I’ve been living in New Jersey for the past 5 years now. When people ask me what my favorite part of living in Jersey is, I always tell them that it’s the close proximity to NYC which makes it the ideal place to live. You basically get to live in NYC without actually living there. Any time I want to get a dopamine hit from the Big Apple, I simply jump on a train and within an hour I’m there.
One of the main reasons I love New York so much is because of the food scene. I grew up in Maine so I really wasn’t that cultured when it came to different kinds of cuisines or even just the more refined versions of your typical American food. But after living in this area for 5 years I have been able to have so many unforgettable food experiences. So, if you’re ever in the NYC area, these are some of my food recommendations.
Gong Cha
12 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001
If you watch my YouTube channel then you know that I’m OBSESSED with Gong Cha. This place is TINY and is located in the heart of K-town, which is also conveniently located near Penn Station. Side note: there are other locations in the city but this is the BEST one. The line can be long, so just a warning if you’re in a hurry to get some boba that it might take about 15-20 minutes to get your drink. My favorite teas here would have to be the Oolong Milk Tea and the Caramel Milk Tea. I always get the classic pearls with mine but my husband is a huge fan of the Oolong Milk Tea with Pudding. Plus, ALWAYS get the milk foam. It’s incredible!
Bar Pa Tea
85 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012
You may have seen Bar Pa Tea on Instagram; that’s how I found it. This specialty boba place has drinks but I go to Gong Cha for drinks and come here for their soft serve. The first one I tried was the Oolong tea soft serve with mini bubbles and Oreo crumbs and WOW! My only regret is that I didn’t come sooner to try this gem! The bubbles are really soft and satisfying. It says in the store that they make their bubbles every 2 hours so they are fresh and made in-house. The Oolong ice cream flavor was unique and delicious, and of course Oreos make everything better. Next time I will ask for extra Oreo crumbs on mine. The second time I tried the Jasmine/Rose swirl with bubbles which was equally as good! I think they rotate their flavors out depending on the seasons and they also offer cute seasonal specials so come here and come often to try them all!
Five Senses
9 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001
WHOA. WHOA WHOA WHOA. I have been coming to K-town for years and never stopped in this restaurant until recently. And guess what? It was so good that I actually went two weekends in a row!! Like most Korean places it’s a little bit pricey but you are paying for top notch quality food! I highly recommend the Bulgogi, Rice Cakes (Ttteokbokki), and the Kimchi Pancake. It’s pretty busy but I only waited 10 minutes to get a table the first time and I got a table straight away on the second time, both on Saturday nights. The servers are friendly but the place can be pretty loud with music and people talking so it’s not the best place if you want to have a conversation, you know, like on a date.
Woorijip
12 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001
If you go to Gong Cha then you’re going to see Woorijip, which is right next door. I’ve been here numerous times, and I’m always happy. It’s a buffet style Korean place with other prepackaged Korean food for sale as well (if you don’t want to do the buffet). There is seating for about 30+ people despite being pretty small. Some of the food options available are kimchi rice, japjae, tteokbokkii, Korean fried chicken, bulgogi, various soups, vegetables, and kimchi, just to name a few. They also have a bunch of drinks and some Korean snacks. The price is affordable and great for both sit-down dining and “grab and go” style. I will continue to frequent this shop when I’m in need for a quick (and delicious) bite to eat!
Juliana’s Pizza
19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
This is one of those famous must-try pizza spots in NYC. For Juliana’s you’re going to have to venture over to DUMBO Brooklyn, which means you can also take some IG photos while you’re here. Since this place is well-known, be prepared to wait in line for up to an hour to get in (especially on a weekend). The traditional Margherita pizza is simple but oh so satisfying with fresh mozzarella and a crispy thin crust (the way pizza should be!) Enjoy the pizza but save room for dessert because the cannolis here are incredible! Seriously, skip the tourist trap of Little Italy and come here!
Ippudo Ramen
East Village: 65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003
West Side: 321 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019
The first time we came to Ippudo we went to the West Side location on a Saturday night. We waited 2 hours for a table. Yes, TWO HOURS. If that doesn’t signify that this place is the bomb dot com then I don’t know what does! When you do finally get your table the servers are yelling something in Japanese which I’m pretty sure is just a way to greet the customers when they come in, but it gets me so hype to eat! The ramen is so so delicious and I’d say for the quality that the price isn’t unreasonable, about $15 per bowl. I’ve also been to the Lower East Side location on a weekday for lunch and didn’t have to wait at all. If you’re checking out the NYU area then maybe you can stop here for lunch since it’s not a far walk away from the campus.
Jongro K-BBQ
22 W 32nd St, Fl 2, New York, NY 10001
I’ve been to my fair share of the all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurants and while they are pretty good, nothing beats the quality of the meats served here at Jongro! This place gets super busy on the weekends and is pretty pricey (we spent around $200 for 3 people) but if you want to get the best of the best of K-BBQ on your NYC trip then you need to come here! Eat slow and enjoy the rich flavors of the meats which are not doused in marinades but instead give you those distinct beefy flavors. I’m salivating as I write this!
Vietnaam
1700 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128
Every time someone asks me to suggest some good Vietnamese food in the city, I don’t send them to Chinatown, but instead to the Upper East Side. Vietnaam has become one of my favorite places to order pho in the US, which is saying A LOT since I’ve eaten pho in NYC, New Jersey, New Orleans, Boston, and in Maine. Of course I haven’t been to California or Texas but on the east coast, a legit bowl of pho is hard to come by! I have eaten at Vietnaam so many times and am always happy with the food. I have tried the pho, banh hoi, and lollipop shrimp to name a few. The price is a little bit higher than you would expect for Vietnamese food (two dollar signs in Yelp) but that’s what you get for coming to an upscale neighborhood. If you’re like me and only love eating the highest quality and best tasting food around then the price shouldn’t be an issue.
Tavola
488 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018
I’ve been here twice now and both times I enjoyed the food. The place is a little dark inside at night by the staff is super friendly. The first time I can’t remember what I got but the second time I will never forget, I had the gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce and wow! It blew me away! Usually I am met with disappointment when I order gnocchi because it tastes like the pre-made stuff but these tasted really great! I had to fight the urge to lick my plate upon finishing! (Kidding!! ). Anyway, I would recommend this place and I will be back again.
Amorino Gelato
60 University Pl, New York, NY 10003
Basically the definition of New York: expensive but good. I’m a huge fan of ice cream (including gelato) so it’s easy to please me. The gelato here is delicious and they give you the option of having a macaroon on top! I got mine in a cup so it wouldn’t be messy. Some people get it in the cone which looks fancy and great if you’re doing it “for the gram”, but for me, I wanted to enjoy my gelato without worrying that it was going to topple onto the floor at any moment. This is a fun place to get a sweet treat and you can take it to go and hang out in Washington Square Park which is only a 5 minute walk away (if you don’t eat everything before you get there!).
Bhatti Indian Grill
100 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016
I have been to this restaurant twice now and both times I have really enjoyed the food! I was introduced to this place by my Indian friend who claims it’s legit. Wondering what to order? I recommend the Paneer Tikka, Tandoori Murgh, Chicken Makhanwala, Garlic Naan and Mango Lassi! If you’re drooling over these photos then please just order all of those dishes and enjoy to your heart’s content! The service is okay here but just note that I haven’t had very friendly servers here. Don’t let that keep you from trying the food here though!
Wah Fung No 1 Fast Food
79 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002
Looking for something CHEAP and DELICIOUS? Please come here. It’s only $3.75 for a small container of rice, vegetables and your choice of roasted meat (chicken, duck, char siu pork, roasted pork). You can also get a large container for $5.50! I have been here a few times, and when I come I usually get one order to eat in the moment and one to take home. It’s not a sit down place so once you get your food there is a park across the street where you can find a bench to eat. The line is usually long, and you should try to come early in the day as they may sell out of the meat you’re craving if you come too late. My favorite meat is the char siu pork followed by the chicken.
Di Palo’s
200 Grand St, New York, NY 10013
Located on the border between Chinatown and Little Italy, this isn’t really a restaurant but more of an incredible spot to get some authentic Italian deli delights! Di Palo’s has some of Italy’s finest meats and cheeses at their deli counter. The owners are super friendly and helpful when it comes to selecting what you want to try and buy from them. Plus, you’re able to sample almost everything there before you buy which is a plus! It place is usually crowded because it’s pretty well known but it’s worth the wait. Come pick up a few things from here at the end of your NYC trip to bring back home with you to share with family and friends. (We always come here before our Vietnam trips to get meats and cheeses for Huy’s dad).
Dough
Midtown East: 230 Park Ave, New York, NY 10169
Midtown West: 700 8th Ave, New York, NY 10036
If you’re looking for some of the biggest donuts you’ve ever seen, come here!! Yum yum yum! The first time I had a Dough donut, I got it at Smogasburg in Brooklyn (which if you haven’t checked out this awesome food festival then google it and GO!). I got the coconut donut and it changed my life forever. After that, I was happy to find that they had a midtown location, as I was working right across the street at the time. They have some different flavors so be sure to try a different one every time you visit. So far I have tasted the coconut, dulce de leche, salted caramel, mocha-almond crunch, hibiscus, and lemon poppy seed. You could say I’m obsessed.
Up Thai
1411 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10021
It’s easy to get here on the new second ave subway line, just stop at 72nd street and walk 1 minute to the restaurant. The decor is really nice which gives this place a great ambiance. When I came here I had the Pad Thai with crispy duck. Huy ordered a pork belly dish that was a little spicy, but delicious. When we were done eating I still had a little bit of food in my dish and they asked if I wanted to take it home. I didn’t want to but was happy they asked since I know a lot of places will just whisk your food away. The bathroom was also nice, dimly lit with a candle in there so it smelled good, was clean, and had nice hot water (which I love in the dead of winter since my hands are always freezing). The price was reasonable, about $20 per person and worth it for both the food and the decor.
Meow Parlor
46 Hester St, New York, NY 10002
The day I came here was the day I died and went to heaven. This place is a whole experience! They have a small cafe around the corner where they sell kitty inspired desserts which are really cute. It’s separate from the location of the actual cats due to food safety laws, but you’re welcome to bring your treats when you hang out with the cats! You will sign a waiver before you go in. Then you remove your shoes and enter the area where around 7-10 cats are roaming. You have to reserve a spot which is a good way to make sure it’s not too crowded and you can actually have a chance to pet some of the cats. The price is $5 per person for 30 minutes with the cats, but you can stay longer and they will charge you when you leave. Some of the cats sleep so you can just watch them or gently pet them, but don’t wake them. Others like to run around and play.
Xi’an Famous Foods
14 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016
Wow, does this place bring me right back to my time studying in Beijing! I have come here a few times and have tried cumin lamb burger, liang pi, oxtail noodles and the spicy and tingly beef noodle soup. The lamb burger tasted exactly like the 羊肉串 they served on the streets of Beijing! Soooo good. And I was also happy with the beef noodle soup which reminded me of the 牛肉面 I had in China, specifically the broth and the beef. The hand-pulled noodles are bae. The oxtail was also out of this world! And liang pi, I thought I wasn’t going to like it but even that was delicious! We sat in the upstairs seating area and had no trouble finding a spot around 6pm on a Friday night. Seriously, if you like Chinese food then you’re gonna love this place!
This concludes the first round of New York Eats here on the blog. I’m always trying new places so if you want to see another post like this then let me know and I will continue to share more great eats! I can also share other locations if you’re interested, perhaps a New Jersey list next time! Or Vietnam! Stay tuned!