There’s never a dull meal in New York City. One of the best things to do in NYC is eat, but just a disclaimer; it gets very expensive very quickly. From 5-star restaurants to local delis, the abundance of choices is sometimes overwhelming, but I’ll share some of my favorites for different occasions.
Spice is a chain Thai food restaurant that has 10 locations scattered in Manhattan and a few others in Brooklyn and Queens. My friends and I love Spice and it’s out go-to restaurant when we can’t pick between 4 new ones. My favorite meal from spice is their famous Black Noodles which come in a gold bowl making me feel like it should be way more expensive than it is. The moderately price restaurant offers a great vibe especially for dinner where the lights are dim, and music is loud. A meal varies but it is usually around $20 without alcoholic drinks. The best location to eat Spice is at E 13th and Union Square West.
As far as Delis go, there’s one on every corner in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. To get a good deli, it’s common knowledge NOT to go to Manhattan (those are only good for alcohol). The delis in Manhattan are typically overpriced, and as New Yorkers would say they don’t ‘hit’ which just means they’re not as good. I couldn’t tell you exactly why they’re not as good, but they’re not. A very common order is a bacon egg and cheese, and in NYC it’s not a morning sandwich, it’s an all-day everyday sandwich. There’s a joke about New Yorkers saying it so fast that it has become a word, you can’t miss hearing “Lemme get uhh baconeggncheese” if you visit NYC.
A very famous event that happens every year in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is Smorgasburg. Smorgasburg is an outdoor food festive which lasts from early April to late November every Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Vendors from all over the city come out and set up booths. It’s a big tourist attraction but locals go often as well. There’re such unique foods that you can try at Smorgasburg and the vendors get better and better each year. My favorite from last summer was the Kombucha Pops. Though it varies, you can expect to spend around $10 for each food item you choose to eat. Smorgasburg a great way to taste a lot of what NYC has to offer in one day.
If you can splurge on a good meal with an even better view, my all-time suggestion is the Central Park Loeb-Boathouse. The Boathouse is directly next to the lake in central park and is a truly amazing experience. During the spring and summer there is open outdoor seating and the view is incredible. During the winter the lake is frosted over and Central Park is a snow wonderland. Whichever season, the boathouse is an amazing experience and the food is unbeatable. Expect to spend a few hundred, but it’s worth it for special occasions!
These few dining options cannot even begin to explain NYC food, but the best way to get a real grasp of it is to experience it for yourself. With so many options, there’s something for everyone and whatever you do you cannot go wrong with a bacon egg and cheese for $3.
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