NYC Eats

Here are some of my favorites, with links to places I've recently visited.

American

• The Dutch: My favorite "classics" on the menu include hot fried chicken with honey butter biscuits, little oyster sandwich, hanger steak with kimchi fried rice, smoked salmon and bagel with soft scrambled egg and trout roe (brunch).  More info
• Hill Country: Texas BBQ.  More info
• The Lobster Place (Cull & Pistol): Get the lobster roll, and try out other fresh seafood too.  More info
• Minetta Tavern: Famous Black Label Burger (although I prefer the Minetta Burger).  More info
• Shake Shack: Burgers (Shack Stack), frozen custard.  More info

Asian (ex-noodles, see Noodles section below)

• Cafe China: Szechuan food in a 1930s Shanghai setting.  Better than most Chinese restaurants in NYC.  More info
• Chikarashi: My personal favorite poké bowl in NYC.  More info
• Hao Noodle and Tea by Madam Zhu's Kitchen: First American branch of a Chinese chain opened by a Sichuan native; slightly upscale feel, tapas/small plate presentation.  More info
• Hakata TonTon: Hot pot (specialty pork collagen broth), grilled pig's feet, Japanese "soul food."  More info
• Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong: Very popularKorean BBQ; delicious cheesy corn and egg cook on the side while meat cooks in the middle of the grill. More info
• Kyo Ya: Japanese kaiseki style menu, but a la carte also an option.  I've actually never done the kaiseki menu because there are so many things I love on the a la carte menu.  My favorite items on the menu include pressed mackerel sushi, sweet potato tempura, and seasonal kamadeki rice (clay pot rice).  Located at 94 E. 7th St.
• Momofuku Ssam Bar: Great spot for large dinner parties -- order the bo ssam (pork shoulder).  For smaller parties, you can order the rotisserie duck, which is also amazing.  Individual portion bo ssam and duck bowls are available for lunch, but it is much more fun and satisfying to go with a group and go to town on the whole pork butt.  More info
• Pinch Chinese: NYC doesn't have Din Tai Fung, but Pinch's chefs hail from DTF Shanghai, and everything from the xiao long bao to the wind sand chicken is great.  More info
• Pocha 32: Must have boodae jungol (aka 'army soup") and watermelon soju.  More info
• Pok Pok: Northern Thai food.  Great spot if you have time to trek out to Brooklyn.  More info
• Sushi Yasuda: My go-to sushi spot; never disappoints.  Highly recommend the sushi matsu menu, and try to get a seat at the sushi bar.  More info
• Tanoshi Sushi: Omakase only (but affordable) sushi bar (also BYOB).  Famous "fun" sushi (not on omakase menu but can be ordered a la carte afterwards) is the Triple X - uni, ikura, and quail egg sushi.  More info
• Xi'an Famous Foods: Xi'an food.  Try the liang pi cold noodles, lamb "burger," lamb pao-mo soup, and any of the pulled noodles.  More info

Brunch

• Buvette: French influence.  More info
• Chalk Point Kitchen: Everything's good, but two thumbs up for the croissant french toast.  More info
• Clinton Street Baking Co: Baked goods galore.  More info
• Egg Shop: Can't have brunch without eggs.  More info
• Jeffrey's Grocery: Nice raw bar and seafood options.  More info
• Maharlika: Filipino; try the sizzling sisig and silog breakfasts, but my favorite is the chicken and ube waffle.  More info
• Midwinter Kitchen: solid farm to table spot; braised steak hash and eggs was excellent.  More info

Cafes

• Bibble and Sip: Cute cafe, but be sure to try the cream puffs (matcha, earl grey).  More info
• Bluestone Lane: One of many Aussie cafes that have popped up; nice to have a flat white or long black on this side of the world.  West Village location has sit down dining.  More info
• Cha'an: Teahouse instead of coffee, but great desserts; I love their earl grey chocolate mochi. More info
• Chalait: Try their green tea beverages (e.g., matcha hot chocolate, matcha latte, etc.).  More info
• Little Collins: Aussie cafe with my favorite avocado smash (see Midtown Lunch for more details).  More info

Fine Dining

• Blue Hill at Stone Barns: Farm to table; there's a Manhattan location, but it's worth the trek out to the Stone Barns location to see the farm (true farm to table!).  More info
• Cafe Boulud: I love that the menu is organized thematically and that you can mix and match and pick items from any theme.  More info
• Daniel: Contemporary French, more formal and fancier version of Cafe Boulud.  More info
• Eleven Madison Park: Seasonal tasting menus; always an experience.  More info
• Gabriel Kreuther: Delicious and beautiful food, but superb service.  We went for my husband's birthday recently, and they went out of their way to make it a special experience.  More info
• Jean-Georges: Tasting menus blending French, American, and Asian influences.  More info
• Per Se: Iconic NYC fine dining; classic French tasting menu.  More info

Italian

• Babbo: High-end Mario Batali joint.  More info
• Lupa: A more casual Batali restaurant.  I love the pastas, especially the bucatini and gnocchi.  More info
• Maialino:  Good for any meal; pastas are great, and also try the suckling pig.  More info
• Marea: Italian seafood.  More info
• Motorino: Simple but delicious pizzas.  If you go for brunch, try the brunch egg pizza too.  More info
• Roberta's: My favorite is the bee sting pizza.  More info

Mediterranean

• Avra Estiatorio: Nice Greek restaurant with fresh fish, perfectly grilled octopus, addicting spreads with pita.  More info
• Estiatorio Milos: High end Greek, seafood, fried zucchini (Milos special).  More info
• Greek Kitchen: Casual joint with juicy meat platters.  More info
• Nur: My new favorite; deliciously delicate and innovative tapas and large plates for sharing.  More info

Mexican

• Cosme: Dinner better than brunch; be sure to get the duck carnitas.  More info
• La Esquina: 3 separate but joined spaces; there's the Taqueria, the Brasserie, and the Cafe.  More info
• Los Tacos No. 1: Solid stand inside Chelsea Market.  More info
• Tacombi: Lots of tacos and fresh juices.  More info

Midtown Lunch

• Antico Noé: Italian paninis.  More info
• BentOn: Japanese bento boxes and daily sushi bowls.  More info
• Great Northern Food Hall at Grand Central: Scandinavian fare.  More info
• Kimchi: Try the kimchi fried rice, bibimbap, stews, or short rib burger.  More info
• Little Collins: Aussie cafe; my favorite avocado smash, great chicken and squash salad, and assortment of sandwiches (my favorite is shortrib sandwich).  More info
• Nikai (2nd floor of Treehaus): Tuna poké bowl, spicy tuna burrito.  Located 830 3rd Ave.
• Num Pang: Cambodian sandwiches; the pulled pork and barbecue brisket sandwiches are popular, but my favorite is actually the catfish sandwich (I promise it's amazing).  More info 
• Omar's Kitchen: Mediterranean platters and pita sandwiches; my favorite is shawarma platter with eggplant and hummus sides.  More info
• Pokéworks: Build your own poké bowl, or pick one of their signatures.  More info
• Urbanspace Vanderbilt: Food hall close to Grand Central; vendors include Roberta's, Red Hook Lobster, Delaney Chicken, Dough.  More info
• Rotation of food trucks on 47th St. between Lexington and Park Ave (including Korilla, Schnitzel Truck, and others).

Noodles

• Biang: Sister restaurant of Xi'an Famous Foods.  More info
• Hide Chan: Great variety of ramen and other appetizers (e.g., cheese dumplings) without the hour-long wait.  More info
• Ippudo: Honestly, not my favorite ramen, but there are many other die-hard fans so I included it here anyway.  More info
• Momofuku Noodle Bar: Early entrant into the NYC ramen scene, and I still think they have the best pork buns.  More info
• The Tang: Chinese comfort noodles with great appetizers too; enjoyed the classic ZJM (炸醬麵 zha jiang mian) and MJM (麻醬麵 sesame noodles).   More info
• Totto Ramen: Another classic favorite ramen place that uses chicken broth.   More info
• TsuRuTonTan: lots and lots of big bowls of udon.  More info

Quintessential New York

• Ess-A-Bagel: My go-to bagel spot; try the everything bagel with whitefish salad.  More info
• The Halal Guys: Aka "chicken and rice" although you want the combo (chicken + lamb) platter.  More info
• Katz's Delicatessen: Pastrami sandwiches.  More info
• Russ & Daughters: Great selection of smoked fish for your bagels, and the latest addition *drumroll*...babka ice cream sandwiches.  More info
• Sadelle's: Fish platters and unlimited bagels = win, but they also have amazing fried french toast, sticky buns, and extra chocolatey babka.  More info

Tapas

• Casa Mono: This place never disappoints; small space so make sure you make reservations early.  More info
• Tia Pol: My other favorite tapas spot.  More info

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Sweets

• 10Below Ice Cream: Thai ice cream rolls.  More info
• Ample Hills Creamery:  Great ice cream, but try the cones too (classics pints also available at Whole Foods).  More info
• Breads Bakery: Get the babka.  You won't be disappointed.  More info
• Cafemarie:  Finally a place with real beignets!  (Haven't tried any other food or coffee, but beignets are decent.)  Located 120 MacDougal St.
• Dominique Ansel Bakery: Obviously famous for cronuts (pre-order 2 weeks out and skip the early morning alarm and line), but I also recommend the DKA, cookie shots, and frozen s'mores.  More info
• Dough: Love the Salted Chocolate Caramel, Cafe Au Lait, and Mocha Almond Crunch of the classic flavors, and plenty of delicious rotating flavors.  More info
• Doughnut Plant: The doughnut shop that kicked off the doughnut craze, unique for their square filled doughnuts (so every bite has filling and not just a gloop in the middle).  My favorite filled doughnut is the peanut butter and blackberry jam.  More info
• Grace Street: Cute cafe in K-town; make sure you get the hodduk (Korean donut filled with cinnamon-brown sugar syrup and walnuts).  More info
• Grom: Can't go wrong with gelato; my favorite flavors are still the Crema di Grom and Cioccolato Extranoir.  More info
• Ice & Vice: Inventive ice cream flavors + cones.  More info
• Il Laboratorio del Gelato: Another solid gelato spot.  More info
• Lady M: Known for their crepe cakes, but also try the chocolate chess...or really anything at all.  More info
• Laduree: Gold standard for macarons.  More info
• Levain Bakery: Chewy, humongous cookies; chocolate walnut is my favorite but all 4 flavors are good.  More info
• Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream: Fresh, exciting flavors; I'm a chocolate lover but my favorite flavors here are green tea pistachio and Vietnamese coffee...that's how good they are.  More info
• Snowdays: Taiwanese snow ice (similar to shaved ice but fluffier and creamier).  More info
• Two Little Red Hens: Classic cupcake shop; try the Brooklyn Blackout Cake if you like chocolate.  More info
• Wafels and Dinges: Belgium waffles; be sure to try the liege wafel, and perhaps some speculoos to go on top.  More info

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Night Out

• Bon Chon: Korean fried chicken and soju.  More info
• Brandy Library: For the brandy, whiskey, (brown) spirits lovers.  More info
• Employees Only: Good late night food selection too, and a psychic.  More info
• PDT (Please Don't Tell): Hidden behind a phone booth in Crif Dogs. More info
• Raines Law Room: Speakeasy with great cocktails; ask them to make you a custom drink.  More info