Where to Eat in New York: A Local's Guide to the Best Restaurants
The restaurants worth your time and money in New York, NY
Di Fara Pizza: Pizza in Midwood, Brooklyn
Dom DeMarco has been hand-making every pizza at Di Fara since 1965, and at over 80 years old he still stretches the dough, scissors the fresh basil, and drizzles the olive oil himself. The classic round pie is a masterwork — a thin, slightly charred crust with imported San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella that he tears by hand, and a generous finishing of Parmesan and olive oil from a can he keeps by the oven. The wait can stretch to an hour or more, and the shop itself is a cramped, cash-only storefront on Avenue J that looks exactly like it did in 1965. None of that matters once you bite into a slice that is, by wide consensus, the best pizza in New York City.
Pro Tip
Go on a weekday afternoon to avoid the worst crowds. Cash only. A round pie serves 2-3 people and costs around $35 — split it and add a square slice on the side.
Peter Luger Steak House: Steakhouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Peter Luger has been serving dry-aged porterhouse steaks on Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg since 1887, and the experience has changed remarkably little in that time. The steak — ordered for two, three, or four — arrives sizzling on a platter, sliced and bathed in melted butter, charred on the outside and perfectly pink within. The creamed spinach, thick-cut bacon appetizer, and German fried potatoes are legendary sides. The room is a bare-bones beer-hall with wooden tables, gruff waiters, and zero pretension. Cash or the Luger debit card only — no credit cards. It is one of the great American dining experiences.
Pro Tip
Reservations are essential and should be made 2-4 weeks ahead. The porterhouse for two is the only thing to order. Bring cash.
Xi'an Famous Foods: Chinese (Northwestern) in Multiple locations
Jason Wang's family-run chain has become a New York institution by serving the hand-pulled noodles and cumin-spiced lamb dishes of Xi'an, China's ancient capital. The spicy cumin lamb noodles — hand-pulled to order, broad and chewy, tossed with tender lamb and a fiery chili-cumin sauce — are addictive in the truest sense. The liang pi cold noodles, the lamb burger (a Chinese-style pita stuffed with cumin lamb), and the spicy tingly lamb face salad are all essential. Locations are scattered across Manhattan and Brooklyn, all are counter-service, and everything costs under $15.
Pro Tip
The location at 45th Street in Hell's Kitchen is the most convenient for tourists. Add extra hand-pulled noodles to any dish for $2 — it's the best $2 you'll spend in New York.
Russ & Daughters: Jewish deli/appetizing in Lower East Side
Russ & Daughters has been slicing smoked fish on Houston Street since 1914, making it one of the last surviving appetizing shops in a city that once had hundreds. The classic bagel with lox, cream cheese, tomato, onion, and capers is not just a sandwich — it's a cultural artifact, a taste of the immigrant Lower East Side preserved in smoked salmon and cream cheese. The hand-sliced Nova Scotia lox, the kippered salmon, the sable, the whitefish salad — each one is a masterclass in curing and smoking that has been refined over four generations.
Pro Tip
The shop on Houston is takeout only. For sit-down service, go to Russ & Daughters Cafe on Orchard Street a few blocks south — same food, full restaurant service, and cocktails.
Los Tacos No. 1: Mexican in Chelsea Market / Times Square
In a city full of mediocre tacos, Los Tacos No. 1 delivers the real thing — handmade tortillas pressed to order, quality meats cooked on a proper trompo and plancha, and salsas with genuine depth and heat. The adobada (marinated pork, similar to al pastor) is the star, carved from a rotating spit and served on a small corn tortilla with pineapple, onion, and cilantro. The carne asada and nopal (cactus) tacos are equally excellent. Three tacos and a horchata will run you about $14, which is a miracle in a city where a sad lunch salad costs $18.
Pro Tip
The Chelsea Market location is the original and has shorter lines than Times Square. Go between 2-4 PM for the fastest service.
Beyond the Usual: Exploring New York's Food Scene
New York's dining scene extends far beyond these highlighted restaurants. The city's neighborhoods each bring their own culinary personality, from ethnic enclaves serving family recipes passed down through generations to ambitious young chefs redefining what New York food means. The best strategy for eating well in New York is to stay curious, ask locals where they eat (not where they take visitors), and be willing to follow a recommendation into a strip mall, a food truck, or a hole-in-the-wall that doesn't look like much from the outside but serves food that stops you mid-bite. The restaurants listed above are proven starting points, but they're doors into a much larger world. Every neighborhood has its own food story, and the best meals in New York are often the ones you discover by accident — turning down a side street because something smelled incredible, or sitting at a counter because the only table was taken. Trust your instincts, tip generously, and eat with the kind of open-minded enthusiasm that New York's best chefs bring to their kitchens every day.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We earn a commission at no additional cost to you when you purchase through our links.