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An overhead photograph of a yellow table with a greasy slice of pizza from Joe’s. — A slice of pizza from Joe’s.

20 Iconic Dishes to Try in New York City

The most famous pastrami sandwiches, pizza slices, and soup dumplings

by Eater Staff Updated Dec 20, 2022, 4:56pm EST

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A slice of pizza from Joe’s.

| Gary He/Eater NY

by Eater Staff Updated Dec 20, 2022, 4:56pm EST

The dishes presented here provide a taste of New York City. They have achieved a distinguished reputation and shaped our modern dining scene. Many originated long ago, while others appeared in recent years and are already local legends. Some are expensive, but most can be obtained for a few dollars. Together they contribute to what makes our city one of the most exciting places to eat right now.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Cannoli at Madonia Bakery

Filled to order cannolis at this 100 year-old Sicilian bakery are a must, with its not-too-sweet ricotta and flaky shell. Don’t skip other regional favorites like the pane di casa, the ciccola (lard bread), or rainbow cookies, too. Be sure to get there early for plenty to choose from and good people watching.

2348 Arthur Ave, Bronx, NY 10458

Visit Website

A woman in a blue apron fills a small pastry shell with a pastry bag. — Filling the cannoli at Madonia Bros.

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Fried chicken at Charles Pan-Fried Chicken

Charles Gabriel first started selling his crispy, golden fried chicken on the sidewalks of Amsterdam Avenue before running a food truck and then a small storefront. An Upper West Side location debuted earlier this year, but Gabriel returned to his neighborhood, where he’s still firing up cast-iron skillets for his terrific namesake dish and an expanded menu that includes pulled pork and more sides.

340 W 145th St, New York, NY 10039

Visit Website

A chef at the stove making chicken in a cast-iron. — Making chicken at Charles’ Pan Fried Chicken.

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Franks at Gray's Papaya

Snappy, all-beef hot dogs and gritty but somehow refreshing fruit drinks are the hallmarks of this Upper West Side old-timer founded by Paul Gray in 1973. It also reflects a distinctive New York City frankfurter that originated a century earlier in Coney Island. Topping choices are limited to mustard, sauerkraut, brown-stewed onions, and ketchup (though true New Yorkers would never use latter condiment).

2090 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

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A pair of hot dogs on a red counter with an orange drink. — A pair of franks with a papaya drink at Gray’s.

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Cheeseburger at JG Melon

JG Melon is not the best burger in New York — frankly, not even close. And yet, the old-school haunt is one of the most charming atmospheres — there’s melon-themed decor throughout — to eat a burger across the five boroughs, making this solid cheeseburger a favorite amongst locals and tourists alike. The restaurant stays open late, most days until 3 a.m., but it’s the perfect spot to saddle up for dinner with a martini in tow any time of day.

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1291 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10021

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The open faced cheeseburger from JG Melon — J.G. Melon’s cheeseburger.

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Soup dumplings at Joe's Shanghai

Plenty of restaurants serve good soup dumplings, but Joe's is the one that kickstarted New York's obsession with this delicacy when it opened in Flushing in 1994. Filled with a scalding broth, these purse-shaped dumplings became an immediate hit.

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13621 37th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354

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A wooden steamer basked with white parchment at the base. Eight off-white soup dumplings sit on top of it. — Xiao long bao at Joe’s Shanghai.

Manhattan clam chowder at Grand Central Oyster Bar

This New York institution is better than you remember it, tucked in the bowels of the city’s most comely train station. Try to get a seat at the bar, start with a dozen oysters alongside the city’s namesake soup, a lightly spicy chowder, chock with clams, potatoes, and vegetables.

89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

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The entrance to Grand Central Oyster Bar.

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Mutton chop at Keens Steakhouse

Keens, one of the oldest steakhouses in the country (it opened in 1885), is most famous for its mutton chop. This massive, flavorful cut is well worth a trip to the restaurant, especially with a wedge salad or a side of prime-rib hash. Part of the fun is the clubby, 19th-century ambiance, from the days when Keens was a meeting place for actors and other theater professionals.

Open in Google Maps

72 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018

Visit Website

A white plate placed on a marble table, a silver fork and knife on either side. There’s a salad and a piece of lamb on the white plate. — The mutton chop at Keens Steakhouse.

Al pastor tacos at Los Tacos No. 1

Harlem’s Taco Mix may have popularized al pastor in New York City, but Los Tacos No. 1 perfected it. The small chain of Manhattan taquerias, often just called “número uno,” draws lines of tourists and office workers who often order its carne asada and chicken tacos. But pros know to skip those meats and stick to the adobada. The marinated pork is charred on a twirling spit, then sliced to order and hucked into a flour or corn tortilla (both equally good) with salsa, cilantro, onion, and a wedge of pineapple.

75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Visit Website

An overhead photograph of tacos, chips, guacamole, and plastic sides of salsa. — Adobada is a cousin of al pastor.

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Egg cream at S&P

One of New York City’s most quizzical classic dishes is the egg cream, generally available in flavors that run to chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and sometimes coffee. What’s so unusual about it? Despite the name, there’s no egg and no cream in the recipe, just seltzer, whole milk, and a flavoring (U-Bet syrup is the default) titrated with seltzer in a tall glass as a long-handled spoon is twirled. It’s a refreshing beverage that’s all the more enjoyable at the new place that’s already a classic, S&P, the next iteration of the old Eisenberg Sandwich Shop, from the owners of Court Street Grocers.

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174 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

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Two halves of a sandwich with peanut butter and bacon are stacked against a forest green diner booth. — An egg cream next to a peanut butter and bacon sandwich.

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Banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery

The cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery may have become famous from a cameo in Sex and the City, but locals know to go for the banana pudding instead. The pudding is packed with banana slices, lush vanilla pudding, and vanilla wafers that crumble and squish — the banana flavor is strong in every bite. Multiple locations.

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401 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

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A paper container of yellow pudding with fragmentary cookies embedded. — The banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery.

Coal-oven pizza at John's of Bleecker Street

John’s of Bleecker Street was founded by John Sasso in 1929, making it one of the city’s oldest pizzerias, and one of the originators of the city’s original coal-oven style. The pies come in two sizes, smoking hot and dappled with char, with modest strews of ingredients that can be ordered individually, like black olives, ricotta, pepperoni, Italian sausage, crushed garlic, and sliced onions, in addition to very fresh mozzarella of pillowy softness.

278 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

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A pizza with sausage and black olives and red sauce — A coal-oven pizza from John’s.

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Plain slice at Joe's Pizza

There are better slices of pizza in New York City, but are any as famous as Joe’s? The original slice shop opened on Carmine Street in 1975, and customers still crowd the small storefront for greasy slices of pizza with simple toppings like sausage and pepperoni. The restaurant now has five locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and two more in Michigan and Florida.

7 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

An overhead photograph of a yellow table with a greasy slice of pizza from Joe’s. — A slice from Joe’s Pizza.

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Falafel at Mamoun's

Mamoun's falafel is inexpensive, filling, and delicious. The original Mamoun's on MacDougal introduced the falafel sandwich to the city in 1971, and it became a mega hit, first with NYU students and hippies, but soon with the general public. Falafel also served as a wedge for the introduction of vegetarian dining in the city. With its abundance of fried chickpea fritters, nutty tasting tahini, and fresh greens, onions, and tomatoes, it redefined a quick bite for New Yorkers.

Open in Google Maps

119 Macdougal St, New York, NY, 10012

Visit Website

The exterior of Mamoun’s Macdougal Street shop, with a brown-and-white striped awning. — The original Mamoun’s is on MacDougal Street.

Pierogi at Veselka

Pierogi, or as the Ukrainians call them, varenyky, ranked among NYC’s most iconic foods long before the Russian war against Ukraine prompted diners to line up at Veselka. Besides this storied Ukrainian restaurant in the East Village, other Polish and Eastern European establishments have specialized in these stuffed half-moons of dough, which typically enfold ingredients like potatoes, sauerkraut, cheese, ground pork, and even sweet fruit fillings. Veselka has been serving them since 1954.

144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

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Pierogies—white crescent-shaped dumplings — that have been pulled out fresh from being boiled. — Veselka’s pierogies hot out of the boiler.

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Cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery

The Cronut has become quintessentially New York since its 2013 invention by French pastry chef Dominique Ansel in his Soho bakery. Soon after its birth, the croissant-doughnut hybrid became a viral sensation, spawned countless knockoffs, and attracted long lines. The flaky, layered dough comes filled with cream, and the bakery prepares a new flavor every month. Those in the know will order ahead to cut the line.

189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

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Circular fried doughnuts sit side-by-side with frosting on top. — Cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery.

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Bagel with lox and cream cheese at Russ & Daughters

NYC might have better bagels, but there is no better bagel and lox experience than the one at Russ & Daughters. Four generations of family ownership and over one hundred years of business give this place a certain gravitas, but it's the quality that keeps people coming back.

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179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

Bagel and lox sandwich from Russ & Daughters — Bagel with lox and cream cheese at Russ & Daughters.

Pastrami on rye at Katz's Deli

Katz's serves New York's favorite pastrami sandwich, a meat central to the city’s carnivorous identity, and indeed it may have originated here. At Katz’s it's not just a humongous pile of pink cured beef, but one in which the flavor is richer and emphatically smokier than other popular versions served around town. It's a dish that New Yorkers have craved and relished for over a hundred years. And this is one of the few places that still cuts it by hand.

Open in Google Maps

205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

A butcher chops up pastrami on a wooden block at Katz’s — Pastrami is king at Katz’s.

Brisket at Hometown Bar-B-Que

It wasn’t until the ’90s that New York got real Texas barbecue at Stick to Your Ribs in Long Island City. Since then, Hometown Bar-B-Que has stolen the show. The massive Red Hook restaurant is widely considered to be the city’s best barbecue joint, and fans swear by the fatty brisket. It runs at an eye-popping $40 a pound — we know, we know — but it’s plenty filling with a spice-rubbed crust that’s superior to the other smoked meats here and elsewhere.

454 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

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Slices of brisket on a plate. — Brisket from Hometown Bar-B-Cue

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Jerk chicken at Peppa's

Founded by Gavin Hussey (nicknamed Peppa) in the ’90s, this storefront produces some of the city’s best Jamaican jerk chicken. And while jerk pork was the standard dish back in Jamaica, jerk chicken is more popular in Brooklyn. Finished over flame, Peppa’s rendition has a charred exterior and vinegar tang. The jerk sauce adds fiery notes of allspice and scotch bonnet pepper.

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738 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226

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A hand wearing a white glove skewers pieces of charred jerk chicken on a grill. — Peppa’s jerk chicken.

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Eater 38 Restaurants Still Open for Top-Notch NYC Eating

Roast beef sandwich at Brennan & Carr

Established in 1938 in Sheepshead Bay when the surrounding area was still farmland, Brennan & Carr provides NYC’s answer to LA’s fabled French dip sandwich. A flavorful pile of beef, awash in its steaming juices layers a kaiser roll. The beefy aroma arises from the sandwich like an early morning fog.

3432 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11229

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A roast beef sandwich drenched with beef broth on a plate is photographed in a cross section. — Roast beef at Brennan & Carr.

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Cannoli at Madonia Bakery

2348 Arthur Ave, Bronx, NY 10458

Filled to order cannolis at this 100 year-old Sicilian bakery are a must, with its not-too-sweet ricotta and flaky shell. Don’t skip other regional favorites like the pane di casa, the ciccola (lard bread), or rainbow cookies, too. Be sure to get there early for plenty to choose from and good people watching.

2348 Arthur Ave, Bronx, NY 10458

Visit Website

A woman in a blue apron fills a small pastry shell with a pastry bag. — Filling the cannoli at Madonia Bros.

Fried chicken at Charles Pan-Fried Chicken

340 W 145th St, New York, NY 10039

Charles Gabriel first started selling his crispy, golden fried chicken on the sidewalks of Amsterdam Avenue before running a food truck and then a small storefront. An Upper West Side location debuted earlier this year, but Gabriel returned to his neighborhood, where he’s still firing up cast-iron skillets for his terrific namesake dish and an expanded menu that includes pulled pork and more sides.

340 W 145th St, New York, NY 10039

Visit Website

A chef at the stove making chicken in a cast-iron. — Making chicken at Charles’ Pan Fried Chicken.

Franks at Gray's Papaya

2090 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

Snappy, all-beef hot dogs and gritty but somehow refreshing fruit drinks are the hallmarks of this Upper West Side old-timer founded by Paul Gray in 1973. It also reflects a distinctive New York City frankfurter that originated a century earlier in Coney Island. Topping choices are limited to mustard, sauerkraut, brown-stewed onions, and ketchup (though true New Yorkers would never use latter condiment).

2090 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

Visit Website

A pair of hot dogs on a red counter with an orange drink. — A pair of franks with a papaya drink at Gray’s.

Cheeseburger at JG Melon

1291 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10021

JG Melon is not the best burger in New York — frankly, not even close. And yet, the old-school haunt is one of the most charming atmospheres — there’s melon-themed decor throughout — to eat a burger across the five boroughs, making this solid cheeseburger a favorite amongst locals and tourists alike. The restaurant stays open late, most days until 3 a.m., but it’s the perfect spot to saddle up for dinner with a martini in tow any time of day.

Open in Google Maps

1291 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10021

Visit Website

The open faced cheeseburger from JG Melon — J.G. Melon’s cheeseburger.

Soup dumplings at Joe's Shanghai

13621 37th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354

Plenty of restaurants serve good soup dumplings, but Joe's is the one that kickstarted New York's obsession with this delicacy when it opened in Flushing in 1994. Filled with a scalding broth, these purse-shaped dumplings became an immediate hit.

Open in Google Maps

13621 37th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354

Visit Website

A wooden steamer basked with white parchment at the base. Eight off-white soup dumplings sit on top of it. — Xiao long bao at Joe’s Shanghai.

Manhattan clam chowder at Grand Central Oyster Bar

89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

This New York institution is better than you remember it, tucked in the bowels of the city’s most comely train station. Try to get a seat at the bar, start with a dozen oysters alongside the city’s namesake soup, a lightly spicy chowder, chock with clams, potatoes, and vegetables.

89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

Visit Website

The entrance to Grand Central Oyster Bar.

Mutton chop at Keens Steakhouse

72 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018

Keens, one of the oldest steakhouses in the country (it opened in 1885), is most famous for its mutton chop. This massive, flavorful cut is well worth a trip to the restaurant, especially with a wedge salad or a side of prime-rib hash. Part of the fun is the clubby, 19th-century ambiance, from the days when Keens was a meeting place for actors and other theater professionals.

Open in Google Maps

72 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018

Visit Website

A white plate placed on a marble table, a silver fork and knife on either side. There’s a salad and a piece of lamb on the white plate. — The mutton chop at Keens Steakhouse.

Al pastor tacos at Los Tacos No. 1

75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Harlem’s Taco Mix may have popularized al pastor in New York City, but Los Tacos No. 1 perfected it. The small chain of Manhattan taquerias, often just called “número uno,” draws lines of tourists and office workers who often order its carne asada and chicken tacos. But pros know to skip those meats and stick to the adobada. The marinated pork is charred on a twirling spit, then sliced to order and hucked into a flour or corn tortilla (both equally good) with salsa, cilantro, onion, and a wedge of pineapple.

75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Visit Website

An overhead photograph of tacos, chips, guacamole, and plastic sides of salsa. — Adobada is a cousin of al pastor.

Egg cream at S&P

174 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

One of New York City’s most quizzical classic dishes is the egg cream, generally available in flavors that run to chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and sometimes coffee. What’s so unusual about it? Despite the name, there’s no egg and no cream in the recipe, just seltzer, whole milk, and a flavoring (U-Bet syrup is the default) titrated with seltzer in a tall glass as a long-handled spoon is twirled. It’s a refreshing beverage that’s all the more enjoyable at the new place that’s already a classic, S&P, the next iteration of the old Eisenberg Sandwich Shop, from the owners of Court Street Grocers.

Open in Google Maps

174 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

Visit Website

Two halves of a sandwich with peanut butter and bacon are stacked against a forest green diner booth. — An egg cream next to a peanut butter and bacon sandwich.

Banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery

401 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

The cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery may have become famous from a cameo in Sex and the City, but locals know to go for the banana pudding instead. The pudding is packed with banana slices, lush vanilla pudding, and vanilla wafers that crumble and squish — the banana flavor is strong in every bite. Multiple locations.

Open in Google Maps

401 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

A paper container of yellow pudding with fragmentary cookies embedded. — The banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery.

Coal-oven pizza at John's of Bleecker Street

278 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

John’s of Bleecker Street was founded by John Sasso in 1929, making it one of the city’s oldest pizzerias, and one of the originators of the city’s original coal-oven style. The pies come in two sizes, smoking hot and dappled with char, with modest strews of ingredients that can be ordered individually, like black olives, ricotta, pepperoni, Italian sausage, crushed garlic, and sliced onions, in addition to very fresh mozzarella of pillowy softness.

278 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

A pizza with sausage and black olives and red sauce — A coal-oven pizza from John’s.

Plain slice at Joe's Pizza

7 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

There are better slices of pizza in New York City, but are any as famous as Joe’s? The original slice shop opened on Carmine Street in 1975, and customers still crowd the small storefront for greasy slices of pizza with simple toppings like sausage and pepperoni. The restaurant now has five locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and two more in Michigan and Florida.

7 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

An overhead photograph of a yellow table with a greasy slice of pizza from Joe’s. — A slice from Joe’s Pizza.

Falafel at Mamoun's

119 Macdougal St, New York, NY, 10012

Mamoun's falafel is inexpensive, filling, and delicious. The original Mamoun's on MacDougal introduced the falafel sandwich to the city in 1971, and it became a mega hit, first with NYU students and hippies, but soon with the general public. Falafel also served as a wedge for the introduction of vegetarian dining in the city. With its abundance of fried chickpea fritters, nutty tasting tahini, and fresh greens, onions, and tomatoes, it redefined a quick bite for New Yorkers.

Open in Google Maps

119 Macdougal St, New York, NY, 10012

Visit Website

The exterior of Mamoun’s Macdougal Street shop, with a brown-and-white striped awning. — The original Mamoun’s is on MacDougal Street.

Pierogi at Veselka

144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Pierogi, or as the Ukrainians call them, varenyky, ranked among NYC’s most iconic foods long before the Russian war against Ukraine prompted diners to line up at Veselka. Besides this storied Ukrainian restaurant in the East Village, other Polish and Eastern European establishments have specialized in these stuffed half-moons of dough, which typically enfold ingredients like potatoes, sauerkraut, cheese, ground pork, and even sweet fruit fillings. Veselka has been serving them since 1954.

144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Visit Website

Pierogies—white crescent-shaped dumplings — that have been pulled out fresh from being boiled. — Veselka’s pierogies hot out of the boiler.

Cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery

189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

The Cronut has become quintessentially New York since its 2013 invention by French pastry chef Dominique Ansel in his Soho bakery. Soon after its birth, the croissant-doughnut hybrid became a viral sensation, spawned countless knockoffs, and attracted long lines. The flaky, layered dough comes filled with cream, and the bakery prepares a new flavor every month. Those in the know will order ahead to cut the line.

189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Visit Website

Circular fried doughnuts sit side-by-side with frosting on top. — Cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery.

Related Maps

Bagel with lox and cream cheese at Russ & Daughters

179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

NYC might have better bagels, but there is no better bagel and lox experience than the one at Russ & Daughters. Four generations of family ownership and over one hundred years of business give this place a certain gravitas, but it's the quality that keeps people coming back.

Open in Google Maps

179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

Bagel and lox sandwich from Russ & Daughters — Bagel with lox and cream cheese at Russ & Daughters.

Pastrami on rye at Katz's Deli

205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Katz's serves New York's favorite pastrami sandwich, a meat central to the city’s carnivorous identity, and indeed it may have originated here. At Katz’s it's not just a humongous pile of pink cured beef, but one in which the flavor is richer and emphatically smokier than other popular versions served around town. It's a dish that New Yorkers have craved and relished for over a hundred years. And this is one of the few places that still cuts it by hand.

Open in Google Maps

205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

A butcher chops up pastrami on a wooden block at Katz’s — Pastrami is king at Katz’s.

Brisket at Hometown Bar-B-Que

454 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

It wasn’t until the ’90s that New York got real Texas barbecue at Stick to Your Ribs in Long Island City. Since then, Hometown Bar-B-Que has stolen the show. The massive Red Hook restaurant is widely considered to be the city’s best barbecue joint, and fans swear by the fatty brisket. It runs at an eye-popping $40 a pound — we know, we know — but it’s plenty filling with a spice-rubbed crust that’s superior to the other smoked meats here and elsewhere.

454 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Visit Website