MomSkoop
New York City’s food scene is as diverse and exciting as the city itself. From street carts to century-old institutions, the Big Apple offers flavors you simply won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or the tenth, these eight iconic eats deserve a spot on your NYC food bucket list.
1. The Legendary Pastrami at Katz’s Delicatessen
Hand-carved mountains of warm, peppery pastrami piled high between slices of rye bread await at this Lower East Side landmark. Since 1888, Katz’s has perfected this quintessential NYC sandwich, serving it with a smear of mustard and a side of pickle.
The meat itself undergoes a meticulous process – cured for weeks, rubbed with spices, and smoked to perfection. Lines often stretch around the block, but the wait is part of the experience.
Fun fact: This is where Meg Ryan filmed the famous “I’ll have what she’s having” scene in When Harry Met Sally!
2. The Original Cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery
Part croissant, part donut, completely revolutionary. Chef Dominique Ansel created this pastry phenomenon in 2013, and people still line up before dawn to snag one of these flaky, cream-filled treasures from his SoHo bakery.
Each month features a new flavor, from blood orange and vanilla to peanut butter and chocolate. The cronut’s magic lies in its 72 layers of laminated dough, creating that perfect balance of crispy exterior and soft, creamy center.
Arrive early – they sell out fast, and there’s a strict two-per-person limit!
3. The Perfect Bagel and Lox at Russ & Daughters
“Appetizing” isn’t just an adjective at Russ & Daughters – it’s a whole food category! This 109-year-old institution serves what many consider the definitive New York bagel experience.
Hand-rolled, boiled then baked bagels come topped with silky cream cheese, delicate slices of house-cured salmon, capers, red onion, and tomato. The combination creates a perfect harmony of flavors and textures that has sustained generations of New Yorkers.
Their original shop on Houston Street offers counter service, while their nearby café provides a sit-down experience for savoring this quintessential NYC breakfast.
4. Mysterious Egg Cream at Gem Spa
Despite containing neither eggs nor cream, this frothy beverage has been a New York staple since the 1920s. The classic combination of milk, seltzer, and chocolate syrup creates a refreshing fizzy drink with a light chocolate flavor and that signature foamy head.
While the original Gem Spa closed in 2020, several old-school spots like Ray’s Candy Store in the East Village still craft authentic versions. The secret is in the technique – proper fountain-style mixing creates that distinctive froth without any eggs.
Legend has it that Yiddish theater actor Boris Thomashevsky brought the idea from Paris, where he’d enjoyed “chocolat et crème.”
5. Chewy Street Pretzels from a Cart
The humble pretzel cart is as much a part of Manhattan’s landscape as yellow cabs and skyscrapers. These oversized, salt-crusted twists have fueled city explorers for generations with their distinctive chew and bargain price tag.
Unlike their softer Pennsylvania cousins, NYC pretzels boast a firm exterior that gives way to a dense, chewy center. The best ones come hot off a cart near Central Park or outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, served with spicy brown mustard for dipping.
Some vendors have manned the same corners for decades, becoming neighborhood fixtures as reliable as the street grid itself.
6. Creamy Cheesecake at Junior’s
When Harry Rosen opened Junior’s in 1950, little did he know his cheesecake would become Brooklyn’s most famous export. Unlike Italian versions, Junior’s iconic cheesecake sits on a thin sponge cake base instead of graham cracker crust.
The secret lies in their perfect balance of cream cheese, heavy cream, vanilla, and eggs – creating that signature velvety texture that’s simultaneously light yet rich. While their original downtown Brooklyn location remains the flagship, you can now find Junior’s in Times Square too.
They bake over 5 million cheesecakes annually, but locals swear nothing beats sitting at the counter of the original location for a fresh slice.
7. Gray’s Papaya Hot Dog Feast
“Recession Special” reads the neon sign at this Upper West Side institution, advertising two hot dogs and a tropical drink for under $10. Gray’s Papaya has been serving no-frills frankfurters 24/7 since 1973, becoming the gold standard for NYC street meat.
These aren’t fancy gourmet dogs – they’re classic all-beef franks, grilled until slightly charred, nestled in soft buns and topped with sauerkraut, onions, and mustard. The papaya drink (a frothy, sweet tropical concoction) provides the perfect complement.
Presidents, celebrities, and late-night revelers alike have all stood elbow-to-elbow at their counters, proving great food transcends all boundaries.
8. Coal-Fired Pizza at Lombardi’s
America’s first pizzeria still serves slices in the same Little Italy location where Italian immigrant Gennaro Lombardi opened shop in 1905. Their coal-fired oven produces the distinct thin, crispy-yet-chewy crust that defines authentic New York pizza.
The classic Margherita showcases their signature sweet tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil on that perfectly charred crust. Coal ovens reach temperatures wood-fired ones can’t, creating that distinctive spotting on the bottom that pizza aficionados crave.
While tourists flock here, locals still consider it a worthy pilgrimage to honor the birthplace of American pizza, where the techniques brought from Naples were adapted to New York’s water and ingredients.