Places to Eat & Drink in New York City: My 9 Favorite Places

New York City's greatness lies in its ever-growing, diverse population, which brings not only unique cultures and traditions from all over the world but also exotic foods and cuisines, making NYC one of the best cities in the world for foodies. There are so many great restaurants and bars in NYC that it's impossible to list and rank them all.

So, I’m going to focus on some of my favorite places to eat and drink in the city, all of which were recommended by my local friends as well as my own personal opinion, based on my experience traveling the world for more than a decade, sampling all sorts of food, and my personal Thai taste buds (tasty, and sometimes spicy-focused 😉). Without further ado, here are my 9 favorite places to eat and drink in NYC:

For more things to do in New York City, check out:15 Incredible Things to Do in New York City for Solo Travelers

Table of Contents

NYC Restaurants and Cafes Map
9 Best Places to Eat and Drink in NYC
Further Reading for Northeast USA

NYC Restaurants and Cafes Map

9 Best Places to Eat and Drink in NYC

1. Get Tacos from Los Tacos No. 1

Los Tacos No. 1 is one of my all-time favorite spots in NYC. It’s the place to get a proper taco in New York, featuring a fast-paced environment, standing tables, and a simple menu that even your grandmother could navigate. And of course, it serves some of the most delicious tacos in the city.

To order, simply go up to the counter, choose whether you want chicken or beef tacos, and decide how many you'd like. Then, pay and get your receipt. After that, hand your receipt to the cook and let them know which tortilla you prefer, flour or corn, and they’ll prepare your tacos right there and then.

I’ve been there so many times, I’ve lost count. My favorites are two beef tacos, one chicken, all on flour tortillas, of course. Just three tacos, with unlimited access to guacamole and sliced tomatoes, and you’ve got yourself a proper, fulfilling meal. The restaurant is open from 11 AM to 10 PM every day and one taco will set you back about 5 USD. If you love tacos, I highly recommend Los Tacos No. 1.

2. Have Breakfast at Morning Star Cafe

If you're craving a proper American diner-style breakfast, you'll love Morning Star Cafe, a 24-hour diner located on 2nd Avenue. They serve the usual American breakfast fare, from a wide variety of omelettes to bagels and more.

They also serve generous portions, so you’re sure to have a fulfilling meal when you’re here. You can enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, though they only offer a breakfast menu. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I just want to let you know in case you expect a lunch/dinner menu. Personally, I love breakfast food and could eat it all day long!

3. Taste Proper Spicy Noodle at Xi'an Famous Foods

If you're craving Chinese food, you might want to check out Xi'an Famous Foods, a New York take on the deliciously spicy Chinese noodles with Mala sauce that will satisfy any spice craving like no other dish can.

They've only recently opened, but Xi'an Famous Foods has quickly become a hit among New Yorkers, with multiple branches now across the city. Their hand-pulled noodles are unique in both taste and texture, and they’re generous with both portion sizes and prices, starting at just 8 USD. For a meal, that’s a rarity in NYC!

With several branches across the city, Xi'an Famous Foods typically operate from 11 AM to 9 PM. If you love spicy food, be sure to give it a try!

4. Try Street Food at Adel's Famous Halal Food

New York City is also famous for its food carts, which can be found on almost every corner at all hours. They typically offer classic street food items like hot dogs, kebabs, and a variety of other quick bites that are perfect for enjoying on the go. The best one is Adel's Famous Halal Food, located on 6th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.

This food cart offers a diverse selection of halal street food, from gyros and falafel to hot dogs and more. They're open from 6 PM to 4 AM on weekdays and until 5 AM on weekends, making it the perfect spot to grab a bite after a night out. If you're ever hungry in the middle of the night, don't worry - places like this ensure you'll never go hungry.

5. Get Bagel From Absolute Bagels

There's a saying that goes, "There's something in the water in NYC that makes their bagels so delicious." It sounds as silly as it is, but after tasting many, many bagels here, I'm starting to believe it! If you're looking for a truly authentic NY-style bagel, I recommend checking out Absolute Bagels, located on Broadway, just a few blocks from the northern tip of Central Park.

This place comes highly recommended by my friends Heiley and Kiko, who have lived in NYC for many years. They claim it has the best hand-rolled, homemade bagels in the city. The shop offers a simple and fast selection of bagels topped with generous amounts of cream cheese, just the way I like it!

Their bagels start at $2.50 USD for a simple buttered bagel and go up to $5.50 USD for breakfast options like lox spread or bacon and cheddar, extremely affordable for a city like New York. If you're looking for a fantastic bagel spot to try in NYC, you can't go wrong with Absolute Bagels. They're open daily from 6 AM to 7 PM.

6. Eat Authentic Street Food at Smorgasburg

If you happen to be around Lower Manhattan on a Friday, you are going to want to check out Smorgasburg, an authentic street food market at the World Trade Center, where you can sample authentic and exotic food like the Lebanese-inspired shawarmas, Indonesian rice bowls, and more.

The market is usually set up on Fulton Street, between Church and Greenwich Streets, right next to the Oculus at the World Trade Center. It gets quite busy in the afternoon as visitors to the World Trade Center stop by for lunch. The food sold here is strictly to-go, but you should have no trouble finding seating near the Oculus shopping center.

Nothing highlights New York City's greatness more than its incredibly diverse cuisine, and Smorgasburg at the World Trade Center is the perfect example. This vibrant food market operates exclusively on Fridays, from 11 AM to 6 PM. If you’re planning to visit the World Trade Center or the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, make sure to stop by Smorgasburg for a delicious culinary experience.

7. Have a Lovely Meal at Freemans

Here’s a little hidden gem for you, if you are looking for a lovely and cozy place to eat in NYC, I highly recommend Freemans, a rustic, Colonial American-inspired tavern restaurant located at the end of Freeman Alley on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side, an area full of graffiti that’s constantly changing, an attraction in itself. Huge thanks to my local friend Danielle, who introduced me to the place.

The restaurant serves American-inspired dishes at two different times: brunch/lunch from 11 AM to 3 PM, with typical offerings like French Toast and English Breakfast. In the evening, from 5 PM to 11 PM, they serve a full-course meal, including appetizers, a variety of entrees, sides, and desserts.

While they're not cheap, Freemans is still an awesome spot to hang out with friends if you're looking for a cozy vibe, whether during the day or at night. Be sure to spend some time checking out the amazing graffiti along the alleyway, it’s ever-changing and adds to the charm of the place.

8. Enjoy a Drink at Madam Mikette's

For a chic and cozy dining experience that combines French-inspired elegance with a vibrant, modern twist, Madam Mikette's, located at 987 Second Avenue, is a true gem. Its beautifully decorated interior brings a warm, Parisian-style ambiance to New York City.

The menu offers dishes like ricotta pancakes, shakshuka, and steak & eggs for brunch (available only on weekends), while for dinner (available daily), they serve options such as crispy fish tacos, a juicy Madam burger, and Maine lobster pot pie. They also feature a creative cocktail menu with drinks like the "Strange Interlude", "Penicillin", and more.

I went here for a drink with my friend Taylor, and it was awesome. The music wasn’t too loud, so we could talk, and the street-side seats were perfect for people-watching. If you're looking for a great bar to hang out at night in Midtown East, be sure to check out Madam Mikette's. They’re open from 2 PM to 4 AM on weekdays and 11 AM to 4 AM on weekends.

9. Get the $1.50 Pizza at $1.50 Fresh Pizza

Of course, when you’re in New York City, you have to grab the famous $1 pizza – although, due to inflation, it’s now called $1.50 Fresh Pizza 😅. The unique thing about NYC pizza is how large the slices are. When pizza was first introduced in New York, not many people could afford a whole pie.

To attract more customers, restaurants began making the slices bigger and selling them individually. And that’s how the classic New York-style pizza was born! While there are many places like this in NYC, my personal favorite is $1.50 Fresh Pizza in Midtown Manhattan.

If you want to try New York-style pizza, be sure to give $1.50 Fresh Pizza a go. They are open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 AM every day, and they only accept cash.

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: For buses, I always go with Busbud when traveling in New York City, United States of America while for trains, Omio is my go-to place to book all my train travels in advance.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Klook is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.