Food Tips for New York

Look, here's the deal with Times Square — Every single restaurant is a tourist trap charging $25 for mediocre pasta that wouldn't pass for food anywhere else. You want real NYC? Hit up an actual deli where half the customers are union guys arguing about the Yankees and the other half are complaining about the weather. That's authentic New York right there.

2nd Ave Deli has two locations and they haven't sold out to the tourist hordes yet. The original spot at 162 East 33rd Street (right by the 33rd Street 6 train exit) and the Upper East Side location at 1442 First Avenue at 75th Street (near the 77th Street 6 stop). Family-owned since 1954, same pastrami recipe, zero compromises.

Their pastrami sandwich runs $22.95 — Yeah, it's not cheap, but you're getting a pound of meat hand-sliced to order on fresh rye bread. Compare that to $35 for garbage chain food in Times Square and it's a steal. Plus you'll actually see real New Yorkers eating there, not just confused tourists taking selfies.

Pro tip: Order it lean if you don't want a heart attack, or fatty if you want the full experience. Either way, get a Dr. Brown's soda and a pickle on the side. That's how we do it here.

Look, here's the thing about Smorgasburg — It's this massive weekend food market at East River State Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and it's either food paradise or tourist hell depending on when you show up. 90+ vendors doing everything from Korean BBQ tacos to artisanal ice cream sandwiches, but timing is everything.

You absolutely have to get there before 1pm or you'll be standing in lines for 45 minutes just to order a $12 sandwich. After 1pm it turns into a complete zoo — Think Coachella but for ramen burgers. Get there at 11am opening and you can actually walk around without getting trampled.

Must-tries: Olmsted fried chicken sandwich ($12) — Crispy as hell and worth the hype. The famous ramen burger ($15) which honestly is more Instagram than flavor but whatever. Skip the fancy ice cream lines and go straight to whatever dessert vendor has the shortest wait — They're all overpriced anyway.

Getting there: L train to Bedford Avenue, then it's a 10-minute walk through hipster central to East River State Park. Runs April through November, Saturdays 11am-6pm. Entry is $5 weekends (free weekdays). Bring cash — Half these vendors still think it's 1995. Budget $40-50 total if you want to try multiple things without going broke.

Katz's deli at 205 east houston street is exactly the kind of authentic nyc institution tourists should seek out instead of times square garbage but honestly the main line is absolutely brutal on weekends sometimes 90 minutes for a sandwich. Here's the secret every new yorker knows: walk straight to the takeout window on the right side of the building

Same exact hand carved pastrami sandwich $28.95 same legendary rye bread same everything but you skip that insane sit down line completely. Eat it standing at the metal counter like a proper new yorker or grab it to go and walk 2 blocks to seward park. The mustard they give you is insanely good trust me

Timing matters get there before 1pm or after 3:30pm to avoid peak lunch chaos. Weekday mornings around 11am are perfect honestly. Dont lose that little paper ticket they give you or they charge you $50 exit fee no joke

Pro move order the pastrami rub instead of lean its fattier and way more flavor. Add pickles theyre free and honestly better than most restaurants entire appetizer menu

The night reveals a different New York, one where the best meals happen when most of the world sleeps. When midnight strikes and hunger calls, forget the golden arches - this city serves up something far more intoxicating.

Gray's Papaya at 2090 Broadway glows like a beacon until 4am, serving $2.50 hot dogs and their legendary papaya drink that somehow tastes like liquid sunshine at 2am. The fluorescent lighting and late night characters create a scene straight from a Scorsese film. Three blocks away, Joe's Pizza on Carmine Street keeps the ovens burning until 2am most nights - their coal oven pizza hits different when the streets belong to insomniacs and artists.

For something with more atmosphere, slip into Veselka at 144 Second Avenue in the East Village. This Ukrainian sanctuary serves until 4am on weekends, where pierogi and borscht become poetry in the hands of night shift cooks. The crowd at 2am tells stories - half emerging artists, half souls transitioning between one day and the next.

When you want to elevate the evening, The Breslin at the Ace Hotel on 29th Street transforms into something magical after midnight. They serve until 2am weekdays, 3am weekends - late night oysters and cocktails in a space that feels like a secret speakeasy where the night is just beginning, not ending.

Everyone talks about Joe's Pizza at 7 Carmine Street in Greenwich Village like it's some sacred NYC institution, and while it's decent for a quick slice, the real pizza pilgrimage happens at Prince Street Pizza on 27 Spring Street in Nolita, where actual New Yorkers queue up for those legendary pepperoni squares 🍕

Here's the breakdown: Prince Street's pepperoni square slice runs $5.25, but those cupped pepperoni circles create little pools of spicy oil that'll ruin every other pizza for you. The crust has this perfect char-to-chew ratio, and their sauce has actual depth — Sweet San Marzano tomatoes with just enough oregano. Meanwhile, Joe's charges $3.50 for cheese that's fine but lacks the artisanal touch.

The difference is in the details: Prince Street uses a coal oven that hits 900°F, creating those signature leopard spots on the crust. They hand-cup each pepperoni piece so it curls during baking. Joe's cranks out consistently decent slices on deck ovens. Sure, Joe's is fine if you're stumbling around drunk at 2am, but if you want to understand why New Yorkers are obsessive about pizza, Prince Street is your education.

Pro tip: Hit Prince Street around 2pm on weekdays to avoid the lunch rush. The weekend lines stretch around the block for good reason.

We discovered Grand Central Oyster Bar completely by accident. It's literally in the basement of Grand Central Terminal, which sounds sketchy but it's been there since 1913.

$1.50 oysters 4-7pm weekdays only. We ordered 24 oysters and a beer for $40 total. The vaulted tile ceiling is stunning and you can hear train announcements echoing above.

Pro tip: Show up right at 4pm to snag counter seats. The dining room fills fast with commuters grabbing drinks before their Metro-North trains back to Westchester.

BonChon at 325 5th Ave near 32nd Street stays open until 4am and serves the best Korean fried chicken in the city. Their soy garlic wings are incredible and they deliver until 3:30am through their own app.

If BonChon is too crowded, Mad for Chicken at 37 W 32nd Street is open until 2am. Both are way better than random pizza slices at 2am. All of Koreatown stays lively late — Lots of karaoke spots open past midnight too.

Take N/Q/R/W to Herald Square, walk east on 32nd Street. The whole strip between Broadway and 5th Avenue is perfect for late night wandering.

Most nyc brunch spots cruelly stop serving at 3pm which is torture for people who dont wake up until 1pm on weekends. But Jacob's Pickles on Amsterdam Avenue (upper west side near Columbia) gets it

They serve brunch until 4pm weekends and the buttermilk fried chicken with pickles is worth the vampire schedule. Take the 1 train to 86th street and walk two blocks. Lines move fast after 3pm because normal people gave up

Also nom wah tea parlor on doyers street in chinatown serves dim sum until 9pm. Pork and chive dumplings with jasmine tea is way more interesting than another boring eggs benedict anyway

Penn Station food is overpriced garbage and you know it. Walk north to 32nd Street between 5th and Broadway — That's Koreatown.

Madangsui for Korean BBQ, Her Name is Han for fried chicken, Jongro BBQ for late night. All within 2 blocks and half the price of Penn Station.

Plus you get actual good food instead of stale Sbarro. Takes 5 minutes from the platforms.

So lombardis at 32 spring street claims to be americas first pizzeria and the pizza is actually pretty good but omg the weekend waits are absolutely insane

Went on Saturday at 1pm and waited 2 hours for a $28 large pie. Same exact pizza on Tuesday at 5pm? Walked right in. Weekday evenings are the move if you really want to try this place

Honestly though there are so many good pizza places in nyc that waiting 2 hours for any slice seems ridiculous unless youre really into the historical aspect

Look, stop paying $15-20 for hotel continental breakfast. Any bodega makes fresh breakfast sandwiches for $3.50-4.50. Bacon egg and cheese on a roll is the classic. They'll ask salt pepper ketchup — Say yes to all.

Corner of 8th Ave and 23rd St (near C/E train), or Broadway and 14th St (near Union Square). Both open 6am, cash or card accepted. Way better than Starbucks $8 sandwiches.

Total breakfast cost including coffee from same bodega: $5.50 vs hotel's $20.

Everyone sends tourists to ess-a-bagel on 3rd ave but honestly its become tourist trap with mediocre bagels and long lines. For real nyc bagel experience head to brooklyn.

Brooklyn bagel & coffee co in sheepshead bay - take b or q to kings highway, 5 min walk to 2868 nostrand ave. Dozen bagels around $14-18, fresh daily, where actual new yorkers go. Everything with scallion cream cheese is perfection.

Open 6:30am-3pm (hours vary by location), cash preferred but take cards. Way more authentic neighborhood vibe trust me

152 W 49th St. Actual Japanese drinking food, not California rolls. Grilled mackerel $14, chicken karaage $12, excellent sake selection from $8/glass.

Tiny space, cash only, feels like a Tokyo neighborhood spot. The grilled fish is cooked properly — Most places overcook it. Open until midnight weekdays and 2am weekends which is rare for good Japanese in Midtown.

🍶 Try junmai sake if you're new to it. Clean, not too sweet.

Everyone knows clinton street baking and jacks wife freda but weekend waits on the lower east side are insane. Same places on wednesday mornings? Walk right in.

Or find spots equally good but less hyped. Sunday in brooklyn (williamsburg) has better ricotta pancakes than clinton street honestly. Take the l train to bedford avenue. French louie in boerum hill does solid brunch with backyard seating.

Most weekend brunch places serve identical menus friday mornings without crowds. Just wake up before noon for once (easier said than done in this city).

Ignore anyone who says dollar pizza isn't good. Is it gourmet? No. Is it a hot greasy slice at 2am for a dollar? Yes. That's the whole point. There are still a bunch of spots in Manhattan.

Restaurant week sounds amazing but trust me most places just serve their worst dishes at a fake discount that still costs too much. Half the restaurants arent even good and youre paying way more than necessary for mediocre food

If youre gonna do it stick to places that are normally stupid expensive like le bernardin or daniel. Those are the only ones where the $60 prix fixe actually saves you money. Avoid midrange places completely you can eat there anytime for the same price

Also watch out they add automatic gratuity and dont tell you so check your bill. Better to find those authentic cheap spots like bodegas for breakfast instead

Ippudo in East Village gets attention for ramen, but try Ramen Yashiro on 46th Street instead. Their tonkotsu is richer and there's never a wait. Sit at counter to watch them make noodles by hand.

For Japanese curry, Go Go Curry in Midtown serves thick, sweet curry that's actually popular in Japan. Nothing like Indian curry - it's comfort food. Pork katsu curry is $18 and huge.

Hidden gem: Tomoe Sushi on Thompson Street in Greenwich Village operated for over 40 years before recently closing but is reopening as Tomo21 Sushi. Cash only, no reservations, but quality is incredible when open.

Honestly chelsea market is tourist central now and the prices are insane. $16 for a lobster roll that used to be $8. Its pretty inside but youre paying manhattan rent prices for food court quality

Union square market is the actual farmers market with local vendors and reasonable prices. Go Wednesday Friday or Saturday mornings and you can get fresh bread pastries and actual farm vegetables. Plus its outside so you can eat in the park

If you want indoor food halls go to gotham west market instead. Same concept as chelsea but half the price and actual new yorkers eat there

Three locations: 4 Stuyvesant St (East Village), 494 Broome St (SoHo), and 12 E 41st St (Midtown). Real Japanese convenience store food including proper onigiri (check current pricing), Japanese curry, and things you can't get anywhere else in NYC.

Onigiri are made fresh daily. Tuna mayo and salmon are classics, but try pickled plum if you're feeling adventurous. Way better than any sushi place for quick authentic Japanese food.

Everyone obsesses over brunch but i physically cannot function before 11am so here are chinatown spots that serve food past normal cutoff times

Nom wah tea parlor on doyers street (the oldest dim sum parlor in nyc) serves until 9pm daily. Pork and shrimp har gow dumplings with jasmine tea is infinitely better than another boring eggs benedict. Take the 6 train to canal street

Also great ny noodletown on mott street stays open until 4am with full menu. Their roast duck noodle soup at 2am hits different than morning pancakes anyway