Visiting NYC? 5 Must-Have Cuisines + Our 3 Favorite Spots for Each

New York City boasts top-quality restaurants from a variety of culinary types and countries of origin. If you’re coming to NYC for the first (or fifth) time, there are five cuisines you must try as part of your explorations!

While you’re sure to have great food regardless of the type of cuisine, these are five that we think are worth your time in the city.

Here are the five must-have cuisines when visiting New York City:

1. Pizza
2. Bagels
3. Sandwiches/Heros
4. Italian
5. Desserts

Let’s look at each one below. 👇

Note: This article was written by a real human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

Top NYC Cuisines Podcast Episode

Want to hear more podcasts like this? Head here.

#1- NY Pizza

The first thing I did when I visited was try to find the best NYC pizza. I’ve visited multiple times and currently live here, and I’m still on that quest.

You could ask 100 New Yorkers their favorite pizza spot and probably get 25+ different answers.

Regardless, here are three pizza joints that are worth your time and money in NYC:

1. Prince Street Pizza
2. Joe’s Pizza
3. L’Industrie

See our full guide to NY pizza here.

#2- NYC Bagels, the World’s Best

Bagels are one of the most famous NYC foods and a MUST-have during your time here. Many people argue that New York is the capital of the world for bagels.

Why are the bagels so good in NYC?

Many people claim that the bagels in NYC are so amazing because the tap water here is considered some of the best in the world. NYC has “soft” water from the Catskill Mountains, meaning it has lower concentrations of calcium and magnesium. ⁠The mineral content⁠ in water affects the gluten in the dough. Extra hard water strengthens the gluten, which can cause tougher baked goods, meaning softer water yields softer baked goods.

Some bagel experts claim the bagels are so good in NYC because of the refined bagel techniques, including longer proofing time and boiling techniques before baking. Either way, the bagels in New York City are truly second to none.

Here are three bagel spots we love in New York City:

1. Liberty Bagels (our clear favorite)
2. Pick-A-Bagel 
3. Pop Up Bagels

This Episode’s You’ll Have to Check It Out Segment – Cabaret

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in New York City is a lively, must-see show. The dancing, singing, and story are all phenomenal.

We recommend splurging for table seats, the experience is worth it. If you’re gonna do that, the TKTS booth is your best bet.

For all other tickets, we typically recommend TodayTix or Vivid Seats.

See our guide for getting cheap Broadway tickets here.

#3- Sandwiches

Including sandwiches on a top NYC cuisine list may be a surprise for you, but the corporate culture has helped loads of sandwich shops flourish.

Sandwiches are often perfect for sharing, filling, and delicious.

Here are our picks for our three favorite sandwiches in NYC:

1. All’antico Vinaio (we know it’s from Italy originally, but it’s amazing)
2. Katz’s Delicatessen
3. Pisillo Italian Panini

#4- Top-Notch Italian in NYC

New York City has endless cuisine options, but possibly the strongest represented category is Italian restaurants.

You cannot have New York City without Italian culture, food, and its people. Over 2.5 million Italian-Americans live in the greater New York Metro area, making them the single largest demographic group.

Here are three of our favorite Italian spots in NYC:

1. Giano (clear favorite, probably our favorite restaurant overall)
2. Don Angie
3. Piccola Cucina

See our full list of best Italian restaurants in NYC here.

#5- Desserts

While a hearty meal can’t be beat, there’s something special about a specialized dessert spot.

Cookies, puddings, ice cream, pastries, you name it.

Here are our three favorite dessert spots in New York City:

1. Dominique Ansel Bakery
2. Caffè Panna
3. Grace Street Coffee & Desserts

5 Must-Have Cuisines in New York City Recap + Next Steps

No matter what type of food you love, New York City has it!

We hope this list gave you some ideas for top-notch restaurants to try in NYC.

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