16 Legendary New York City Foods You Absolutely Need To Try (And Where To Get Them)
New York City isn’t just a place you visit, it’s a place you taste. Every neighborhood holds a dish that tells a story, every block hides a flavor that’s earned its spot in the city’s culinary hall of fame.
Bagels with silky lox, blistered pizza slices, towering pastrami sandwiches, sizzling street-cart classics, these foods didn’t just become iconic; they became part of the city’s identity. If you want to understand NYC the delicious way, this list is your personal roadmap. Come hungry.
1. Bagel With Lox
Nothing screams New York morning quite like biting into a chewy bagel piled high with silky cream cheese and buttery smoked salmon. Russ & Daughters has been slinging this Jewish deli classic since 1914, making them absolute experts at the perfect lox-to-schmear ratio.
Your first bite delivers a symphony of flavors: salty fish, tangy cream cheese, briny capers, and sharp onions all dancing together. The bagel itself—boiled then baked—has that signature chewy crust and soft interior that makes NYC bagels unbeatable.
Pro tip: go early on weekends to avoid the line snaking out the door!
2. Classic New York Slice
Forget fancy toppings and gourmet nonsense—a proper New York slice keeps it beautifully simple. Joe’s Pizza has been serving up triangular perfection since 1975, and celebrities and pizza pilgrims alike make the Greenwich Village trek for good reason.
The slice is big enough to fold in half (the only acceptable way to eat it, by the way). Gooey mozzarella stretches with every bite while the thin, crispy crust supports its cheesy cargo without getting soggy.
Grab a napkin because grease spots are basically badges of honor here!
3. Sicilian SoHo Square
Prince Street Pizza took the classic Sicilian square and turned it into an Instagram-famous masterpiece with their signature SoHo Square. Unlike its thinner cousin, this thick, fluffy slice comes topped with pepperoni cups that curl up into crispy little grease bowls.
The bottom crust gets almost fried in the pan, creating a crunchy golden base that contrasts perfectly with the airy, bread-like interior. Those pepperoni cups collect pools of spicy oil that add flavor bombs with every bite.
Warning: one slice is basically a full meal!
4. Pastrami On Rye
Walking into Katz’s Delicatessen feels like stepping into a time machine set to 1888. Their pastrami on rye isn’t just a sandwich—it’s a skyscraper of hand-sliced, peppery meat that’s been cured, smoked, and steamed to tender perfection.
The meat literally melts on your tongue while the tangy rye bread and spicy mustard cut through the richness. You’ll need both hands and probably a few napkins to tackle this beast, which easily weighs a pound.
Fun fact: this is where Meg Ryan filmed that famous scene!
5. New York Cheesecake
Junior’s has been baking cheesecake dreams since 1950, and their recipe remains Brooklyn’s sweetest secret. This isn’t your light, fluffy Japanese cheesecake—New York style means dense, rich, and unapologetically indulgent.
Each forkful delivers creamy, tangy sweetness balanced by a buttery graham cracker crust that holds everything together. The texture is smooth as silk, and whether you choose plain or topped with strawberries, you’re in for serious dessert satisfaction.
One slice easily serves two people, but we won’t judge if you finish it solo!
6. Black & White Cookie
Don’t let the name fool you—this isn’t technically a cookie but rather a soft, cake-like treat with personality split right down the middle. William Greenberg Desserts has perfected this New York classic, making them since 1946 with the same careful attention to icing symmetry.
The vanilla side tastes like sweetened nostalgia while the chocolate half brings deeper, richer notes. The cookie base stays moist and tender, somewhere between sponge cake and a traditional cookie.
Always eat both sides together for the full black-and-white experience!
7. Boardwalk Hot Dog
Since 1916, Nathan’s Famous has been the undisputed king of Coney Island hot dogs, serving millions of franks with a side of ocean breeze and nostalgia. Their all-beef hot dogs get grilled to snappy perfection, developing those beautiful char marks that add smoky flavor.
Pile on the free toppings—spicy brown mustard, tangy sauerkraut, and their famous onion sauce—and you’ve got summer in a bun. Eating one while strolling the boardwalk is practically a New York rite of passage.
They host the famous hot dog eating contest here every Fourth of July!
8. Porterhouse Steak
Peter Luger Steak House has been Brooklyn’s temple of beef since 1887, and their dry-aged porterhouse is basically carnivore heaven on a plate. This massive cut combines both strip and tenderloin, giving you two steaks in one glorious package.
The outside gets beautifully charred under extreme heat while the inside stays perfectly pink and juicy. They serve it pre-sliced in its own sizzling butter, so every piece is fork-tender and ridiculously flavorful.
Cash or debit only—they famously don’t accept credit cards, so come prepared!
9. Chicken Over Rice
What started as a single food cart in 1990 became a New York phenomenon—The Halal Guys turned late-night street food into legendary status. Their chicken over rice combo features perfectly seasoned grilled chicken chunks piled over fragrant yellow rice with crisp lettuce and tomatoes.
The magic happens when you drizzle their famous white sauce (a secret recipe) and fiery red hot sauce over everything. Sweet, savory, creamy, and spicy flavors collide in every forkful.
Grab extra napkins because this gets gloriously messy fast!
10. Falafel Sandwich
Mamoun’s Falafel has been a Greenwich Village institution since 1971, serving up Middle Eastern comfort food that’s saved countless late-night cravings. Their falafel balls get fried to crispy-outside, fluffy-inside perfection, then stuffed into warm pita with fresh vegetables.
Creamy tahini sauce ties everything together while pickles add tangy crunch. Despite being completely vegetarian, this sandwich is so satisfying and flavorful that even dedicated meat-eaters become instant converts.
At under five dollars, it’s also one of the best food bargains in Manhattan!
11. Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie
Levain Bakery’s cookies aren’t just big—they’re absolutely massive, weighing six ounces of pure indulgence. Their chocolate chip walnut version comes out of the oven with a crispy golden exterior while the inside stays almost undercooked and gooey.
Chunks of dark chocolate and crunchy walnuts hide throughout, creating texture surprises in every bite. These cookies are best enjoyed warm when the chocolate is still melty and the cookie practically falls apart in your hands.
One cookie could honestly be dessert for two people, but sharing is completely optional!
12. Banana Pudding
Magnolia Bakery turned humble banana pudding into a cult-favorite dessert that people line up for at multiple NYC locations. Layers of creamy vanilla pudding alternate with fresh banana slices and vanilla wafers that soften to cake-like texture.
The top gets crowned with fluffy whipped cream and extra wafer crumbs for textural contrast. It tastes like childhood comfort food elevated to gourmet status—sweet but not cloying, rich but somehow light.
Grab a spoon and dig deep to get all the layers in one perfect bite!
13. Pierogi
Veselka has been serving Ukrainian soul food in the East Village since 1954, and their pierogi are little pockets of Eastern European comfort. These half-moon dumplings get stuffed with various fillings—potato and cheese being the classic—then boiled and pan-fried until golden.
Caramelized onions and a dollop of sour cream add sweetness and tang to balance the rich, starchy filling. The dough achieves that perfect balance between tender and slightly crispy on the edges.
Open 24 hours, so pierogi cravings can strike at any time!
14. Soup Dumplings
Joe’s Shanghai brought Shanghai-style soup dumplings to New York, creating devoted fans who brave long waits for these delicate treasures. Each dumpling contains seasoned pork and a pocket of hot, savory broth that somehow stays trapped inside the thin wrapper.
The trick is carefully lifting one with your chopsticks, taking a tiny bite, and slurping the soup before eating the rest. Burn your tongue at least once—it’s practically a requirement for soup dumpling rookies.
Dip them in black vinegar with ginger slivers for authentic flavor enhancement!
15. ShackBurger
What began as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park evolved into Shake Shack, now a global empire that started right here in 2004. Their signature ShackBurger features a juicy Angus beef patty topped with melted cheese, crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, and their secret ShackSauce.
The potato bun gets lightly buttered and toasted, adding extra richness to every bite. It’s not trying to be fancy—just a perfectly executed burger that shows why sometimes simple is best.
Pair it with crinkle-cut fries and a concrete for the complete Shack experience!
16. Chopped Cheese
Born in East Harlem bodegas, the chopped cheese is New York’s answer to the Philly cheesesteak—but don’t say that too loud around locals. Ground beef gets seasoned and cooked on the griddle, then chopped up with melted American cheese until everything becomes one glorious, gooey mass.
Stuffed into a toasted hero roll with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo, it’s messy, delicious, and authentically New York. Blue Sky Deli and Hajji’s are legendary spots, but honestly, most neighborhood bodegas make killer versions.
This is the ultimate late-night fuel after a night out!