This is a sponsored post.
As the city that never sleeps, it’s no surprise that New York has a thriving food and drink scene, with everything from burger bars and street food trucks, to high-end restaurants and hotels, dishing up an Instagrammable array of local food faves around the clock.
While many of us only visit New York for a short city break or long weekend stay, most travellers will agree that no culinary tour of the US is complete without a trip to the Big Apple.
So, with limited time available to eat out in New York, which foods are an absolute must-try? What must you absolutely ensure you find time to cram into your mouth while in New York?
What to eat in New York
New York bagels
I still remember my first New York bagel – and I don’t mean the brand you can buy in UK supermarkets! It was my first ever trip outside the UK, and I was visiting New York for a few days with my sixth form college.
We stayed at a hotel in Times Square and, as our hotel didn’t serve breakfast, most mornings, we’d pop to the bagel shop nearby and treat ourselves to a bagel. These weren’t just any old bagels, though. A deep bronze in colour, these bagels had thin, crisp crusts and dense, pillowy centres.
What’s more, they’d be packed with all kinds of fillings. My favourite was salmon with cream cheese, known locally as a lox sandwich, and often served with scallion cream cheese.
Can’t wait to visit New York to try an authentic bagel? Get your hands on an authentic New York bagel recipe.
Where to try it: Russ & Daughter’s (with branches in Brooklyn and Manhattan – an ideal lunch stop if you’ll be visiting the Empire State Building); Murray’s Bagels (Greenwich Village)
Sweet treats/desserts
From cookies and cup cakes, to puddings and pancakes – with all kinds of other sugary treats in between – New York is paradise for anyone with a sweet tooth.
New York’s dessert shops and ice cream parlours have become famous the whole world over, with eye-popping images of super-sized ice cream sandwiches, iconic bubble waffles and the like, regularly doing the rounds on Instagram.
Here are just a few of the scrumptious sweet treats worth tasting while in New York:
- Cookies (half-cake, half- vanilla and chocolate frosting, the Black and White Cookie is a favourite among locals)
- Waffles (including the iconic bubble waffle cones)
- Pancakes
- Ice cream (and ice cream sandwiches)
- Gelato
- Pie (this time, I’m not referring to pizza)
Where to eat it: LeVain Bakery (various locations, but W. 74th Street is the original shop; Sugar Sweet Sunshine (Lower Eastside) – by no means an exhaustive list!
Pizza
Dubbed “the world capital of pizzadom” by Eater NYC, visiting New York without eating pizza (or ‘pie’, as it’s often referred to here) is akin to committing cardinal sin for foodies. It really would be rude not to!
The birthplace of American pizza, New York’s first ever pizza parlour was opened by Gennuarado Lombardi on Spring Street in 1905.
New York’s food scene stretches well beyond Midtown and Lower Manhattan, however. If you have the time, head uptown to the Bronx’s Arthur Avenue – the city’s real Little Italy – for classic Italian bites and local favourites like fresh mozzarella, cured meats, and authentic red-sauce pizza before you hop back into the subway.
The pizzas in New York are so big, they’re often served by the slice; just one slice could be as big as your head!The topping choices are endless, too. Make sure you go hungry!
Where to eat it: Lucali (Brooklyn) Di Fara (Brooklyn; Williamsburg) – again, this is far from an exhaustive list!
Burgers
Like pizza, burgers are one of those foods that you simply HAVE to eat when visiting New York.
Whether you opt to dine at the city’s favourite burger chain, ShakeShack – originally started from a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park, and now a global fast food name – or support one of New York’s independent burger bars, the chances are, you’ll be in for one of the best burger experiences you’ve ever had.
Where to eat it: ShakeShack (various branches); Minetta Tavern (Greenwich Village)
Ramen
Although you mightn’t expect it, New York is an up-and-coming spot for authentic ramen; a popular Japanese noodle broth or soup, infused with different flavours and finished with different toppings.
While I didn’t get to taste any ramen when I visited New York 15+ years ago, check out Secret NYC’s guide to the best ramen bowls to try in New York to get the lowdown from a local.
Where to try it: Ippudo Ramen for a traditional ramen (East Village, Times Square); Ivan Ramen for a more creative approach (Lower East Side; Gotham West Market)
These are just a few ideas of what to get your teeth stuck into when visiting New York; however, this is by no means an ultimate list of must-try New York foods. Which foods would be on your bucket list to try when visiting New York? Leave a comment to let me know.
This is a sponsored post.