20 Must Eat Food In New York For First-Timers

This Classic New York Style Cheesecake is deliciously rich and tangy with a dense, smooth, and creamy flavor.

It is a custard dessert that needs careful baking in a water bath to prevent cracking and to get a perfectly creamy consistency. This is a worthy dessert that rivals the best New York delicatessens.

Where To Get? 

• Junior's Restaurant, Breads Bakery, Peter Luger, Veniero's Pasticceria & Caffe, Keki Modern Cakes, and Pasticceria Rocco.

This is one of the best pizzas with no toppings and is all about crust, sauce, and cheese.

With its crispy golden edges, gooey layer of cheese, and thick yet delicate crust, it offers a texture and taste that make you want more.

Where To Get?

• Patzeria Perfect Pizza, Rizzo's Fine Pizza, New York Pizza Suprema, Scarr's Pizza, Joe's Pizza, Posto.

This egg cream actually uses neither egg nor cream but is an old NYC drink from back in the days of soda and milkshake shops.

It is prepared using half a cup of seltzer water, half a cup of milk, and chocolate syrup blended until it dissolves.

Where To Get?

• S&P, Old John's Luncheonette, Agi's Counter, Russ & Daughters, and Brooklyn Farmacy.

New York City's best restaurants have to include Jewish Deli. Jewish Delis brings in some of the best traditional foods with mouthwatering flavors.

The rich flavor of the pile of pink cured beef served in between rye bread is pretty much the dream for foodies.

Other Places To Get?

• Katz's Delicatessen, 2nd Ave Deli, Pastrami Queen, Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner, Shelsky's of Brooklyn, Russ and Daughters.

NYC has the absolute best bagels with varieties to choose from. Get a classic with cream cheese or customizable ones; NYC bagels will not disappoint.

The city offers everything from French toast, rainbow, cheddar cheese, and Mozzarella cheese sandwich bagels.

Where To Get ?

• Brooklyn Bagels, Tompkins Square Bagels, Ess-a-Bagel, Bagel Oasis, Absolute Bagels, and Black Seed.

A healthy breakfast in NYC can be a sandwich. Available at any corner bodega, these delicacies can be a great option for fueling the day.

They are unique from other regular sandwiches because they contain eggs, deliciously fresh bread, and more meat fillings.

Where To Get?

• El Mananero del Sabor, Win Son Bakery, Harper's Bread House, Court Street Grocers, Dominican Cravings, C & B Cafe, and Frankel's Delicatessen & Appetizing.

NYC halal carts are located all over the city. You can find them near major areas such as Penn Station, Times Square, the Financial District, and Rockefeller Center.

They mostly have chicken or lamb over rice with either white or red sauce. The carts serve inexpensive fast food, especially Eastern such as kebabs, shwarmas, and rice platters.

Where To Get?

• The Halal Guys, 31st And Broadway Halal Cart, King Food/ Halal Food, Adel's Famous Halal Food, Ruzana, and Royal Grill Halal Food.

Soft Pretzels are a New York staple unique hand-twisted soft and salty, perfectly suited for a snack. It is typically eaten with grainy yellow mustard.

Soft on the inside and hard and shiny on the outside, one can't miss these quintessential street foods. 

Places To Eat?

• New York Pretzel, Old German Bakery, Philly Pretzel Factory, Breads Bakery, The Biergarten at The Standard, Billy's Hot Dog Cart, and Reichenbach Hall.

If you are visiting NY for the first time, try their authentic NYC Chinese in Chinatown or even Flushing, Queens.

New York offers a nourishing yet tasty feast from hui mei noodles, wonton soups, rice casseroles, stir-fries, and Peking duck to whole steamed fish.

Places To Eat

• Tangy Noodles, Shanghai 21, Potluck Club, Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles, Shanghai Asian Cuisine, Uncle Lou, and Fried Dumpling.

The falafel is fried balls of ground chickpeas or fava beans seasoned with herbs like parsley and cilantro with coriander and cumin spices. 

You can find them in NYC stuffed into pitas brimming with fresh veggies, herbs, sauces, and pickles.

Places To Get

• Falafel, King of Falafel, Wafa's, Nish Nush, Zizi Limona, and Kulushkät Gourmet Falafel.

Hot dogs are available at the major train stations and attractions. Many people enjoy this comfort food during the baseball game or cookouts.

They are still everyone's favorite as people can also find vegan and vegetarian versions of the hot dog, and taste good.

Where To Get?

• Schaller's Stube Sausage Bar, Hiram's, Pastrami Queen, Kings of Kobe, Crif Dogs, and Brooklyn Diner.

This spicy Jerk chicken is loaded with Caribbean flavors with a spicy Scotch bonnet marinade, perfect for grilling or baking.

This food option will satisfy your taste buds with a huge selection of spices and ingredients. It brings up the fiery heat in the form of scotch bonnet peppers.

Where To Get?

• Miss Lily's, Peppa's Jerk Chicken, The Islands, Spice Island Grill, MangoSeed, CJ Cafe Flatbush.

NYC has diverse restaurants and eateries that serve delicious fried chicken in various styles.

The quest for the perfect fried chicken is not for the faint of heart. You need evenly golden brown skin, tender, juicy meat, and a combination of crisp and crunch.

Some Places To Get

• Pies 'n' Thighs, Sweet Chick, Birds of a Feather, The Bluebell Cafe, Bonchon Chicken, and The Commodore.

These cronuts are soft and flaky pastries that taste like a donut and a croissant. They are made from croissant dough, which is fried and injected with filling.

They are prepared in quick time and taste amazing, can be ideal food options for weekend and holiday breakfasts at any NYC restaurant.

Where To Eat?

• Dominique Ansel Bakery, Angelina Bakery, Doughnut Plant, and Lafayette Ground Cafe and Bakery.

NYC is quite a vibrant city when it comes to cultural food, especially Mexican food. It offers a diverse taco scene with a wide range to choose from.

It will satisfy and fulfill all your cravings be it traditional or fusion, or different fillings that match different tastebuds.

Where to try tacos?

• Los Tacos No. 1, Empellon Taqueria, Tacombi, Taco Mix, El Vez, Jalapa Jar, Calexico, Taqueria Diana.

There is never a bad time to enjoy this comforting Southern treat in NYC. Smooth, creamy, and decadent, you can find better ways to finish any meal.

This dish consists of multiple delicious layers of vanilla water cookies, slices of fresh banana, and smooth vanilla custard, topped with freshly whipped meringue.

Some Must-Try Places

• Magnolia Bakery, Amy's Bread, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, Breads Bakery, Milk Bar, and Two Little Red Hens.

Ramel bowls are all the rage and are a total flavor bomb, filled with a rich broth, tender meat, and noodles, all topped with a seven-minute egg.

NYC has a thriving ramen scene as it offers numerous styles and savors to satisfy all your cravings.

Some Ramen Spots

• Ippudo, Ramen Lab, Totto Ramen, Cocoron, Ramen Shack, Minca Ramen, Rai Rai Ken.

The steak scene in NYC is diverse as many places build their reputation for serving the most perfectly cooked, well-seasoned, and flavorful steaks.

Whether you are looking for a classic steakhouse experience or a modern twist and fusions on steak dishes, New York City will not disappoint.

Where To Get?

• Peter Luger Steakhouse, Keens Steakhouse, Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Rocco Steakhouse, The Grill, Delmonico's, and Bowery Meat Company.

NYC restaurants here offer smoking and flavorful meats with a unique NYC twist. The BBQ spots here deliver a variety of smoked meats, sides, and sauces.

The flavor profile and style might be unique to Texas and the American South. NYC has managed to develop its own unique BBQ culture that is inspired by various styles.

Notable Places To Eat

• Hometown Bar-B-Que, Blue Smoke, John Brown Steakhouse, Fette Sau, Arrogant Swine, and Pig Beach are some must-try places.

NYC offers numerous burger types from classic cheeseburgers to gourmet creations, and even one with a classic NYC flavor.

Due to the city's diversity and food culture, it has become a hub for exploring various burger styles from around the world.

Where To Eat?

• Minetta Tavern, J.G. Melon, Paul's Da Burger Joint, B&B Empire, Bareburger, Black Iron Burger, Hard Times Sundaes, and Burger Joint are some must-try places.