Taste New York: a tour of the Big Apple's most delicious sites
Explore New York’s diverse range of culinary delights.
“There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless” - Simone Beauvoir.
From Brooklyn to Queens, Manhattan to the Bronx; when it comes to food, New York has it all.
“You can find any cuisine here, and it is all done to perfection” - Rosemary Nardone.
New York is an incredibly diverse, cosmopolitan city. The Big Apple is famed for its attractions and landmarks such as Times Square, the Empire State Building and not forgetting, the Statue of Liberty. Another incredible thing about New York is the wide choice of food that is available but actually finding restaurants that serve good quality food is difficult and also tiresome. That is why we have produced this guide to help navigate you through the best eateries offering delicious cuisine - go forth and taste what it has to offer!
Valerie Shaindlin @ValerieBrett"New York truly epitomizes the fact that the USA is a melting pot. In NYC, you can get anything you want; almost every culture is represented here. You can go to a different place everyday for years and there would still be new and exciting spots you haven’t tried!"
Originally introduced to the United States by Polish-Jewish immigrants, the bagel has become a staple in the New York food scene. Can be enjoyed with a multitude of toppings and fillings.
Dave Cook @EIT"The bagel sandwich is a classic New York nosh -- a snack that tides you over while hustling along to your next destination!"
In Arabic, the word halal means permitted or lawful. Halal foods are foods that are allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines.
Jeff Orlick @JeffOrlick"It's more than just a religious thing, it's an entire cuisine in itself. The majority of it is chicken and/or lamb over rice and it drives locals and travelers crazy."
Pizza is another prime example of an originally foreign food that was lovingly adopted by the United States. It is hard to think of New York without thinking of a classic New York style pizza!
Sarah Spigelman Richter @FritosnFoie"Every visitor to the Big Apple should try a slice of New York pizza…the kind that you pick up with your hands and eat as you walk!"
When it comes to American cuisine, a burger is an absolute classic. From cheap and greasy, to a gastronomical piece of art, New York will be able to satisfy your burger cravings!
Jean-Philippe @ijustwanttoeat"…in New York, there are more and more burger joints popping up all over the place, some of them (such as Colicchio and Sons) are very innovative!"
Rather unsurprisingly, a cronut is a delectable cross between a doughnut and a croissant. It was originally created and trademarked by Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City, and was named by TIME magazine as one of the “25 Best Inventions” of 2013.
Rosemary Nardone @nycstylecannoli"You can find any cuisine in New York, and it is all done to perfection. Trends are also started here, such as the infamous cronut, which other cities then follow."
New York is home to a multitude of Delis, all of which make lovingly crafted sandwiches with a wide variety of different meats and fillings for you to enjoy!
When it comes to culinary delights, it is hard to look past a perfectly cooked steak!
Jean-Philippe @ijustwanttoeat"For amazing steak, check out Peter Luger Steak House, or Ruth’s Chris!"
New York-style cheesecake relies upon heavy cream or sour cream. The typical New York cheesecake is rich and has a dense, smooth, and creamy consistency. Sour cream makes the cheesecake more resilient to freezing and is the method by which most frozen cheesecakes are made.
Rosemary Nardone @nycstylecannoli"Junior’s Restaurant, or a Jewish deli such as Carnegie or Katz’s is a great place for some New York style cheesecake!"
Although Dim Sum originated in China, it is still a worthwhile culinary experience to embark on! With a range of brilliant Dim Sum restaurants all over New York, you are bound to find something to suit your tastes, and your wallet!
Nichelle Stephens @cupcakeblog"Some of the tastiest Dim Sum I have ever eaten was right here in New York. It is fantastic because you get to try lots of different dumplings with a variety of exciting fillings, all at once."
Tacos are a traditional Mexican dish, consisting of a corn or wheat tortilla folded or rolled around a filling - often made up of meat, vegetables and a variety of sauces or salsas.
Our trusted team of local food experts have searched New York far and wide for all that it has to offer not only to the discerning connoisseur, but also to foodies who want to taste what the Big Apple has to offer on a budget. Here they share their collective wisdom with you.
Sarah Spigelman Richter @FritosnFoie"New York is really the city where anything goes…there is no neighborhood-by-neighborhood dining here - anything and everything pops up wherever there is room. You can feed literally any appetite here, on any budget, at any time of day or night. Hey, if you are tired, you can even have it delivered!"
Dave Cook @EIT"New York offers an amazing variety of foods from all over the world, and a constant tide of new businesses is always willing to introduce them to a new generation of eaters."
Nichelle Stephens @cupcakeblog"The New York food scene rewards the adventurous. Going on a street food tour of Queens is one of my most fun experiences!"
Where to Eat at Rockaway Beach
www.restaurantgirl.com
10 Best New York City Bakeries
www.nycstylelittlecannoli.com
Urbo in Times Square, NY
www.ijustwanttoeat.com
Linden Park Food Vendors
www.eatingintranslation.com
Chimi Butter, Astoria
www.eyechow.com
Duo Restaurant – The Best Martini in NYC
www.fritosandfoiegras.com
Eaten, Barely Blogged: Skewers, Shawarma, Sable
www.goodiesfirst.com
There's Always Room For S'mores Cupcakes
www.cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.co.uk
Food Markets
www.marketsofnewyork.com
Sarah was born and raised in NYC, and is the bonafide product of a family that started planning their next meal as soon as they finished their last. She eventually moved to a far-flung corner of Brooklyn for the chance to own a fig tree, where she now lives with her husband and (no offense to the husband or the fig tree), the love of her life - a hound mix named Rowdy.
The HouseTrip TeamCheers to Sarah, for all of her helpful tips on eating in New York City!
Rosemary’s love affair with New York City is the reason for the blog NYC Style and a little Cannoli. If you are a local or (especially) a visitor to the Big Apple, you will find information on how to eat, shop, tour and see NYC from an insider’s view. Rosemary enjoys scouring NYC for its secret gems.
The HouseTrip TeamA big thank-you to Rosemary for sharing her culinary wisdom with us!
I Just Want To Eat® is a personal blog that Jean-Philippe created back in July 2011. The idea came naturally: Jean-Philippe loves food, talking about food and experienced many different types of cuisine during the years he spent travelling around the world. He blames a combination of his French palate, and a vast exposure to many different types of food, for his ability to eat any type of meal placed in front of him. On his blog, you will find information about places where he eats (whether in New York, New Jersey or anywhere else he has travelled), recipes and various information related to food.
The HouseTrip TeamMerci beaucoup Jean-Philippe! Your tips are greatly appreciated, and will no doubt help many visitors to New York City get the best out of what it has to offer!
Michelle established Taste As You Go in August 2008 as a way to share her love for food and her passion for cooking with others. When she started learning to cook, she was repeatedly told to “taste as you go”. She now applies this advice to every culinary experience she embarks on, and sets out to explore the offerings of New York, and other cities, in this fashion.
The HouseTrip TeamThank-you, Michelle, for your advice on where to eat in New York! We will be sure to check out Bubby’s and Le Paris Bistrot!
Dave Cook is a photojournalist whose website, Eating In Translation, examines fascinating food in New York and, occasionally, farther afield. His work has been published in The New York Times, The Art of Eating, and many other publications.
The HouseTrip TeamWe don’t know about the rest of you, but the HouseTrip team are heading straight to Smorgasburg market in Williamsburg! Cheers Dave!
Valerie founded eyechow.com to document her passion for all things edible. Lucky enough to grow up in multiple locations (New York, Florida, The Caribbean, and Hawaii), she has an insatiable desire to continuously experience different cultures, and most of all, different foods. She spends all her time and money on travel, food, books and yoga
The HouseTrip TeamThank you, Valerie, for your insightful tips to eating in the Big Apple!
Sarah Spigelman Richter is a New York City based writer, blogger, and recipe developer. Her writing has been featured on The Today Show’s food site, The Huffington Post, Haute Living, Gothamist, and PBS.com. Her cookbook for kids, “What’s for Breakfast Dad”, is available on Amazon, and her blog Fritos and Foie Gras chronicles her cooking and dining adventures in NYC and beyond. She loves champagne, Bravo tv, and cooking for her husband and family.
The HouseTrip TeamSarah, your tips on pizza and pastrami sandwiches have got our mouths watering! Thank you!
Krista runs Goodies First, a blog that’s enamored with food court fare, and Michelin-starred restaurants in nearly equal measures. Her work has also appeared on Serious Eats, Zagat, Eater and Nymag.com.
The HouseTrip TeamA massive thank you to Krista - we don’t know what we would have done without your help!
Nichelle Stephens is a blogger, cupcake enthusiast, editor, event producer, and social media strategist. Nichelle is the co-founding editor of Cupcakes Take The Cake, the most popular blog about cupcakes. Nichelle lives in suburban Atlanta after toiling for years in Brooklyn, New York.
The HouseTrip TeamA big thumbs-up to Nichelle for providing us with some Class A insight into the New York food scene!
Karen Seiger is an author, blogger, market enthusiast and editor of the Markets of New York website. She wrote the guidebook, Markets of New York City: A Guide to the Best Artisan, Farmer, Food, and Flea Markets (Little Bookroom, 2010). She launched the website to accompany the guidebook because markets change all the time by their very nature. She also just couldn’t stop writing about the people she meets, objects she finds and the markets she visits pretty much every weekend. Something in a market will surprise, amaze and delight her — every single weekend.
The HouseTrip TeamThanks, Karen, for your amazing tips on what markets are hot around New York City!
Jeff Orlick organizes food tours in Jackson Heights and along Roosevelt Avenue. From his latest Ambassador Program to annual Momo Crawls, Jeff creates accessible and authentic food experiences for people from all over NYC and the world.
The HouseTrip TeamThanks for your help, Jeff! Your tips will definitely come in handy for anyone visiting New York!
Sarah Zorn @SarahZornBK"…the beefy Prime Rib Burger is well worth its $21 price tag, garnished with bacon marmalade, roasted mushrooms and aged gruyere and accompanied by a pile of perfect pommes frites."
Krista Garcia @goodiesfirst"…it seems like everyone in the world has eaten a Peter Luger at some point. It’s a local institution to be sure."
Michelle Rittler @tasteasyougo"…A restaurant known for cooking everything from scratch and taking most of its recipes straight out of recipe boxes all over America. In other words, everything will taste like your grandmother’s cooking."
Sarah Spigelman Richter @FritosnFoie"Katz’s pastrami sandwich is, for all intents and purposes, the quintessential NYC dish. It’s the best representation of pastrami in the USA."
Rosemary Nardone @nycstylecannoli"Junior’s Restaurant is a great place for some New York style cheesecake!"
Krista Garcia @goodiesfirst"Southeast Asian food is my favorite. I would recommend Ihawan for Filipino BBQ and Lechon."
Michelle Rittler @tasteasyougo"…Our night at Le Paris Bistrot was unforgettable. From the décor to the attentive wait staff to the skilfully prepared food, we felt at ease - at home - the minute we walked through the door."
Rosemary Nardone @nycstylecannoli"For me, Grimaldi’s famous pizza from Brooklyn, best represents the New York food scene. It is just very simple ingredients, but gives you the most amazing flavor and texture."
Dave Cook @EIT"The bagel sandwich is a classic New York nosh — a snack that tides you over while hustling along to your next destination… On the Lower East Side, try Russ & Daughters."
Jean-Phillipe @ijustwanttoeat"Every foodie should try a New York burger… Colicchio and Sons is the place to go."
Valerie Shaindlin @ValerieBrett"…I recommend Hearth for creative, elegant and seasonal American/Italian food."
Sarah Spigelman Richter @FritosnFoie"Fat Sal’s is one of the best in the city for a plain, old fashioned slice of New York pizza!"
Sarah Zorn @SarahZornBK"When it comes to all things dairy, we’re officially head-over-heels for Obica."
Dave Cook @EIT"For the setting, for the crowds, and for the dizzying display of gustatory delights, it’s been called “The Woodstock of Eating."
Karen Seiger @MarketsNYC"Chelsea Market is an absolutely amazing place to find some of the most innovative food in the city!"
Sarah Spigelman Richter @FritosnFoie"I love the wonderful Tucker Square farmer’s market on Thursdays for wonderful local cheeses, fresh breads, in season vegetables, and grass fed meats!"
Rosemary Nardone @nycstylecannoli"…you can find just about anything you would need to cook a meal at home. Many of the local chefs shop here for their ingredients as well. A true gem in New York City."
Sarah Spigelman Richter @FritosnFoie"…the best Italian foodstuff this side of the Atlantic is at Buon Italia!"
