What To Eat In New York City - Foods You Must Try | Melanie May

What to Eat in New York City is my insider’s guide to eating your way through NYC. These are the foods I think you must try when you visit the Big Apple.

But why listen to me? Well…

Melanie May enjoying Cereal Milk ice cream at Milk Bar in Midtown Manhattan. — Melanie May at Milk Bar

I first went to New York back in 2008 and completely fell for the place. So much so that I moved there the following year. I ended up living in a loft apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and working as a nanny for a very wealthy couple on 81st and Lexington. And yes, The Nanny Diaries is real. Every bit of it.

Since then, I’ve been back loads of times for holidays and for work as a travel writer. I’ve eaten my way around the city more times than I can count, but this isn’t one of those “50 best restaurants in NYC” kind of blog posts. You won’t find fancy tasting menus or trendy spots with queues full of influencers here.

Eat like a local in New York

Close-up of a classic New York City dollar pizza slice on a paper plate. — A quintessential New York experience

This guide is more about how to eat in New York, rather than where. It’s for people who don’t want to scroll through Google reviews while starving. It’s for people who like to follow their feet, wander the streets, and grab whatever smells good when hunger strikes.

Because honestly? The best place to eat in New York is the one you stumble across after 30,000 steps. It’s the hot dog from a cart outside Central Park. It’s the slice of pizza you eat on a street corner in Brooklyn. The diner you duck into because your feet hurt, and it’s freezing outside. That’s the real New York food experience. And that’s what this blog is all about.

However, whenever I go to New York, my friends always ask, “You’ll write about it when you get back, right?” Honestly, with New York being one of my favourite big cities and eating being one of my favourite big hobbies, how could I not? So, if you’re planning your own trip to NYC and love to eat, this guide is for you.

Why New York Is My Ultimate Eating City

Melanie May eating a giant pretzel while smiling in Central Park, New York City. — Pretzels in Central Park

To me, New York and food are inseparable. The city pulses with culinary diversity, and every time I visit, I find myself munching my way through neighbourhoods like it’s a full-time job. It’s like Disneyland for the tastebuds, and I treat every bite like it could be my last.

From street-side pretzels to pizza slices under the city lights, here are some of the most memorable things to eat in NYC.

Central Park Snacks & Koreatown Bites

Melanie May holding a giant pretzel up to her face while smiling in Central Park, New York City. — When in New York… eat the pretzel

Heading to the Empire State Building? Swing by nearby Koreatown and grab a bowl of kimchi. Planning a stroll through Central Park? Don’t miss the chance to snack like a local and pick up a $2 hot pretzel from a street cart. Soft, salty, and warm, it’s one of those little joys that tastes exactly like New York. Most people eat theirs plain with salt, but if you want to do it the old-school New Yorker way, squeeze on a bit of yellow mustard. Ketchup? Never. Cheese sauce? Maybe, but only if you’re at a ballgame. To me, a salty pretzel and a city stroll are peak NYC.

Brooklyn Pizza & Ice Cream with a View

The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory housed in an old fire station — The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

If you’re thinking about pizza (of course you are), skip the Midtown slices (save these for 4 am when jetlag strikes) and take the scenic route. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge and make your way to Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. The queue can be long, but grab a slice to go and eat it on the boardwalk while taking in the Manhattan skyline. New Yorkers are fiercely loyal to their favourite slice spots. Everyone has an opinion, whether thin and crispy or gooey and loaded, dollar slices or brick-oven classics. But honestly? Any slice of New York pizza eaten within view of the Brooklyn Bridge is going to taste like the best pizza you’ve ever had. Especially when your legs are tired, your hands are warm from the box, and the city lights start to glow.

And just steps away? The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory in a vintage fireboat station. Their peaches and cream scoop is legendary as it is creamy, fruity, and completely perfect on a hot, sticky summer’s day.

Cookies and Southern Cooking in Harlem

A table full of Southern comfort food at Amy Ruth’s in Harlem, New York City. — Soul food at Amy Ruth’s in Harlem

I love strolling around Harlem, especially on a Sunday morning when the music from the Sunday services provides a joyous soundtrack. I have two places where I like to stop and eat here. The first is Levain Bakery for the thickest, warmest, gooyiest cookies. I adore the chocolate chip and walnut cookies, but all the flavours are divine. I highly recommend Amy Ruth’s for a Southern comfort, soul food feast. To me, Amy Ruth’s feels like an authentic neighbourhood restaurant, and it serves up all the classics like fried chicken, mac and cheese, cornbread, and chicken and waffles. Order them all and take any leftovers to go.

Dining Under the Brooklyn Bridge

The main dining room in the River Café in Brooklyn. — River Café

For a romantic meal or elegant cocktail, head to The River Café. Tucked beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, it’s easily one of the dreamiest dining spots in the city. With fairy lights twinkling above and the city skyline reflected on the river, it’s the perfect setting for a special night out. If you can’t get a table there (or you’re not quite up for the price tag), check out Celestine, just a short walk away, with lovely views over the East River and a more relaxed vibe. The Osprey at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is another solid shout with great cocktails, sleek interiors, and that same sparkling skyline view. Or, keep it low-key and head to Juliana’s for wood-fired pizza and then wander over to Pebble Beach with your slice and a view, because sometimes, the best date nights don’t come with a dress code.

Exploring Manhattan’s Chinatown

Melanie May holding an ice cream cone outside the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory in New York City. — Melanie May at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Ready for something completely iconic? Take a detour through Chinatown and step off the main drag. At Mei Li Wah Bakery, you’ll find steamed roast pork buns that locals queue up for, and for good reason. Grab some to go and lose yourself in the maze of crooked streets.

If you’re after dumplings (and really, you should be), Prosperity Dumpling is a must. Ugh! This place is now closed, but my internet sleuthing tells me that the same owners run King Dumplings (on Hester Street), and it is still delicious and great value, although it is getting quite popular with tourists now. For soup dumplings – those delicate parcels that burst with flavour – I recommend 456 Shanghai Cuisine. Everything is relatively affordable by NCY prices, so order liberally and sample a bit of everything.

Sweet Treats & Foodie Filming Locations

Donuts in a glass case in Planet Donut — Doughnut Plant

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Doughnut Plant on the Lower East Side is the spot. My favourite is the square, filled peanut butter and blackberry jam doughnut. It will have you recreating that scene from When Harry Met Sally.

Speaking of which, film fans should head to Katz’s Deli, where that very scene was shot. Their hot pastrami on rye sandwich is famously piled high with around ¾ of a pound of meat! Not for the faint-hearted, but definitely for the hungry.

Bagels Are Serious Business

Fresh Ess-a-Bagel bagel and takeaway coffee in New York City — Classic bagel and coffee from Ess-a-Bagel

Just 60 seconds away from Katz’s is another iconic and historic spot called Russ & Daughters. It is a proper New York institution and a must-visit if you’re after a classic bagel with lox and schmear. In New York, bagels aren’t just for breakfast. They’re tradition. Locals are fiercely loyal to their favourites and have very strong opinions on everything from the chewiness of the crust to the exact thickness of the smear. My personal go-to? Ess-a-Bagel on 1st Avenue in the Gramercy area. The queues can be long, but the bagels are big, soft, chewy, and absolutely worth the wait. Grab an everything bagel loaded with cream cheese and smoked salmon, and eat it on a park bench or as you walk, just like a proper New Yorker.

Side bar: For the uninitiated, Lox is salmon belly fillet which is never cooked but cured in salty brine, traditionally for three months. In the world of New York bagels, a “schmear” is a generous spreading of cream cheese.

Warming Up Like a New Yorker

A man pouring over coffee into cups in Blue Bottle Coffee — Blue Bottle Coffee

In winter, I find myself constantly clutching a coffee just like the locals. My go-tos are Blue Bottle Coffee, Gorilla Coffee, and Ninth Street Espresso. However, when I lived in Brooklyn, I used to just grab a large filter (drip) coffee from my local bodega. I swear all coffee, even corner store brews, tastes great in New York. If you’re in the mood for tea, Te Company in the West Village has a great selection.

For something a bit stronger, Lillie’s Victorian Establishment near Union Square serves a divine Hot Jersey Toddy. This winter warmer is made with Jack Daniel’s Honey, lemon, and cloves. Trust me, it hits the spot on a frosty night.

What to Eat in New York City – My Top NYC Eating Tips

Interior of Cosmic Diner, a classic American diner in Midtown Manhattan. — Cosmic Diner serves comfort food

Start the day with an American-style diner breakfast. My go-to is Andrews Coffee Shop near the Empire State Building, which has classic pancakes, eggs, and bacon. My favourite diner was Scotty’s, but it has closed down. I also love the Cosmic Diner on 8th Avenue. The best seats in the house are at the bar, where you can watch the chefs work and chat with the staff. This is how I get all my local insights about what to do.
Grab lunch from a food truck on 6th Avenue, especially The Halal Guys if you can brave the queues. Their falafel wrap is worth the wait.
Order a Reuben from any Italian or German deli. It should come on rye bread with tangy sauerkraut and be comically bigger than your head. I love Juniors in Brooklyn and S&P on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Coffee and a sticky cinnamon bun from any bakery. I’m partial to Blue Sky Bakery in Brooklyn. Ugh! I just read that this place has also closed. Such a shame. However, I do have another recommendation, and that’s Baked in Red Hook, Brooklyn. If you adore cinnamon rolls as much as I do, you have to check out The Carboholic’s list of all the cinnamon rolls she’s tried. A woman after my own heart!