A blog post like this is bound to cause arguments but we said what we said, there is no place like it when it comes to variety of food.
Something you will learn about 23 Travels in our blog posts is that we are HUGE foodies.
You might be reading this to plan for your trip to New York, you might be reading this on the way to New York or you’re probably already in New York reading this. Wherever you are, you’re in for a treat.
Speaking of treats…
DISCLOSURE: This blog post contains affiliate links which just means that we may receive a commission if you choose to purchase anything from our suggested links. This will help fund more of the 23 Travels blog posts which you love so dearly!
1. Clinton St. Baking
Easily the BEST pancakes you will EVER eat, we can confidently say it does live up to the hype. We highly recommend booking a reservation if you want to head to Clinton St Baking, it is ALWAYS busy from opening to close. They do accept walk ins but be prepared to wait for a longgggg time.
We ordered two out of the three varieties, the wild Maine blueberry and the chocolate chunk. The pancakes are fluffy and moist and the warm maple butter was the perfect amount of sweet, not overly indulgent. It’s a no frills restaurant in regards to the decor but the service is amazing and the food speaks volumes. The pancakes are $18 which some may find steep but we believe it’s worth every cent.
Clinton St. Baking – Click here for locations and opening times
2. Russ & Daughters
There are so many bagel spots in NYC that it made it unbelievably difficult to pick but, we settled on Russ & Daughters. What sold it for us was the different types of cream cheese e.g. caviar and scallion! We LOVE smoked salmon; if you want it fresh and of the highest quality, Russ & Daughters is the place for it.
Upon entering the shop, you take a ticket and wait for your number to be called. You are asked to pick a bagel, bread or bialy. You’re probably wondering what a bialy is, (we did too)!! It’s similar to a bagel as they are made with the same dough however, they aren’t boiled or rolled beforehand. Instead, they are pressed and stretched creating a slight dent that tends to be filled with poppy seeds and caramelized onions which are then baked. Once you have made your selection, you are invited to pick a cream cheese where you can add onion, capers, etc. Now for the best bit, your lox choice (smoked salmon), you can choose from Scottish, Irish, Norweigan salmon and so much more!
Our exact order was a poppy seed bagel with scallion cream cheese and gorgeous Scottish salmon. It was truly delightful, particularly with all the heavier foods we had been eating during our trip, this was a fresh, light and delicious lunch option.
You can’t come to New York and not get a bagel right?!
Russ & Daughters – Click here for locations and opening times
3. Halal Guys
Halal Guys are the trailblazers for Halal American food.
The original food carts are dotted around the city serving gyros, chicken & rice platters & other Middle Eastern eats. There are SO many imitations of these guys across Manhattan, (we see it as a compliment to Halal Guys), even down to the red and yellow umbrellas but NOTHING compares to the original.
The business grew as Halal Guys responded to the huge demand from Muslim cab drivers looking for a simple and quick halal meal. It’s an incredible ‘fast food’ concept that has gained popularity all over the city, especially those on their lunch break as we saw many office workers in the queue.
We ordered the combo platter which is served with a pairing of (beef gyro, chicken or falafel – we chose beef & chicken) along with rice, lettuce, tomatoes and, of course the best part – the famous white sauce! There is a hot sauce too if you want to spice up your meal.
Halal Guys – Click here for location and opening times
4. Levain Bakery
For the sweet tooths out there, the legendary Levain cookies cannot be missed if you find yourself in the city.
The contrasting textures make for the ultimate decadent eating experience, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside with the ratio of dough to chocolate chip being absolutely perfect! We ordered the dark chocolate chocolate chip, chocolate chip walnut, and the two chip chocolate chip. Whilst we aren’t the biggest fans of dark chocolate, it happened to be our favourite! The gooey texture when you get to the middle just melts in your mouth, it’s such a magical experience. Have we convinced you yet?
What we love most about Levain Bakery is that they donate their unsold goods to charity.
Levain Bakery – Click here for location and opening times
5. Katz Deli
Every New Yorker would have heard of Katz, they have been selling their famous pastrami on rye sandwiches since 1888. You cannot make any reservations and there is almost always a queue down Houston Street but we promise it’s worth the wait. Even if it was a 45-minute wait!!
The guys behind the counter are so friendly and helpful. It is absolutely chaotic with about 8 serving counters but we love that they will give you a strip of pastrami while you wait for your order. This will have you salivating for the deliciousness that is to come.
The soft bread, juicy pickles, flavourful pastrami, and tangy mustard are a match made in heaven! Now, the sandwich does cost $27 but there is a reason why they have almost 40,000 4.5* reviews on Google. The quality, the freshness, and the sheer amount of pastrami they put in your sandwich won’t have you questioning the price. We found sharing this sandwich kept us more than satiated and, it appears most people do that too.
If you want to experience the real taste of New York in an authentic ‘family feel’ diner, head to Katz right now!
Katz Deli – 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002.
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs (8am-11pm), Fri (8am-12am), Sat (24 hours) and Sun (12am-11pm)
6. Slyvia’s
Slyvias was founded by Slyvia Woods in 1962 commonly referred to as ‘The Queen of Soul Food’. She sadly passed in July 2012 but this Harlem kitchen continues to operate in full swing courtesy of the Woods family.
Our order consisted of the following:
- Warm cornbread and butter (10/10) – what we would have done to buy a bucketload and take it back to the UK with us! Exquisite!
- Smothered Fried Chicken & BBQ Ribs w/ side order of Garlic Mash Potatoes & Mac & Cheese (8/10) – absolutely phenomenal, the seasoning was on point and the brown gravy just elevated the already incredible flavours. The only downside was the ribs, just nothing special for us.
- Chicken and waffles (9/10) – a timeless combo executed extremely well, juicy chicken and fluffy waffles.
- Sweet Iced Tea (10/10) – this was recommended to us by the waiter and it was the perfect drink to wash down our hearty meals.
The portions are large so you are getting your money’s worth, I mean, the waffles are literally the size of your head!
Lively atmosphere, incredible food, friendly staff and just an overall iconic restaurant, what’s not to love?!
Slyvias – 328 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10027
Opening Hours: Sun-Tue (11am-8pm), Wed-Sat (11am-10pm)
7. Prince St. Pizza
Save the best till last as they say…
Before heading to New York, we watched COUNTLESS TikToks and YouTube videos debating which pizza establishment in NYC was the best. Settling on Prince St. pizza was the best choice we could have made.
Prince St. Pizza is pure happiness in the form of a Sicilian style square with a thick and fluffy crust! It’s available as a slice or the entire pie. You are probably tired of us talking about long queues but unfortunately, this is the case at this popular pizza joint but for good reason. However, due to the quick service, the line does move very quickly.
We got the classic ‘Spicy Spring’ with Diavolo Sauce, Pepperoni, Fresh Mozzarella and Pecorino Romano. We couldn’t wait to get stuck into this pizza so, our one and only rather rushed photo below will have to do.
23 Travels believe these delicious slices embody everything a pizza should be. Perhaps a controversial statement for those who believe pizzas should have a thin crust but as deep pan lovers, this is the epitome of pizza heaven!
On our next visit, we’ll be sure to get the oh so popular ‘Naughty Pie’ with Spicy Vodka Sauce (containing Prosciutto), Pepperoni, Fresh Mozzarella, Ricotta and Zab’s Hot Honey.
When we are asked what the best food we ate in NYC was, the easy answer is Prince St Pizza. Counting the days until we can eat this again!
Prince St. Pizza – Click here for location and opening times
That’s All 23 Travellers! Thank you for reading. We hope you enjoyed reading through ‘Why NYC is the number one food hotspot in the world.’‘
23 Travels are Personal Travel Planners who have been creating bespoke travel itineraries for many years. If you would like us to plan your trip to New York, or any other worldwide destination for you, please visit 23 Travels Itinerary Services.
Head to Pinterest and PIN this blog to your favourite board!
