These International Restaurants In New York Will Take You On A Trip Around The World
New York is one of those places where you can literally eat your way around the world without ever leaving the city. One minute you’re craving bold spices, the next you want something rich and comforting, and somehow there’s a spot for every craving.
These international restaurants in New York will take you on a trip around the world, with flavours so good you’ll feel like you’re jet‑setting from plate to plate.
From classic favourites to unexpected gems, every meal feels like its own little adventure. So grab a fork, bring an appetite, and get ready, your world tour starts right here in the city.
1. FARIDA – Kazakhstani
Central Asian food hits different when it’s done right. Most people couldn’t point to Kazakhstan on a map, but after one meal at this spot, they’ll never forget it.
The flavors are bold, earthy, and completely unlike anything else you’ll find in the city.
FARIDA brings the heart of the Silk Road straight to your table. Located at 1146 Brighton Beach Avenue in Brooklyn, this gem serves up lagman noodles that’ll make you question every pasta dish you’ve ever loved.
The hand pulled strands swim in a rich, spiced broth that warms you from the inside out.
Plov is another must try here. The rice dish comes loaded with tender lamb, carrots, and spices that have been perfected over generations.
Every bite tastes like someone’s grandmother spent hours in the kitchen, which honestly might be the case.
The atmosphere feels cozy and welcoming, like you’ve been invited into someone’s home. You won’t find fancy plating or pretentious vibes here.
Just real food made with serious care and ingredients that transport you thousands of miles away without the jet lag.
2. Muna – Indian
Midtown Manhattan isn’t exactly known for hidden culinary treasures. But somehow, this Indian spot manages to stand out in a neighborhood dominated by tourist traps and overpriced lunch specials.
The aroma alone will stop you mid stride on the sidewalk.
Muna sits at 35 West 32nd Street, serving up dishes that locals have been raving about for years. Their butter chicken is criminally good, with a sauce so creamy and perfectly spiced that you’ll want to drink it straight from the bowl.
The tandoori selections come out sizzling, charred just right, with that smoky flavor that only a proper clay oven can deliver.
Biryani lovers will find their happy place here too. The fragrant rice comes packed with tender meat and aromatic spices that fill the entire dining room.
Each grain stays separate, which is the mark of a kitchen that knows what it’s doing.
The naan bread arrives hot and pillowy, perfect for scooping up every last bit of curry. Portions are generous without being wasteful, and the prices won’t make your wallet cry.
This is the kind of place you’ll want to keep coming back to.
3. Kalye – Filipino
Filipino food deserves way more hype than it gets in this city. The Lower East Side finally has a spot that does justice to the islands’ incredible street food scene.
Forget everything you think you know about Asian cuisine because this is a whole different ball game.
Kalye opened its doors at 58 Hester Street and immediately became the neighborhood’s worst kept secret. Their sisig is absolute fire, with crispy pork belly that’s been chopped up and seasoned so perfectly you’ll want to order a second plate before finishing the first.
The vinegar tang cuts through the richness in a way that just works.
Lumpia here are fried to golden perfection, crunchy on the outside and packed with savory filling. Dip them in the sweet and sour sauce and try not to eat the entire basket.
The adobo brings that perfect balance of salty, sour, and slightly sweet that makes Filipino cooking so addictive.
Portions come out family style, which is how this food is meant to be enjoyed. The casual vibe makes you feel like you’re eating at a friend’s place rather than a restaurant.
Prices stay reasonable, which is rare for the neighborhood these days.
4. Benyam – Ethiopian
Eating with your hands suddenly makes total sense when you’re tearing off pieces of spongy injera to scoop up rich, spiced stews. Ethiopian cuisine is one of those experiences that changes how you think about communal dining.
The flavors are complex, layered, and totally worth getting your fingers messy.
Benyam serves up classic Ethiopian fare that’ll make you a believer. Located at 281 Malcolm X Boulevard in Brooklyn, this spot nails the traditional dishes that keep people coming back week after week.
The doro wat features chicken that’s been simmered in berbere spice until it falls off the bone, swimming in a sauce that’s both fiery and deeply savory.
Vegetarians hit the jackpot here with combinations that showcase lentils, collard greens, and split peas prepared in ways that prove plant based food can be incredibly satisfying. Each component brings its own flavor profile, from earthy to tangy to mildly spiced.
The injera itself acts as plate, utensil, and side dish all at once. Its slightly sour taste complements the rich stews perfectly.
Sharing a platter with friends is the move here, passing dishes around and trying everything on the table.
5. Cafe Himalaya – Tibetan
Mountains and dumplings might seem like an odd combination, but Tibetan food brings them together beautifully. The cuisine from the roof of the world has quietly been winning over New Yorkers who stumble upon this cultural gem.
Once you try proper momos, the frozen dumplings from the supermarket will never cut it again.
Cafe Himalaya sits at 78 10 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights, dishing out Himalayan specialties that warm your soul. Their momos are the star of the show, with delicate wrappers that somehow stay tender while holding in juicy, well seasoned filling.
You can get them steamed or fried, and honestly both versions are worth ordering.
Thukpa, the Tibetan noodle soup, arrives in a massive bowl that could feed two people easily. The broth is clear but deeply flavorful, with hand pulled noodles that have the perfect chew.
Vegetables and your choice of protein make it a complete meal in one bowl.
The tingmo, steamed bread that’s fluffier than clouds, is perfect for soaking up sauces. Prices remain shockingly reasonable for the portion sizes you get.
The casual atmosphere makes it a great spot for a low key meal that still feels special.
6. Olio E Più – Italian
Greenwich Village has seen countless Italian restaurants come and go over the decades. But when a place gets it right, it becomes part of the neighborhood’s DNA.
Real Italian cooking isn’t about drowning everything in red sauce or piling on cheese until you can’t taste anything else.
Olio e Più earned its reputation at 3 Greenwich Avenue by keeping things simple and executing perfectly. The pizza comes out of a wood fired oven with a crust that’s charred in all the right spots, chewy but not doughy, crispy but not cracker like.
The margherita proves that quality ingredients need nothing else to shine.
Pasta dishes showcase traditional preparations that have been refined over centuries. The cacio e pepe arrives at your table with just three ingredients: pasta, pecorino cheese, and black pepper.
Yet somehow it tastes better than dishes with twenty components. The trick is in the technique and the quality of each element.
Appetizers like burrata and prosciutto let the ingredients speak for themselves. The wine list focuses on Italian regions, offering bottles that complement the food without breaking the bank.
This is neighborhood Italian done the way it should be, without gimmicks or unnecessary fuss.
7. Urubamba – Peruvian
Jackson Heights has been NYC’s Peruvian heartland for decades now. Walking down Roosevelt Avenue, you’ll pass more Peruvian spots than you can count.
But longevity in this neighborhood means something, and surviving this long takes serious skill in the kitchen.
Urubamba has been holding it down at 86 14 37th Avenue since before Peruvian food became trendy in Manhattan. This is one of the city’s oldest Peruvian restaurants, and they’ve been perfecting their recipes while newer spots were still learning to spell ceviche.
The lomo saltado here is textbook perfect, with tender beef strips stir fried with onions, tomatoes, and peppers, then tossed with crispy fries that soak up all those savory juices.
The aji de gallina brings shredded chicken in a creamy, mildly spicy sauce that’s comfort food at its finest. Rice and potatoes come standard because carbs are never the enemy in Peruvian cooking.
The anticuchos, grilled beef heart skewers, might sound intimidating but taste incredible when prepared right.
Portions are huge and prices stay reasonable, which explains why families pack this place on weekends. The no frills atmosphere puts all the focus where it belongs, on the food itself.
8. Mission Ceviche Upper East Side – Peruvian
Ceviche done wrong is just raw fish in lemon juice. Ceviche done right is a revelation that makes you understand why coastal Peru has been perfecting this dish for centuries.
The Upper East Side isn’t exactly known for culinary adventures, but this spot changes that narrative completely.
Mission Ceviche Upper East Side earned its Michelin recognition at 1400 2nd Avenue by treating Peruvian seafood with the respect it deserves. The fish arrives fresh daily, gets cut precisely, and marinates in lime juice just long enough to cure without cooking.
Each bite delivers clean, bright flavors with a hint of heat from aji peppers.
The classic ceviche mixto combines multiple types of seafood, creating layers of texture and taste. Octopus, shrimp, and fish all play together in perfect harmony.
Sweet potato and corn on the side provide that traditional Peruvian contrast of temperatures and textures.
Beyond ceviche, the menu explores other coastal specialties like tiradito, which slices the fish even thinner and uses different sauce preparations. The causas, layered potato dishes with various fillings, showcase how versatile Peruvian cuisine can be.
Presentation is elegant without being fussy, and the space feels modern but welcoming.
9. Pio Pio 8 – Latin American/Peruvian
Sometimes the best meals are the simplest ones. Rotisserie chicken might not sound exotic, but when it’s been marinated in Peruvian spices and slow roasted until the skin crackles, it becomes something special.
This is comfort food that happens to come from South America.
Pio Pio 8 operates at 210 East 34th Street, serving up that famous Peruvian pollo a la brasa that has New Yorkers lining up regularly. The chicken gets rubbed with a secret blend of spices, then rotates over open flames until the outside turns golden and crispy while the inside stays juicy.
The green sauce, that magical aji verde, is what dreams are made of.
Rice and beans come as standard sides, but the real move is getting the yuca fries. They’re crispy, starchy, and absolutely addictive when dipped in that green sauce.
The portions are generous enough to feed a small army, making it perfect for family style dining.
This is a chain with multiple locations, but each one maintains the quality that made the original famous. Prices stay budget friendly, which is rare for chicken this good.
The casual atmosphere means you can show up in jeans and nobody bats an eye.
10. Peri Peri Grill House – African/Portuguese
Portuguese colonization left its mark on African cuisine in ways that created entirely new flavor profiles. The peri peri pepper, that small but mighty chili, became the foundation for a grilling tradition that spans continents.
When fire meets spice meets perfectly grilled meat, magic happens on your plate.
Peri Peri Grill House brings this African Portuguese fusion to 166 Montague Street in Brooklyn. The star here is obviously anything covered in peri peri sauce, which ranges from mild to make you cry depending on your heat tolerance.
The chicken gets butterflied, marinated, and grilled until the skin chars just right, creating a contrast between the crispy exterior and tender meat.
Beyond chicken, the menu explores other grilled options like lamb chops and prawns, all getting that signature peri peri treatment. The spice blend includes garlic, citrus, and herbs alongside the peppers, creating complexity beyond just heat.
Sides like peri peri fries take regular potatoes and transform them into something you’ll crave for days.
The casual setting encourages you to eat with your hands and embrace the messiness. Portions are substantial, and the prices won’t shock you.
This is honest, flavorful cooking that doesn’t pretend to be anything other than delicious.
11. Kafana – Balkan
Balkan food doesn’t mess around when it comes to grilled meat. The region has been perfecting the art of charring protein over open flames for centuries, creating dishes that are straightforward but incredibly satisfying.
No fancy techniques or molecular gastronomy here, just fire, meat, and spices.
Kafana has become the go to spot, with locations including one at 116 Avenue C. Their cevapi, small grilled sausages made from mixed meats, arrive sizzling hot with raw onions and fresh bread.
The combination is simple but addictive, with each bite delivering smoky, savory goodness. Pljeskavica, the Balkan version of burger meat, is basically a giant seasoned meat patty that puts American burgers to shame.
Grilled peppers, stuffed cabbage rolls, and various salads round out the menu with vegetable options that actually taste good. The ajvar, roasted red pepper spread, works as a condiment for everything on your table.
Portions are massive, because apparently moderation isn’t a Balkan concept.
The atmosphere leans traditional, with music and decor that transport you to a Belgrade tavern. Prices remain reasonable despite generous portions.
This is hearty, honest food that sticks to your ribs and leaves you completely satisfied.
12. Djerdan Burek – Balkan
Flaky pastry filled with seasoned meat shouldn’t be this exciting, but burek is one of those foods that inspires genuine passion. The Balkans have been perfecting this phyllo dough creation for generations, and when it’s done right, it becomes more than just a snack.
Astoria has quietly become NYC’s Balkan food headquarters, and this spot proves why.
Djerdan Burek sits at 34 14 34th Avenue, specializing in the kind of burek that makes people drive across boroughs. The phyllo gets stretched paper thin, layered with ground meat and onions, then rolled and baked until golden and crispy.
Fresh from the oven, the pastry shatters with each bite while the filling stays juicy and flavorful.
Beyond the classic meat version, they offer cheese, spinach, and potato fillings that each bring something different to the table. The krompiruša, potato burek, is comfort food at its purest.
Pair any burek with yogurt for the full Balkan experience.
This is counter service, grab and go style, but the quality rivals sit down restaurants. Prices are incredibly low for what you get, making it perfect for a quick, satisfying meal.
The smell alone will make you hungry even if you just ate.