Stepping into the culinary scene of NYC is like entering a world of endless flavors and experiences.

Here, I will take you to explore 10 of my must eat when in New York City (with a couple more places if you stay until the end of this post!😉).

1. Magnolia Bakery: Banana Pudding

This is an absolute must when in NYC. I opted for the small size initially, as I didn’t get the hype around it— like, what on earth is a whipped banana pudding.. in a paper cup? But I was quickly proven wrong haha! This was the perfect indulgent treat, not overly sweet yet incredibly satisfying. Later on, I found myself buying this banana pudding multiple times on this trip, and yes, it’s the medium size now 😆

2. Levain Bakery: Original Chocolate Chip Cookies

The best cookie in the entire universe. If you read my previous post, you may notice that I got this cookie when I was about to visit Central Park. Taking in all the greeneries at Central park, accompanied by this sweetness goodie was just delightful.

3. Adel’s Famous Halal Food

Every spoon was just too good. No wonder people started queuing before they open. The white sauce was just the perfect creamy and savoury sauce. I think I like Adel’s better than Halal Guys.

4. Via Carota

Who’s here a Swiftie? I actually discovered this place from a TikTok video which shows Taylor Swift hangout with her friends here. And now I know why. I had the most creamy and peppery cacio é pepe here. I ordered 2 more pasta dishes, but cacio é pepe was the one that left me with the best impression.

5. Radio Bakery

If you love pastries, then absolutely go to Radio Bakery. There’s quite a line when I went there on a Saturday morning around 11am. However, the line moved pretty quickly. I absolutely loved their Earl Grey Morning Bun and their selections of focaccias.

6. Clinton St. Baking Company

For me, indulging in brunch is a definite must when visiting the Western world. We had to book beforehand for a weekday brunch. The place was fully packed and we had to wait for quite a while for our orders. However, it was worth the wait— loved their banana walnut pancake! Such a great meal to start the day.

7. Fish Cheeks

If you love Thai food and fish, then you will like it. All of the dishes we ordered were delicious, but their steamed fish with Thai seasonings was my favorite. It’s full of flavour and absolutely refreshing.

8. Soothr

This was the first Thai restaurant my brother took me on this NYC trip. Had to book before coming in even though it was on a weekday. Loved the food & ambiance, but most importantly, their shrimp curry (Koong Karee).

9. Tsuru Ton Tan

Strolling around 5th Avenue in cold windy winter and we were craving some warm Japanese dishes, and we bumped into this place! No plan at all to come here, but so glad we walked in. It’s such a huge restaurant, loved the huge bowl for our udon, and it’s delicious!

10. Peter Luger

Almost everyone recommends a visit to Peter Luger when in NYC. I was that person too after my initial visit a decade ago. However, this most recent visit didn’t leave the same lasting impression on me. While the ambiance was pleasant and the steak was good (also, absolutely large bacon too!), the experience didn’t quite stand out as much compared to other steakhouses I’ve been. Nonetheless, if you’re curious, then it’s absolutely worth going.

11. Bonus: Dashi Okume

This shop was absolutely fascinating. There’s a variety of dashi and other Japanese unique seasonings. It’s a large shop, displaying beautiful Japanese potteries, books, and cutleries. There’s also a restaurant inside, offering Teishoku set meals. I didn’t get to try their set meals yet, so perhaps now is the time to start planning my next visit to NYC 😀

12. Last but not least, Shake Shack

The East Coast burger. Though now available in various parts of the world— NYC was where it all started. I went here when I didn’t know where else to go and it’s always the safe choice.

13. Last one I promise: Liberty Bagels

Eat bagels when in NYC they say to get the most out of your New York experience. I absolutely loved this avocado and smoked salmon bagel from Liberty Bagels. Absolutely worth visiting!

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What are your favorite foods in NYC? For more ideas on your NYC trip, check out my other posts for Upper East Side, Most Instagrammable Spots in NYC, and The Edge vs SummitOne Vanderbilt.

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