New York City is known for its world famous skyline, melting pot of cultures and its historic value amongst the many other aspects of its reputation that make it one of the greatest cities in the world. It’s one of the few places on the planet that always has something going on just around the corner. One of my favorite things about adventuring in the city is that it has an unlimited list of diverse places to eat; ranging from fancy sit-down restaurants to its renowned pizza shops. In the spirit of New York’s ever-growing list of cuisines from around the world, here are some of my favorite places to eat in the Big Apple.
1. Pokéworks
Home of the now famous poké burrito, Pokéworks proudly serves, “consistently delicious Hawaiian Poké made only using the highest quality ingredients.” While the poké itself is great and made using high-quality ingredients, the draw to this restaurant is its signature poké burrito. After they print up the rice and nori traditionally used in sushi, you may pick a type of fish and ad in as many mix-ins and extras as you’d like. It’s essentially a much healthier Chipotle, sans the food coma that usually follows. Pokéworks is located in midtown on West 37th Street.
2. 2 Bros. Pizza
What’s an adventure in the city without a cheesy slice of New York style pizza? With locations scattered across Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, it’s hard to go without seeing a 2 Bros. joint at least once a day. Skip the expensive pizza places in Penn Station and make a 2 Bros. stop. One slice of plain pizza only costs a dollar here, so if you find yourself on a tight budget, 2 Bros. is the place to go.
3. Joanne
If you’re a big fan of pop superstar Lady Gaga, you probably already know this next one. Joanne is Gaga’s family owned trattoria located on the Upper West Side. Run by Gaga’s father (Papa Joe), the trattoria is a homey place to enjoy some delicious Italian food and the waitstaff are incredibly friendly. If you plan on getting dessert, I highly recommend the nutellasagna. While it is a bit on the pricey side, the cozy dining experience is worth it.
4. Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer
Despite the name of the restaurant, no one I know goes to Black Tap solely for the food or the beer. Let me also preface this section by mentioning that if you plan on walking around the city after eating here, you will regret it. Black Tap became an instant success recently after a word of their absolutely insane milkshakes went viral. Their insanely avant-garde milkshakes will have you waddling out of the restaurant. Just a heads up: meals are served after the milkshakes, so don’t order food unless you’re starving (although I do recommend ordering a side of fries to dip in your shake). This restaurant also has multiple locations in the city, but the shortest wait time I could find was in the Meatpacking District.
5. Wafels & Dinges
If you’re from New Jersey, diner culture has played a crucial role in your understanding that waffles are acceptable to eat at any type of day. This is the whole premise to the existence of Wafels & Dinges. The Waffles from this restaurant will melt in your mouth in an instant; and you can even pick from a wide variety of toppings and styles. Personally, I like to put Nutella and bananas on mine. The Wafels & Dinges I go to is located in the northwest corner of Bryant Park.
