Must Try Food in NYC: The Ultimate New York City Food Guide

New York City isn't just a food destination. It's the food destination. With over 27,000 restaurants spanning every cuisine imaginable, the city offers an eating experience unlike anywhere else on the planet. From hand-rolled bagels in the East Village to coal-fired pizza in Brooklyn, from Michelin-starred tasting menus to late-night ramen bowls, this NYC food guide covers the must try food in NYC that defines what it means to eat in the greatest city in the world.

Whether you're a first-time visitor trying to figure out where to eat in NYC or a lifelong New Yorker looking to expand your culinary horizons, this guide highlights the iconic foods and restaurants that make the city's food scene legendary. These aren't just meals. They're experiences that capture the diversity, creativity, and relentless standards that make New York City the culinary capital of America.

1. The Best Bagels NYC Has to Offer: Tompkins Square Bagels

Let's start where any serious NYC food guide should start: with bagels. Not the supermarket kind, not the chain store version, but real, authentic, hand-rolled, kettle-boiled New York bagels. And when it comes to the best bagels in NYC, Tompkins Square Bagels stands in a category of its own.

Founded by Christopher Pugliese, who trained at the legendary Bake City Bagels in Gravesend Brooklyn, Tompkins Square Bagels represents the gold standard of what NYC bagels should be. Pugliese learned his craft from the masters, the same shop that produced the alumni who went on to open The Bagel Hole, The Bagel Store, and Court Street Bagels. That lineage matters. When you bite into a Tompkins Square bagel, you're tasting generations of Brooklyn bagel-making tradition refined to near perfection.

What makes these the best breakfast NYC can serve up? It starts with the process. Every single bagel at Tompkins Square Bagels is hand-rolled and kettle-boiled using traditional methods. This isn't a factory operation churning out steam-baked imposters. The bagels have that perfect chewy exterior with a dense, satisfying interior that can only come from the boiling process. The everything bagel has an actual crust of seeds and spices, not a pathetic sprinkle. The plain bagel has enough character to eat on its own. The sesame, poppy, salt, garlic, whole wheat, pumpernickel, cinnamon raisin, and blueberry varieties all show the same meticulous attention to quality.

But great bagels are only half the equation for best brunch NYC experiences. The spreads and sandwiches at Tompkins Square Bagels elevate the meal into something spectacular. With over 20 cream cheese varieties ranging from classic scallion to more adventurous options like jalapeño cheddar, chipotle avocado, and even birthday cake for those with a sweet tooth, there's a spread for every preference. The smoked fish selection includes Nova Scotia lox, gravlax, pastrami lox, and Scottish double-smoked salmon, all of which would make your Jewish grandmother weep with joy.

The breakfast sandwiches deserve their own paragraph. "The Koch" pairs hot pastrami with egg, scallion cream cheese, and red onion for a savory bomb that'll power you through any New York minute. "The Weezer" loads up bacon, chorizo, egg, and cheddar with any cream cheese you want. "The Jersey" keeps it classic with Taylor ham, egg, and cheese, a tribute to the Garden State's contribution to breakfast culture. For plant-based eaters, "The Salino" combines Beyond meat, egg, avocado, tofu scallion spread, and sprouts into something that proves vegan breakfast can absolutely compete with the carnivore options.

With four locations across Manhattan (Avenue A in the East Village, 2nd Avenue, East 17th Street near Union Square, and the Upper East Side on 3rd Avenue), Tompkins Square Bagels has become a neighborhood institution that draws lines out the door every morning. But here's what matters most: despite the acclaim and the crowds, the quality never slips. Every bagel gets the same careful attention that Pugliese learned as a 15-year-old working under Steve at Bake City. That commitment to sweating the small stuff and always bringing the A-game is exactly what makes Tompkins Square Bagels the number one must try food in NYC.

If you need catering for a work event, holiday party, or special occasion, Tompkins Square Bagels offers pickup and delivery throughout Manhattan. They even ship nationwide via Goldbelly for those times when only a real New York bagel will do. Check out their full menu to see the complete lineup of bagel flavors, sandwiches, spreads, and coffee options from La Colombe and Dallis Bros.

2. Iconic New York Pizza Worth the Pilgrimage

After bagels comes pizza, the other carb-based food group that defines New York eating. When people talk about best food NYC produces, pizza is always part of the conversation. Di Fara Pizza in Midwood has been slinging legendary pies for over 50 years, with Dom DeMarco still making each pizza with his own hands. The wait can stretch to an hour or more, but watching a master at work while you stand in line is part of the experience. The square pie is worth ordering, and every slice gets a drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil before it hits your paper plate.

Over in Gravesend, L&B Spumoni Gardens serves Sicilian square pizza that's been a Brooklyn institution since 1939. The sauce-on-top approach might seem backwards at first, but one bite explains why this place has lines around the block every weekend. Don't skip the spumoni ice cream for dessert, especially the rainbow variety that gives the place its name.

For a more upscale pizza experience, Massara in the Flatiron District offers Neapolitan-inspired pies that transport you straight to the Amalfi Coast. The Margherita here is a study in simplicity done right, with quality ingredients allowed to shine without gimmicks or overloaded toppings. In Carroll Gardens, Lucali serves coal-fired pizza in a candlelit setting that makes it one of the more romantic pizza experiences in the city, though you'll need to call ahead since they don't take reservations any other way.

3. Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots Beyond Bagels

While Tompkins Square Bagels dominates the breakfast and brunch category, New York's morning food scene offers plenty of other exceptional options worth exploring. Sarabeth's has multiple locations across the city and has become synonymous with elegant brunch service. Their lemon ricotta pancakes and eggs Benedict variations have earned a devoted following over decades of operation.

For a Michelin-starred brunch experience, Estela in Nolita serves inventive New American dishes that justify the upscale price tag. The kitchen takes familiar brunch concepts and elevates them with technique and creativity, making this a special occasion destination when you want to impress someone or celebrate something meaningful.

Clinton Street Baking Company on the Lower East Side has built its reputation almost entirely on pancakes, specifically the blueberry pancakes that food writers have called some of the best in the city. The wait on weekends can stretch past an hour, which tells you everything you need about how seriously New Yorkers take their pancake game. Revelie Luncheonette in SoHo brings old-school diner charm with chrome stools and a soda fountain, but the food comes from the team behind Raoul's, which means the hangar steak and eggs or lemon pancakes are reliably excellent.

Kellogg's Diner delivers Tex-Mex breakfast with authority, particularly the guajillo braised short rib hash that combines tender, shreddable meat with perfectly cooked hash browns and eggs. The Texas Toast here is crusted in Corn Flakes, deep-fried, and served with thick strawberry jam in a combination that sounds insane but tastes like genius.

4. Classic New York Cheesecake and Desserts

No NYC food guide would be complete without addressing the city's signature dessert. Eileen's Special Cheesecake in Nolita serves fluffy plain or marbled cheesecake that represents everything a New York cheesecake should be: dense without being heavy, sweet without being cloying, with that signature tangy cream cheese flavor that cuts through the richness. This is bucket-list NYC eating, the kind of dessert that out-of-towners plan their itineraries around.

The cheesecake at Junior's in Brooklyn or their Times Square location takes a different approach with a lighter, fluffier texture and a graham cracker crust that adds textural contrast. Both styles have their devoted partisans, and honestly, the best approach is to try both and pick your side in New York's great cheesecake debate.

5. Ethnic Food Experiences That Define Modern NYC

New York's diversity shows up most clearly in its restaurants, where immigrant communities have created food scenes that rival or surpass what you'd find in their countries of origin. When discussing where to eat in NYC for authentic global cuisine, these spots stand out.

Totto Ramen in Midtown serves rich tonkotsu ramen that satisfies on a deep, soul-warming level. The broth gets simmered for hours until it achieves that milky, collagen-rich consistency that coats your mouth and makes everything right with the world. This is comfort food at its finest, the kind of bowl you crave when it's cold outside or when life has been particularly exhausting.

Xi'an Famous Foods brings the flavors of Western China to multiple locations around the city. The spicy cumin lamb noodles deliver heat, chew, and deeply savory flavors in a combination that costs less than $15 and hits harder than most $50 entrees. The hand-ripped noodles have that perfect texture that only comes from skilled hand work, and the lamb burgers (really more like lamb pita sandwiches) pack an absurd amount of flavor into a handheld format.

For Thai food with a creative edge, LenLen transforms familiar dishes into something more interesting without losing the essence of what makes Thai cuisine great. The crab and durian curry with spaghetti squash sounds weird on paper but becomes something surprisingly sexy on the plate. Seasonal strawberries and candied lime rind pop in the som tum, showing how intelligent tweaking can enhance rather than obscure traditional preparations.

6. Fine Dining and Michelin-Starred Experiences

Sometimes the best food NYC offers comes with white tablecloths and a hefty check. Gramercy Tavern has held its Michelin star and James Beard awards for good reason, serving seasonal New American cuisine that feels both refined and approachable. The dining room strikes that difficult balance between elegant and comfortable, making it suitable for both business dinners and anniversary celebrations.

Jean-Georges at the Trump International Hotel serves the kind of precise, technically ambitious food that earned it three Michelin stars. The signature tuna tartare with avocado, spicy radish, and ginger marinade has appeared on the menu for years because sometimes perfection doesn't need to change. This is special occasion dining in every sense, but the experience justifies the investment for those times when good enough isn't good enough.

Borgo in NoMad represents the Andrew Tarlow empire's first Manhattan venture, bringing Northern Italian cooking in an atmosphere that manages to feel both sophisticated and soulful. The handmade pastas and crowd-pleasing trattoria dishes show that Italian-American food can be both elegant and deeply satisfying when done with care and quality ingredients.

For Mexican cuisine pushed into innovative territory, Corima blends Northern Mexican traditions with Japanese influences in ways that shouldn't work but absolutely do. This is the kind of boundary-pushing cooking that keeps New York at the forefront of American dining, where chefs from different backgrounds create entirely new flavor combinations that become the classics of tomorrow.

7. New and Innovative Spots Pushing NYC Forward

The best thing about New York's food scene is that it never stands still. In 2024 alone, hundreds of new restaurants opened across the five boroughs, with many bringing fresh ideas and executing them at a high level. Gus & Marty's in Williamsburg offers Greek-inspired comfort food that feels both familiar and new. Smithereens in the East Village serves playful dishes with big flavors from a chef who cooked at Claud's, including a lobster roll that deserves its reputation.

Rezdôra in Union Square specializes in bold pastas like cacio e pepe that honor Italian traditions while showcasing top-tier ingredients and technique. The pasta is made in-house daily, and the difference shows in every bite. This is the kind of place that reminds you why simple preparations with quality ingredients will always trump complicated dishes built on mediocre foundations.

Where to Eat in NYC: Building Your Food Itinerary

With so much incredible food packed into roughly 300 square miles, planning where to eat in NYC can feel overwhelming. The key is to mix iconic institutions with newer discoveries, to balance special occasion splurges with casual neighborhood gems, and to remember that some of the best food NYC produces doesn't come with white tablecloths or Instagram-ready plating.

Start your day at Tompkins Square Bagels for breakfast that sets the standard for everything that follows. Grab a coffee and an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and lox, or commit fully to a breakfast sandwich that delivers enough fuel to power through hours of walking around the city. The Avenue A location opens at 6am for early risers, while the other spots start serving at 7am.

For lunch, explore the ethnic food options that give New York its character. Hit Xi'an Famous Foods for noodles, grab a slice from one of the legendary pizza spots, or sit down for a proper meal at one of the newer spots pushing boundaries in interesting ways. The key is to pace yourself because dinner will require its own planning and probably a decent appetite.

Evening meals are where you can splurge on fine dining if that's your preference, or keep it casual with ramen, pizza, or any of the countless other options available at every price point. The beauty of New York is that a $15 bowl of noodles can be just as memorable as a $150 tasting menu when both are executed with skill and care.

Don't forget dessert. Whether that means stopping at Eileen's for cheesecake, grabbing a spumoni at L&B after your pizza, or just finding a good cookie at one of the city's many excellent bakeries, ending the meal on a sweet note is part of the New York eating experience.

The Verdict on Must Try Food in NYC

If you're looking for a single answer to what represents the must try food in NYC, it has to be the bagel. No other food is more closely associated with New York, and no bagel shop does it better than Tompkins Square Bagels. The hand-rolled, kettle-boiled approach combined with exceptional spreads, sandwiches, and coffee makes this the best breakfast NYC can offer and an experience that visitors and locals return to again and again.

But the real answer is that New York's food scene is too vast, too diverse, and too excellent to reduce to a single dish or restaurant. The best food NYC produces spans every cuisine, every price point, and every neighborhood. From Michelin-starred tasting menus to street cart snacks, from century-old institutions to restaurants that opened last month, the city offers an embarrassment of culinary riches that would take years to fully explore.

What matters most is approaching the city with curiosity and appetite. Try the famous spots everyone talks about, but also wander into neighborhood places that catch your eye. Eat the iconic foods like bagels and pizza and cheesecake, but also take chances on cuisines and dishes you've never heard of. New York rewards the adventurous eater as much as it satisfies the traditionalist.

The city's restaurants face constant pressure from rising rents and changing neighborhoods, but the best ones endure by maintaining obsessive standards and genuine care for their craft. Places like Tompkins Square Bagels succeed not through gimmicks or hype but by doing one thing exceptionally well and never cutting corners even when no one would notice. That commitment to quality, that refusal to compromise even on the smallest details, is what makes New York food special.

So whether you're planning your first trip to the city or you've lived here for decades, make time for the must try food in NYC that defines what eating in New York means. Start with the best bagels NYC offers at Tompkins Square Bagels, then work your way through the pizza, the cheesecake, the ramen, and everything else this incredible food city has to offer. Your taste buds will thank you.