MomSkoop
New York City’s food scene goes way beyond pizza and bagels. Among the city’s tastiest treasures are perfectly golden, crispy onion rings that make your mouth water with every bite. From casual burger joints to upscale steakhouses, these 12 New York chains have mastered the art of the perfect onion ring. Grab a napkin and get ready to discover where to find these crispy, golden delights across the Big Apple.
1. Holy Cow Burgers: Rings of Golden Perfection
The secret to Holy Cow’s legendary onion rings? A special beer batter that creates an impossibly light, crispy coating. Each ring is sliced thick enough to maintain the onion’s sweet flavor but thin enough to cook perfectly throughout.
Locals swear these golden beauties never suffer from the dreaded problem of biting in and having the entire onion slide out of the breading. The kitchen team hand-dips each ring to order, ensuring maximum freshness.
Fun fact: Holy Cow’s founder spent three months testing different batters before landing on their signature recipe that keeps customers coming back specifically for the rings rather than just the burgers!
2. Bareburger: Organic Onion Rings That Steal the Show
Would you believe Bareburger’s outrageously good onion rings start with organic Spanish onions? These sweet, mild onions form the foundation of what many New Yorkers consider the perfect side dish.
Each location maintains strict quality standards, using a panko-based coating rather than traditional batter for an extra satisfying crunch factor. The rings arrive at your table with a gorgeous golden-brown exterior and a perfectly tender interior.
Their special dipping sauce – a smoky chipotle aioli – elevates these rings beyond mere side dish status. The Greenwich Village location often sells out of these crispy delights before dinner service ends!
3. 5 Napkin Burger: The Ring That Lives Up to Its Name
True to the restaurant’s messy-in-a-good-way reputation, 5 Napkin Burger’s onion rings demand multiple napkins! These colossal rings feature thick-cut sweet Vidalia onions encased in a crunchy, golden shell that shatters satisfyingly with each bite.
The Hell’s Kitchen location prepares these beauties in small batches throughout the day. This careful approach ensures you’ll never encounter a soggy ring regardless of when you visit.
A sprinkle of house seasoning salt adds the perfect finishing touch just before serving. Locals recommend ordering them with 5 Napkin’s signature rosemary aioli – the herbal notes complement the sweet onion perfectly.
4. Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen: Old-School Rings with Modern Appeal
Remember those perfect onion rings from childhood that nothing ever seemed to match? Schnipper’s has captured that nostalgic flavor but elevated it to match modern tastes. Their rings feature a distinctive light buttermilk coating that creates an airy crunch unlike heavier beer batters.
The Midtown East location draws office workers who form lines just for these rings during lunch rush. What makes them special is the balance – not too thick or thin, with the perfect onion-to-breading ratio.
Schnipper’s fries their rings at precisely 375 degrees, creating that gorgeous amber color without any greasiness. A light dusting of their house seasoning blend adds the finishing touch to these crave-worthy creations.
5. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse: Luxury Rings Fit for a Feast
Who would expect a high-end steakhouse to serve some of NYC’s most addictive onion rings? Del Frisco’s elevates this humble side dish into something extraordinary with their signature tower presentation that arrives at your table standing nearly eight inches tall!
These aren’t your average rings – they’re made with sweet Bermuda onions sliced thick and double-dipped in a tempura-style batter that creates remarkable texture. The Theater District location prepares them in duck fat rather than vegetable oil, adding a rich complexity that pairs beautifully with their prime steaks.
While pricier than most rings in the city, the generous portion easily serves 3-4 people as a shareable appetizer or side.
6. Porter House: Steakhouse Rings with Chef Lomonaco’s Touch
Celebrity Chef Michael Lomonaco brings his culinary expertise to Porter House’s exceptional onion rings. Unlike many establishments, Porter House uses a sourdough starter in their batter, creating a distinctively tangy flavor profile that complements the natural sweetness of the onions.
Each ring maintains an impressive structural integrity – firm enough to hold its shape but tender enough to bite through cleanly. The Hell’s Kitchen location hand-cuts each ring to a precise half-inch thickness.
These rings arrive beautifully stacked alongside their renowned steaks or as a standalone appetizer. The kitchen finishes each order with a light dusting of smoked paprika and Maldon sea salt, elevating them beyond typical steakhouse fare.
7. Royale: East Village Rings with Cult Following
Hiding in the East Village, Royale’s unassuming facade conceals what locals consider NYC’s best-kept onion ring secret. These rings have developed such a cult following that the kitchen prepares extra batches on weekends knowing ring-seekers will arrive specifically for them!
What makes them special? A cornmeal-enhanced batter that creates exceptional crispiness without heaviness. The kitchen slices Spanish onions paper-thin, then stacks multiple rings before battering, creating a unique layered effect that maximizes both crunch and flavor.
Royale serves their rings with a distinctive dipping sauce combining crème fraîche, horseradish, and lemon zest – an unexpected combination that perfectly complements the sweetness of the onions.
8. 7th Street Burger: Smash Burger’s Perfect Ring Companion
7th Street Burger might be famous for their smash burgers, but regulars know the onion rings deserve equal billing. The secret? They double-dredge each ring in buttermilk and seasoned flour before frying, creating an incredibly craggy exterior with maximum surface area for crispiness.
These aren’t delicate rings – they’re substantial with a satisfying heft that stands up perfectly to their hearty burgers. The batter includes a hint of cayenne that provides subtle heat without overwhelming the sweet onion flavor.
Each location maintains strict quality standards, never holding rings under heat lamps. When your order arrives, you’re guaranteed rings fresh from the fryer with that unmistakable just-cooked crunch that keeps customers coming back across their multiple NYC locations.
9. Shake Shack: Fast-Casual Rings That Break the Mold
Shake Shack might be a national chain now, but their NYC roots shine through in their exceptional onion rings. Unlike their frozen-custard competitors, Shake Shack crafts rings that feature a distinctive crinkle-cut style that increases surface area for maximum crispiness.
The Madison Square Park location still prepares these beauties the same way they did when they were just a humble food cart. Each ring features a light ale batter with hints of black pepper and garlic powder that creates complex flavor without overwhelming the sweet onion.
A quick sprinkle of their signature ShackSpice seasoning adds the perfect finishing touch. Pro tip: Order them with a side of their cheese sauce for an indulgent dipping experience that locals swear by!
10. P.J. Clarke’s: Historic Tavern’s Time-Tested Rings
Since 1884, P.J. Clarke’s has been serving New Yorkers, and their onion rings have achieved legendary status over the decades. The Third Avenue location still uses the original recipe that dates back to the 1940s when they first appeared on the menu.
These rings feature a distinctive dark golden color from the addition of a touch of molasses to the batter – a tradition started during sugar rationing in WWII. The kitchen slices Spanish onions to a precise 3/8-inch thickness that longtime patrons recognize immediately.
Celebrity regulars from Frank Sinatra to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis have enjoyed these rings over the years. The tavern serves them in the same metal serving dishes they’ve used for generations, adding to the authentic old New York experience.
11. The Breslin
Nestled in the heart of Manhattan, The Breslin offers an upscale dining experience with a vintage charm. Their onion rings are a highlight, perfectly crunchy with a seasoning that complements the sweetness of the onions.
The Breslin’s rings are served in a rustic wooden bowl, adding to the restaurant’s old-world ambiance. Each bite offers a symphony of flavors, making them a must-try for anyone visiting the city.
Did you know? The Breslin is renowned for its commitment to quality, sourcing ingredients from local farms whenever possible.
12. Island Burgers & Shakes: The Churrascos’ Ring Revolution
Island Burgers’ Hell’s Kitchen location might be small, but their onion rings make a massive impression. Unlike traditional rings, Island creates what they call “churrascos rings” – a hybrid between an onion ring and tempura that results in an exceptionally light, crispy coating.
The kitchen slices sweet yellow onions extra thick, then marinates them briefly in buttermilk before dipping in their signature rice flour batter. This technique creates rings with incredible crunch while remaining remarkably grease-free.
Island offers six different dipping sauces for their rings, but regulars swear by the chimichurri mayo – a bright, herbal complement to the sweet onion. During summer months, scoring a table with rings and a milkshake becomes one of Hell’s Kitchen’s most competitive sports!