New York is full of endless opportunities for foodies. Countless places to dine or grab a quick bite at line every street and cult foods such as Cookie Dō and Cronuts generate queues that last for several blocks. However, as an international student from the UK having just completed my first year in New York, I’ve been craving the casual food chains I grew up loving. Luckily three of my favorite British food spots recently opened in Big Apple and they are definitely worth a try.

1. Wagamama

210 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

Wagamama is one if Britain’s most popular food chains, second only to Nanado’s. It first opened in Bloomsbury London 25 years ago and now has chains across the world. Located opposite Madison Square Garden, Wagamama is spacious and offers a sophisticated atmosphere, with dim lights and sleek wooden seating. The restaurant is described as serving pan-Asian food in the style of a modern Japanese ramen bar. Wagamama offers a range of ramen, gyoza dumplings, teppanyaki dishes, freshly squeezed juices and Japanese curries. In the UK Wagamama is famous for its chicken katsu, curry and the dish served at the New York branch is just as good.

2. YO! Sushi

23, W 23rd St, New York, NY 10010

YO! Sushi is well loved sushi chain based in the UK. It first opened in Soho, London in 1997 and has since grown its franchise to 100 restaurants worldwide. The restaurant offers a large range of sushi and hot dishes. The dishes are color coded, each color corresponds to a price, and rotate on a conveyor belt for the customer to grab. You can also order hot dishes from the menu. Located close to the Flatiron, YO! Sushi offers is quick and casual. The restaurant space is small but cosy, with bar seats and cubicles. The dishes are small and reasonably priced, but be careful as they can quickly add up.

3. Ben’s Cookies

822 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

Founded in 1983 in Oxford, England, Ben’s Cookies is a hugely successful cookie chain which has recently been opening stores all around the world. Ben’s Cookies is located on Union Square right next to the strand bookstore. The shop owns a narrow space but has received a lot of attention since its opening this year. It serves delicious soft cookies prepared fresh every morning. Ben’s Cookies serves a variety of 21 large cookies, my favorite is the Milk Chocolate and Peanut Butter.