New York City is great and I absolutely love it (but you knew that already). And as we are preparing for another trip to New York next week, I decided this was the perfect time to share with you my favourite food destinations in New York City. So, if you are wondering what to eat in New York City, this is for you.
Obviously New York has an array of delicious, cool, unusual and sometimes rather pricy restaurants. And if you are a regular on Instagram and Pinterest, I am sure you’ve seen all the pretty foods showing up in your feed. From crazy unicorn shakes to flower shaped ice-cream, pink lattes and weird burgers.
But whilst these for sure are all great and the perfect addition to your Instagram grid, this is not the food I am talking about (doesn’t mean I wouldn’t try some of it if I happen to come by). What I am talking about are my personal favourite foods in New York City. Tried, tested and approved by Mr T and I over several trips to New York (and all paid for with our own money, so whilst this is advertising by mentioning the places, I did not receive any payment or even freebies for said mentioning).
What to eat in New York City: Cheesecake at Magnolia Bakery
(various locations, our favourite is the one in the food court of Grand Central Terminal)
Whilst Magnolia Bakery might be best known for their cupcakes, our absolute favourite is their cheesecake. With 7$ each it is not exactly cheap, but worth every cent and you can easily share one between two (don’t be fooled by the size, they really are quite rich and filling).
If you aren’t really into cheesecake, go for the banana pudding instead. Whilst it took us a while to warm to it, it is now a 50/50 chance whether we’ll go for a cheesecake or banana pudding (if in doubt, just get them both).
If you have a sweet tooth, head over to ‘Girl with the Passport’ for Kelly’s ‘20 Best Dessert Places in New York City‘ (well 19, since we both recommend Magnolia Bakery … shows you just how yummy their cheesecakes are). Believe me, it’s well worth it.
What to eat in New York City: Katz’s Delicatessen
(205 E Houston St)
I’ve mentioned Katz’s Delicatessen before (Top Five Things to do in NYC), but I can only repeat myself. Go and check it out. Mr T loves their Pastrami sandwich (I am sure he occasionally dreams of it) and I can absolutely recommend their cheese steak (whilst it is very tasty, I am not much of a Pastrami sandwich kinda girl).
What to eat in New York City: Pick-a-Bagel
77th Street / Lexington Ave (there are other locations, but this is our favourite)
What would New York be without its bagels? One of our favourite spots for breakfast or lunch and a staple on each and every trip so far. They have a great selection of bagels and toppings. Our favourite is plain and simple cream cheese or chicken salad. As these bagels are proper deep filled, my advice would be to purchase one with filling and one plain and then share the filling between both bagels. Saves you some money and there is still more than enough spread on each.
What to eat in New York City: Hot Dog from Nathan’s
When it comes to street food, the hot dog surely is one of New York’s classics.
Nathan’s has been around for 100 years and you can spot their bright yellow stalls all around Manhattan. If you prefer eating whilst seated, head down to Coney Island for their restaurant on the board walk.
What to eat in New York City: Meatballs at The Meatball Shop
(several locations, we went to 200 9th Avenue)
We’ve only recently discovered this restaurant and what shall I say. It pretty much does what it says on the tin. It sells meatballs. I don’t know if they are the best meatballs in New York, but they surely are rather tasty.
To place your order you get a laminated menu and a wipe clean pen and you just tick everything you want and hand the menu back to your waitress.
What to eat in New York City: Pizza Slice at 2Bros Pizza
(several locations, we went to the one on the corner 8th Avenue / W 38th Street)
With every trip to New York, we discover new places to eat. During our most recent trip, we came across 2Bros Pizza. And whilst a pizza slice is one of those things every New York guide book recommends, somehow we’ve never had one. Probably a mistake. You can find pizza by the slice all over New York and prices can vary hugely. But this One Dollar Slice from 2Bros Pizza was enormous, cheap and rather tasty. And when I say 1$, I really mean it (as this already included sales tax for once). So perfect, in case you are visiting New York on a budget.
As I said in the beginning, this is not necessarily the Ultimate Food Guide for New York City. This is merely a run down of my favourite places and what to eat in New York City. I might add more things to this list as I discover them, we’ll see.
What are your favourites? Tell me your recommendations on what to eat in New York City!
The Champagne Mile
Yum, salivating reading this! A trip to NYC is on the cards next year, and I’ll be seeking out a pastrami sandwich at Katz’s Delicatessen 🙂
Travel for a living
You definitely should do. It is well worth it. I would advise trying to miss main lunch time though, it gets rather busy and their ordering system is a little chaotic.
stephanie
OMG I loved Pick a bagel and Meatball shop! The bagels were delish and the meatballs were so unique!
Jessica Festa
Double yes to Katz’s! My absolutely favorite for lunch 🙂
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amanda_wanders
Omg yum! Everything looks so good. I love eating my way through a new city, haha.
Erica
Yummy! Thanks for all fo the great tips! How fantastic that the meatball shop offers a veggie version 🙂
beyondthemilestravelblog
Lots of great food choices! So much delicious food in NYC!
Krista
I wish I had known these spots before I visited! They look fantastic to visit and I’ll make a note of them for my next trip.
skigrl985
I knew New York had great bagels…but I had no idea they had a Magnolia Bakery there! What a great find!
Cecilia
I’ve definitely always had Katz’s Deli on my list. NYC is such a haven for foodies with so many iconic and creative things to try. I remember when the Ramen burger was a huge thing and the cronut! Definitely had both and they were amazing haha.
Sophia Bawany
Always great to see food post and of course NY is a food mecca so there is ALWAYS someplace we havent eaten.
Charlotte
I love this post! Food is so important to me when travelling! And this has helped so much when going to NY for my 30th!
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