

39.  B&H Dairy

What is it? A kosher diner in the East Village serving up tuna melts, pierogies, kasha varnishkes and borscht.

Why we love it? The narrow space has a tremendous egg cream, and i t's one of the last remaining old New York spots in the neighborhood

40.  Congee Village

What is it? A jubilant Chinese restaurant with book-length menus and brightly colored cocktails.

Why we love it? Congee's sprawling interior is ideally suited to boisterous nights filled with stories you may have heard before that still elicit sonorous laughter. Lines accrue fast, but the pretty bar area is a cozy place to wait if you can nab a spot, and the dining areas beyond have plenty of big tables to accommodate groups. The menu’s almost as large as the space, with several congee varieties and an encyclopedia of Chinese plates. 

41.  French Louie

• Boerum Hill

What is it? Easy, local-favorite French fare 

Why we love it? Every neighborhood would be lucky to have a restaurant like French Louie, which serves as fine a special occasion spot as any fancy-address destination in the city. If for example, you happened to be nearby, and it was your birthday, and a sudden blizzard made even local travel inadvisable, you could still drift into French Louie’s dimly honey-hued dining room for a suitable fête. Its moules frites, duck au poivre and uncommonly generous portion of pȃté are priced decently enough to add to your regular weekend rotation, too.

42.  Astoria Seafood

• Long Island City

What is it? A choose-your-own seafood adventure as close as many of us will ever get to fishing. 

Why we love it?  Dining out and having fun are, shockingly, not always mutually inclusive in NYC. At Astoria Seafood, you’ll peruse and choose from uncooked tuna, octopus, sardines, branzino shellfish, scallops, snapper, fluke and all manner of sea creatures before you tell ‘em how you’d like it cooked. BYOB and a bubbly, casual environment make this popular spot worth its long lines. 

43.  Kokomo

What is it? One of a few spots here that also appeared on our best restaurants of 2020 roundup , Kokomo is a Caribbean restaurant from husband and wife team Ria and Kevol Graham.

Why we love it? As we wrote at the time, Kokomo’s wood-fired flatbreads, slow braised oxtail and chicken and waffles are all bonafide comfort foods. The restaurant interior’s warm tones and florid design further set the mood, and we recently named Kokomo NYC's best outdoor dining spot in our Best of the City awards. 

44.  Maya Congee Cafe

• Sandwich shops
• Bedford-Stuyvesant

What is it?  An East Asian general store with bites at the counter, Maya Bed-Stuy specializes in novel takes on congee. Why we love it?  Maya serves noteworthy congee with additions like quinoa, avocado and other tasty ingredients.

45.  Noreetuh

What is it? Spam’s bad reputation in pop culture is unearned. And at Noreetuh, it's among the menu’s stars. Plates like spicy Spam musubi invite you to reconsider the canned meat that walked so tinned fish could run.  

Why we love it?  Few restaurants in New York specialize in Hawaiian cuisine. Noreetuh has done so with gusto since 2015, quietly becoming a  neighborhood staple.

46.  A&A Bake and Doubles

What is it? A  small, James Beard award-winning Caribbean stop in Bed-Stuy with three specialties: bake, doubles and roti. 

Why we love it? Doubles are the real hit. The Trinidadian snacks, which start at $2-a-pop, envelop fillings like a savory potato-channa curry in bara. 

47.  Via Carota

What is it? This cozy Italian restaurant, run by the chef power couple of Jody Williams and Rita Sodi, is a rustic, sophisticated and heart-swelling gem. Why we love it? The simple food—towering insalata verde, hearty chopped steak and any of the soul-satisfying pastas—makes this Village favorite a place where everyone wants to be a regular.

48.  Teranga

• West African
• East Harlem

What is it? C hef   Pierre Thiam first opened this West African fast-casual concept at Harlem's  Africa Center in 2019. 

Why we love it?  The counter service space is roomy and comfortable inside and out at its sidewalk seats. Many of Teranga’s bowls are gluten free and/or vegan, and options like grilled chicken and roasted salmon are also available. 

49.  Los Tacos No.1

What is it?  A  taqueria-style counter where cooks roll masa and slice spit-roasted pork with ease and speed to keep up with demand.  

Why we love it?  Los Tacos No. 1's lively Chelsea Market location is our favorite of the micro-chain's outposts, which now number  six  throughout Manhattan. But we'd visit any one of them for p ollo asado tacos, carne asada quesadillas and homemade aguas frescas.

50.  The Arepa Lady

• Street food
• Jackson Heights

What is it?  A cart-turned brick-and-mortar restaurant specializing in arepas and other Colombian bites in Jackson Heights.

Why we love it? That titular item abounds, in adition to s ome of the best South American corn cakes in NYC.

Local chefs, restaurants and concepts we love so much that we welcomed them into Time Out Market

Jacob's pickles.

Jacob's Pickle helped the Upper West Side shed its sleepy restaurant reputation by offering gastropub fare we could get behind.  The comfort food, mac and cheese to patty melt, pair effortlessly with the extensive beer list and whiskey cocktails.

Wayla was already poised for stardom shortly after first opening its doors on the Lower East Side in 2019, when seemingly everyone in NYC was salivating over its noodle-wrapped meatballs, clamoring for tables and snapping selfies. Even now, years later, prime-time reservations for chef  Tom Naumsuwan’s  homestyle Thai food still aren’t easy to come by. His  attention to ingredients, focus on fresh flavors and market-inspired menus have folks filling up Wayla’s tables night after night. 

Sugar Hill Creamery

• Ice cream parlors

Sugar Hill Creamery owners  Nick Larsen and Petrushka Bazin Larsen’s seasonal ice cream flavors are often inspired by their Midwestern and Caribbean backgrounds as well as their longtime home of Harlem. The husband-and-wife team has been crafting distinct ingredient combinations out of their Central Harlem store since 2017, and devoted fans hungry for frozen treats that you won’t find in the supermarket led the pair to open a second location in Hamilton Heights just a few years later. Stop by often—there’s always an innovative new flavor to try.

Clinton St. Baking Company

Neil Kleinberg’s fluffy pancakes alone are more than enough reason to hit up this brunch favorite. But the rest of the menu, from biscuit sandwiches to a smoked salmon scramble, makes a case for why breakfast can be just as good for dinner.  Some consider brunch a sacred experience in New York, and this Lower East Side classic doesn’t disappoint between its delicious bites and buzzy dining room.

Wood-fired brick-oven pies are sprinkled with herbs and vegetables grown in the restaurant's greenhouse. Freshly picked arugula, for example, might be combined with eggplant, bresaola and Parmesan, and locally grown figs may be matched with prosciutto and Gorgonzola. Too esoteric for your family? No worries: Try the basic marinara or Margherita. You can't go wrong with any of the pies here.

The Tuscan-inspired dishes, wine-bottle-lined walls and leather banquettes serve as the perfect backdrop for comforting Italian fare.  If there are two words that describe FELICE, we’d choose cozy and carbs. The bowls of pasta beckon us to this intimate restaurant no matter the time of year.

The world-class pizzeria sets up shop at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Dig into wood-fired pies (classic Margherita, eggplant-and-ricotta) and sandwiches (roasted turkey, prosciutto) at one of the indoor picnic tables, or snag a patio seat overlooking the water. A rooftop beer garden pours selections from Peroni and Brooklyn Brewery, along with wines by the glass. One of our favorite spots for pizza in the city—you can't go wrong with any of the pies here.

Mr. Taka Ramen

New York is teeming with ramen options, but this Lower East Side spot commands a loyal following for good reason: the overall quality and consistency of its broth, whether a hearty tonkotsu or spicy miso, is always on point.  We can't get enough of the hearty tonkatsu and basically any dish from this kitchen.

[image] [title]

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Copyright agent
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Claim your listing
• Local Marketing Solutions
• Advertising

Time Out products

• Time Out Worldwide

The 100 Best Restaurants in New York City in 2024

Our critic, Pete Wells, drops his annual ranking. See what’s new, what moved and what left the list.

By Pete Wells

I should have seen it coming last year when my editors put the following headline on my attempt to name the city’s greatest places to eat: “ The 100 Best Restaurants in New York City 2023 .”

That “2023” implies doing it again in 2024. Still, when they told me that’s exactly what they wanted, my first reaction was surprise. This was followed by the realization that I had a lot of eating to do.

Twenty-two places in this edition of “The 100 Best Restaurants in NYC” are new. I’ve eaten at all 100 in the past 12 months, except for La Piraña Lechonera and the Queens Night Market, both of which are currently closed for the season. (I don’t accept free meals from restaurants I write about.)

New York is a big city, and I tried to find 100 restaurants that represent its neighborhoods, its people and the rewards it has in store for hungry, curious eaters. The list is a tour. If you take it, you’ll see all five boroughs and a wide array of cooking and serving styles.

There are hushed counters where fewer than 10 people at a time enjoy the marvels a great sushi master can conjure, and open-air stalls where jerk chicken soaks up the smoke of hardwood charcoal. And quite a few restaurants in between.

Not many people will eat at all of them. But if you read about them, I hope you will start to see New York the way I see it whenever I look at my options and ask myself where I am going to eat next.

— Pete Wells

Showing all 100 restaurants.

Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi

Le Bernardin

La Piraña Lechonera

Superiority Burger

Una Pizza Napoletana

Jeju Noodle Bar

The Four Horsemen

Trinciti Roti Shop

Jean-Georges

Casa Mono and Bar Jamón

Queens Night Market

Café Carmellini

Shion 69 Leonard Street

Gramercy Tavern

Szechuan Mountain House

Forever Jerk

Clover Hill

Gage & Tollner

Shaw-naé’s House

Yoon Haeundae Galbi

Mercado Little Spain

Great N.Y. Noodletown

Village Cafe

Falafel Tanami

Barney Greengrass

Le Crocodile

Chongqing Lao Zao

AbuQir Seafood

Birria-Landia

Hainanese Chicken House

Mark’s Off Madison

S & P Lunch

Mariscos El Submarino

Temple Canteen

Foxface Natural

Hakka Cuisine

188 Bakery Cuchifritos

Hav & Mar

Hamburger America

Laghman Express

Mapo Korean BBQ

Cka Ka Qellu

Vendors at Junction Boulevard

Shopsin’s General Store

Hyderabadi Zaiqa

Zum Stammtisch

Ewe’s Delicious Treats

Randazzo’s Clam Bar

1. tatiana by kwame onwuachi.

Randy Smith for The New York Times

Go ahead, ask Resy to ping you when a table at Tatiana becomes available. You might as well learn Icelandic while you’re at it, because you’re going to be waiting a while. Deep into its second year, after much of the hype about Mr. Onwuachi’s spirited rundown of Black cooking styles in New York (Southern, Caribbean, West African, bodega-esque) has blown over, Tatiana remains among the very few places in town where reservations are truly hard to come by. It’s quickly becoming an institution. Is it maturing, too? The truffled chopped cheese is now a satisfying and rather lush steak sandwich, a more fully realized recipe even though it may no longer quite qualify as a chopped cheese. Service can still register as under-rehearsed. Yet the people working at Tatiana, many of them newcomers in the restaurant trade, convey genuine warmth and enthusiasm, which I’ll gladly take over the chilly formalities that prevail in other restaurants that charge this much or more for dinner. Mr. Onwuachi clearly wants you to have fun at Tatiana, but I suspect he also wants you to ask why there aren’t more places like it.

When the tasting counter in Roberta’s backyard finally reopened in January, it had something to show for its unusually long pandemic break: a new chef, Victoria Blamey. She works with Carlo Mirarchi, Blanca’s owner, within the nominally Italian outlines he established in its first decade: the esoteric raw seafood plates, the unexpected vegetable courses, the spare and thrilling bowls of pasta, the remarkable cuts of meat aged on site and painstakingly cooked over Japanese charcoal. But she builds on that structure, adding the intense flavors she loves (often from fermentation, as in the yuzu sauerkraut draped over raw surf clams) and some dishes drawn from the Chilean cuisine she grew up with (like tortilla de rescoldo, a flat and nearly black bread traditionally baked in ashes). Her far-reaching and forward-looking menu is served to a soundtrack provided by an open turntable and a stack of LPs. This has to be the only restaurant in the world where you can play side B of “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” while you wait for the pheasant course.

3. Le Bernardin

Karsten Moran for The New York Times

You can drop in for a fairly quick lunch, not the whole multi-installment chef’s tasting megillah, just a simple three courses for $127, in and out, no big deal, and still the cooking will make you feel as if tectonic plates were shifting under your feet. In January, what did it for me was the fluke. Boring old fluke, served all over town, where’s the thrill in that, Eric Ripert? And then one of the servers fills the white space around the fish with a sauce the color of saffron. It smells like fennel and lobster. The inspiration is bouillabaisse, right, but (tremor) why is it so briny and (rumble) rich and hey, um, is that (people run for cover …) sea urchin?

Daniel Krieger for The New York Times

At this point Manhattan must have more Korean tasting counters than kosher delis. Atomix remains the one to beat, though, the leader in finding new ingredients (locally foraged pineapple weed and maple flower are on the spring menu), grounding its experiments in tradition and putting its meals into the larger context of Korean ceramics, fabrics and even chopstick design. The concrete dining room is more chilly than cuddly, but it has little of the pretension that afflicts some other tasting counters. Its earnestness is surprisingly appealing.

5. Via Carota

Nico Schinco for The New York Times

Maybe you waited two hours for a table, maybe you lucked into a bar stool, maybe you took a reservation at one of those in-between times that are the only ones that ever seem to be offered. (At 4:15 p.m., are you having lunch or dinner?) In any case, as you hold up the broadsheet menu with its drawings of artichokes and figs, the old favorites compete for your attention: the crisp olives stuffed with pork, bruschetta under mounds of butter with a folded silvery anchovy on each mound, the slick tangle of tonnarelli studded with explosively fragrant peppercorns, the spreadably soft garlic cloves with golden sections of fried rabbit. There may not be another restaurant in town where so many dishes are indisputable classics, where, just when you think you’ve made up your mind, your eye falls on the meatballs sweetened with raisins and pine nuts …

6. La Piraña Lechonera

Lanna Apisukh for The New York Times

Each winter, the rickety, boarded-up trailer on East 152nd Street looks as if it won’t survive the next strong breeze. And each spring, Angel Jimenez unlocks the door, heats the deep fryer, powers up the salsa music, sharpens the machete and brings the city’s greatest expression of Puerto Rican eating back to life for another season. The frituras, little shrimp-filled pastelillos and shiny golden bacalaitos, are superb. So is the cold octopus salad, crunchy with diced peppers and olives. But the reason we wait all winter for La Piraña’s return is the roast pork. Rubbed with garlic and pepper, splashed with milky garlic sauce and, if you like, some vinegar-and-chile solution swirled in an empty rum bottle, it is the closest a New Yorker can get to a plate of slow-cooked lechon up in the mountains outside San Juan.

Dish picture: Karsten Moran for The New York Times. Interior picture: Lisa Corson for The New York Times.

The city hasn’t quite caught up with Semma yet. To some extent we can blame the Unapologetic Foods group, which opens restaurants faster than Guided by Voices puts out albums. But the real issue is that we haven’t seen anything like Vijay Kumar’s interpretations of South Indian food before. Mr. Kumar doesn’t just toy with the distinction between refined and rustic; he obliterates it. The North Fork snails he sautées with tomatoes and tamarind would be cooked over a campfire in the rice paddies of Tamil Nadu, yet they get along with a glass of Pouilly-Fuissé from the Mâconnais as readily as any Burgundian escargot.

8. Superiority Burger

Diner, vegetarian hangout, greenmarket evangelist, laboratory, improv collective, museum of East Village ephemera — ever since it moved to Avenue A last year, Superiority Burger has been trying out new personas, without discarding any of the old ones. The exceptional, airy focaccia that is the focus of a sizable cult is now sold by the slice, but only at the bar on Monday and Tuesday. Grab-and-go veggie burgers, “hippy poutine” and fried tofu sandwiches that turn every preconception about bean curd on its head are available on Thursday, Friday and Saturday after 11 p.m. (During this “Night Shift,” you can also eat a pie from the celebrated Chrissy’s Pizza pop-up, as long as you ordered ahead.) There is no time of day when you can’t get gelato and sorbet in freethinking flavors like saffron-labneh or tahini with fudge swirl. Waffles and other breakfast foods now materialize on weekends. Is this any way to run a hamburger stand? Yes, it is.

Evan Sung for The New York Times

At his counter on the Bowery, Tadashi Yoshida can wow you into submission before he hands you the night’s first piece of sushi. Your omakase dinner might begin with a small cocktail of caviar and bigfin reef squid in sweet and tender strands. Mochi might follow, grilled over charcoal until crisp and chewy, then wrapped around sun-dried mullet roe, briny and intense. During certain weeks of the year there could be white sacs of cod milt. Or oysters and tilefish in a rich, breathtaking soup made from hairy crab. Mr. Yoshida’s appetizer repertoire seems to be endless. By the time he fills a brazier with live charcoal to sear the mackerel sushi that is his signature, showstopping dish, your surrender is complete.

10. Torrisi

Torrisi is now turning out the most dazzling and accomplished cooking of all the Major Food Group restaurants. (The distinction used to belong to the Grill, which this year slides to No. 55 in my ranking.) Who knows what the future holds? But Rich Torrisi, standing in one corner of the open kitchen, conducting a crew that is equally adept with Vietnamese octopus as with tortellini folded as gracefully as a silk pocket square, certainly looks like a chef who has found his forever home.

Interior picture: Ben Russell for The New York Times. Dish picture: Ed Lefkowicz for The New York Times.

The food seems slightly more familiar than it did when Ignacio Mattos brought Estela to Houston Street in 2013. One reason for this is that small-plates restaurants across the country have helped themselves to its unexpected flavor harmonies and unforced visual aesthetic. Some even lifted entire recipes. Never mind the imitators, though. An Estela dish can still knock you over with originality. Where else can you get orange segments under a floss of dried shrimp and Thai chile threads? Nowhere, yet.

12. Una Pizza Napoletana

Dish picture: Evan Sung for The New York Times. Interior picture: Daniel Krieger for The New York Times.

A couple of years ago, Una Pizza was half-empty so often that its owner, Anthony Mangieri, was thinking of pulling up stakes. Then he did an about-face — or maybe we did. Now, he and his pizza are acknowledged downtown institutions. Fans buy Una Pizza-branded apparel, extra-virgin olive oil and panettone; they begin lining up half an hour before the doors open; and they’ve made reservations among the city’s most scalpable. The source of this fevered loyalty is the five standard pies and a weekly special, all of them with a fat, tender, char-speckled Hula-Hoop of dough surrounding a low valley of tomatoes or cheese or both. There’s not much else on the menu, but the fire-roasted peppers are worthwhile and the sorbetto can be stunning.

13. Ci Siamo

I know people who refused to try Ci Siamo for a while because it’s located in Nowheresville — the concrete future-scape known as Manhattan West. Then they went, and they got lost. They complained about the schlep before, during and after the next visit. But when they found themselves planning a third meal, they were forced to admit that Hillary Sterling has put Nowheresville on the map. There are other chefs in town with a wood-burning hearth and a love of rustic Italian flavors, but Ms. Sterling’s menu may have the highest percentage of dishes that are flat-out fantastic.

Liz Barclay for The New York Times

It can be depressing when restaurants are cloned, but for Jean-Georges Vongerichten there were undeniable advantages to making a branch of ABCV out of his vegetarian hide-out, Seeds & Weeds, in the Tin Building. For one, an outright copy can be better than a halfhearted imitation. ABCV’s executive chef, Neal Harden, has spent years studying interesting ways to eat grains, roots, fungi and so on. His food is so much more advanced than it is at other, similar places that eating there can be like time-traveling and discovering that the post-livestock future turned out extremely well. If ABCV can be cloned successfully, we may not need to clone meat.

The cooking of Jiangnan, including Shanghai and the cities of the southern Yangtze Delta, gets the nuanced treatment it deserves at CheLi. Instead of, say, scorching chiles or other powerful seasonings, Jiangnan uses Shaoxing wine to provide subtle, invisible emphasis in many dishes, like chilled wine-soaked crab and stir-fried loofah. Dragonwell tea scents the soft curls of sweet Longjing shrimp, which come to the table enveloped in dry-ice fog. Delicate is probably not the best word for CheLi’s mao xue wang, a majestic stew of ham, beef, shrimp, intestines and congealed duck’s blood, all bobbing under a quarter-inch or so of chile oil. But it’s not wrong, either.

16. Jeju Noodle Bar

Cole Wilson for The New York Times

Getting a table is no easy feat, but apart from that, Jeju is one of the city’s most accessible modern Korean restaurants — a crowded category that has more than its share of tasting menus with triple-digit prices. The quietly marvelous mushroom ramen, with Parmesan foam and a squeeze of lime, is a meal in itself, and costs $27. For about the same price there are seafood appetizers, such as rosy cubes of raw kinmedai and clams in a dill- and chive-scented broth, so carefully considered they could be airlifted right into a 12-course degustation, although they’d probably have to be a tenth the size.

17. The Four Horsemen

John Kernick for The New York Times

Whatever picture floats through your mind when you think of a rock star’s restaurant, it probably doesn’t resemble the Four Horsemen, owned in part by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. There is no grandstanding, no concert memorabilia and very little debauchery unless you count the four-top of wine-business insiders in the back drinking magnums of organic, wild-fermented Champagne from Georges Laval. What the restaurant does have is a low-key obsession with excellence. You see it in the attention to brewing tea and coffee, in the basket-drained ricotta made daily in kitchen, in the unfussy seasonality of Nick Curtola’s menus, and in the way the servers seem to know all about the wines but aren’t in a rush to prove it. Like everything else at this serious little restaurant, it just seems to happen naturally.

18. Trinciti Roti Shop

Sometimes when I land at JFK, I am tempted to make the 10-minute drive to Trinciti so I can refresh myself with two or three Trini chicken curry doubles and a couple of aloo pies, slit open and filled with shrimp and tamarind chutney. But the sad truth is that I’m always too tired from traveling, and there’s no place to sit at Trinciti. Plus, you need your wits about you simply to order, particularly on the weekend, when there is one line for bake and shark, another for all the other food, and a third to pay. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the only days you can get bake and shark — spicy, sweet, tangy and crunchy in about five different ways, it is the greatest fish sandwich in the five boroughs. So I treat Trinciti as a destination of its own, worth a separate trip.

19. Jean-Georges

By this point, Jean-Georges Vongerichten shouldn’t have any tricks left up his sleeve. But a six- or 10-course dinner at his urbane, understated restaurant on Columbus Circle is almost sure to deliver something you didn’t quite see coming. Wagyu tenderloin with braised endive might look like a simple steakhouse riff, but how can that sticky and intensely fruity hoisin sauce get along so well with a jus that carries the fragile perfume of bergamot? How can citrus segments, spicy Fresno chiles and shiso oil be piled on top of raw scallops without crushing their sweetness? Sean Considine, the pastry chef, makes sure the surprises start up again with dessert and continue through the final barrage of marshmallows, pâtes de fruits and chocolates.

Mam is still something of a rough draft, but it is looking more and more like a serious restaurant. True, the miniature kitchen, miniature dining room and miniature plastic furniture were part of what made Mam so charming in its early days on Forsyth Street, when Jerald and Nhung Dao Head were dishing out Hanoi-style bun dau mam tom to a small audience at what seemed to be a pop-up. The crowds grew as word got out about the housemade fried tofu, the blood sausage, the fish mint and other Vietnamese herbs, and the fermented shrimp sauce that made everything taste better. But crowds and small quarters are not made for each other. Last year, the Heads signed a lease on a space next door. Meanwhile, Mr. Head has been adding to his repertory, applying his obsessive, detail-oriented attention to, among other things, a pho bo that rivals his bun dau mam tom.

21. Casa Mono and Bar Jamón

According to the second law of thermodynamics, exciting young restaurants are doomed to become less exciting with age. At 20 years old, Casa Mono and its wine-bar annex next door, Bar Jamón, gracefully defy that law every day. Andy Nusser hasn’t lost his appreciation for the strong, elemental flavors of Spanish cuisine: smoky eggplant purée beneath fried baby squid; the paprika blast of the raw, spreadable pork sausage sobrasada, to be smeared on golden toast with waxy chunks of honeycomb. The nose-to-tail fad has come and gone, and Casa Mono sails on placidly, flying the flag of lambs’ tongues and pigs’ ears. The wine list has grown to about 600 Spanish bottles: serious Cava, aged Rioja and avant-gardists from all over.

Colin Clark for The New York Times

There are no bad seats at Kono, a dramatic, black-walled yakitori on an alley in Chinatown. The stools on either side of the grill, though, have the best view of the chef, Atsushi Kono. He never stops moving. All night he’s turning, poking, relocating and examining chicken skewers, placing one over searing heat, letting another rest above a cooler patch of charcoal. His hypervigilance produces degrees of tenderness and juiciness and crunchiness that can make you feel as if you’re eating chicken for the first time.

23. Queens Night Market

You sometimes hear that you can find every cuisine on earth somewhere in Queens. That’s not true yet, but the first place to check would be the lawn behind the New York Hall of Science, where the Queens Night Market runs every Saturday from April to October. Vendors this year will be making cassava leaf stew from Sierra Leone; Fujianese oyster fritters, popularly known as UFOs; ducana, the Antiguan mash of sweet potato and coconut wrapped in banana leaves; and a few dozen other local specialties. As usual, nothing will cost more than $6.

24. Café Carmellini

Rachel Vanni for The New York Times

At Locanda Verde, the Dutch, Lafayette and Carne Mare, Andrew Carmellini’s personal cooking style is buried so deep in the mix that you could eat at all of them and still not be able to say just what an Andrew Carmellini restaurant is. At Café Carmellini, you get to hear his voice. He’s cooking in an elaborate, technically adroit style that he hasn’t used much since his days working for Daniel Boulud. We tend to connect that style with dusty old recitations of haute cuisine, an association the silver domes and somewhat stilted service don’t quite dispel. But there’s nothing antiquated about Café Carmellini’s food. It’s fresh and sharp; he’s having fun showing off skills you don’t often see these days. Even when he blends French and Italian cuisines, not exactly an earth-shattering concept, he puts them together in his own way.

One appetizer at Sailor is a tribute to the chef Judy Rodgers, an antipasto plate of anchovies, celery slices, black olives and pieces of Parmesan that was a fixture on Ms. Rodgers’s menus at Zuni Café in San Francisco. It is as close to a manifesto as we are likely to get from April Bloomfield, the gifted and non-loquacious chef at Sailor. What it might be saying: Creativity is overrated, details are everything, the best cooking is invisible, and the best cooks know when to get out of the way. You might come to the same conclusions on your own when you eat her roasted potatoes stuck to crisp wafers of toasted cheese, her warm hunks of celery root basted with melted butter, her smoked pork shoulder collapsing in on itself and her mahogany-dark caramel sauce clinging to crisp puffs of profiteroles.

For years, Persian food aficionados dreamed of finding a respectable tahdig in the city, or even an acceptable khoresh fesenjan. Today Sofreh, in Prospect Heights, makes those and other dishes in a traditional, homestyle form, while Eyval, in Bushwick, reimagines them as modern restaurant dishes. You can eat well in both restaurants, but when the mood for black lime and saffron strikes me, I’m more likely to head for Eyval. I appreciate the way Ali Saboor uses his wood oven to pin down the smoky character of Iran’s street food. I like the way his boranis repurpose yogurt as a foil for seasonal vegetables. As for the tahdig, it’s been edited down to the crunchy, golden quarter-inch at the bottom of the pan, exactly the thing that makes tahdig worth dreaming about.

Sasha Arutyunova for The New York Times

Participles are all over the menus at King: “crushed celeriac,” “smashed borlotti beans,” “torn Taggiasca olives.” If it was your first time there, that menu would tell you the food is going to look handmade and a little messy, in an appealing way. You’d know, too, that the chefs, Jess Shadbolt and Clare de Boer, have noticed the way rough edges make things taste better. Much of the inspiration is southern French or northern Italian, but the, sensual allure of the food comes directly from cooks who know the value of crushing, smashing and tearing.

28. Le Coucou

Danny Ghitis for The New York Times

The slender white tapers, the soaring toques and the quenelles de brochet refer to New York’s historic Le and La restaurants more than they do to anything in the France of today. (Paris hot spots like Clamato just look like Brooklyn.) The menu brings the domed plates of haute cuisine into the modern world, paying more attention to vegetables and flavors that were unknown at Le Pavillon. The tart and slightly funky counterpoint to halibut in a satiny beurre blanc is provided by a bed of fermented daikon, and the roast venison loin comes with a side of cabbage, draped in smoked cream, that’s sort of astonishing.

29. Zaab Zaab

Portrait picture: Will Englemann. Dish picture: Adam Friedlander for The New York Times

In the two years since its sharply focused larb ped udon and other Isan dishes began drawing enthusiastic crowds to Elmhurst, Zaab Zaab has changed chefs and gone on an expansion tear. Today Zaab Zaabs can be found at the Essex Market in Manhattan; a new retail-residential development in Flushing, Queens; the James Beard Foundation’s food hall on a Hudson River pier; and in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, under the name Zaab Zaab Talay. Now led by Kannika Kittipinyovath, the kitchen of the Elmhurst original may have grown stingy with fresh herbs like holy basil, which once made Zaab Zaab’s kapow so thrilling. On the other hand, there’s no shortage of dill in the hor mok, bundles of catfish steamed in banana leaves. And the cooks still throw chiles around like there’s no tomorrow.

Seven years on, with Seoul Salon, Naro and Atomix in their portfolio, the first restaurant Ellia and Junghyun Park opened is still the best introduction to their vision of modern Korean dining. The prices are higher — instead of three courses for $36, you now get four for $75 — but there are rewards. The hard surfaces in the coolly minimalist shoe box of a dining room aren’t as noisy as they were, and the cooking is more self-assured and coherent. Atomix is the place to go if you want to blast off into orbit with the Parks, but Atoboy shows there is a lot of fun to be had back on earth.

31. Houseman

They are becoming hard to find, chefs who put their energy into a single restaurant the way Ned Baldwin does at Houseman. This used to be the goal of many cooks. It still is the dream for a certain kind of diner, those of us who wander Manhattan searching for a neighborhood joint where each detail has been considered, from the day’s weather to the temperature of the butter; where the roast chicken and the burger are prepared with the same care as, say, a slow-roasted short rib served with a casual Cognac-cream pan sauce and a Yorkshire pudding the size of a kitten; where, if you go back again, your next meal won’t be worse than your last — and might be a little better.

32. Shion 69 Leonard Street

Is there another sushi master in town who gets as excited about seafood as Shion Uino? “Forty-six pound grouper from my hometown,” he says, beaming, as he carves pieces of sashimi from the side of an enormous, alabaster-colored fish. A few appetizers later, he serves a tall, meaty hunk of broiled fish under a thin, crisp shell of golden skin. “White grouper, very rare!” He is a student of the Edo style, rarely adding anything to his nigiri. The appetizers are virtually unadorned, too, like the heap of chilled snow crab salad dressed, barely, with vinegar.

33. Gramercy Tavern

Interior picture: Francesco Sapienza for The New York Times. Dish picture: An Rong Xu for The New York Times.

A night at Gramercy Tavern is about as close to a sure thing as Manhattan provides. Michael Anthony’s platings always look colorful and playful. In due time, they reveal that nothing about the way they are put together is accidental. The kitchen always seems to get more out of the Union Square Greenmarket than anyone else in town. The servers never seem to be going through the motions. And, the most bankable of New York City certainties, if you eat in the dining room, you will be sent home with something for breakfast.

The restaurant’s move down the street and around the corner finally happened last summer, and none of the calamities the regulars feared came to pass. The woodwork, the Oxford-cloth shirts, the candles burning on top of the bar and the Negronis mixed at a rate that sometimes approaches one for each customer — all unchanged. There is the rabbit roasted inside a crisp sheath of pancetta, the Cornish hen grilled to a crackle, the lasagna with its sheets of pasta stacked like pages in a book. Give or take a couple of bar seats, the relocated I Sodi is exactly the same restaurant spread over two rooms instead of one, and going there is a little like seeing your favorite movie on the big screen for the first time.

The kitchen at Daniel looks far and wide, and won’t think twice about weaving ingredients like Sea Island peas, Minnesota wild rice and burrata into the menu. Still, the cuisine of France remains the through line of almost every meal you might have in the grand colonnaded dining room. Of his generation of French chefs in the United States, none illuminates the flavors of his home country more faithfully than Daniel Boulud. And nobody works harder to help you see the light, even if it takes a whole plate of the city’s best madeleines to make the bulb click on.

36. Szechuan Mountain House

Its most famous and photographed dish is called “swing pork belly,” steamed bacon strips and bands of shaved cucumber thrown over what appears to be a tabletop laundry rack. You twirl these up with your chopsticks and drag them through a dipping sauce of minced raw garlic in a bowl of chile oil. It may not be the best thing on the menu, but it is pretty great, and it illustrates the inventiveness and subtlety that sets this restaurant apart from legions of Sichuan competitors. Of course, you can get fiercely spicy versions of mapo tofu and Chongqing chicken, too, but meals at Szechuan Mountain House become more interesting when the standards appear side by side with what the menu calls, a little optimistically, “modernist cuisine.”

37. Koloman

The New York dining scene has what diplomats call a special relationship with Europe. The painstakingly high-church Mittel-European cooking of Koloman would seem absolutely bizarre in Miami. On West 29th Street, Emiko Chisholm’s domed cheese soufflé with intense mushroom jam and Markus Glocker’s teacup of duck liver parfait under a clear jelly of trockenbeerenauslese riesling from Alois Kracher are able to slip into the ground floor of an Ace Hotel and pass for casual dining, or something like it.

Interior picture: Daniel Krieger for The New York Times. Dish picture: Colin Clark for The New York Times.

A small, awkward East Village basement that couldn’t seem to get a permanent liquor license doesn’t sound like the place you’d want to plant a world-class wine bar with a powerfully technique-driven kitchen. But this is post-pandemic Manhattan, where our real-estate compromises are even crazier than before. Joshua Pinsky is one of those cooks who pours effort into making things taste better than you think they will. Then he covers up the signs of effort so the deliciousness takes you by surprise. The exception is the devil’s food cake. You can tell from the other side of the room that it’s going to be like shooting pure dopamine into your skull.

39. Rezdôra

There is a full menu, of course. You can order, say, an antipasto and a main course, and tack on a creamy housemade gelato before you go. But those other courses aren’t what you’ll remember later on. That will be the pasta. Which might be considered a reason to skip the other stuff and dive right into the pasta tasting, five in all, each one a specialty of Emilia-Romagna, starting with tiny tortellini in a 12-hour capon broth.

40. Okdongsik

Adam Friedlander for The New York Times

This 13-seat Korean counter on East 30th Street is as good an argument for one-dish restaurants as we’ll ever get, never mind that it actually serves two dishes. One of them is mandoo. They are stuffed with minced pork, tofu and glass noodles, and they are great — no afterthought. But the dish that makes Okdongsik one of the most valuable addresses in New York dining is its dweji gomtang, a clear pork broth. Each bowl, outfitted with almost-firm grains of white rice and very thin slices of simmered pork shoulder, gestures toward transcendence, or as near as you can come to it across the street from a Best Western.

An Rong Xu for The New York Times

If you spotted Misi’s floor-to-ceiling windows while cruising down Kent Avenue on a pedal-assist Citi Bike at the maximum speed of 18 miles an hour, you might mistake it for one of the generic minimalist trattorias that seem to have come out of some gentrification starter kit. But on a closer look you can see the intelligence that organizes Misi’s hard surfaces, including the glass room where cooks roll out ravioli and spaghetti alla chitarra as if they’re on display in a big pasta aquarium. There’s intelligence at work in Missy Robbins’s menu, too. It focuses almost solely on vegetables and pasta, yet the ingredients and seasonings are so appealing you never feel that anything’s missing.

42. Frenchette

West Broadway has two major brasseries, one for each side of our appetite. The Odeon, well lighted and reliable, gives us what we know we want. Frenchette, shadowy and mysterious, gives us things we may not have started to desire yet: a peculiar Loire red that will seem casual one minute and dead serious the next, meaty cod cheeks in red bread crumbs spiked with Espelette pepper, or calf’s liver pinned to a pink sheet of prosciutto and sautéed, like saltimbocca.

43. Ernesto’s

When Basque Country entered the travel plans of people who arrange their vacations around their dinner reservations, it was because of the efforts of Mugaritz, Arzak and a handful of other experimental restaurants. Their forward-thinking cuisine is not what you eat at Ernesto’s. You eat the burly, elemental food that for generations has been passed down, essentially unchanged, by taverns and asadores where sardines are cooked over an outdoor fire. This being New York, the grill on which Ryan Bartlow cooks early spring calçots, whole Montauk fish and juicy cutlets of Ibérico pork is inside the kitchen. But the brawny spirit is the same; even things like white asparagus and a tortilla española with caviar have a rustic touch.

44. Forever Jerk

Clay Williams for The New York Times

Jerk is outdoor food at heart, and the best jerk cooks around the city work on sidewalks or in the street, sometimes with the benefit of a tent or tarp, sometimes without. The king of New York jerk cooks is Oneil Reid, who designed Forever Jerk’s oversize charcoal-fueled rigs to pump smoke into chicken and pork without scorching them. His jerk is tender and juicy, a goal that eludes many chefs. The jerk sauce achieves a taut balance of sugar, sourness and spice, and even seems to have caught some of the smoke itself. The impressively large rig on the side of Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn, also used to roast ears of corn and whole sweet potatoes, is the center of the Forever Jerk universe. The location on Guy Brewer Boulevard is an indoor restaurant, which is to say it’s not quite the same.

In the city’s Japanese restaurant scene, udon is the forgotten noodle. It isn’t as popular as ramen or as revered as soba, which can be made well only with a certain amount of practice. This may explain why the two Raku udon restaurants and their chef, Norihiro Ishizuka, aren’t more widely recognized. They do have a loyal following, though. Raku’s fans appreciate the tensile elasticity of the noodles, the sparkling lightness of the dashi, and the delicate and greaseless tempura. For such small restaurants, the menus range widely, swooping from kitsune udon, relatively easy to get here, to less commonly seen varieties like the Japanese adaptation of Chinese zhajiangmian, called ja ja.

46. Clover Hill

Many of Charlie Mitchell’s peers in the rarefied arena of multicourse, multi-hundred-dollar tastings (dinner at Clover Hill is $305 a person) think they’ve met their seasonal/local quota if they strew the petals of some wildflower picked last week around a fish dish they’ve been serving for months. In Mr. Mitchell’s kitchen, the seasons are central; this time of year, this week, is the subject of his menus. In high spring, he might lead off with a horseradish-dusted asparagus tart, the size of a communion wafer; then bring asparagus back a short while later in the company of Hokkaido scallops and puréed nettles; and surround a rich, oily piece of shark-skinned flounder with “a celebration of peas.” He’s as fond of Japanese seafood as he is of local greenery, which is a bit puzzling. But his belief in what he’s doing is total, and it comes through on every plate.

47. Aquavit

Sasha Maslov for The New York Times

Aquavit was gently pushing Swedish food and drink before anyone put the words “New Nordic cuisine” together, and has outlived several exponents of that style. Emma Bengtsson’s kitchen has kept its grip on the old ways — at lunch, the Swedish meatballs and the herring platter are still hard to equal. The rest of the menu is modern, although it avoids the avant-primitivism of Noma in favor of gentle harmonies like salmon with a saffron-tinted swirl of lobster bisque.

48. Gage & Tollner

Jeenah Moon for The New York Times

The 19th-century dining room had been out of commission for so long that when Gage & Tollner finally came back in 2021, almost everybody who came to eat was getting a first look at its marble, mahogany and converted gaslights. Now the place has a reputation again, and those who are lured by its oysters and Parker House rolls, fried chicken, crab cakes and baked alaska are likely to be return customers. That doesn’t mean heads have stopped swiveling.

49. Don Peppe

The jockey silks and other Aqueduct memorabilia on the walls don’t do much to dress up a bluntly monochromatic and overly bright dining room. If you want atmosphere, take a deep breath and smell the garlic. The kitchen must go through bales of it every day. There are no small plates at Don Peppe, where the minimum order of pasta is one pound (before cooking). So make room on the table for a sloshing platter or two of linguine with clams; shrimp Luciano with its own side of spaghetti; and anything on the menu with the name Don Peppe on it, including a salad the size of Cleveland. The food is overflowing not just with garlic, but with the aromas of Southern Italian cuisine in the deliriously intense form it took in the hands of New York City cooks.

50. Shaw-naé’s House

Show up at this Staten Island soul-food restaurant before your table is ready and you’ll be invited to sit in “the living room,” a pair of sofas facing a coffee table next to the orange glow of an electric fireplace. Will it feel like home? It may, if home is a place where a pitcher of rum punch appears at the drop of a hat, where two immersions in a deep fryer produce a whole red snapper that’s juicy down to the bone, and where everybody is eating “soul fries,” a bonkers remix of nachos in which mac and cheese, fried chicken and collard greens are piled over French fries.

51. Barbuto

It’s been 20 years since Jonathan Waxman opened Barbuto, dedicated to the idea of making it all look easy. Easy to make the one true kale salad in a world full of pretenders. Easy to blow people away by spooning salsa verde over a chicken roasted in a pizza oven. Easy to make chocolate budino that has the same relationship to regular pudding that espresso has to coffee at a Nebraska truck stop. But before you decide it must, in fact, be easy, just remember that this kind of accidentally perfect Italian food has been Mr. Waxman’s whole deal since the 1970s

52. Yoon Haeundae Galbi

Cole Saladino for The New York Times

It used to be possible to argue in a good-natured way about where to get the best Korean barbecue in K-town. Since Yoon’s short rib appeared, though, it has really been the only answer. The meat is scored in diagonal slashes, breaking down the connective tissue and carving a network of grooves for the marinade to travel in. The slashes also allow the helmet-shaped tabletop griddle to sear the meat in skinny, deeply browned ridges that are wonderful with Yoon’s ssamjang and seasoned salt

53. Foul Witch

What kind of name for an Italian restaurant is that? At least it lets Sam Pollheimer and his kitchen chase something a little more unusual than penne and tiramisù. You might want a rolled pasta called spaccatelli with braised pheasant that’s been dry-aged to a deep funk, followed by goat shoulder roasted in the wood oven with turnips. Bay leaf ice cream could be cool. But what about that black-pepper gelato with brûléed lardo?

54. Dhamaka

Exterior picture: Emon Hassan for The New York Times. Dish picture: Jenny Huang for The New York Times

A year ago, Dhamaka replaced most of its original menu with new dishes, not the move you’d expect from a place that is turning away diners every night. I’m sure some customers are still mourning their old favorites, and there were many things on the starting lineup that you simply couldn’t find anywhere else in Manhattan. But the truth is that in its first years Dhamaka focused very heavily on chile-laden meats, to the point of redundancy. It’s easier now to put together a meal that has a little rhythm and variety, and you can still arrange to finish with the Champaran meat, a mutton curry so fiery it could light a cigar.

55. The Grill

When the Grill was new, it reimagined midcentury American dining with a stylized sense of theater while managing to hit every single technical mark. The complete mess it made of an $85 chicken potpie, among other glitches at a recent meal, made last year’s top-10 ranking here impossible this year. But so much about this restaurant remains confidently excellent, starting with the cocktails and ending with the layer cakes stacked so tall they look as if they’re trying to fit in among the towers of Park Avenue.

56. Contento

If you get discouraged about the direction of the restaurant business, the fastest antidote is dinner at Contento. It can restore your faith to watch as the staff makes sincere efforts to welcome people in wheelchairs, or those who need specially designed flatware, or diners with visual impairments, or their guide dogs. But there are less obvious ways in which Contento overachieves. The wine list is longer and more interesting than most restaurants this small would attempt, and Oscar Lorenzzi’s cooking can convince you that you should be eating Peruvian food every night.

57. Mercado Little Spain

Ellen Silverman for The New York Times

One of many mysteries of José Andrés that scientists should study is the man’s ability to run New York’s most rewarding food hall when he doesn’t even live here. It is true that Mercado Little Spain is better for snacking than dining, but that’s true of almost all food halls, few of which cover as much ground. You can wander from kiosk to kiosk, grabbing a sugar-crusted xuixo for breakfast, a sack of churros with bittersweet chocolate sauce, a soft tortilla española right out of the skillet, gambas al ajillo sizzling in their fragrant oil, a glass of pretty much any kind of wine you’re in the mood for as long as it’s Spanish. The market’s newest stall, Mr. Lopez, makes the pressed sandwiches called bikinis along with chistorra dogs and smashburgers topped with jamón Ibérico.

58. Le Rock

Can anybody resist Le Rock’s snails, each in its own cup with its own hot bath of garlic butter and its own piece of toast? Or the tender leeks vinaigrette, which the servers unwrap from a cloak of dark outer leek greens as ceremoniously as if they were presenting poularde de Bresse demi-deuil? Or the baba carved tableside and then hit with a healthy glug of génèpy or Chartreuse? Well, occasionally I’ll hear from a reader who went to Le Rock with high hopes and felt ignored, lost in the shuffle, assaulted by the decibels. I’ll apologize about the service and say that in my experience the room does seem to be getting quieter. But, I tell them, any good homage to the French brasserie needs to be a little loud for verisimilitude.

59. Great N.Y. Noodletown

When the dining room is busy, which is just about always, it will be full of old Chinatown locals from Hong Kong, couples who think of Noodletown as their place, young social-media explorers ticking restaurants off their bucket list and older but equally clued-in tourists. These groups will overlap considerably with the soft-shell crab followers, the salt-and-pepper squid obsessives, the suckling pig appreciators, connoisseurs of Cantonese char siu, slurpers of wonton soup, and devotees of the restaurant’s much-imitated ginger-scallion sauce.

60. Village Cafe

The part of Brooklyn between Prospect Park and the Atlantic Ocean is a treasure land of food from the former Soviet republics. At Village Cafe, as with many other restaurants in the area, the kebabs are the backbone of the menu. But the Azerbaijani offerings extend well beyond meat on a stick: There are platters of plov, sweet with dried fruits; flatbreads stuffed with minced greens and fresh herbs; the daunting hash of livers, kidneys, hearts and testicles known as djiz-biz; and fat belts of pasta dressed with chopped lamb cooked in its own fat, a noodle dish that seems to stand exactly halfway between China and Italy.

Of all the restaurants washed up on the city’s shores by the first wave of enthusiasm over New Nordic cooking, the most original, thoughtful and lasting has been Aska. Fredrik Berselius, raised in Sweden, built his own kitchen vocabulary by combining Scandinavian flavors with ingredients farmed or foraged around New York. His intricate, gentle tasting menus show a poet’s feel for fleeting moments and the beauty lurking in nature. One long-running appetizer is a frond of fried bladderwrack daubed with drops of mussel emulsion that look like the plant’s natural balloon structures. A wavy cup assembled from shaved walnuts makes an edible shell for a walnut tart. Even his caviar dishes seem to have been discovered somewhere in Middle-earth.

62. Txikito

When Txikito struck out for Basque Country in 2008, a lot of New Yorkers were still fuzzy on the whole concept of Spanish regional cuisines. Instead of starting out slowly with an introductory Gildas for Dummies course, Alex Raij and Eder Montero immediately complicated the picture, inviting ingredients from China, Japan and beyond into the kitchen. Is there another Basque restaurant in the country where the Russian potato salad is augmented with bonito flakes and the boquerones are laid out over spearlike leaves of rau ram?

One downside of being widely imitated is that, years later, your original ideas can read like copies. This has been Craft’s fate, and if you are eating there for the first time, you probably won’t be bowled over by the dangling filament bulbs, the Chilewich place mats, and the copper pans in which meats and fish are carried to the table. But nobody has figured out how to mimic Craft’s ability to get maximal flavor with minimal means. The been-there-done-that feeling ends when you start eating.

It’s hard to know what to make of a restaurant that gets rid of its single best feature, as Lodi did by closing the bakery that produced destination-quality breads and a flauto al cioccolato so precisely made that its lamination might have been designed by an architect. True, Lodi gained a few tables. Now it is easier to stroll in for elegant cafe dishes like bison tartare and chestnut gnocchi. And yes, drinking a spritz or a sbagliato while sitting on or looking out at Rockefeller Plaza produces a distinctly pleasurable shiver of the kind that only the world’s great cities can provide. But we’re still going to need some time to forget about that flauto.

65. Falafel Tanami

The strange concrete bunker askew from the street grid looks even stranger now that a simple wooden porch has been hammered together. Yet this unprepossessing structure is a titan in Midwood’s highly competitive pita-sandwich scene. There is no shawarma here as at Olympic Pita, no schnitzel as at Corner Street Food. This leaves Tanami free to concentrate on its marvelous pita and its falafel, which have brittle fried shells protecting a hot interior that is bright green with herbs. The sheer number of bins of chopped vegetables and salads can induce panic attacks, and many customers just ask for everything. A screaming yellow streak of amba sauce is probably mandatory.

66. Barney Greengrass

Circle framed picture: Karsten Moran for The New York Times. Rectangle framed picture: Jose A. Alvarado Jr. for The New York Times

The place is a cyclone of smoked-fish commerce on weekends and before any major Jewish holiday. On certain other days, a diner at Barney Greengrass can achieve a state close to serenity. There are eternal questions to contemplate: Sour cream or apple sauce? Nova or sturgeon? Toasted or untoasted? There are minor rituals to be observed — the most sacred of all is laughing at the servers’ jokes. Staring at the faded antebellum scenes of the French Quarter on the wallpaper can lead to the sensation that time has stopped moving forward. By your third cup of coffee and second order of latkes, it should be clear that you are sitting at the spiritual center of the Upper West Side.

67. Le Crocodile

Gage & Tollner is where Brooklyn goes to observe birthdays and anniversaries. Le Crocodile is where it celebrates smaller milestones, like living to the end of another day when the whole damned world didn’t fly to pieces. The brasserie menu is full of standards lifted above the routine by little niceties of craft and imagination, with a few unexpectedly flourishes like a truly good vegetarian pâté and a Waldorf salad liberated from mayonnaise at last.

68. Chongqing Lao Zao

Lanna Apisukh

The many, many people loyal to this Flushing restaurant are happy to wait two hours and sometimes more for Sichuan hot pots in the fiery and numbing style of Chongqing. The spicy broth is ferociously hot; even the mild has been known to draw tears from brave women and men.

69. AbuQir Seafood

Stephen Speranza for The New York Times

Meals at AbuQir, a homage to the seafood stalls on the Mediterranean coast outside Alexandria, begin with a consultation over the whole fish and other seafood stretched out on ice in the back. You should probably walk in with a plan. But if the man who takes your order tells you the grilled scallops are excellent today, or if you were thinking baked porgy and he recommends the blackened branzino, you should throw your plan out the window. A sloshy, garlicky plate of baba ghanouj is a fine thing to dip bread into while your fish cooks; in fact, anything with eggplant is a good idea.

70. Birria-Landia

Jenny Huang for The New York Times

New York has never been a food-truck town. But the meteoric ascent of the Birria-Landia fleet, which now cruises the boulevards of the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, points to a better and more delicious future. It comes as a relief to find that the beef is still as tender and deeply flavored as a fancy French chef’s short ribs, that the consomé hasn’t been watered down, and that the rich perfume of spices can still turn heads half a block away.

71. Shukette

Your first impulse as you take in Ayesha Nurdjaja’s menu, which bounds from dips to four or more kinds of bread straight from the oven, from salads and pickles to the table-dominating Fish in a Cage, may be to ask for one of everything. Reveling in the brighter, fresher side of the Levantine canon, Shukette takes advantage of the energizing effects of sumac, citrus, yogurt and green herbs.

72. Hainanese Chicken House

The poached chicken in the dish called Hainanese chicken rice tends to confuse people trying it for the first time. The ideal texture, which can strike novices as flabby and undercooked, is more important than the flavor, which is supposed to be mild verging on dull. The expectation is that the customer will go to town with the house sauces, which should not be dull at all, and that the chicken flavor that seems to be missing from the chicken itself will be supplied by the rice. The success of the dish, in other words, depends on a series of bank shots, which is one reason it’s exciting to find it prepared as well as it is at Hainan Chicken House. For all that, this is not a one-dish specialist but one of the most impressive Malaysian restaurants New York has seen in years. The name may sell the kitchen short.

73. Mark’s Off Madison

Portrait picture: Joshua Bright for The New York Times. Dish picture: Daniel Krieger for The New York Times.

Anybody who believes a restaurant needs to tell a simple, easily understood story clearly hasn’t been to Mark’s Off Madison. The only concept plausibly tying together the Italian American favorites and Jewish classics and diner staples on Mark Strausman’s menu is that Mr. Strausman knows a good recipe for all of them. You can eat matzo ball soup, or a tuna melt, or a block of lasagna. You can’t eat a story.

A mural in its original Bay Ridge site shows Palestinian children behind bars under the Aqsa Mosque, between the phrases “down with the occupation” and “live in peace.” As Ayat has multiplied locations, it has kept up its paired messages of peace and support for the people of Palestine. For some New Yorkers, Ayat’s family-dinner mainstays, like the lamb stew mansaf, soured with dried yogurt, and the carefully layered chicken and vegetable dish called maklouba, will open new windows into Palestinian culture. For others, obviously, they will taste like home.

75. Dirt Candy

The great thing about tasting menus is that they act as a blank page that a chef can write anything on. The tragedy is how many chefs have nothing to say. Amanda Cohen does, though. Her five-course meals are like a night of one-act plays, or even comedy sketches, on the theme of vegetables. The cooks work on each dish until it’s a self-contained routine. Crunchy Buffalo collard leaves are sprinkled with powdered hot sauce and served with celery and blue cheese dip, and a savory croissant with a mushroom mousse filling comes with a glass of cappuccino that turns out to be mushroom soup. It’s dinner disguised as a continental breakfast.

76. Llama Inn

Vincent Tullo for The New York Times

It may be easier to see Erik Ramirez’s creative streak at his other restaurant, Llama San in Greenwich Village, where he free-associates on the ways Japanese and Peruvian food do, or potentially might, intersect. At Llama Inn he mostly sticks with translating traditional dishes — beef-heart anticuchos, scallop ceviche — into modern restaurant terms. But he works well when he’s staying within the lines, and there’s no question that the space in Brooklyn is roomier and more comfortable, despite being a truncated triangle under the B.Q.E.

77. Oiji Mi

Oiji Mi summons the spirit of New York’s midcentury supper clubs more effectively than places where that’s the explicit aim, like Swoony’s or Monkey Bar. It has leather seats, velvet curtains, deeply curved banquettes and a swooping marble bar. All that’s missing is a cigarette girl. This is not exactly the expected setting for a modern Korean restaurant, but it helps bring out the plush and culture-spanning comforts of Brian Kim’s five-course, $145 menus.

78. S & P Lunch

I am not going to tell you that S & P’s tuna melt is one of the greatest sandwiches of all time, or that it will change your life, or that it is one of the 25 or 50 or 1,000 foods you have to eat before you die. But one day you might find that you must have a tuna melt and that nothing else will do. On that day, I hope you remember to go to S & P, where you will be served a version made with terrific respect, from creamy and soft tuna salad on substantial rye bread. It will be better than you hoped, without deviating in any particular from what you were picturing. And this is true of almost more things on S & P’s menu that you can count, including the Reuben, the meatloaf sandwich, the chopped liver, the pancakes and the egg and cheese on a roll with Taylor ham.

79. Mariscos El Submarino

Last year, Alonso Guzman and Amy Hernandez followed the success of Mariscos El Submarino by opening a second restaurant, Mystica, in Greenpoint. It shows growth and ambition, with its careful plating and long-cooked pork shanks, and suggests these two restaurateurs could be around a while. But Mariscos El Submarino is still their shining contribution to the city, our most detailed and comprehensive tour of Sinaloa-style raw seafood. The aguachile negro, dark with soy sauce and undeniably spicy, has become something of a cult object, but the other aguachiles deliver jolts of their own, and there are equally good arguments for the ceviches, tostadas and tomato-red seafood cocktails in tall plastic cups.

80. Temple Canteen

Circle framed picture: Hilary Swift for The New York Times. Rectangle framed picture: Christopher Lee for The New York Times.

If we wanted to quibble about the South Indian cafeteria in the basement of a temple to the Hindu god Ganesha, we might say that having to listen as order numbers are called out endlessly can gnaw at the nerves. We might also ask whether the vegetable sambar isn’t a little watery. But then we’d remember that nothing on the menu costs more than $10, that the coconut chutney does seem to get better the more of it you eat and that the variety of dosas is sort of stunning, from chewy rava dosas to ice cream cone-shaped ghee roast dosas to paper dosas so long they sprawl from one end of a cafeteria tray to the other.

81. Foxface Natural

You have probably heard that Foxface Natural is a narrow, loud restaurant on Avenue A where deer heart or elk chops or kangaroo might be on the menu on any given night. But Foxface is not simply a purveyor of oddball species; the restaurant’s defining feature may be its pursuit of ingredients that Sysco doesn’t carry. So when the chef, David Santos, cooks octopus Bolognese, the octopus will have been trapped in a clay pot in a sustainable Spanish fishery. When he roasts a turnip, it will be the elusive Gilfeather turnip, which for decades was cultivated exclusively by a secretive Vermont farmer who refused to share its history or its seeds with anyone.

Maybe you got a little confused the last time you tried to remember the difference between gibanica and zeljanica. Perhaps you hesitated when somebody asked whether you prefer sopska or srpska. Or, at a recent wine tasting, you had trouble distinguishing between the Serbian tamjanika and the Slovenian malvazija. If you have experienced these or similar symptoms, it could be an indication that you are overdue for a meal at Kafana, Alphabet City’s rustic, majestic Serbian tavern.

83. M. Wells

Few restaurants take advantage of holidays and occasions as avidly as M. Wells. In the past few months it has served rabbit mole for Easter brunch, whipped up three kinds of fondue for a party in honor of Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day, and put on a Thanksgiving dinner that started with braised turkey legs and pig trotters, though of course it didn’t end there. Certainly it’s the only restaurant in Queens that celebrates the start of maple sap season by staging a hockey game on the dining room floor. If you happen to go on a day when nothing in particular is happening, you’ll still find dishes that seem to have been conceived for a feast like mortadella mille-feuille or half of a roasted piglet head on a plate.

84. Hakka Cuisine

It’s been a while since the arrival of a new dish in Chinatown caused as big as stir as the Hakka blossom chicken at Hakka Cuisine. It looks like a chicken that was flattened in some enormous panini press and then cut into squares. Those pieces have golden chicken skin on the top and bottom, but when you pop one in your mouth you discover that the soft and springy filling is made of taro and shrimp paste. Where did the rest of the chicken go? You can look for the solution to this mystery as you work your way through the other fine and elaborate Hakka specialties and Cantonese banquet dishes.

85. Wildair

The past year was a time of retrenchment for Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske Valtierra, who closed Contra, their statement restaurant, along with Peoples, their small wine bar in the food hall below Essex Market. Wildair, once a casual extension of Contra, has become their chief laboratory for ideas like an éclair with the flavors of a pissaladière inside and a series of Saturday collaborations called Donuts with Friends (exactly what it sounds like). Wildair was a little well-behaved early in life, but now it’s living up to its name.

86. 188 Bakery Cuchifritos

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

Few sights in the Bronx, or anywhere else for that matter, can stir the gears of appetite quite like the exterior of 188 Cuchifritos. There is a smiling pig in a bow tie in the sign above the door. A partial list of Dominican and Puerto Rican specialties spelled out in half a dozen different colors of neon. In one window, trays stacked with fried pork skin, chicken and other fritters being kept warm by the heat of bare, greasy lightbulbs. There are approximately 1,000 other things on the menu, but this gives you some idea what you are in for.

87. Hav & Mar

Marcus Samuelsson’s latest project is not like the other seafood restaurants. There are Black mermaids everywhere, and the flavors can come from just about anywhere, with Ethiopia making especially frequent contributions. That’s Berbere spice blend in the cured salmon; the fluffy young fermented cheese ayib is in the beet salad, and injera crisps are provided with the tuna tartare. The combinations never feel superficial or confused, and the servers always seem as if they expect a party to break out at any moment.

88. Eulalie

Chip Smith and Tina Vaughn are immune to trends. He cooks in the regional-American style that flourished at the end of the last century. Nobody’s nostalgic for it yet, but Mr. Smith can make you wonder why not; he cooks it sensitively, and with conviction. Meanwhile Ms. Vaughn runs the dining room with the authority and familiarity only a proprietor can command. Her methods, which involve learning the names and preferences of all her customers, are long out of style, and nobody has written customer-database software that comes close to doing what she does with a pen, a hard-bound reservation book and her memory.

89. Hamburger America

Will George Motz, the hamburger historian and documentarian, want to spend the rest of his life behind a hot griddle, pressing on ground meat with a spatula until he judges the time is right to cover it with a yellow blanket of American cheese? It’s hard to imagine, but he does seem to be enjoying himself. For sure everybody else in the place is having a good time eating subtly but distinctly different burgers made with good beef and historical pedigree. It’s the geeked-out burger stand New York didn’t know it needed.

90. Laghman Express

The menu is not large and mostly focused on different ways of putting together lamb, onions, bell peppers, cumin and noodles made in open view of the dining room. Some noodles are strands so long that you will search and search for a beginning or an end, others are as wide as seatbelts, and the knife-cut pearl noodles are irregular stubs resembling diamonds, squares, pencil erasers — anything, it seems, except pearls. They’re all wonderfully tense and springy and fun to chew. The dark chile-garlic oil is especially good with noodles; it’s probably good with anything.

91. Mapo Korean BBQ

Dish picture: Evan Sung for The New York Times. Exterior picture: Karsten Moran for The New York Times.

This longtime institution across from the Murray Hill station on the Long Island Rail Road is the Peter Luger of Queens: gruff, brisk, straightforward and so thick with the aroma of sizzling beef that the air is almost solid. Pork and even seafood are available, but almost everybody orders galbi, which is grilled over tabletop baskets of charcoal by efficient women wielding sharp scissors.

92. Cka Ka Qellu

The city used to be full of small, amber-lighted, nostalgic restaurants where servers wore Old World costumes, melancholy folk tunes played in the background and everything on the menu evoked the country the owners had left behind. Cka Ka Qellu uses this method to summon Albania. Both locations look like roadside inns from another century, and after putting away platters of veal sausages, creamy dips, stewed beans, soft polenta and Albanian tres leches cake, you may be disappointed to find out there are no featherbeds and fireplaces waiting upstairs.

93. Vendors at Junction Boulevard

Ryan Christopher Jones for The New York Times

After the city evicted all but a small fraction of the Mexican and Ecuadorean vendors from Corona Plaza, the Junction Boulevard stop took its place as the most rewarding street-food destination under the No. 7 train. At the foot of a staircase descending from the tracks, Tacos El Borrego is an impressively well-equipped stand where the most compelling choice is the tacos al pastor, hacked from a spinning trompo the size of a young bluefin tuna. Just off the intersection is Chalupas Poblanas El Tlecuile, where eight tortillas at a time are softened in hot lard and splashed with red and green salsa, then stacked up like pancakes. There are vendors ladling out atole and cafe de olla, cooks pressing fresh masa, flashing and whirring toys for sale for a couple of dollars, and on the other side of Roosevelt, a Bitcoin A.T.M.

94. Shopsin’s General Store

There are a number of restaurants across Essex Street from the I.C.P. but Shopsin’s is the only one that points this out on its website with the helpful footnote “Stands for International Center of Photography (Not Insane Clown Posse).” This is a joke that happens to be true, which you could say about most of Shopsin’s menu. The macaroni-and-cheese pancakes are famous by now, as are the somewhat Mexican-ish eggs called Blisters on My Sisters. Then we come to the Do-Rag pancake, the Bastard and the Wiggly Pete, and this is just on the first of the menu’s two single-spaced pages. Every dish, no matter how weird it sounds, will turn out to be good, at a minimum, and a surprisingly large percentage of the goofiest ones have a stealthy sort of culinary intelligence. Shopsin’s takes nothing seriously and takes everything seriously, a philosophy to contemplate while slowly drinking a Nutella Fluff malted milkshake.

95. Hyderabadi Zaiqa

Here we have an anomaly: a new, tiny, fearless, overachieving Indian restaurant that doesn’t belong to the Unapologetic Foods group. Biryani is the pride of Hyderabadi cuisine and the point of Hyderabadi Zaiqa. More than a dozen are available, from a staunchly traditional and ferociously spiced dum biryani augmented with slow-roasted goat to the Chicken 65 biryani, featuring a spicy, lava-red chicken invented several years ago at a hotel in Chennai. There are curries as well, terrific fried okra and a fish dish that is a close cousin of Chicken 65. How all this is produced is a bit of a mystery. The kitchen can’t be much bigger than a rowboat, and the dining room gets crowded if more than five people decide to eat there at the same time.

96. Caleta 111

Kirsten Luce for The New York Times

Expanding into the space next door transformed Caleta 111 from a narrow ceviche counter to a full-fledged and cheerful Peruvian restaurant. Now you can sit at a table set inside a long narrow boat, nursing a plum-colored chicha morada and looking through the picture window into the kitchen, overseen by Luis Caballero. He makes Chinese Peruvian classics like lomo saltado and seafood fried rice; causas that turn mashed potatoes into an art form; and choritos a la chalaca, chilled mussels dressed with a relish of fresh peppers and tomatoes. But above all, Mr. Caballero is a master of the citric, spicy, cloudy, ginger-spiked liquid that is the base of all his ceviches. One sip of his leche de tigre and you know why you are here, even if you’re not quite sure why you’re sitting in a boat.

97. Zum Stammtisch

Queens lost another remnant of its German legacy in February when Morscher’s Pork Store in Ridgewood closed. You’d never know that the old ways are fading, though, when you’re inside the timbered Bavarian confines of Zum Stammtisch in Glendale. Pilsner is still poured into steins, the giant fresh pretzel comes with two kinds of mustard, and beef goulash over spaetzle is considered an appetizer. There is nothing wrong with the schnitzel, but why resist the wursts? They’re made in the restaurant’s own smokehouse.

98. Lakruwana

Circle framed picture: Dave Sanders for The New York Times. Rectangle framed picture: Tony Cenicola/The New York Times.

The cooking of Sri Lanka that emerges from Lakruwana’s kitchen is tropical, lush, saturated with coconut and chiles. But dinner or lunch there is not just a meal. It’s a cultural immersion. Over the years the Wijesinghe family, who own the restaurant and usually stand guard in the dining room, have filled the dining room with Buddha statues, carved furniture, clay pots, weapons and shields, and about a hundred other objects shipped from Sri Lanka.

99. Ewe’s Delicious Treats

The deeper I get into Ewe’s repertory of Nigerian dishes, the more impressed I am. The egusi and ogbono stews are deeply flavored and complex, and the fish pepper soup has a strong aromatic backbone that is the sign of a careful hunt for ingredients. Chile heat is an accent, but it’s not used timidly, and don’t go looking for relief in the jollof rice, which is an event in itself. The restaurant recently got its beer and wine license, and a bottle from the refrigerator can make a useful companion when the Scotch bonnets make their presence felt.

100. Randazzo’s Clam Bar

There is chowder to start, along with freshly shucked clams and oysters. You can get lobster fra diavolo or linguine with clam sauce, red or white, and a couple dozen other classics of Italian American seafood cookery. But Randazzo’s was put on this earth to serve fried calamari. If you don’t understand how such a pedestrian dish could be the organizing principle of an entire restaurant, you probably haven’t tasted the calamari at Randazzo’s, or dipped it into the hot tomato sauce that seems to have been bubbling on the back of the stove all day, or wondered how the hunk of friselle, a kind of crouton buried under the pile of squid, somehow manages to be dry and wet at the same time.

Left the List:  

• Share full article

Advertisement

Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission.

One of Everything, To Go

72 onion-soaked smashburgers, crispy-cutlet subs, cold noodles, and sizzling spicy skewers to eat on the street this summer..

With apologies to the many thousands of talented cooks and chefs toiling away in this city’s kitchens, we must note the most memorable food we’ve eaten this year hasn’t been inside a dining room. It’s been shared with friends standing on a corner, snatched from a takeout bag at a park, or unwrapped and messily dribbled onto a bench. This is no knock against proper restaurants, but when the most exciting development to come along recently at an establishment like Eleven Madison Park is the arrival of an alfresco croissant pop-up (Bake It Nice), it’s a testament to the joy of great food without any pomp and circumstance. Maybe the act of sitting down to a meal has begun to feel stultifying — “Have you dined with us before?” comes across less like a helpful inquiry and more like a threat to explain the concept of “appetizers” — or perhaps it’s that low overhead and a ravenous dining public happy to seek out whatever food appears on TikTok afford a greater range of creative expression. While the weather is warm and New York is at its most walkable, we’re choosing to focus on the food right in front of our faces: the crisp-rolled lumpia Shanghai, icy watermelon slushies, oversize Swedish hot dogs, and pork-stuffed Vietnamese doughnuts being slung from carts, counters, stands, and windows all over town. Consider this hit list to be the jumping-off point. It’s not an exhaustive catalogue of all the street food in the city — how could it be? — but it’s made up of our absolute favorite snacks, drinks, and meals right now; many are brand new, while some have flown under the radar for years. In every single case, they are perfect for gulping down on a sidewalk somewhere this summer. — Alan Sytsma

1. A Bottle of Gazpacho From Mercado Little Spain

Soup that’s bright and smooth enough to sip straight from the bottle — and enriched with enough olive oil to count as a snack. 10 Hudson Yards; littlespain.com

2. The Savory Vietnamese Doughnut at Banh

Banh tieu is a Vietnamese doughnut that’s used here like a kaiser roll, sandwiching quail egg, nubbins of pork crackling, rounds of sausage, pork floss, pâté, scallion oil, and a fat plug of turmeric sticky rice. It’s best enjoyed with a tall, fruity litchi slush. 942 Amsterdam Ave.; banhny.com

3. A Full Banchan Spread From Little Banchan Shop

Whether you’re at the Long Island City original or the new outpost at Pier 57, there is perfect picnic food to be had: dried radish, crunchy and dressed in gochugaru; assorted pickles, including thick slices of onion and pepper; smooth eggplant; and a potato salad supercharged with Korean mustard. Multiple locations; littlebanchanshop.com

The Best Summer Food and Places to Eat in NYC This Year

• Wouldn’t a map be nice? You can find one here.

4. A French-Fry Sandwich From Merguez & Frites

All sandwiches are improved by the addition of French fries. At this bite-size North African takeout shop, soft bread is stuffed with two snappy links of grilled merguez, a little harissa, and punchy sauce algérienne, plus a fistful of fries that are more creamy than crunchy. 40-06 25th Ave., Astoria; instagram.com/merguez_and_frites

5. DIY Pani Puri From Thelewala

These puchka, or pani puri, don’t come pre-assembled; instead, the fried spheres (the puri) are whole with their fixings. It’s up to you to excavate a hole in the top to fill with potato masala, then drizzle in tamarind water (the pani). The flavors and textures come together like a good song. 112 Macdougal St.; thelewalany.com

6. Cold Sesame Noodles From Ivan Ramen

The chewy sesame noodles from this LES ramen shop (and its Downtown Brooklyn ghost-kitchen counterpart) are deeply savory, with no peanut-butter sweetness. They’re topped with shredded chicken that’s dyed red and made fiery with chile. Multiple locations; ivanramen.com

7. A Gas-Station Smashburger From Smacking Burger

Where Chelsea meets the Village, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Mobil station is home to the city’s most curious new burger grill, a minuscule operation — next to the candy racks and coolers filled with Gatorade — that specializes in Oklahoma City–style onion burgers overflowing with melted cheese and sweet horseradish sauce. 51–63 Eighth Ave.; smackingburger.com

8. Blue Takis Elote at Doña Zita

In front of this outdoor Mexican restaurant famous for its overstuffed tortas is its stand selling mangos on a stick and elote, which you can get with the classic toppings or — better — the IYKYK version that’s rolled in a choice of crushed chips. Go for the tangy, fiery, heavily pigmented blue Takis. 1221 Bowery St., Coney Island; donazita.com

9. Some Thai Crackers From Khao Nom

The krong krang krob — peppery, sweet-and-salty fried crackers — stand proud among the world’s best chips, be that Korean honey-butter or sour cream and onion. They’re sticky from the caramelized palm sugar and coconut milk. 42-06 77th St., Elmhurst; instagram.com/khaonomnyc

10. Sizzling Skewers at Caravan Uyghur Cuisine

Uyghur cooking is defined, in part, by its world-class kebabs: Order lamb ribs, which are fatty and lush on the inside, charred and crackling on the outside, and seasoned with the unbeatable mix of cumin and chile. 60 Beaver St.; instagram.com/caravanuyghur

The New Ice Cream That Must Be Eaten

11. The tiramisu flavor at Pamina (461 Sixth Ave.; paminadolcegelato.com ) , a bubbly new gelateria, does not skimp on the (gluten-free) ladyfinger cookies.

12. Soursop at Mr. P’s (1397 Nostrand Ave., Prospect–Lefferts Gardens; instagram.com/mrpsicecream ) is bright, sunny, vegan, and possibly even healthy.

13. Deep-fried caramel-pecan cornbread from Thick (208 Graham Ave., Williamsburg; getthickbk.com ) will fight against a spoon with every bite. Let it melt a little first.

14. Celery gelato from Juice Generation (multiple locations; juicegeneration.com ) is part of the smoothie chain’s long-overdue line of ice creams.

15. Glace went viral for its crazy hot chocolates; the Fluffernutter sundae is available only at its just-opened midtown food truck (Rockefeller Ctr.; glaceny.com ) .

16. The City’s Best Shawarma at Zyara

Freshly baked laffa is tightly wrapped around shawarma just shaved from the spit and a holy trinity of pickles, crunchy cabbage, and toum. Then it gets brushed with drippings and brushed again, after which it’s pressed down on the griddle. 25-53 Steinway St., Astoria; zyararestaurantnyc.com

17. Chicken for a Picnic From Fat Fowl

Roast chicken in the summer? Yes — specifically, one treated to a lavender brine with rosemary, thyme, garlic, allspice, and Scotch-bonnet peppers. The skin is blackened in spots, like jerk; it’s ideal for shredding and sharing with friends in Fort Greene Park. Dekalb Market Hall, 445 Albee Sq. W., Downtown Brooklyn; thefatfowl.com

18. A Heaping Hot Dog From BonBon

Every Sunday, a stand outside this TikTok-famous Scandinavian candy warehouse sells griddled overlong franks covered with sweet Swedish mustard, bottled rémoulade, crunchy fried onions, pickled cucumber slices, and chives. It costs $6, which is a bargain for a dog that is so thoroughly topped. 66 Degraw St., Red Hook; bonbonnyc.com

The New York Chicago-Dog Showdown

Who’s the best at dragging their dogs (all-beef Vienna sausages, of course) through the garden?

The loaded $8 Chicago dogs at both ( 19. ) Dog Day Afternoon (multiple locations; dogdaybrooklyn.com ) and ( 20. ) Bobbi’s Italian Beef (228 Smith St., Cobble Hill; bobbisitalianbeef.com ) stick to tradition with their toppings: pickle spears, tomato wedges, yellow mustard, electric-green relish, celery salt, and tiny sport peppers.

The winner is Bobbi’s: A back-to-back taste test revealed more generously distributed toppings and warm, pillowy poppy-seed buns owing to a quick steam after ordering.

21. A Deli Container of Watermelon Slush at A&N Fruit Store

The city’s best soft drink is a lidded quart container of blitzed watermelon and ice — fitted with an extra-wide straw for rapid consumption. 25 Canal St.; no website

22. Stridently Un-Soggy Fish and Chips at Make My Fish

The peppery dredge on the catfish at this no-frills counter creates a light crust that never falls off, even as the food sits in its paper bag while you take it to its final destination. 120 W. 116th St.; makemyfish116.com

23. A Chicky Sandwich From Salty Lunch Lady’s Little Luncheonette

A giant, juicy chicken meatball is smashed into a seeded roll and made even messier with paprika mayo, charred onions, arugula, and — true to the counter’s name — extra-salty feta cheese. 565 Woodward Ave., Ridgewood; saltylunchlady.com

24. Sugarcane Juice at Nha Trang One

There is usually a line at Nha Trang One’s sidewalk window for the freshly pressed juice an employee prepares to order. The grassy nectar can be enhanced with kumquat, pineapple, and other fruit, but most people opt to take it straight. 87 Baxter St.; nhatrangnyc.net

25. Hainan Chicken Rice From Lou Yau Kee

This food-court vendor hawks an exceptional poached chicken, smooth and tender, with chicken-rich rice and a side of broth. A friend, a Singaporean cook, says that its sauces — salty and sweet dark soy, prickly chile, and invigorating ginger — taste like home. Urbanspace Union Square, 124 E. 14th St.; instagram.com/louyaukee

26. A Roll at Kolachi

Bless the single-dish restaurant, a place that knows its strengths. Kolachi, in a little one-room box, makes only paratha rolls, a Pakistani street snack that’s little more than a deliciously greasy fried paratha filled with grilled chicken or beef, chutney, and onions, wrapped in a picnic-festive bit of checkered parchment and ready to be eaten on the road. 130 First Ave.; kolachirolls.com

Three Less Expected Pizzas

27. The louche little slice of $3.50 pizza at 99 Cent Village Pizza (333B Sixth Ave.; no website) that’s decorated with crisscrossing stripes of hot sauce and ranch is not pretending to be better than it is. It’s also not pretending to be on the menu: Order one when a pie appears on the counter.

28. It was a Staten Island–born pizza snob, of all people, who convinced us to finally try the Detroit-style pizza from Jet’s (multiple locations; jetspizza.com ). “It just hits,” he said of the chain’s extra-crunchy, deep-dish pie.

29. The Roman-style fried zucchini slice at Impasto (373 Waverly Ave., Clinton Hill; impastonyc.com ) deploys zucchini in two ways: as thin, dark-fried rounds and blended into a sauce that lines the airy bianca base. It’s dotted with gobs of fresh mozzarella and big basil leaves.

30. Crispy, Creamy Bacalaitos at the Freakin’ Rican

These salt-cod fritters are one of the better ways to bide your time between beach days. The supremely crunchy edges guard a soft, salty interior. 4306 34th Ave., Long Island City; thefreakinricanrestaurant.com

31. The Etna Mess at Archestratus

Its café has closed, but this food-focused bookstore will continue its tradition of making weekend-special trifles — sponge, cream, and jammy fruit inside a plastic cup — that change with the seasons: One recent flavor was bright apricot in orange caramel with whipped ricotta. 164 Huron St., Greenpoint; archestrat.us

32. German Fried Chicken at Schaller & Weber

Schaller & Weber hot dogs are all over town, but the best thing the company makes — fried chicken — can be found only at the UES shop. The crust is thicker and crunchier than what you’ve had before, creating a completely protective shell around the meat. 1654 Second Ave.; schallerweber.com

33. Pastéis de Nata From Lisbonata

The lines at this Portuguese egg-tart stand have become the topic of the season for Fort Greene farmers’-market loyalists. This probably has something to do with the extra-crisp butter crusts, the softer-than-expected middles, and the lovely boxes that make them ideal gifts. Raspberry is excellent, but even the original is great — especially when dusted with an optional shake of cinnamon. Multiple locations; lisbonata.com

34. A Sushi Platter for the 2:43 to Poughkeepsie From Joji Box

Headed out of town on the Metro-North? Skip the Grand Central Shake Shack and duck into One Vanderbilt’s basement to pick up an order of sushi from this high-end omakase counter. Tuna rolls, pieces of salmon or yellowtail, and a stack of edamame are all fresh and beautiful and boxed up with as much care as a new iPad. 1 Vanderbilt Ave.; jojiboxnyc.com

Eight Perfect Bites in Chinatown

35. Ganjang and egg bap — runny eggs over purple rice with cabbage, sesame oil, and an obscene amount of seaweed — at Sobak . 51B Canal St.; instagram.com/sobak.han .

36. Crispy lumpia Shanghai and guac — a new classic combo, we say — at Mucho Sarap . Canal Street Market, 265 Canal St.; sosarapnyc.com .

37. The cheung zai bao (or hot-dog bun) at M&W Bakery . 25 E. Broadway; no website.

38. Beautiful mooncakes stuffed with floral white-lotus paste and black sesame at New Golden Fung Wong Bakery . 41 Mott St.; no website.

39. The jiggly steamed roast-pork cheung fun from Sun Hing Lung Co ’s takeout window. 58 Henry St.; no website.

40. The har gow — translucent dumpling wrappers stuffed with shrimp and diced bamboo shoots — from Wu’s Wonton King . 165 E. Broadway; wuswontonking.com .

41. A four-piece order of earthy-sweet pork-and-shrimp shumai in yolk-yellow wrappers from Mei Lai Wah . 62 Bayard St.; meilaiwah.com .

42. Flaky, crispy, too-easy-to-overlook tuna buns at Fay Da Bakery . 83 Mott St.; fayda.com .

43. A To-Go Container of Peel-and-Eat Shrimp at Lobster Place

The shrimp is as simple as it gets: plump, moist, and seasoned generously with Old Bay. The appeal is the packaging: Chilled with a lemon wedge, any order can be ready for the beach when you are. Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave.; lobsterplace.com

44. A Vegetarian Cubano From Cuban Shack

Long-cooked jackfruit is the main ingredient in these meat-free Cubanos, draped in sweet sauce and spilling out of the pressed roll. Swiss cheese adds heft while little sticks of fried potato are tucked in for crunch. 75 Hoyt St., Boerum Hill; cubanshacknyc.com

45. A Bowl of Beef Curry at Burmese Bites

Until recently, the only place to regularly get Myo Thway’s food was at the Queens Center Mall. He’s now improving the lunch fortunes of midtown office workers, who can make a weekly habit of his beef curry, thick with gravy and made elite by the addition of balachaung, a spicy, salty, chunky fish-based condiment. Mona Kitchen, 310 E. 44th St.; instagram.com/burmesebites

The Five Best Beef Patties

A flaky larded crust filled with seasoned meat: These hand pies may be the world’s most perfect food. Here are our favorites.

46. The spicy beef patty at Tosh’s (at the Williamsburg and Prospect Park Smorgasburgs; toshspatties.com ) is a hand-laminated, turmeric-stained pastry filled with slightly crumbly beef flecked with garlic and orange pepper for significant, fruity heat.

47. The crust on the spicy beef patty at Puff’s Patties (812 Nostrand Ave., Crown Heights; instagram.com/puffspatties ) is tender, while the searingly spicy filling is saucier than most.

48. The Guyanese patties at Sybil’s (132-17 Liberty Ave., Richmond Hill; instagram.com/sybilsliberty ) look like mini-pies: Rich shortcrust is rolled into tart pans and domed over a filling that favors aromatic spices over hot pepper.

49. Juice oozes out of fork holes poked into the shatteringly flaky crust of the oxtail patty at M&P Caribbean Delight (753 Flatbush Ave., Prospect–Lefferts Gardens; no website) .

50. The Haitian beef pâté at Immaculee Bakery (1411 Nostrand Ave., Prospect–Lefferts Gardens; immaculeebakery.com ) is all about the rustic, layered crust that is simply folded over a small scoop of sweet-and-spicy ground beef.

51. Mexican Sorbet From  Nieves Cortés

Fidel Cortés Jr. is the Limón Ice King of Bushwick: Across from Maria Hernandez Park, he sells nieves de garrafa that’s hand-churned with a paddle for a smooth texture and pure fruit flavor. Options rotate: There may be cooling melon with small cubes of fruit or creamier pineapple; other days bring mango, watermelon, lime, or the “famous” dragonfruit. Outside 282 Knickerbocker Ave., Bushwick; instagram.com/fideljr87

52. A $2 Whoopee Pie From Millport Dairy

The Amish farmers of Lancaster County sell these traditional whoopee pies in several flavors, including the classic chocolate cake (rich and moist) as well as pumpkin. Good for a snack when you’re dropping in to pick up some of the dairy’s Greenmarket-famous eggs. 2583 Broadway; no website

53. Panamanian Chinese Skewers at Thao’s Family Table

On Sundays, the couple behind this new boardwalk business is making the case that Panamanian Chinese barbecue is what’s been missing from Rockaway Beach with sweet and juicy party wings, each one skewered and grilled until it’s a glistening rusty shade of orange. Locations vary; thaosfamilytable.com/location

54. The Over-the-Top Venezuelan Sandwiches at Codigo 58

The Pepito 58 is a sandwich in sicko mode: three types of meat (chunks of beef with a hint of lime, plus chicken and bacon), slices of tomato and shredded lettuce, a blanketing of cheese, and four sauces (ketchup, mayo, mustard, and cilantro garlic). It’s outrageous, one of those sandwiches that teeter on the edge without going over. 204 Bushwick Ave., East Williamsburg; instagram.com/codigo58bk

Our Favorite …

55. … sandwich..

“Rolled beef” — according to the slicers at Prospect Butcher (multiple locations; prospectbutcher.com ) — is an “old Jewish cousin of pastrami,” a bit milder and intended to be eaten cold. It’s peppery, fatty, made in-house, and delicious when laden with Swiss, slaw, and watercress.

We begged, but the folks at L’Industrie (multiple locations; lindustriebk.com ) won’t make their chicken-Caesar hero — loaded with shredded romaine — any easier to order. You just have to line up when they post to Instagram. Once acquired, everyone will want to share.

57. … Sando.

You’ll be tempted by the classic chicken cutlet on squishy milk bread at Postcard (31–33 Carmine St.; postcardbakery.co ), but the real summer pick is the dessert-y fruit sando , a tender, crumbly cake of a sandwich stuffed with sweetened cream and heart-shaped strawberries.

58. A World-Class Bagel Without the Schlep at Utopia Bagels …

Whitestone’s world-famous bagels have landed in Murray Hill, where the hordes descend to experience outer-borough bagel bliss. A bit of scallion cream cheese is all they need. 120 E. 34th St.; utopiabagelsny.com

59. … Or the Worth-the-Hype Instagram Bagels at Apollo Bagels

Social media’s favorite bagel shop is finally open all day, every day in the East Village. The plain, sesame, and everything options — no cinnamon-raisins here — are indeed as light and crusty as their reputation would lead you to believe. A tight menu ensures the inevitable line moves quickly. Salmon and dill is the sandwich we see most often our on feeds, but we’re partial to an everything bagel topped with cream cheese and a couple of slices of red, ripe tomato. 242 E. 10th St.; apollobagels.com

60. Guava-Soaked Ribs From Cocotazo

Messy, sticky ribs are a rite of summer. This Puerto Rican stall in East Harlem’s La Marqueta has a championship-caliber spread: four pork ribs slathered in guava barbecue sauce, fruity but not too sugary; succulent sweet plantains; a scoop of potato salad; and plenty of rice with pigeon peas. La Marqueta, 1590 Park Ave.; cocotazocateringllc.com

61. An Einspänner at Ten Thousand

Absurd iced coffee topped with sweetened cream so thick that a barista scoops it from its metal container, then garnished with a line of cocoa powder: It tastes like tiramisu. Multiple locations; 10000coffee.com

62. A Piroshki (or Two) at Sofreh Cafe

A companion café to Nasim Alikhani’s excellent Persian restaurant, Sofreh, debuted a block away this spring. You may be tempted by chickpea cookies and almond confections in flavors like orange blossom and jasmine, but we like the baseball-size piroshki, golden turmeric pastries that are thick like knishes. They may be filled with cumin-scented beef studded with raisins and peas; or kale, mushrooms, and feta. Either one makes for a filling lunch, washed down with Alikhani’s sweet cucumber-and-mint sharbat cooler. 216 Flatbush Ave., Park Slope; sofrehnyc.com

63. A Bag of Buñuelos at Seba Seba Bakery

Spheres of chewy cassava-cheese bread are the perfect thing to snack on while roaming Jackson Heights, debating whether you’ll next want to eat some ceviche at Mariscos el Submarino or Birria-Landia’s world-famous tacos. 83-03 Northern Blvd., Jackson Heights; instagram.com/sebasebabakery

64. Salmon Onigirazu at Tokuyamatcha

Made to order with a hefty portion of warm rice, onigirazu fall somewhere between traditional onigiri and a sandwich. Wrapped in plastic, the salmon avocado (one of the most popular options) holds up especially well if you’re taking it to eat later. 627 E. 6th St.; tokuyamasalon.com/cafe

65. A Should-Be-Viral Pastry at ALF

In a city filled with overstuffed sweet croissants, the buttery and brown leek-and-béchamel pastry (it’s a Danish, not a croissant) is a savory standout. Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave.; alfbakery.com

Are Biscuits the Next Croissants?

They’re fluffy, buttery, and beautiful.

66. The weekend-only BEC from Wheated (905 Church Ave., Flatbush; wheatedbrooklyn.com ) is stacked inside a biscuit that bakes up over two inches tall before it’s split open.

67. The square buttermilk biscuits from Harlem Biscuit Company (2308 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.; harlembiscuitcompany.com ) are at their best in the bakery’s John Lewis sandwich: stuffed with hot fried chicken breast, coleslaw, and sweet pickles.

68. The bun-size, dome-shaped biscuits at Norma’s Corner Shoppe (59-02 Catalpa Ave., Ridgewood; normascornershoppe.com ) are craggy on the outside and soft within. They sell out, so go early and order a Ranchero sandwich with egg, beans, cheddar, and salsa.

69. The Pork Katsu Burger at Chef Katsu

The “burgers” made by Katsutoshi Machida — Chef Katsu himself — are nearly six inches high, a crisp-fried pork cutlet (marinated first in shiro koji for tenderness and flavor) on a soft brioche bun, topped with julienned cabbage for shredduce-like crunch and a sticky-sweet miso sauce. 143 Greene Ave., Clinton Hill; instagram.com/chefkatsubk

70. The Baja Fish Taco at Haab

“Taco” is possibly a misnomer for this massive piece of beer-battered fish, properly slathered with habanero mayo and chunky mango salsa. Somehow a corn tortilla contains it all, but just barely. 202 Leonard St., Williamsburg; haabnyc.com

71. Tacos Árabes From Santa Ana Deli & Groceries

This dim corner deli is a shining star and a largely unheralded destination for a Pueblan specialty known as tacos árabes: a flour tortilla overflowing with strips of pork, sliced white onion, and a smoky chipotle salsa, kept in check by some extra-creamy avocado. 171 Irving Ave., Bushwick; no website

72. And for Dessert … Sakura Parfait at Cha-an Bonbon

At some point this summer, skip the plain ice cream and go big: This parfait is a full-on dessert with layers of agar, warabi mochi, and cookies surrounding a swirl of hojicha soft-serve. 238A E. 9th St.; chaanteahouse.com

• where to eat
• grub guides
• street food
• new york city
• new york magazine
• summer eating

Most Viewed Stories

• What James Kent Meant to New York’s Restaurants
• All of Our Summer Eating Picks, Mapped
• The Cervo’s Team’s New Restaurant Opens This Week
• Sarah Jessica Parker Misses Restaurants So Much It Hurts
• Josh Johnson Prefers to Eat Dinner in Bed

Editor’s Picks

What is your email?

This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us.

Sign In To Continue Reading

Create your free account.

Password must be at least 8 characters and contain:

• Lower case letters (a-z)
• Upper case letters (A-Z)
• Numbers (0-9)
• Special Characters (!@#$%^&*)

As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York , which you can opt out of anytime.

• Twitter / X
• Readers' Choice
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Travel Guides

USA TODAY 10Best

Beyond the tasting room: 10 best winery tours in the United States

Best Winery Tour (2023) July 21, 2023

There's nothing like getting a behind-the-scenes look at the winemaking process (while tasting along the way) to hone both your appreciation and your palate. To find the best experiences, we asked a panel of wine industry experts to nominate their preferred winery tours throughout the country, then readers voted for their favorites.

Here are the 10 best winery tours in the United States.

No. 10: The Donum Estate - Sonoma, California

A visually stunning property in Sonoma, the Donum Estate is part wine space, part experiential gallery featuring The Donum Collection, one of the world's largest accessible private sculpture collections. "The art tour plus wine tasting experience is really special and fun," says expert Amber Gibson. "They'll even take you on tour around the property on an ATV!"

No. 9: Archery Summit - Dayton, Oregon

Founded in 1993, this winery uses grapes grown in its six vineyards on 120 acres in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. You can sample their wines on their guided tours given daily of the vineyards, production facilities and  wine cave that's 42 feet below ground.

No. 8: Gundlach Bundschu Winery - Sonoma, California

Just five minutes from Sonoma Plaza, historic Gundlach Bundschu Winery at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains invites guests to tour the 320-acre property aboard a Pinzgauer – a Swiss Army vehicle capable of going off road. Visitors can also tour the vineyards and barrel caves on foot.

No. 7: Pine Ridge Vineyards - Napa, California

Pine Ridge Vineyards in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley offers an immersive tour and tasting experience within its European-inspired cave system. Several options, including the opportunity to book a private tour, are available. 

No. 6: Neal Family Vineyards - Angwin, California

Neal Family Vineyards, a third-generation family-owned estate, provides a private visit that includes a tour of the winery's caves and vineyard on stunning Howell Mountain. Guests take in an opportunity to learn about the estate's certified farming practices and taste four estate-grown wines. The lucky ones get to meet the winery dogs, too.

No. 5: Cline Family Cellars - Sonoma, California

Visitors to Cline Family Cellars on Saturdays and Sundays can enjoy a guided tour of the grounds and winery, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the sustainable winemaking process. The 30-minute tour includes a glass of wine to enjoy as you stroll the grounds.

No. 4: Merriam Vineyards - Healdsburg, California

There are high remarks for organically farmed, estate-centered Merriam Vineyards in Sonoma's Russian River Valley. Expert Ziggy Eschliman puts it this way: "I can’t say enough good things about this winery. There are lots of new options for touring and areas to hike too." A seated tasting with a selection of single-vineyard wines is offered daily.

No. 3: Benziger Family Winery - Glen Ellen, California

Visitors to Benziger Family Winery have five tour and tasting options to choose from. The exclusive Tribute Estate Tour takes visitors behind the scenes for a close-up look at the biodynamic vineyards and winemaking facilities. Visitors can also take a tractor tram tour of the vineyards to learn more about biodynamic farming.

No. 2: Eberle Winery - Paso Robles, California

Eberle is an essential part of Paso Robles wine history, says 10Best contributor Jill Barth. A tour of caves on the property has earned high recommendations from visitors. Offered along with seated tastings, this look at the 16,000-plus square feet of underground caves is a unique way to experience one of the pioneering producers of the region. 

No. 1: Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery - Hammondsport, New York

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, located in the Finger Lakes wine region of New York, offers an 1886 Food and Wine Experience in which guests partake in a guided viticultural or cellar tour followed by a seated wine tasting.  This experience is available from May through October and is reservation only.  For a less in-depth endeavor, seated wine tastings are offered year-round.

About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best .

The Experts

Amber gibson.

Amber Gibson spends  350 nights a year in hotels...   Read More

Amber Gibson spends  350 nights a year in hotels searching for the latest and greatest in the travel industry. Her writing and photographs have appeared in print, online, and on the radio for outlets including Forbes ,  National Geographic Traveler , Departures ,  Four Seasons Magazine , Conde Nast Traveller ,  NPR , Saveur , Departures , Rhapsody , Hemispheres, American Way, Private Air,  and Serious Eats . She graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and received a fellowship to attend the 2017 Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood Napa Valley. Champagne, dark chocolate and gelato are her biggest weaknesses.

Ava Roxanne Stritt

Ava Roxanne Stritt has been called the most...   Read More

Ava Roxanne Stritt has been called the most influential person in the world for spa travel and also a top authority on luxury and wellness travel. Her fans say she is responsible for turning the spa day into a wellness adventure! You can find her always searching for unique experiences.  Ava writes for multiple print and online publications such as   Spa Travel Gal and many more. You can also find her here @SpaTravelGa l  

Dynie Sanderson

Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has...   Read More

Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .

Jenny Peters

Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los...   Read More

Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).

Marla Cimini

Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion...   Read More

Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is:  www.marlacimini.com  

Melanie Reffes

Melanie is an island girl at heart . Born in...   Read More

Melanie is an island girl at heart . Born in Manhattan, she now lives on the sunny island of Montreal and covers  the Caribbean for a variety of publications  including  USA TODAY 10Best, CaribbeanTravel.com and MarryCaribbean.com.  A journalist with a boatload of writer awards under her belt, Melanie's affection for the Caribbean started  young when her family vacationed in Puerto Rico.   An avid fan of spicy food,   Melanie enjoys the diversity of Montreal - especially during the warmer months -when she's not en route to the Caribbean. She  holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto. 

Ziggy Eschliman

Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal , Ziggy...   Read More

Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal , Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative and entertaining libation experts. Her internationally known company, ZigStyle, combines her artistry for wine country entertaining and gardening while integrating her expertise of wine & spirits, showcasing a unique lifestyle. For over 25 years Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things wine and spirits. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available online.

Best Hawaii Cruise

Best Tour Company in Hawaii

Best Family Attraction in Hawaii

Best Restaurant in Hawaii

Best Resort in Hawaii

Browse the best.

Best Beer City (2024)

Best Beer Garden (2024)

Best Beer Festival (2024)

Best Small Town Beer Scene (2024)

Best Beer Club (2024)

Back to readers' choice.