New York City is the largest city in the United States, a dense metropolis of five boroughs at the mouth of the Hudson River. It is home to the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Broadway, world-class museums, the Brooklyn Bridge, and one of the most diverse food scenes on earth. The city runs day and night on an extensive subway system.
New York City's food is the product of two centuries of immigration. Jewish delis and appetizing counters on the Lower East Side, Italian-American red-sauce kitchens in Greenwich Village and the Bronx, and Chinese dim sum in Chinatown and Flushing sit alongside the dollar slice, the halal cart platter, the everything bagel with lox and the porterhouse from Brooklyn's old steakhouses. Queens is widely regarded as the most diverse dining borough, with Thai in Woodside, Colombian and Tibetan food in Jackson Heights and Sichuan and Taiwanese in Flushing. At the top end the city holds dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants, but its defining meals are often eaten standing up on the sidewalk.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define New York City.
New York Slice
Large, thin, foldable pizza slice sold by the piece
Where to try: Joe's Pizza / Prince Street Pizza / Di Fara Pizza
Price: $1.50-$6
Pastrami on Rye
Hand-carved, brined and smoked beef navel on rye with mustard
Where to try: Katz's Delicatessen
Price: $28-$36
Bagel with Lox
Hand-rolled boiled bagel with cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers and onion
Where to try: Russ & Daughters Cafe / Ess-a-Bagel
Price: $10-$22
Chicken over Rice (Halal Cart)
Chopped halal chicken or gyro over yellow rice with white and hot sauce
Where to try: The Halal Guys / street carts across Manhattan
Price: $9-$12
Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)
Steamed dumplings filled with pork and hot broth
Where to try: Joe's Shanghai Flushing / Chinatown
Price: $10-$16
Dim Sum
Small Cantonese plates of dumplings, buns and rice rolls
Where to try: Nom Wah Tea Parlor / Chinatown / Flushing
Price: $3-$8 per plate
Cheesecake
Dense New York-style cheesecake
Where to try: Junior's Restaurant and Bakery
Price: $9-$12 per slice
Porterhouse Steak
Dry-aged porterhouse cut for two, served sliced with pan juices
Where to try: Peter Luger / Keens Steakhouse
Price: $60-$75 per person
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Bakery
Brick
Burgers
Chinese
Contemporary Plant
Diner
Japanese
Jewish Appetizing
Mexican
Middle Eastern
New York Bagels
Seafood
Sicilian Square Slices
Southern Soul Food
Steakhouse
Thai
Ukrainian Comfort Food
Food tours & tastings in New York City
Eat your way through New York City with a guide.
Browse food experiences in New York CityWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Dollar Slice
Cheap plain slices sold at counters across Manhattan and the outer boroughs
Find it at: Midtown and Lower East Side pizza counters
Halal Cart Platters
Chicken and gyro over rice from sidewalk carts, often open late
Find it at: 53rd St & 6th Ave / Midtown carts
Hot Dogs and Pretzels
Classic cart food sold for a few dollars
Find it at: Central Park and street corners citywide
Falafel Sandwiches
Fried chickpea balls in pita, eaten on the go
Find it at: Mamoun's Falafel, MacDougal St
Tacos and Tamales
Vendors and carts selling regional Mexican street food
Find it at: Sunset Park Brooklyn / Corona Queens
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Chelsea Market
Former biscuit factory turned food hall with tacos, lobster, bakeries and shops
Hours: Daily 7AM-9PM (varies by vendor)
Queens Night Market
Seasonal open-air night market at Flushing Meadows Corona Park with vendors from dozens of countries
Hours: Saturday evenings, roughly April-October (confirm on queensnightmarket.com)
Smorgasburg
Weekend open-air food market of local vendors in Brooklyn
Hours: Seasonal weekends, roughly April-October (confirm on smorgasburg.com)
Arthur Avenue Retail Market
Indoor market of Italian food vendors in the Bronx
Hours: Tue-Sat morning to late afternoon (confirm)
Essex Market
Lower East Side public market with produce, cheese and prepared foods
Hours: Daily roughly 8AM-8PM (confirm)
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Book popular tables on Resy or OpenTable weeks ahead; many top restaurants release seats 30 days out at a set time
Tipping 18-22% of the pre-tax bill is customary; a quick 20% shortcut is to double the sales tax (8.875%)
Slice shops and many cash-first spots are quick and cheap; carry a card and some small bills
Many Michelin restaurants offer lower-priced lunch or bar seating
Weekend brunch lines are long; arrive before 10AM or book ahead
- Vegetarian
- Excellent: vegetarian and vegan restaurants are common in every borough, plus falafel, pizza and Indian food
- Halal
- Very good: halal carts on many Manhattan corners, plus halal restaurants in Astoria, Jackson Heights and Brooklyn
- Gluten free
- Widely available; most restaurants mark gluten-free items on the menu, and allergies are handled seriously
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $8-$20 per meal | Dollar slices, halal cart platters, bagels and Chinatown noodle shops |
| Mid-range | $30-$70 per meal | Sit-down trattorias, dim sum, delis and neighbourhood bistros |
| Upscale | $150-$400+ per meal | Michelin-starred tasting menus and steakhouses |