New York City Food Guide

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Lower Manhattan, Chinatown, Little Italy, the Lower East Side, NoHo, SoHo, NoLita, and Tribeca. Search and filters apply to this page only.

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🗽Manhattan — Downtown

Battery Park City

Financial District & Seaport

Italian deli / sandwiches

Address: 97 Nassau St, New York, NY 10038

Phone: (212) 227-3104

Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00 AM–8:00 PM; Sat–Sun 11:00 AM–6:00 PM

Note: FiDi sandwich specialist for enormous Italian panini on fresh bread with imported meats and cheeses. The porchetta and prosciutto-and-mozzarella combinations are strong moves, and one sandwich can easily feed two.

Heroes & SubsCash OnlyGoogle 4.8 (1826)$$

French / Lyonnaise bouchon

Address: 5 Beekman St, New York, NY 10038

Phone: (212) 597-9020

Hours: Tue–Sat 11:30 AM–10:00 PM; closed Sun–Mon

Note: Daniel Boulud’s Lyon-inspired bouchon inside The Beekman. The current dinner menu includes calf’s liver with mashed potatoes, cipollini onions and sauce charcutière, plus salade Lyonnaise with chicken liver, quenelle de brochet, steak frites and gratin dauphinois.

Irish pub / American pub fare / historic bar

Address: 120 Cedar St, New York, NY 10006

Phone: (212) 267-3032

Hours: Mon–Thu 11:00 AM–2:00 AM; Fri 11:00 AM–4:00 AM; Sat 12:00 PM–4:00 AM; Sun 12:00 PM–2:00 AM

Note: Historic Ground Zero Irish pub established in 1983. Its walls hold more than 7,000 fire, police and military patches left by first responders from around the world, creating a living 9/11 memorial. Stop for Guinness, shepherd’s pie, Irish stew, burgers, wings and classic pub fare.

Mexican / tacos / cheap eats

Address: 70 Pine St, lower level inside City Acres Market, New York, NY 10005

Hours: Mon–Fri 12:00 PM–7:30 PM; Sat 12:00 PM–6:00 PM; Sun 12:00 PM–5:00 PM

Note: Hidden in the back corner of the grocery store’s lower level near Wall Street. The namesake deal is five or more small tacos for $1 each—choose chicken tinga or roast pork, topped with cilantro and onions. Birria, burritos, quesadillas, tostadas and tortas are also available.

Cheap Eats$

Contemporary, American

Address: 70 Pine St., New York, NY 10005

Phone: (212) 517-1932

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Financial District dining room from the late chef Jamal James Kent and Jeff Katz, set in the landmark Art Deco tower at 70 Pine; go for polished American cooking, pull-apart olive bread, gruyère fritters, roasted meats, creative desserts, and business-date-night energy.

New American, tasting

Address: 70 Pine St, New York, NY 10005

Phone: (212) 339-3963

Hours: Wed–Sun 5–9:30 pm; closed Mon–Tue

Note: Sky-high tasting-menu destination on the 63rd floor of 70 Pine, opened by the late Jamal James Kent and now led by chef Charlie Mitchell; expect a seasonal, multi-course fine-dining progression with polished seafood-leaning luxury, Art Deco drama, terrace-level city views, and special-occasion pricing.

Contemporary

Address: 28 Liberty St, 60th Fl., New York, NY 10005

Phone: (212) 230-5788

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Sixty-floor dining room with sweeping downtown views, a seasonal tasting menu, strong wine program, and a dry-aged cheeseburger at lunch; better for a dramatic skyline meal than a quick bite.

Australian pub / fried chicken sandwich

Address: 170 John St, New York, NY 10038

Hours: Mon–Thu noon–1 AM; Fri–Sat noon–2 AM; Sun noon–11 PM

Note: Australian pub near the Seaport with multi-level pub energy; go for the fried chicken sandwich / schnitzel sandwich, Aussie pub grub, beers, and a proper after-work crowd.

$$

Grocery market / breakfast / cheap eats

Address: 99 John St, New York, NY 10038

Phone: (212) 233-0808

Hours: Daily 5:00 AM–11:59 PM

Note: Financial District neighborhood grocery and prepared-foods stop for cheap breakfast, made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, deli-counter bites, hot bar, grab-and-go food, and quick office-worker meals.

Cheap Eats$

Cocktail bar / burgers / downtown pub food

Address: 25 Cedar St, New York, NY 10005

Phone: (212) 684-8888

Hours: Check the official site before going.

Note: Compact Financial District cocktail bar with a well-regarded burger, shareable plates, happy hour, and a polished neighborhood-bar feel.

BurgersGoogle 4.5$$

Irish pub / American pub fare / live music

Address: 58 Stone Street / 95 Pearl St, New York, NY 10004

Phone: (212) 482-0400

Hours: Mon 4:00 PM–4:00 AM; Tue–Sun 11:00 AM–4:00 AM

Note: Long-running Stone Street Irish pub open since 2003, with a dedicated music room, late-night DJs, outdoor cobblestone-street seating, Guinness, whiskey and cocktails. The kitchen covers oysters and classic pub grub, with a recurring Monday lobster special.

Cantonese / Chinese BBQ / Roast meats / Cheap eats

Address: 88 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038

Phone: (212) 933-0172

Hours: Mon–Sat 11:00 AM–6:00 PM; closed Sun

Note: Fast-casual Financial District Cantonese BBQ counter specializing in siu mei and roast-meat rice boxes. Build a combo from honey-glazed char siu, crispy roast pork belly, roast duck, roast chicken, BBQ ribs and other roasted meats; dim sum and small snacks round out the menu.

Cheap EatsGoogle 4.6 (19)$

Latin American / Peruvian / Argentine / Spanish

Address: 25 Broad St, New York, NY 10004

Phone: (212) 295-0914

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Polished FiDi Latin-fusion restaurant drawing on Peru, Argentina, Mexico, and Spain. The menu moves from ceviche, tuna tartare, causa and chargrilled octopus to Argentinian steak, paella, tacos, and a cocktail list anchored by margaritas and pisco sours.

Malaysian-influenced dive bar / seafood / late night

Address: 111 South St, New York, NY 10038

Phone: (917) 363-8101

Hours: Mon–Fri 4:00 PM–midnight; Sat–Sun 2:00 PM–midnight

Note: Singular South Street dive bar and restaurant where Malaysian home cooking, ginger wings, fried rice and seafood share the room with strong drinks and a famously convivial neighborhood-bar atmosphere.

Steakhouse / classic New York

Address: 56 Beaver St, New York, NY 10004

Phone: (212) 381-1237

Hours: Lunch and dinner; current daily hours vary by day — check the official site when booking

Note: Historic Financial District steakhouse tracing its roots to 1837, centered on prime beef, the namesake Delmonico steak, classic sides, seafood and old-New-York dining-room ceremony.

SteakhouseGoogle 4.5 (3,306)$$$$

Japanese-Peruvian / sushi / fine dining

Address: 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007

Phone: (212) 219-0500

Hours: Mon–Fri lunch 11:45 AM–2:15 PM; dinner Sun–Thu 5:30–9:45 PM, Fri–Sat 5:30–10:45 PM; no Sat–Sun lunch

Note: Downtown outpost of Nobu Matsuhisa’s Japanese-Peruvian restaurant, with yellowtail jalapeño, black cod with miso, toro, sashimi, nigiri, tempura and a broad hot-kitchen menu.

Two Bridges

Chinatown

Cantonese / Chinese / family-style

Address: 73 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 966-5538

Hours: Mon 11:00 AM–10:00 PM; Tue closed; Wed–Sun 11:00 AM–10:00 PM

Note: Lively Chinatown Cantonese dining room from longtime neighborhood businessman Louis Wong, built to bridge generations. The Lo Wah Kiu “old-timers” section revives dishes tied to Toisan, Sunwui, Enping and Hoiping; go with a group for crispy garlic chicken, homestyle chenpi duck, dim sum, seafood and family-style Cantonese classics. Pete Wells reviewed the restaurant for The New York Times in 2022.

Fresh sugarcane juice / walk-up window / cheap eats

Address: 87 Baxter St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 233-5948

Hours: Tue–Sun 12:00 PM–8:00 PM; closed Mon

Note: Tiny Chinatown walk-up window inside/at Nha Trang One pressing fresh sugarcane juice to order, with fruit mix-ins like kumquat, watermelon, young coconut, and strawberry.

Cheap Eats$

Chinese / Fusion

Address: 103 Bowery, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 775-8998

Hours: Daily 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM

Note: A slightly more upscale setting known for excellent Peking Duck and modern fusion dishes.

$$

Chinese BBQ / Takeout / cheap eats

Address: 79 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 925-5175

Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Closed Mondays)

Note: Legendary Chinatown takeout counter for incredibly cheap roast pork (char siu) and roast duck over rice; expect a fast-moving line and no seating.

Cheap EatsCash Only$

Chinese-Southern fried chicken

Address: 83 Henry St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (646) 360-3351

Hours: Daily 11 AM–10 PM

Note: Chef Eric Huang’s Chinese-Southern mashup combines country-fried chicken with Sichuan peppercorns, Tianjin chiles, and five-spice; Yan Saderi called it the best fried chicken he has ever had. Order the chili fried chicken.

Chinese (Late Night)

Address: 17 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 962-8617

Hours: Daily 10:30 AM – 4:30 AM

Note: An NYC institution. Go to the basement level for the classic, old-school "NY Chinese" food experience.

$$

Chinese (Cantonese)

Address: 21 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 964-8365

Hours: Daily 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Note: Basement Chinatown classic next to Wo Hop, known for old-school Cantonese seafood, snails in black bean sauce, pan-fried flounder, and late-night group meals.

Cash Only$$

Malaysian-style jerky / snack shop / cheap eats

Address: 59 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 965-0796

Hours: Daily 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM

Note: Chinatown shop for fresh Malaysian-style beef and pork jerky: sweet, smoky, chewy, and dangerously snackable.

Cheap Eats$

Chinese BBQ / cheap eats

Address: 81 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (917) 675-6651

Hours: Daily 9:30 AM – 7:30 PM

Note: A specialist in Cantonese roasted meats. The Roast Duck and Crispy Skin Pork (Siu Yuk) are standouts.

Cheap Eats$

Chinese / Dim Sum

Address: 5 E Broadway, New York, NY 10038

Phone: (212) 732-0797

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Chinatown dim sum standby known for made-to-order dumplings, rice rolls, and a more orderly alternative to cart-service chaos.

Chinese

Address: 28 Canal St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (917) 540-0884

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Chinatown Chinese restaurant with a contemporary wine-bar sensibility, small plates, and a tighter, more modern room.

Chinese bakery / Cantonese café / cheap eats

Address: 41 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 966-7866

Hours: Daily 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM

Note: Chinatown institution dating to 1968, now at 41 Mott St; go for the baked roast-pork buns, pineapple pork buns, and classic Hong Kong bakery staples.

Cheap Eats$

Chinese / cheung fun / cheap eats

Address: 88 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (646) 233-6311

Hours: Tue–Sun 7:00 AM–4:00 PM; closed Mon.

Note: Tiny Chinatown cheung fun specialist grinding rice fresh and steaming delicate rice rolls to order. Go for the signature or shrimp-heavy rolls with pork, egg, cilantro/scallion, and sauces. Mostly takeout, and lines can build.

Cheap EatsCash Only$

Chinese dumplings / Chinatown cheap eats

Address: 106 Mosco St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 693-1060

Hours: Daily 10:00 AM–7:00 PM

Note: Tiny, cash-only Mosco Street counter and a foundational Chinatown cheap-eats stop. The move is the pork-and-chive fried dumplings—currently an extremely filling 13 for $5—plus pork buns, hot-and-sour soup, or a bag of frozen dumplings to cook at home.

Google 4.5 (282)Cheap EatsCash Only$

Vietnamese / phở / cheap eats

Address: 85 Baxter St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 608-3656

Hours: Open daily except Tuesdays, 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM.

Note: Long-running Chinatown Vietnamese spot on Baxter Street, founded as Pasteur in 1987. Go for phở, bánh xèo, bò lúc lắc, pork chops, bánh mì, and other family-recipe Vietnamese classics.

Cheap Eats$

Chinese hand-pulled noodles / dumplings / cheap eats

Address: 26 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (646) 283-0999

Hours: Daily 11:00 AM–9:20 PM

Note: Tiny Chinatown noodle shop known for hand-pulled noodles, soups, dumplings, and budget-friendly plates.

Cheap Eats$

Thai / Hainanese chicken rice / cheap eats

Address: 51 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (646) 861-3798

Hours: Daily 10:00 AM–9:00 PM

Note: Chinatown Thai counter focused on Thai-style Hainanese chicken rice and simple comfort-food plates.

Cheap Eats$

Dominican / burgers / cheap eats

Address: 83 Baxter St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 837-2119

Hours: Check social/current listings before going.

Note: Dominican spot in Chinatown known for Dominican breakfast plates and viral Dominican-style smashburgers.

BurgersCheap Eats$

Cantonese rice rolls / dumplings / cheap eats

Address: 58 Henry St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 962-7032

Hours: Daily 7:30 AM–4:30 PM

Note: Cantonese cheung fun counter with bargain rice rolls, dumplings, and fast Chinatown breakfast/lunch energy.

Cheap EatsCash Only$

Cheung fun cart / rice rolls / cheap eats

Address: 159 Hester St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (646) 392-4289

Hours: Cart hours vary; daytime is the safer bet.

Note: Classic Chinatown rice-roll cart around Hester / Elizabeth; bring cash and expect fast, ultra-cheap cheung fun.

Street FoodCheap Eats$

Cantonese / noodles / roast meats / cheap eats

Address: 28 Bowery, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 349-0923

Hours: Sun–Thu 9:00 AM–10:00 PM; Fri–Sat 9:00 AM–11:00 PM

Note: Long-running Chinatown staple for wonton noodles, roast duck, barbecue pork, congee, and no-frills Cantonese comfort food.

Cheap EatsCash Only$

Fuzhou dumplings / peanut noodles / cheap eats

Address: 295 Grand St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 625-2532

Hours: Daily 8:30 AM–8:00 PM

Note: Fuzhou cheap-eats standby for peanut noodles, pork-and-chive dumplings, fish balls, soups, and frozen dumplings to go. For the peanut noodles, add the “sour vegetable” mustard greens—the sharp, savory topping is an easy upgrade and a particularly good recommendation from this recent round of diner notes.

Korean takeout / cheap eats

Address: 139 Hester St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (347) 618-3003

Hours: Daily 11:00 AM–7:00 PM

Note: Tiny cash-only Chinatown Korean takeout spot for wallet-friendly rice bowls, kimbap, tteokbokki, bulgogi, and fried chicken bowls; plan on grab-and-go because seating is minimal.

Cheap EatsCash Only$

Chinese dumplings / pork buns / cheap eats

Address: 25B Henry St B, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (917) 436-8542

Hours: Daily 11:00 AM–8:30 PM

Note: Tiny cash-only Chinatown counter known for pan-fried pork-and-chive dumplings, steamed dumplings, and fried or steamed pork buns at old-school bargain prices.

Smash burgers / fries / Chinatown counter

Address: 1 Eldridge St, Suite 3, New York, NY 10002

Phone: Not listed

Hours: Check the official site before going.

Note: Tiny walk-up burger counter from the team behind 375 Chicken ’n Fries. The Truffle Double is the move; the menu runs from lightweight singles to heavyweight doubles with crisp-edged patties, American cheese, onions, and house sauce.

BurgersCheap EatsGoogle 4.8$

Chinese / duck / burger / cheap eats

Address: 131 Walker St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (718) 612-3680

Hours: Daily 9:00 AM–9:00 PM

Note: Chinatown/Walker Street duck counter whose lamb burger earned a NYTimes burger-list mention; not to be confused with Upper East Side JoJo.

BurgersCheap EatsNYTimes Burgers$

Little Italy

Italian Bakery

Address: 195 Grand St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 226-6150

Hours: Daily 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Note: Famous for Sfogliatella (pronounced "shfiadell"; lobster tail pastries), Cannoli, and Gelato.

Ice Cream$

Italian / Little Italy / red sauce / cheap eats

Address: 191 Hester St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 226-8705

Hours: Sun–Thu 10:00 AM–11:00 PM; Fri–Sat 10:00 AM–12:00 AM

Note: Family-run Little Italy institution founded in 1972, now a full-service Italian restaurant for meatballs, veal parmigiana, pasta, pizza, espresso and pastries, with sidewalk tables on Hester Street.

Old-School ItalianCheap Eats$

Italian Restaurant

Address: 127 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 431-4080

Hours: Sun–Thu 11:30 AM–11:00 PM; Fri–Sat 11:30 AM–12:00 AM

Note: Mulberry Street Little Italy classic with patio people-watching, red-sauce comfort, pastas/risotto/pizza, seafood like linguine vongole and calamari fritti, plus heartier specials such as roast rack of lamb, steak, and stuffed veal chop Valdostana.

Old-School Italian$$

Pizza (Coal Oven)

Address: 32 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 941-7994

Hours: Daily 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Note: America’s first licensed pizzeria, dating to 1905. They moved in 2020, lost their coal oven & pies are smaller. Sad change to America's oldest pizzeria.

PizzaWhole PieCoal-OvenNYC StyleCash Only$$

Italian / red-sauce / family-style

Address: 167 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 431-9493

Hours: Daily 11:30 AM–10:00 PM

Note: Long-running Mulberry Street Little Italy institution known for generous family-style portions, classic red-sauce Italian-American cooking, and a lively old-school group-dining atmosphere. Go for chicken parmigiana, calamari, mixed pastas, veal, and cannoli.

Old-School ItalianGoogle 4.4 (2083)$$

Vietnamese / Pho / cheap eats

Address: 157 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 966-3797

Hours: Wed-Mon 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; closed Tue

Note: Old-school Mott Street Vietnamese spot for fast, affordable bowls of pho, spring rolls, pork chop over rice, and Chinatown comfort-food warmth; the article also notes its Flushing lineage.

Cheap EatsGoogle 4.2 (962)$

Lower East Side

Smash burgers / Lower East Side

Address: 131 Essex St, New York, NY 10002

Hours: Sun–Wed 11:00 AM–11:00 PM; Thu–Sat 11:00 AM–1:00 AM

Note: Lower East Side smash-burger specialist built around the Gotham Smash: thin, crisp-edged beef patties with American cheese, grilled onions, house-made pickles, jalapeños, club sauce, ketchup and mustard. Add chopped-cheese tacos, fried pickles or onion rings if you are making a meal of it.

BurgersGoogle 4.5 (1,633)Cheap Eats$

Pastry bakery / cruffins / doughnuts

Address: 120 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

Hours: Daily 8:00 AM–10:00 PM

Note: Lower East Side pastry lab known for laminated-dough spectacle: cruffins, twice-baked croissants, eclairs, gelato and rotating brioche doughnuts. The flavor board changes often, so treat the current doughnut lineup as part of the fun.

DonutsCheap EatsGoogle 4.6 (1773)$

Vegetarian, Vegan

Address: 86 Allen St., New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 228-7732

Hours: Tue–Sat 5:30 PM–10:30 PM

Note: Amanda Cohen’s vegetable tasting-menu spot treats produce like the headline act, with playful plates that made it one of NYC’s best-known vegetarian fine-dining rooms.

Contemporary

Address: 63 Clinton St., New York, NY 10002

Phone: (917) 663-6223

Hours: Tue–Sat 6:00 PM–11:00 PM

Note: Compact Lower East Side tasting-menu spot from chef Samuel Clonts; the format is refined but approachable, with signature caviar hand roll energy and a calm, understated room.

Smashburgers / cheap eats

Address: 1 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (646) 398-9095

Hours: Mon & Sun noon–10 PM; Tue–Thu noon–midnight; Fri–Sat noon–2:30 AM

Note: No-frills smashburger joint on Bowery/Delancey. Spelling intentionally uses “13.”.

BurgersCheap Eats$

American / appetizing cafe

Address: 127 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 475-4881

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Lower East Side café from the Russ & Daughters family, translating appetizing-shop classics into a sit-down restaurant format with smoked fish, bagels, egg creams, babka French toast, and old-school counter energy.

BagelsBib Gourmand$$

Jewish bakery / bagels / bialys / cheap eats

Address: 367 Grand St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 473-4810

Hours: Daily 7:00 AM–2:00 PM during the current temporary renovation schedule; check the official site for updates.

Note: Lower East Side institution founded in 1936 and the oldest operating bialy bakery in the United States; Kossar's has been at this Grand Street location since 1960. Go for the brick-oven bialys, hand-rolled kettle-boiled bagels, pletzel, babka and other classic Jewish baked goods.

BagelsCheap EatsGoogle 4.0 (863)$

Kosher Jewish bakery / babka / rugelach / cheap eats

Address: 504 Grand St #1, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 673-5832

Hours: Sun–Thu 7:00 AM–7:30 PM; Fri 7:00 AM–3:30 PM; Sat closed

Note: Old-school Lower East Side kosher bakery preserving the neighborhood’s traditional Jewish-bakery repertoire. The move is the chocolate or cinnamon babka, with rugelach, hamantaschen, black-and-white cookies, challah, rye breads, bow-tie cookies and other pastries filling out the case.

Cheap EatsGoogle 4.7 (131)$

Fries / Snacks / cheap eats

Address: 132 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (646) 370-3668

Hours: Daily 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM (Fri/Sat until 4AM)

Note: Artisan Belgian-style fries served in a cone with a massive selection of dipping sauces.

Cheap Eats$

French bistro

Address: 188 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 777-1577

Hours: Mon–Tue 5:30 PM–11:00 PM; Fri–Sat 5:30 PM–11:00 PM; Sun 5:30 PM–10:00 PM; closed Wed–Thu

Note: Tiny Lower East Side French bistro with intimate, walk-in neighborhood energy and limited seating.

$$

Empanadas / late-night snacks / cheap eats

Address: 192 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

Hours: Mon–Wed 4 PM–1:30 AM; Thu 4 PM–2:30 AM; Fri 4 PM–5 AM; Sat 12 PM–5 AM; Sun 12 PM–12 AM

Note: Lower East Side outpost for flaky baked empanadas; useful late-night Orchard Street stop.

Cheap Eats$

Korean

Address: 84 Stanton St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (929) 837-0360

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Lower East Side Korean spot from a Korean chef with French training, weaving Korean and Peruvian influences into modern banchan, drinking snacks, and shareable plates; the hanger steak is a must.

Spanish

Address: 259 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (646) 692-8300

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Basque-leaning Lower East Side restaurant at the foot of the bridges, built around pintxos, share plates, jamón, seafood, and a lively marble-bar room.

Italian

Address: 9 Stanton St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (646) 590-0609

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Lower East Side Italian restaurant with a Roman-leaning menu, handmade pastas, and a compact dining room that feels more destination than red-sauce.

Modern ItalianSelected Michelin$$$

Mediterranean Cuisine

Address: 190 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (646) 559-2856

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Lower East Side Mediterranean café-restaurant with Middle Eastern leanings, good for dips, sandwiches, rotisserie-style plates, and natural wine.

Cantonese / wontons / roast meats

Address: 165 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 477-1111

Hours: Daily 7:00 AM–10:30 PM

Note: Large-format Cantonese standby for wonton noodle soup, roast meats, seafood, banquet dishes, and BYOB group meals.

$$

Candy shop / sweets

Address: 108 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (800) 352-4544

Hours: Daily 11:00 AM–7:00 PM

Note: Family-run Lower East Side candy institution dating to 1937, packed with nostalgic sweets, imported chocolate, gummies, halvah, nuts, dried fruit, and oddball old-school finds.

$

Sandwich shop / dive bar

Address: 174 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (646) 692-4020

Hours: Sun–Thu 11:30 AM–12:00 AM; Fri–Sat 11:30 AM–2:00 AM

Note: Old-school sandwich shop and dive bar from comedian Joe DeRosa, known for stacked house sandwiches, inexpensive drinks, and 1950s-style folding TV-dinner trays used as tiny tables.

Kosher Jewish bakery / knishes / cheap eats

Address: 137 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 477-2858

Hours: Daily 10:30 AM–6:00 PM

Note: Historic Lower East Side knishery serving baked potato and kasha knishes, savory vegetable varieties, sweet cheese and fruit knishes, plus kugel, latkes, egg creams, and Lime Rickeys. The shop has operated at this Houston Street location since 1910.

Vietnamese-inspired French bistro / contemporary

Address: 137 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002

Hours: Dinner service; verify current hours and reservations on Instagram before going

Note: Busy, intimate Lower East Side bistro from chefs Sadie Mae Burns and Anthony Ha, combining Vietnamese flavors with French technique. Michelin highlights seafood vol-au-vent, leeks vinaigrette, and pho-spiced onion soup.

Thai-American smash burgers / fries / shakes

Address: 88 Essex St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (631) 526-1664

Hours: Mon–Sat 10:30 AM–7:30 PM; Sun 10:30 AM–6:00 PM

Note: Chef Bryan Chunton’s Essex Market counter folds northern Thai flavors into smash burgers. Look for the Zaab Burger, spicy larb-seasoned patties, Thai basil, jaew-style sauces, fries, and Thai tea.

BurgersCheap EatsGoogle 4.6$

Small-batch ice cream / sundaes / sandwiches

Address: 202 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 814-8757

Hours: Wed–Thu 2:00 PM–10:00 PM; Fri 2:00 PM–11:00 PM; Sat–Sun 1:00 PM–11:00 PM; Mon–Tue closed

Note: Tiny family-run parlor making nostalgic small-batch ice cream and toppings in-house; butter pecan with salted brittle is a signature, alongside mint shower, cherry vanilla, sundaes, shakes, and ice cream sandwiches.

Ice CreamGoogle 4.9 (23)$

Asian-inspired soft serve / ice cream

Address: 85B Allen St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (646) 476-6311

Hours: Sun–Wed noon–11:00 PM; Thu–Sat noon–12:00 AM

Note: Original 2016 Lower East Side shop specializing in ube, black sesame, matcha, and other Asian-inspired soft serve and scoops with mochi and crunchy toppings. Additional NYC locations include Kips Bay, Chinatown, Flushing, Downtown Brooklyn, and Long Island City.

Cocktail-inspired soft serve / ice cream

Address: 66 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002

Hours: Tue–Fri 3:30 PM–11:00 PM; Sat 1:00 PM–11:00 PM; Sun 1:00 PM–9:00 PM; Mon closed

Note: Playful soft-serve counter from the Double Chicken Please team, translating drinks and savory ideas into rotating flavors such as Dirty Martini, Waldorf Salad, Japanese Cold Noodle, and Lychee en Rose.

Ice CreamGoogle 4.7 (14)$$

Jewish-American bakery / bialys / pastries / cheap eats

Address: 1 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 837-2963

Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–3:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; Sat–Sun 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

Note: Zoë Kanan’s tiny Lower East Side bakery, opened with the Court Street Grocers/S&P Lunch team, reworks old-school Jewish-American baking with sharp modern technique. Start savory with the onion or smoked-whitefish bialy, potato-sauerkraut knish, schmaltz-scallion pocket, or hand-shaped sweet-potato pretzel; the challah honey bun, rugelach, chocolate babka, and caraway-rye palmier cover the sweet side. On weekends, seasonal doughnuts join the case and can sell out early, so go in the morning if doughnuts are the mission. Pair the whitefish bialy with the distinctive kasha latte if you want the full experience. Seating is extremely limited, and popular items can sell out.

DonutsCheap EatsGoogle 4.6 (257)$

Cooking school / immersive dining / private events

Address: 193 Henry St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 673-8184

Hours: Tue 12:00 PM–9:30 PM; Wed–Fri 12:00 PM–12:00 AM; Sat–Mon 12:00 PM–10:00 PM

Note: Chef-owner Abigail Hitchcock’s Lower East Side cooking school and event space, best known for its long-running Dinners in the Dark: a four-course blindfolded meal paired with unlimited wine. Hands-on classes range from pasta, Thai and French cooking to steakhouse menus, knife skills and wine-focused sessions.

Austrian / schnitzel / spätzle / beer

Address: 79 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 219-9545

Hours: Mon–Tue 5:00–10:00 PM; Wed–Thu 11:30 AM–3:30 PM & 5:00–10:00 PM; Fri 11:30 AM–3:30 PM & 5:00–11:00 PM; Sat noon–3:30 PM & 5:00–11:00 PM; Sun noon–3:30 PM & 5:00–10:00 PM

Note: Long-running Lower East Side Austrian tavern for Wiener schnitzel, Jägerschnitzel with spätzle, goulash, house sausages, Austrian wine, and Bavarian beer.

Mexican / birria / late night

Address: 127 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (646) 707-3883

Hours: Sun–Thu 11:00 AM–midnight; Fri 11:00 AM–3:00 AM; Sat 11:00 AM–3:30 AM

Note: Compact Lower East Side birria specialist for beef tacos, quesabirria, consommé, tostadas and burritos, with especially useful late-night hours on weekends.

Chinese skewers / street food / late night / cash only

Address: 246 Grand St, New York, NY 10002

Hours: Daily about 5:30 PM–1:00 AM; weather and cart schedule can vary

Note: Late-night charcoal skewer cart grilling lamb, beef, pork belly, chicken gizzards, mushrooms and bacon-wrapped scallops to order. Bring cash and expect the schedule to be weather-dependent.

Street FoodGoogle 4.9 (312)Cheap EatsCash Only$

Tex-Mex / lounge / nightlife

Address: 122–124 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 475-2126

Hours: Mon closed; Tue–Thu & Sun 5:00 PM–10:00 PM; Fri–Sat 5:00 PM–4:00 AM

Note: Lower East Side restaurant and lounge built around an immersive cave-inspired interior. Come for Tex-Mex plates and cocktails early; Friday and Saturday turn into a late-night scene with DJs, dancing and music until 4:00 AM.

Jewish / Roumanian steakhouse / supper-club

Address: 112 Stanton St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (646) 410-2427

Hours: Sun 4:00 PM–10:00 PM; Mon–Tue closed; Wed–Thu 5:00 PM–10:00 PM; Fri–Sat 5:00 PM–11:30 PM

Note: The Lower East Side institution is back in a new Stanton Street home with the old Sammy’s spirit intact: tableside chopped liver, schmaltz, Romanian-style steaks and chops, frozen bottles of vodka, live music, shtick and spontaneous hora dancing. It is as much a Jewish supper-club party as it is a steakhouse.

SteakhouseGoogle 4.3 (485)$$$$

NoHo

Mexican

Address: 372 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: NoHo all-day Mexican spot from the Cosme team, known for lighter breakfast/lunch plates, tostadas, and polished casual service.

$$$

Indonesian / Padang-style

Address: 22 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (917) 388-3908

Hours: Mon–Thu 5:30 PM–9:00 PM; Fri dinner 5:00 PM–10:00 PM; Sat brunch noon–3:00 PM, cocktails 3:00 PM–5:00 PM, dinner 5:00 PM–10:00 PM; Sun brunch noon–3:00 PM, cocktails 3:00 PM–5:00 PM, dinner 5:00 PM–9:00 PM

Note: NoLIta sibling to Wayan from Cédric and Ochi Vongerichten, built around Padang-style Indonesian sharing: small bowls of sambal, gulai curry, rice, seafood, vegetables, pickles, and crisp crackers arrive family-style across the table.

Japanese

Address: 292 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (646) 669-9946

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: NoHo yakitori counter from the Torishiki lineage, focused on charcoal-grilled chicken skewers and precise omakase pacing.

SoHo

Italian deli / sandwiches

Address: 105 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 334-5179

Hours: Mon–Sat 11:30 AM–4:00 PM; Sun closed

Note: Tiny original Alidoro sandwich counter, open since 1986, for Italian meats and cheeses on fresh bread. The Pinocchio layers prosciutto, mozzarella, peppers, arugula, mushroom paste and heat into one of the signature builds.

Heroes & SubsGoogle 4.4 (315)$$

French brasserie / SoHo institution

Address: 80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 965-1414

Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 AM; Sat–Sun 9:00 AM–12:00 AM

Note: Keith McNally’s bustling SoHo brasserie remains one of downtown’s defining dining rooms. The current lunch and dinner menus feature chicken liver mousse with Ruby Port, crispy onion and grilled baguette; other signatures include onion soup gratinée, steak frites, raw-bar platters, escargots and the bakery’s breads and pastries.

French / Southern French bistro

Address: 558 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 925-3061

Hours: Sun–Thu 4:00 PM–10:00 PM; Fri–Sat 4:00 PM–11:00 PM

Note: Intimate Southern French bistro with serious foie gras credentials: the regular menu offers both foie gras au torchon and seared foie gras, along with cassoulet, rabbit in mustard sauce, duck breast and tournedos Rossini. BYOB remains available Sun–Thu with no corkage fee.

Bakery / café

Address: 239 Centre St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 226-0700

Hours: Daily 7:30 AM–6:00 PM

Note: Quaint bakery-café for breakfast, lunch, coffee, and pastries; a calmer SoHo stop when the city is doing city things.

$

Japanese / Sushi / Hand rolls

Address: 140 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (646) 707-0301

Hours: Mon–Thu 5:00 PM–10:30 PM; Fri 5:00 PM–11:30 PM; Sat noon–11:30 PM; Sun noon–10:30 PM

Note: SoHo / West Village hand-roll bar that started as NYC’s first hand-roll bar in 2015; go for Domokase, hand rolls, sushi, small plates, sake, and polished date-night energy.

Contemporary fine dining

Address: 285 W Houston St, New York, NY 10014

Phone: (347) 213-9073

Hours: Tue–Thu 5:30 PM–9:30 PM; Fri–Sat 5:30 PM–9:30 PM; Sat lunch 12:00 PM–2:30 PM

Note: Chef Flynn McGarry’s Hudson Square restaurant with seasonal, California-influenced contemporary cooking and both à la carte and tasting-menu formats.

Italian

Address: 234 Spring St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (646) 952-0828

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: SoHo Italian restaurant from the Estela family, strong for polished pastas, vegetables, crudo, and a downtown scene without going full tasting-menu.

Modern ItalianSelected Michelin$$$

Sourdough bakery / cinnamon rolls

Address: 30 Vandam St, New York, NY 10013

Hours: Preorder/drop schedule only; subscribe or check social for cinnamon-roll drops

Note: Preorder-only SoHo sourdough bakery/ghost-kitchen operation known for big sourdough cinnamon rolls; pickup is inside Nimbus at 30 Vandam.

$

Gelato / Italian sweets

Address: 195 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (914) 355-0622

Hours: Daily 8:00 AM–10:00 PM

Note: Italian gelato shop making fresh daily gelato, sorbet, crepes, coffee, and specialty flavors.

Ice Cream$

American / nostalgic steakhouse-adjacent

Address: 475 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 271-9240

Hours: Daily 5:00 PM–11:00 PM

Note: Buzzy SoHo American spot from Catch Hospitality at Houston and West Broadway, leaning into polished nostalgia: lobster-and-caviar rolls, five-cheese pizza rolls, Caesar with cream-cheese croquettes, Wagyu French dip, steakhouse cuts, and martini-service theatrics.

$$$

Historic tavern / burgers / American pub food

Address: 326 Spring St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 226-9060

Hours: Check the official site before going.

Note: One of Manhattan’s oldest continuously operating bars, with a deeply old-New-York room and a reliably strong tavern burger alongside wings, sandwiches, and pints.

BurgersGoogle 4.6$$

Modern Italian / Provençal / SoHo

Address: 323 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (646) 964-4641

Hours: Sun–Mon noon–3:30 PM and 5:30–10:00 PM; Tue–Wed noon–3:30 PM and 5:30–10:30 PM; Thu noon–3:30 PM and 5:30–11:00 PM; Fri–Sat noon–3:30 PM and 5:30–11:30 PM

Note: SoHo restaurant blending Italian Riviera and Provençal influences with a contemporary New York dining-room feel; expect handmade pasta, truffles, seafood and polished Mediterranean plates.

Modern ItalianGoogle 4.3 (1,041)$$$

NoLita

Italian deli / sandwiches

Address: 198 Mott St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 226-6378

Hours: Mon–Sat 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Sun closed

Note: Old-school Mott Street bakery and deli where the bread is half the point. The Dennis—chicken cutlet, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and roasted peppers—is the cult order, alongside classic Italian and chicken-parm heroes.

Heroes & SubsCash OnlyGoogle 4.8 (648)$$

Yeasted donuts / coffee

Address: 23 Cleveland Pl, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (917) 388-2240

Hours: Mon–Thu & Sun 10:00 AM–8:00 PM; Fri–Sat 10:00 AM–10:00 PM

Note: Montreal-born doughnut shop with Queens roots, frying and glazing soft yeasted doughnuts on site throughout the day. Grab a classic glazed to judge the dough, then branch into crème brûlée, Dubai chocolate, Ferrero Rocher and other decorated flavors.

DonutsCheap EatsGoogle 4.8 (238)$

Italian-American / red sauce

Address: 55 E Houston St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 274-8881

Hours: Daily lunch and dinner service; verify current hours before going.

Note: Old-school NoLita / Houston Street Southern Italian and Italian-American red-sauce classic dating to 1956, known for pasta, chicken parm, pollo Emilio, clams oreganata, cannoli, celebrity-wall atmosphere, and a wait-outside, no-frills downtown scene.

Old-School ItalianSelected Michelin$$$

Contemporary

Address: 265 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 219-0764

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: NoLita restaurant with New Zealand roots that has evolved into a global, produce-forward tasting-menu/à-la-carte hybrid; a good pick for refined downtown dining without Midtown stiffness.

Cheesecake / bakery / cheap eats

Address: 17 Cleveland Place, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 966-5585

Hours: Sun–Thu 11:00 AM–7:00 PM; Fri–Sat 11:00 AM–8:00 PM

Note: Tiny beloved cheesecake shop for classic New York cheesecake and mini cheesecakes; expect lines and limited room inside.

Cheap Eats$

Coffee / Italian café / cheap eats

Address: 202B Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012

Hours: Daily 8:00 AM–5:30 PM

Note: Tiny NoLita Italian-style coffee bar known for salted brown-butter oat latte on tap, espresso drinks, matcha, pastries, and quick café snacks.

Cheap Eats$

Mediterranean / Tel Avivian

Address: 371 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (646) 590-6800

Hours: Lunch Tue–Fri 11:30 AM–4:00 PM; dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 PM–11:00 PM, Fri 5:00 PM–12:00 AM, Sat 5:30 PM–12:00 AM, Sun 5:00 PM–10:00 PM; brunch Sat–Sun 10:30 AM–4:00 PM

Note: Nolita Mediterranean/Tel Avivian spot from the corner of Broome and Mott. Go for the steak frites with creamy black-peppercorn sauce, warm hummus, schnitzel, harissa burger, brunch, and cocktails; there is also an Upper East Side sibling.

$$

Italian / Live-fire

Address: 194 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 965-9511

Hours: Sun–Thu 5:00 PM–9:00 PM; Fri–Sat 5:00 PM–10:00 PM

Note: Beloved NoLita Italian restaurant opened in 1999 by Frank DeCarlo and now led by chef Marc Forgione, centered on live-fire and wood-fired cooking, handmade pastas, seasonal ingredients, whole-animal feasts, and an all-Italian wine list.

Modern ItalianGoogle 4.5 (819)$$$

Thai-American fast-casual / chicken fingers / chicken burger

Address: 203 Mott St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (646) 360-2314

Hours: Sun–Thu 11:00 AM–9:00 PM; Fri–Sat 11:00 AM–10:00 PM

Note: NoLita takeout counter from the Thai Diner team. Order the fried Muay Thai chicken fingers with red chili nam jim, served with a coconut-scallion Mommy Cake; the Mommy Royale chicken burger is a NYTimes burger pick. Curry-puff mozzarella bites, som tum slaw, tropical drinks, and taro tapioca donuts round out the menu.

American / live-fire cooking / wine

Address: 174 Mott St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 452-1248

Hours: Tue–Fri 5:30 PM–10:00 PM; Sat 5:00 PM–10:00 PM; closed Sun–Mon

Note: Fire-driven downtown restaurant from chef Andy Quinn and sommelier Cedric Nicaise, built around expressive American cooking, locally sourced ingredients, and a serious wine program. Expect oysters and other seafood alongside smoked, roasted, and grilled meat and vegetable dishes.

Old-school Italian-American / thin-crust pizza / pasta

Address: 235 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 965-0500

Hours: Daily 11:00 AM–11:00 PM

Note: Cozy Nolita Italian-American institution known for super-thin family-recipe pies, including the Tie-Dye, alongside vodka-sauce pasta, meatballs, eggplant parm and other red-sauce staples.

Old-School ItalianPizzaWhole PieGoogle 4.6 (7,388)$$

Tribeca

American / Brunch / Pancakes

Address: 120 Hudson St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 219-0666

Hours: Daily 8:00 AM–10:00 PM; weekend brunch is walk-in only 8:00 AM–3:40 PM; kitchen closes daily between 3:45 PM and 4:30 PM

Note: Tribeca institution opened in 1990 for from-scratch American comfort food. Go for the James Beard or 1890 sourdough pancakes, pancake flight, fried chicken & pancakes, flaky buttermilk biscuits, and homemade pies.

Japanese / Sushi

Address: 75 Barclay St., New York, NY 10007

Phone: (347) 213-1993

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Tribeca omakase counter listed in the Michelin Guide; added from the official all-restaurants directory.

American / Burger

Address: 33 Cortlandt Alley, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (646) 350-2429

Hours: Daily 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM

Note: Famous Chicago import known for its decadent double cheeseburger and fried bologna sandwich.

Burgers$$

Contemporary, caviar tasting

Address: 323A Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013

Phone: 212-931-4876

Hours: Wed–Sun 5:00 PM–8:30 PM; closed Mon–Tue

Note: Michelin-starred contemporary tasting-menu restaurant inside Marky’s Caviar in Tribeca, led by chef Buddha Lo and centered on seasonal fine dining with a caviar-shop backdrop.

Japanese, Sushi

Address: 69 Leonard St., New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 404-4600

Hours: Check official site/reservations before going

Note: One-MICHELIN-star Edomae-style sushi counter; status deserves a pre-trip check after a reported late-2025 fire/closure notice.

Sushi$$$$$

Japanese, Sushi

Address: 20 Warren St, New York, NY 10007

Phone: (646) 649-3415

Hours: Omakase seating varies; check official/Tock reservations before going.

Note: Michelin-starred sushi/omakase counter in Tribeca with a high-end Japanese tasting-menu focus.

Sushi Michelin$$$$$

Contemporary

Address: 77 Worth St., New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 226-1444

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Tribeca two-star tasting counter known for a moody, immersive room, highly technical seasonal courses, and a beverage program built for a full-night fine-dining splurge.

Japanese

Address: 412 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 542-3896

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Tribeca Japanese tasting-menu restaurant focused on refined, seasonal courses in a small-format dining room.

Thai chophouse / Thai / steak

Address: 345 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (516) 693-0720

Hours: Mon–Thu 11:30 AM–3:00 PM and 4:30 PM–10:00 PM; Fri–Sat 11:30 AM–3:00 PM and 4:30 PM–10:30 PM; Sun 11:30 AM–3:00 PM and 4:30 PM–9:30 PM

Note: Tribeca Thai chophouse from the Pure Thai Cookhouse orbit, pairing bold Thai flavors with chophouse-style plates like dry-aged ribeye, pork chop, whole fish, curries, noodles, and cocktails.

SteakhouseGoogle 4.8$$

Contemporary

Address: 1 White St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (646) 398-7679

Hours: Check the restaurant’s official site before going.

Note: Tribeca townhouse restaurant tied to Rigor Hill Farm, with a farm-driven tasting menu upstairs and a more flexible neighborhood à la carte setup downstairs.

Classic Tribeca tavern / burgers / American

Address: 16 N Moore St, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 941-0142

Hours: Check the official site before going.

Note: Long-running corner tavern with pressed-tin ceilings, a lived-in bar, and a classic pub burger that remains a neighborhood benchmark.

BurgersGoogle 4.5$$