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An overhead photograph of a pizza topped with slice squashed, mozzarella, and olive oil.
Lala’s Apizza is a New Haven-style pizzeria in Bushwick.
Rachel Vanni/Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza

Where to Eat in Bushwick Right Now

New Haven pizza, Persian food, birria tacos, and more

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Lala’s Apizza is a New Haven-style pizzeria in Bushwick.
| Rachel Vanni/Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza

Bushwick’s rise to citywide culinary prominence has been years in the making, but now solidified, its restaurant scene is impossible to ignore. Bushwick is known to change quickly, and the neighborhood is now filled with a mix of new spaces — Eyval, Sobre Masa Tortilleria, Lala’s Apizza, and Nowon — alongside old-school haunts like Tina’s Place.

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Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza

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It has taken a long time, but Brooklyn finally has New Haven-style pizza. The pies are shaped like racetracks and have an overlapping roster of toppings. Sure, there’s a clam pie, but there’s also the cozy pie, which has mashed potatoes on it. Walk up a long stairway to get to the rooftop dining room above its sibling Grimm Artisanal Ales.

An oblong pie with piles of mashed potatoes and red squished tomatoes.
Lala’s “cozy pie” with bacon, mashed potatoes, and pickled cherry tomatoes.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Nowon Bushwick

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Ever had a Korean pizza? Since May, you’ve been able to find them at Appa’s, a new pizzeria in the East Village that’s inspired by Pizza Hut, where its owner used to work. Now they have a home in Bushwick, too: Nowon, a Korean American restaurant that’s been open in the East Village since 2019, opened a second location. There are a couple Korean-leaning pizzas on the menu, made in an oven inherited from the building’s previous tenant, Faro. In addition, find dishes like chopped cheese rice cakes, mushrooms with glass noodles, and a burger with a truffle kimchi sauce.

The buldak pizza with chicken and Korean rice cakes (tteokbokki) at Nowon in Bushwick.
The buldak pizza with chicken and Korean rice cakes (tteokbokki) at Nowon in Bushwick.
Luke Fortney/Eater NY

Falansai

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Chef Eric Tran took over this longstanding Bushwick restaurant during the pandemic and replaced its menu with an array of seasonal dishes that nod to Mexico and Vietnam, inspired by his heritage and a recent stint at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Although the a la carte menu might catch your eye, the dac biet section, Tran’s version of a tasting menu, is what the new restaurant has come to be known for.

Plants and a mural decorate the outdoor dining area.
The backyard at Falansai.
Alex Staniloff/Eater NY

Sobre Masa Tortilleria

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This Bushwick spot has pulled off a rare hat trick by operating a cafe, a taqueria, and a “micro tortilleria” all under one roof. Its tortillas, made solely from imported heirloom grains, can be purchased from a small retail area at the front of the shop or ordered in taco form from a restaurant and bar in the back.

An assortment of tortilla dishes, including tacos and gringas, topped with meats and cheeses.
An assortment of dishes at Sobre Masa Tortilleria.
Adam Friedlander/Eater NY

Operating out of a former tailor shop built in 1914, this Bushwick restaurant flies way under the radar. Otis may be overshadowed by its newer sibling Nura in Greenpoint, but its globe-trotting menu that pulls from India, Italy, and South America is a sleeper hit.

A bowl of burrata surrounded by pesto and topped with seeds and greens pools in a high-walled bowl beside a plate of focaccia.
The big bowl of burrata at Otis.
Luke Fortney/Eater NY

Roberta's

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Roberta’s is credited with putting Bushwick’s food scene on the map, and more than a decade after opening, the restaurant’s inventive wood-fired pies still hold up. Its pizzas can be eaten solo or shared for variety’s sake. Everything on the menu is great, but don’t miss the Bee Sting, a sweet and salty pie topped with soppressata, basil, and honey. There’s a sibling location in Domino Park.

Two slices of pepperoni pizza are arranged on a stainless steel pizza tray beside at a napkin at Roberta’s.
Slices of pizza at Roberta’s.
Daniel Krieger/Eater NY

Bunna Cafe

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Bunna Cafe comes from Sam Saverance and Liyuw Ayalew, is a permanent fixture of the vegan food scene in the neighborhood. Perfect for sharing, the main attraction is the beyaynetu, a feast of injera and stewed side dishes that can be eaten solo or portioned for larger groups.

Ali Saboor, who worked at Sofreh in Prospect Heights, opened Eyval, a younger Brooklyn option for Iranian food last year. It was a sibling to his neighboring bakery, Sofreh Cafe, which has since closed, but Eyval continues on with its live-fire cooking. Find dishes, which in the past has included, mushroom borani, lamb ribs with a tamarind glaze, and chicken kebab. Don’t skip dessert, which has included items like a saffron ice cream sandwich.

A bowl with saffron-tinged rice and a stew sit side by side on a white marble counter with a clear, yellow cocktail in the background.
Eyval comes from the team behind Prospect Heights restaurant Sofreh.
Adam Friedlander/Eater NY

Yia Yia's Taverna

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A rare Greek spot for the neighborhood, Yia Yia’s Taverna serves up classics such as spanakopita, chicken souvlaki, and grilled halloumi out of its Flushing Avenue dining room. The move is the avgolemono, a lemony Greek chicken soup that’s especially satisfying in cold weather months.

A bowl of yellow soup with greens wadded in the middle.
The avgolemono soup at Yia Yia‘s Taverna.
Emma Orlow/Eater NY

Tabaré Bushwick

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The brunch is particularly tasty at this Uruguayan bistro right on busy Flushing Avenue. The blood sausage with a runny egg on top is particularly tasty, but Tabaré is one of the few places you can get a choripan — Uruguay and Argentina’s answer to the American hot dog, with a chorizo planted on an elongated bun.

Two guys chat at a sidewalk table with a gray factory in the background.
Tabaré Bushwick is great for brunch.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Tina's Place

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With so much change in this neighborhood, Tina’s Place is still holding on after serving Bushwick for 80 years. The diner is a favorite among locals, and it’s one of the most affordable options on this list, serving classics like pancakes, sausage and egg plates, and diner coffee. The restaurant opens daily at 6 a.m.

Taqueria Al Pastor

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It’s no secret that Bushwick is home to some of the city’s best taco spots, but Taqueria Al Pastor remains a contender for the top slot. As the name suggests, the name of the game is the al pastor with succulent slices of pork and juicy, tart bites of pineapple. Order it in taco form, or atop a gringa (two corn or flour tortillas with melted cheese in between) or volcan (a crisp tortilla with griddled cheese).

A man in a blue shirt with a long knife bends over a twirling vertical spit of meat.
A taquero at Taqueria Al Pastor attends to the trompo.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Sally Roots

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This Caribbean American restaurant strives to be the type of place where customers can hang out for hours. Every dish is generously portioned for its price: Don’t sleep on the jerk chicken platter with sweet plantains, oxtail dumplings, and the duck confit mofongo.

A white-walled dining room with plants and tables and chairs that are set for service.
Inside Sally Roots.
Sally Roots

While Roberta’s may have national acclaim, Ops is the local favorite. The small pizzeria serves up thin, sourdough pies made using a custom wheat flour blend, creating a well-balanced, crispy chewy base. Daily changing specials like salads and calzones help keep things fresh, and the natural wine list is expertly curated — making it an already fun spot for a night out. It’s sibling Leo, in Williamsburg, is popular for similar reasons.

A curved wooden bar with dozens of wine bottles arranged on floating shelves.
The bar at Ops.
Ops

Chiangmai Diner & Bar

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Named after the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, this establishment is part of a new wave of Thai restaurants in the city. Via chef and owner Rathakate Khuankaow, the menu offers an eclectic mix of dishes from all over the country. Don’t miss kanom jean nham ngiaw, a dish of fermented rice noodles in a pork-rib broth.

A bowl of ground pork, rice in a basket, crudite, and herbs.
Chiang Mai-style larb is like a deconstructed chef’s salad.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Santa Ana Deli & Grocery

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Santa Ana has been serving up tacos in its bodega-slash-taqueria since it opened in the early aughts. Eater critic Robert Sietsema recommends the taco arabes with chipotle sauce and guacamole, or the namesake Santanero Burrito, which features sauces made to look like the flag of Mexicos. Dishes here are best consumed on-site with a Jarritos or Tecate from the fridge.

A white backdrop with red texts displays Santa Ana’s menu in Bushwick.
Santa Ana’s menu.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Nene’s Deli Taqueria

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Former Jean-Georges cook Andrés Tonatiuh Galindo Maria opened Nene’s Deli Taqueria in honor of his family in Puebla. He serves up Mexican classics like a pork mulita alongside Los Angeles inventions like birria ramen. The birria, a meat stew made with guajillo chile and garlic, comes topped with onion, cheese, and cilantro and is served on homemade tortillas. These juicy tacos have quickly become the talk of the neighborhood and have inspired a legion of local imitators. Find a follow-up location in Park Slope.

A pair of mulita halves with guacamole and meat visible between two tortillas.
Mulita at Nene’s.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Mao Mao

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Mao Mao is unlike any other Thai restaurant in New York City. Husband-and-wife owners Jugkrwut Borin and chef Arada Moonroj modeled this bi-level space on some of the most storied movie theaters in Thailand such as the Siam Theatre in Bangkok. Patrons descend a winding staircase for a taste of what the couple describes as “cinema and drinking” food. There are small paper plates of beef larb, Laotian-style papaya salad, and other classic Thai snacks made for pairing with beers, cocktails, and a dozen or so varieties of ya dong, a traditional Thai libation.

A selection of dishes at Thai cinema Mao Mao.
Thai drinking snacks at Mao Mao.
Emma Orlow/Eater NY

Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza

It has taken a long time, but Brooklyn finally has New Haven-style pizza. The pies are shaped like racetracks and have an overlapping roster of toppings. Sure, there’s a clam pie, but there’s also the cozy pie, which has mashed potatoes on it. Walk up a long stairway to get to the rooftop dining room above its sibling Grimm Artisanal Ales.

An oblong pie with piles of mashed potatoes and red squished tomatoes.
Lala’s “cozy pie” with bacon, mashed potatoes, and pickled cherry tomatoes.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Nowon Bushwick

Ever had a Korean pizza? Since May, you’ve been able to find them at Appa’s, a new pizzeria in the East Village that’s inspired by Pizza Hut, where its owner used to work. Now they have a home in Bushwick, too: Nowon, a Korean American restaurant that’s been open in the East Village since 2019, opened a second location. There are a couple Korean-leaning pizzas on the menu, made in an oven inherited from the building’s previous tenant, Faro. In addition, find dishes like chopped cheese rice cakes, mushrooms with glass noodles, and a burger with a truffle kimchi sauce.

The buldak pizza with chicken and Korean rice cakes (tteokbokki) at Nowon in Bushwick.
The buldak pizza with chicken and Korean rice cakes (tteokbokki) at Nowon in Bushwick.
Luke Fortney/Eater NY

Falansai

Chef Eric Tran took over this longstanding Bushwick restaurant during the pandemic and replaced its menu with an array of seasonal dishes that nod to Mexico and Vietnam, inspired by his heritage and a recent stint at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Although the a la carte menu might catch your eye, the dac biet section, Tran’s version of a tasting menu, is what the new restaurant has come to be known for.

Plants and a mural decorate the outdoor dining area.
The backyard at Falansai.
Alex Staniloff/Eater NY

Sobre Masa Tortilleria

This Bushwick spot has pulled off a rare hat trick by operating a cafe, a taqueria, and a “micro tortilleria” all under one roof. Its tortillas, made solely from imported heirloom grains, can be purchased from a small retail area at the front of the shop or ordered in taco form from a restaurant and bar in the back.

An assortment of tortilla dishes, including tacos and gringas, topped with meats and cheeses.
An assortment of dishes at Sobre Masa Tortilleria.
Adam Friedlander/Eater NY

Otis

Operating out of a former tailor shop built in 1914, this Bushwick restaurant flies way under the radar. Otis may be overshadowed by its newer sibling Nura in Greenpoint, but its globe-trotting menu that pulls from India, Italy, and South America is a sleeper hit.

A bowl of burrata surrounded by pesto and topped with seeds and greens pools in a high-walled bowl beside a plate of focaccia.
The big bowl of burrata at Otis.
Luke Fortney/Eater NY

Roberta's

Roberta’s is credited with putting Bushwick’s food scene on the map, and more than a decade after opening, the restaurant’s inventive wood-fired pies still hold up. Its pizzas can be eaten solo or shared for variety’s sake. Everything on the menu is great, but don’t miss the Bee Sting, a sweet and salty pie topped with soppressata, basil, and honey. There’s a sibling location in Domino Park.

Two slices of pepperoni pizza are arranged on a stainless steel pizza tray beside at a napkin at Roberta’s.
Slices of pizza at Roberta’s.
Daniel Krieger/Eater NY

Bunna Cafe

Bunna Cafe comes from Sam Saverance and Liyuw Ayalew, is a permanent fixture of the vegan food scene in the neighborhood. Perfect for sharing, the main attraction is the beyaynetu, a feast of injera and stewed side dishes that can be eaten solo or portioned for larger groups.

Eyval

Ali Saboor, who worked at Sofreh in Prospect Heights, opened Eyval, a younger Brooklyn option for Iranian food last year. It was a sibling to his neighboring bakery, Sofreh Cafe, which has since closed, but Eyval continues on with its live-fire cooking. Find dishes, which in the past has included, mushroom borani, lamb ribs with a tamarind glaze, and chicken kebab. Don’t skip dessert, which has included items like a saffron ice cream sandwich.

A bowl with saffron-tinged rice and a stew sit side by side on a white marble counter with a clear, yellow cocktail in the background.
Eyval comes from the team behind Prospect Heights restaurant Sofreh.
Adam Friedlander/Eater NY

Yia Yia's Taverna

A rare Greek spot for the neighborhood, Yia Yia’s Taverna serves up classics such as spanakopita, chicken souvlaki, and grilled halloumi out of its Flushing Avenue dining room. The move is the avgolemono, a lemony Greek chicken soup that’s especially satisfying in cold weather months.

A bowl of yellow soup with greens wadded in the middle.
The avgolemono soup at Yia Yia‘s Taverna.
Emma Orlow/Eater NY

Tabaré Bushwick

The brunch is particularly tasty at this Uruguayan bistro right on busy Flushing Avenue. The blood sausage with a runny egg on top is particularly tasty, but Tabaré is one of the few places you can get a choripan — Uruguay and Argentina’s answer to the American hot dog, with a chorizo planted on an elongated bun.

Two guys chat at a sidewalk table with a gray factory in the background.
Tabaré Bushwick is great for brunch.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Tina's Place

With so much change in this neighborhood, Tina’s Place is still holding on after serving Bushwick for 80 years. The diner is a favorite among locals, and it’s one of the most affordable options on this list, serving classics like pancakes, sausage and egg plates, and diner coffee. The restaurant opens daily at 6 a.m.

Taqueria Al Pastor

It’s no secret that Bushwick is home to some of the city’s best taco spots, but Taqueria Al Pastor remains a contender for the top slot. As the name suggests, the name of the game is the al pastor with succulent slices of pork and juicy, tart bites of pineapple. Order it in taco form, or atop a gringa (two corn or flour tortillas with melted cheese in between) or volcan (a crisp tortilla with griddled cheese).

A man in a blue shirt with a long knife bends over a twirling vertical spit of meat.
A taquero at Taqueria Al Pastor attends to the trompo.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Sally Roots

This Caribbean American restaurant strives to be the type of place where customers can hang out for hours. Every dish is generously portioned for its price: Don’t sleep on the jerk chicken platter with sweet plantains, oxtail dumplings, and the duck confit mofongo.

A white-walled dining room with plants and tables and chairs that are set for service.
Inside Sally Roots.
Sally Roots

Ops

While Roberta’s may have national acclaim, Ops is the local favorite. The small pizzeria serves up thin, sourdough pies made using a custom wheat flour blend, creating a well-balanced, crispy chewy base. Daily changing specials like salads and calzones help keep things fresh, and the natural wine list is expertly curated — making it an already fun spot for a night out. It’s sibling Leo, in Williamsburg, is popular for similar reasons.

A curved wooden bar with dozens of wine bottles arranged on floating shelves.
The bar at Ops.
Ops

Chiangmai Diner & Bar

Named after the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, this establishment is part of a new wave of Thai restaurants in the city. Via chef and owner Rathakate Khuankaow, the menu offers an eclectic mix of dishes from all over the country. Don’t miss kanom jean nham ngiaw, a dish of fermented rice noodles in a pork-rib broth.

A bowl of ground pork, rice in a basket, crudite, and herbs.
Chiang Mai-style larb is like a deconstructed chef’s salad.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Related Maps

Santa Ana Deli & Grocery

Santa Ana has been serving up tacos in its bodega-slash-taqueria since it opened in the early aughts. Eater critic Robert Sietsema recommends the taco arabes with chipotle sauce and guacamole, or the namesake Santanero Burrito, which features sauces made to look like the flag of Mexicos. Dishes here are best consumed on-site with a Jarritos or Tecate from the fridge.

A white backdrop with red texts displays Santa Ana’s menu in Bushwick.
Santa Ana’s menu.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Nene’s Deli Taqueria

Former Jean-Georges cook Andrés Tonatiuh Galindo Maria opened Nene’s Deli Taqueria in honor of his family in Puebla. He serves up Mexican classics like a pork mulita alongside Los Angeles inventions like birria ramen. The birria, a meat stew made with guajillo chile and garlic, comes topped with onion, cheese, and cilantro and is served on homemade tortillas. These juicy tacos have quickly become the talk of the neighborhood and have inspired a legion of local imitators. Find a follow-up location in Park Slope.

A pair of mulita halves with guacamole and meat visible between two tortillas.
Mulita at Nene’s.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Mao Mao

Mao Mao is unlike any other Thai restaurant in New York City. Husband-and-wife owners Jugkrwut Borin and chef Arada Moonroj modeled this bi-level space on some of the most storied movie theaters in Thailand such as the Siam Theatre in Bangkok. Patrons descend a winding staircase for a taste of what the couple describes as “cinema and drinking” food. There are small paper plates of beef larb, Laotian-style papaya salad, and other classic Thai snacks made for pairing with beers, cocktails, and a dozen or so varieties of ya dong, a traditional Thai libation.

A selection of dishes at Thai cinema Mao Mao.
Thai drinking snacks at Mao Mao.
Emma Orlow/Eater NY

Related Maps