13 NYC Foods You’ve Got To Try Once And 6 That Locals Keep Coming Back To
New York City doesn’t just serve food — it serves attitude, history, and a whole lot of flavor in every bite.
Some dishes are iconic one-hit wonders every visitor needs to experience at least once. Others have locals lining up again and again, no matter how many times they’ve had them.
From legendary bites that scream “tourist rite of passage” to neighborhood staples that never lose their charm, the city’s food scene is a delicious mix of first-timers and forever favorites. Bring your appetite — curiosity optional.
1. Cronut: The Pastry That Launched a Thousand Lines
People once waited three hours for this croissant-donut hybrid! Created by pastry chef Dominique Ansel in 2013, the Cronut sparked a global food craze overnight.
Flaky layers of buttery dough get fried to golden perfection, then filled with flavored cream and glazed. The flavor changes monthly, keeping fans coming back for more.
While copycats exist everywhere now, nothing beats the original SoHo bakery experience.
2. Black and White Cookie: NYC’s Edible Yin-Yang
Half chocolate, half vanilla—fully New York! These cakey cookies with their distinctive flat shape and contrasting icings have been a staple in NYC bakeries for over a century.
Roughly the size of your palm, they’re softer than regular cookies with a subtle lemon flavor in the base. The proper way to eat one? Alternate bites between chocolate and vanilla sides.
Grab one from almost any deli, though old-school bakeries make the best versions.
3. Pastrami on Rye: The Sandwich That Built New York
Nothing beats the moment when that first bite of warm, peppery pastrami meets your taste buds. Jewish delis have perfected this masterpiece over generations—meat cured, smoked, and steamed until meltingly tender.
Stacked impossibly high between slices of seeded rye bread, the sandwich comes with spicy mustard (never mayo!) and maybe a pickle on the side. Katz’s Delicatessen makes the most famous version, but locals have their neighborhood favorites.
4. NYC Street Pretzel: The Original Grab-and-Go Snack
Steam billowing from a vendor cart, that distinct yeasty aroma, and the sight of those twisted dough knots—street pretzels are peak New York.
Crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and generously coated with coarse salt. They’re not fancy or gourmet, but they’re authentically NYC.
Best enjoyed piping hot on a chilly day while dodging tourists in Times Square. Add mustard if you’re feeling fancy!
5. Chicken and Rice from Halal Carts: Midnight Miracle Meal
The legendary yellow rice topped with seasoned chicken, mysterious white sauce, and fiery red sauce has saved countless New Yorkers from late-night hunger pangs. These halal carts—particularly the famous one on 53rd and 6th—draw lines at all hours.
What makes it special? The perfect balance of flavors and textures, from tender chicken to crunchy lettuce.
Pro tip: Ask for extra white sauce and a little hot sauce on the side for customizable heat levels.
6. Rainbow Bagel: Brooklyn’s Psychedelic Breakfast
Swirls of vibrant colors twist through these Instagram-famous bagels that look like they were made by tie-dye enthusiasts. The Bagel Store in Williamsburg pioneered these eye-popping creations that taste surprisingly traditional despite their wild appearance.
Sliced open and schmeared with funfetti cream cheese, they’re more photogenic than your average breakfast. Kids absolutely lose their minds over these.
Worth trying once for the experience, though purists stick to traditional bagels.
7. Egg Cream: The Soda Fountain Classic with No Egg, No Cream
Despite its misleading name, this vintage New York beverage contains neither eggs nor cream! Born in Brooklyn’s candy shops, it’s a simple mix of milk, chocolate syrup, and seltzer water that creates a frothy, refreshing drink.
The magic happens when the carbonation hits the milk, creating a creamy head without actual cream. Old-school diners serve the best versions, mixed by hand.
Sip it through a straw for the full experience—a taste of 1940s New York.
8. Bagel with Lox and Cream Cheese: The Ultimate NYC Breakfast
Fresh bagels in NYC aren’t just good—they’re life-changing. The secret lies in the water and the boiling-then-baking process that creates that perfect chewy interior and glossy crust.
When topped with silky cream cheese, thin-sliced smoked salmon (lox), red onions, capers, and maybe a tomato slice, it becomes transcendent. The combination of flavors—salty, creamy, smoky, tangy—creates perfect harmony.
Every neighborhood has its bagel loyalties, with heated debates about who makes the best.
9. Dirty Water Hot Dog: Street Cart Simplicity
There’s something gloriously unpretentious about grabbing a hot dog from a street vendor’s cart. The nickname comes from the warm water bath these franks sit in—not the most appetizing visual, but somehow part of their charm.
Topped with sauerkraut, onions in red sauce, or the classic yellow mustard and ketchup combo, they’re a quick, cheap lunch on the go. The snap of the casing is everything.
Found on practically every corner in Midtown, they’re quintessential New York fast food.
10. New York-Style Cheesecake: Dense, Rich, and Unapologetic
Forget light and fluffy—NYC cheesecake means business. This rich, dense dessert uses serious amounts of cream cheese for an almost velvety texture that clings to your fork and melts on your tongue.
The graham cracker crust provides just enough contrast to the smooth filling. Junior’s in Brooklyn has been the gold standard since 1950, though fierce competition exists.
Best enjoyed plain or with fresh berries—anything else is just distracting from perfection.
11. Pizza Slice from Joe’s: The Quintessential NYC Fold
Crispy yet foldable crust, sweet-tangy sauce, and the perfect cheese-to-sauce ratio—Joe’s Pizza represents New York slice culture at its finest. Since 1975, this Greenwich Village institution has been showing the world how pizza should be.
The beauty is in the simplicity: no fancy toppings needed, just perfectly balanced basics. Locals eat it folded in half, on the go.
The line moves quickly, and at around $3 a slice, it remains one of the city’s best food values.
12. Knish: The Portable Potato Pocket
Square, dense, and deliciously starchy, knishes arrived with Jewish immigrants and became beloved NYC street food. These dough-wrapped potato parcels are baked until golden and often spiced with onion.
Perfect for a quick, filling snack between meals. Yonah Schimmel’s Knishery on the Lower East Side has been making them since 1910 using the same recipes.
Beyond potato, you’ll find kasha (buckwheat), spinach, and sweet cheese varieties that offer a taste of Old New York.
13. BEC (Bacon, Egg & Cheese on a Roll): The Hangover Cure
Morning salvation comes wrapped in wax paper at any bodega or deli across the five boroughs. The BEC combines crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, and melted American cheese on a soft kaiser roll—simple ingredients elevated to art form.
The magic words “Salt, pepper, ketchup?” complete the ritual. Nothing absorbs last night’s poor decisions better than this savory breakfast sandwich.
Bodega cats keep watch as these are assembled lightning-fast for commuters and construction workers alike.
14. Dollar Slice Pizza: Budget-Friendly NYC Institution
The miracle of capitalism: how can a slice of pizza possibly cost only $1 in one of the world’s most expensive cities? Yet dollar slice joints persist, offering surprisingly decent pizza at an unbeatable price.
These no-frills shops serve thin-crust slices with minimal toppings. Quality varies wildly, but that’s part of the adventure.
For broke students, tourists on a budget, and late-night revelers, these spots provide essential sustenance when wallets are thin.
15. Dumplings from Vanessa’s: Chinatown’s Pocket-Sized Treasures
Five perfectly pan-fried dumplings for just a few bucks? Vanessa’s Dumpling House has been satisfying dumpling cravings without emptying wallets since 1999.
Their chive and pork dumplings feature thin, chewy wrappers that crisp up golden on the bottom while staying tender on top. Dip them in the signature vinegar-soy sauce mixture for maximum flavor.
Beyond dumplings, their sesame pancake sandwiches have developed their own cult following among in-the-know New Yorkers.
16. Chopped Cheese: The Bodega Sandwich That Went Mainstream
Born in Harlem and the Bronx, this bodega masterpiece has conquered NYC. Ground beef chopped on the grill with onions and melted cheese, then stuffed into a hero roll with lettuce, tomato, and condiments—think of it as New York’s answer to the Philly cheesesteak.
For years, it was unknown outside certain neighborhoods. Now it’s celebrated citywide as authentic NYC street food.
Best enjoyed late at night from a bodega with bulletproof glass and a cat lounging on the chips display.
17. Bagels from Absolute Bagels: The Upper West Side’s Morning Ritual
Watching the line form outside Absolute Bagels before they even open tells you everything. These hand-rolled, kettle-boiled beauties come out steaming hot throughout the day.
Founded by a Thai immigrant who mastered the bagel craft, they achieve the perfect balance: a shiny, thin crust giving way to a chewy interior with just the right density. The everything bagel here is the stuff of legend.
Columbia students and longtime residents agree—these are worth the wait every single time.
18. Italian Ice from the Bodega Freezer: Summer in a Paper Cup
When summer humidity hits like a wet blanket, New Yorkers reach for these frozen cups of relief. Rainbow, cherry, lemon—the flavors are vibrant and intensely sweet, melting just enough around the edges to be scooped with the flat wooden spoon provided.
Every bodega freezer stocks them. The authentic experience includes the slight struggle to peel back the paper lid without spilling.
Nothing beats the simple pleasure of scraping colorful ice on a sweltering day while sitting on a stoop.
19. Diner Pancakes: Fluffy Stacks of Comfort
Enormous, plate-overhanging pancakes are a NYC diner tradition. Served at all hours (because this is the city that never sleeps), these fluffy stacks arrive with those tiny containers of syrup that never seem quite enough.
Classic Greek-owned diners do them best—somehow both light and substantial, with crispy edges and soft centers. Add blueberries or chocolate chips if you’re feeling fancy.
There’s something magical about sliding into a booth at 2 AM for breakfast food when the rest of the world is sleeping.