Places to Eat in NYC

I don't think I'll ever be able to even come up with a top 50 places to eat in NYC because there are so many, but there are a number of places that I tend to crave or if someone visits, I tell them to go check out:


Chicken & Rice - obviously the one on 53rd at 6th Ave across from Hilton Hotel is the most popular, but there are multiple ones that I don't even know which is the right one. So my safest and wisest choice is to go to the one right across the street from where I live at Water and Wall St. The Halal food between the magazine stand and Subway is pretty top notch. Yogurt and hot sauces are a must.

Lenny's - awesome sandwich chain - hands down. delish.

Basta Pasta - Most awesome Italian restaurant with Japanese twists to most dishes. I went so many times my friends got me a gift card. My faves are Sea Urchin Linguine, and Reggiano and Parma prosciutto, served in half a wheel of Parmesan cheese at table)

Old Homestead - Yummy Parmesan cheese tower, fantastic medium rare steaks, appetizers are all reaaaally good. Main dishes? stick to the steak.

Peter Luger - The steak is great, I'm confirming this. I'm a big steak eater, and make no mistake, this is the experience. Also creamed spinach is surprisingly delish, especially for a person who hates greens.

Pommes Frites - 123 2nd Ave between St. Mark's and 7th Street. All sorts of yummy Belgian fries!!

Rai Rai Ken - tiniest little ramen place, but any place with a loyalty card is pretty solid - only offers 3 types of ramen and a few appetizers. But in the end a Shoyu Ramen does it just right.

Tebaya - 144 W.19th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenue. Yummy Japanese Fried Chicken Wings and croquettes

Taisho - on St Marks between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. There are 2 of these owned by the same people. All home cook Japanese dishes and very popular place to eat. Every time if it's a group of people, I know exactly what top 10 dishes you must order. And if you want to find out, then you better invite me!!!

Xe Lua - speaking of "just right", no one can ever say no to PHO (pronounced phuh, not fo peeps). When in doubt, a bowl of pho will fix it. I always order pho with beef and extra tendon, spring rolls *drool*, and Vietnamese coffee, but there's quite a lot of yummy dishes on their menu!

K-Town - Shilla, Kunjip, and Arang are my faves. Although Arang is topping it only because it serves Duk Bok Gi (rice cakes) with Bulgogi (marinated beef), Kimchi (spiced cabbage), and CHEEEEEEESE! Korean pizza if you want to draw a comparison.

ViVi - 49 Bayard St btween Bowery and Elizabeth St. If you like bubble tea, try a Pudding Milk Tea here. SO GOOD :-)

Go Go Curry - 273 W. 38th Street near 8th Avenue. Really good Japanese Curry dishes!!! They also worship Matsui.

Wondee Siam - Definitely the best Thai restaurant I've been to in NYC. If you know someone who speaks Thai, then for sure you have to go with them for some nice class A treatment (aka Lily Panchasarp's parents)

Shake Shack - SE corner of Madison Square Park, near Madison Avenue and 23rd Street. Really popular outdoor burger joint in Madison Square Park (the park, not the sports arena). Order a burger and a shake!

Better Burger - But if it's too cold, then you might want to head over to Better Burger at 18th Street and Broadway (and all across the city). I would get a regular burger with the "works" or a portobello mushroom burger.

Pinkberry - Yes, Pinkberry version. Tart, yummy, not too many choices, but just right. Fave toppings: Rice cakes, any fruit, Fruity Pebbles

Venieros - 342 East 11th Street & 1st Ave. Awesome cheesecake! Your best bet is by far the New York Cheesecake. Everything else is pretty blah :)

Dessert Truck - Parked right at St. Mark's and 3rd Avenue. REALLY awesome desserts. My fave is their choco molten cake with sea salt.

Pizza 33 - 33rd Street at 3rd Avenue. Order a slice of lasagna pizza - YUM.

Grimaldi's Pizza - in Brooklyn, if you walk the Bridge it's pretty much under the bridge (19 Old Fulton St. under the Brooklyn Bridge). Full of tourists unfortunately, but it's all about those tiny thicker pepperoni slices, so if you know another place that has those, then go there. Folding pizza slices in half and eating them like a sandwich is my favorite pastime.

Pizza & Other - honestly I'm just infatuated with pizza. So anywhere with thin crust, I'm good to go. Even ordering from Pizza Hut or Papa Johns. The best part of ordering a whole pie, is the load of cold pizza you'll get for the next day. Other than pizza, I'm pretty good to go with any brunch place, hot dog place and Indian restaurant that serves Rogan Josh. :-)

Please don't call me a foodie - I'm not really a critic, I actually eat anything and everything, but I just tend to crave the above a lil' more.

And now I feel famished. Going home to find scraps of food to take a bite into. Need to stay true to my Money Spendin' Guidelines, because I was not very good this past weekend. :-(