While I may have only lived in New York City for a few weeks now, I have been here many, many times in my life, and trust me when I say I pretty much feel like a true New Yorker now. One of the great things about the city is the incredible food. Any type of food you could possibly be craving - you can easily find it in NYC. There are certainly some types of food that New York City is known for, like pizza and delis, because let’s be real, pretty much any pizza place you go to or any deli you go to is going to be amazing! However, NYC has a few restaurants that are just ICONIC. Whether you live in the city, or are just visiting, you definitely have to try these restaurants at least once.
Here are my list of must-try iconic NYC restaurants:
Ellen’s Stardust Diner
This restaurant located near Times Square is one of my all time favorites in the city. It’s inspired by 1950s American diners, and the decor is just perfect. And if that’s not enough to get you in the door to try it out, then just know, you aren’t just getting lunch or dinner, you are getting a meal and an incredible show every time you go here! Their wait staff doubles as singers who perform, right then and there as you eat - and it makes for such a fun and unique dining experience!
Location: 1650 Broadway, New York, NY
Katz Delicatessen
And of course I just had to include Katz Deli, located on the Lower East Side, on this list because it truly is ICONIC. This kosher cafeteria style deli is known for their incredible sandwiches. But what they might be even more well known for is their cameo in the classic film When Harry Met Sally. Katz deli is where the couple is eating lunch in the “I’ll have what she’s having” scene. And if that doesn’t make Katz Deli worth a visit, I don’t know what will!
Location: 205 E Hudson St, New York, NY
Russian Tea Room
Next up is the Russian Tea Room located in Midtown. The Russuan Tea Room is definitely a little different than the other picks on this list, because it is just so fancy and elegant - not a place you would visit on the regular, but perfect for a very special occasion! While it is definitely on the expensive side, it’s just a classic NYC restaurant - the epitome of luxury and elegance.
Location: 150 E 57th St, New York, NY
Momofuku Noodle Bar
Another iconic NYC establishment is the Momofuku Noodle Bar which is located in the East Village (and also Columbus Circle). This is an iconic restaurant in NYC as it helped to create the popularity of ramen and asian cuisine in the city. And unlike the last restaurant on this list, Momofuku Noodle Bar is super inexpensive!
Location: 171 1st Ave, New York, NY
Shake Shack
And of course I had to include Shake Shack, because again, it is another famous NYC establishment. Shake Shack’s are located all over the city, and thank god, because they are SO good. I might even go as far to say Shake Shack is the best fast food burger you’ll ever find!
Location: all over NYC
Lombardi’s
Lastly, we’ve got Lombardi’s, located in Nolita. Nolita (North of Little Italy) has some of the greatest pizza places in the city, and it is home to an iconic restaurant - Lombardi’s. They’ve got delicious coal fired thin crust pizza that is just a must-have when in New York City! And you know Lombardi’s is an iconic NYC establishment because they’ve been around since 1905 - so as time has proven they must be delicious!
Location: 32 Spring St, New York, NY