Close Icon
Gear IconImportant Reminder:The City Guide app will be sunsetting on December 15, 2024, with the web version to follow in early 2025. Please visit our FAQ to learn more or to download our Swarm app.
Learn more
30 for 30

1. Red Rooster Harlem

8.7
310 Malcolm X Blvd (btwn W 125th & W 126th St), New York, NY
Southern Food Restaurant · 552 tips and reviews

The Tastes that Make the CityThe Tastes that Make the City: The shrimp and grits is the best southern food in NYC, making our list of "The Tastes That Make the City: NYC Edition." Read more.

2. Black Seed Bagels

7.5
170 Elizabeth St (btwn Kenmare & Spring St), New York, NY
Bagel Shop · NoLita · 227 tips and reviews

T E.T E: Beet Salmon Bagel

3. The NoMad Bar

10 W 28th St (at Broadway), New York, NY
Cocktail Bar · NoMad · 252 tips and reviews

T E.T E: Chicken Pot Pie

Empellon Al Pastor is one of 30 for 30.

4. Empellon Al Pastor

8.1
132 Saint Marks Pl (at Avenue A), New York, NY
Mexican Restaurant · East Village · 121 tips and reviews

5. Roberta's Pizza

9.3
261 Moore St (at Bogart St), Brooklyn, NY
Pizzeria · East Williamsburg · 864 tips and reviews

T E.T E: Pastrami Sandwich

6. Peter Luger Steak House

8.8
178 Broadway (at Driggs Ave), Brooklyn, NY
Steakhouse · Williamsburg · 692 tips and reviews

T E.T E: Portherhouse

7. Peking Duck House

7.8
28 Mott St (btwn Mosco St & Pell St), New York, NY
Peking Duck Restaurant · Chinatown · 94 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: This Chinatown source for Peking duck is worth the splurge.

8. Veselka

8.9
144 2nd Ave (at E 9th St), New York, NY
Ukrainian Restaurant · East Village · 649 tips and reviews

DailyCandyDailyCandy: Ain't nothing like the pierogi with applesauce, served 24 hours at the NYC institution. Read more.

9. Levain Bakery

9.3
167 W 74th St (at Amsterdam Ave), New York, NY
Bakery · Upper West Side · 854 tips and reviews

The Tastes that Make the CityThe Tastes that Make the City: The chocolate chip cookie is the best cookie in NYC, making our list of "The Tastes That Make the City: NYC Edition." Read more.

10. The Spotted Pig

314 W 11th St (at Greenwich St), New York, NY
Gastropub · West Village · 838 tips and reviews

The Tastes that Make the CityThe Tastes that Make the City: The ricotta gnudi is the best gnudi in NYC, making our list of "The Tastes That Make the City: NYC Edition." Read more.

11. Bamonte's

7.6
32 Withers St (btwn Lorimer St & Union Ave), Brooklyn, NY
Italian Restaurant · Williamsburg · 69 tips and reviews

Anthony C.Anthony Croce: Have the Pork Chops with Hot vinegar peppers. Out of this world if you can take the heat.

12. The City Bakery

3 W 18th St (btwn 5th & 6th Ave), New York, NY
Bakery · Union Square · 657 tips and reviews

The Tastes that Make the CityThe Tastes that Make the City: The pretzel croissants are the best croissants in NYC, making our list of "The Tastes That Make the City: NYC Edition." Read more.

13. Raoul's

8.9
180 Prince St (btwn Thompson & Sullivan St), New York, NY
French Restaurant · SoHo · 166 tips and reviews

BLOUIN ARTINFOBLOUIN ARTINFO: This SoHo institution serves the best steak au poivre in New York. Near the back-left booth, check out the photo of art dealer Leo Castelli posing in the restaurant’s kitchen.

14. Corner Bistro

8.4
331 W 4th St (at Jane St), New York, NY
Burger Joint · 397 tips and reviews

Barrett L.Barrett Lane: The Bistro Burger is the only way to go here. You can't get a better bacon cheeseburger for the money.

Dominique Ansel Bakery is one of 30 for 30.

15. Dominique Ansel Bakery

8.8
189 Spring St (btwn Sullivan & Thompson St), New York, NY
Bakery · SoHo · 744 tips and reviews

Benny W.Benny Wong: DKA all day

16. Gray's Papaya

8.2
2090 Broadway (at W 72nd St), New York, NY
Hot Dog Joint · 246 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Classic hotdoggery. Get the recession special, two hot dogs and a drink.

Rubirosa is one of 30 for 30.

17. Rubirosa

9.2
235 Mulberry St (btwn Prince & Spring St), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · NoLita · 842 tips and reviews

Time Out New YorkTime Out New York: Try the vodka pizza, the crisp yet pliable thin-crust pies have a delicate char and a crackerlike crust. It’s one of our #100best dishes and drinks of 2011. Read more.

18. Barbuto

8.4
113 Horatio St (btwn Jane St & 12th St), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · West Village · 335 tips and reviews

The Tastes that Make the CityThe Tastes that Make the City: The roasted chicken is the best chicken in NYC, making our list of "The Tastes That Make the City: NYC Edition." Read more.

Piccolo Angolo is one of 30 for 30.

19. Piccolo Angolo

8.1
621 Hudson St (btwn Jane St & 12th St), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · West Village · 56 tips and reviews

20. El Quinto Pino

401 W 24th St (at 9th Ave), New York, NY
Wine Bar · Chelsea · 112 tips and reviews

NYC: The Official GuideNYC: The Official Guide: The uni panini here is one of the most exhilarating sandwiches ever invented—domestic sea urchin spread in a baguette with Korean hot mustard oil. Read more.

21. Porchetta

110 E 7th St (btwn Ave A & 1st Ave), New York, NY
Sandwich Spot · East Village · 124 tips and reviews

Mario B.Mario Batali: possibly my FAVORITE porchetta sandwich in the world

22. Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles 清味蘭州拉麵

8.3
1 Doyers St (btwn Bowery & Pell St), New York, NY
Noodle Restaurant · Chinatown · 170 tips and reviews

Food NetworkFood Network: Guy Fieri enjoys the Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodle, in New York, NY, on Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Find more tips at Food Network Local. Read more.

23. Breads Bakery

9.3
18 E 16th St (btwn Union Sq W & 5th Ave), New York, NY
Bakery · Union Square · 336 tips and reviews

The Tastes that Make the CityThe Tastes that Make the City: The chocolate babka is the best chocolate pastry in NYC, making our list of "The Tastes That Make the City: NYC Edition." Read more.

24. A-Wah

5 Catherine St (at Bowery), New York, NY
Chinese Restaurant · Chinatown · 30 tips and reviews

Jeremy F.Jeremy Fisher: A-wah specializes in Bo Zai Fan (rice casserole dishes). #62, the house special Chinese sausage and minced pork ($8.50), is the one to get

25. Delaney Barbecue: BrisketTown

359 Bedford Ave (btwn S 5th St & S 4th St), Brooklyn, NY
BBQ Joint · Williamsburg · 164 tips and reviews

Craig W.Craig Wilson: Get the breakfast tacos and bring them to the river to eat.. Bfast tacos are much better in the outdoors. It's their natural habitat

OOTOYA is one of 30 for 30.

26. OOTOYA

8.9
8 W 18th St (btwn 5th & 6th Ave), New York, NY
Japanese Restaurant · Union Square · 282 tips and reviews

27. Reynard

80 Wythe Ave (N 11th St), Brooklyn, NY
American Restaurant · Williamsburg · 160 tips and reviews

T E.T E: french fries and sunset cocktails

28. Pearl Oyster Bar

18 Cornelia St (btw Bleecker & W 4th), New York, NY
Seafood Restaurant · West Village · 161 tips and reviews

harryhharryh: You're getting a lobster roll right? Hell yes you are! Best lobster roll in the city.

29. Eileen's Special Cheesecake

9.0
17 Cleveland Pl (at Kenmare St), New York, NY
Bakery · SoHo · 253 tips and reviews

Ron K.Ron Keegan: THE best cheesecake in New York in a very cute little cornershop boutique!

30. Defonte's Sandwich Shop

9.2
379 Columbia St (at Luquer St), Brooklyn, NY
Sandwich Spot · Red Hook · 88 tips and reviews

T E.T E: Meatball parm like you dream about