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New York is one of those cities which is impossible to sum up. It’s the kind of place that can be all things to all people at the same time. A bucket list destination for pretty much everyone, the problem with New York is that once you’ve been once, you just can’t stop going back.
A little like trying to work your way round all the top NYC attractions, it would take a lifetime to even scrape the surface of the city’s food offerings. If you ever did manage it, by the time you’d finished there would be so many new openings you’d have to start over.
New York’s food scene is a perfect representation of the U.S.’s biggest metropolis. As varied as the city itself, a journey through NYC’s culinary delights is a journey through the diverse neighborhoods, cultures and people who make New York, New York. Nowhere is this more clear than in the amazing and iconic street food in New York City.
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Unmissable Street Food in New York City
1. Pizza Slices
Chicago may be the U.S. city most famous for pizza, but any New Yorker will tell you their version is in a league of its own. An iconic street food the world over, there’s no way we could leave these perfect pieces of dough out of the best street food in New York City.
The first Italian immigrants arrived in New York in the late 19th century. Naturally, they bought their love for pizza with them and, in 1905, NYC got its first pizzeria. That pizzeria, Lombardi’s, is still going strong in Little Italy 120 years later.
It didn’t take long for New Yorkers to develop a love for classic Neapolitan pies. But in true New York style, they’d soon developed their very own style. Whilst very true to its Italian origins, New York-style pizza is unique with its thin, hand-tossed dough, very thin layer of tomato sauce and a generous coating of full-fat mozzarella. Generally served as oversized slices from pies up to 24 inches in diameter, they make for perfect on-the-go street food in New York City.
Where to find the Best Pizza Slices in NYC
Wherever you are when you get a hankering for street food in New York City, you won’t be far from an NY slice. Often open late in to the night, there are pizzerias on almost every block. In fact, there are so many that no one knows exactly how many there are. Estimates suggest there could be over 2,000 across the five boroughs.
One of the most iconic places to grab a slice is Joe’s Pizza. Joe Puzzuoli emigrated to the U.S. from Naples, opening his first pizzeria in Greenwich Village in 1975. The original location is still open, but Joe’s now have four other locations (East 14th, Broadway and Fulton Street in Manhattan and Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn) dishing up some of the tastiest street food in New York City.
Soon gaining a cult following, Joe’s have appeared in Grand Theft Auto, Spider Man 2 and Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. If you’re a fan of any of these, you’ll have your own reasons to visit Joe’s. If not, just go for the pizza. It’s all they do and they do it well.
Looking for the Famous Dollar Slice?
When the world reopened after Covid, nothing was quite the same. One such thing was the disappearance of the infamous $1 pizza slices you used to find all over Manhattan. Many never bounced back from the pandemic; those that did upped their prices. Albeit only by a few cents. Even the longest-standing dollar pizzerias, 2 Bros and 99 Cent Fresh upped their slices to $1.50 in 2023.
2. Bagels
Like pizza, the next dish on our rundown of the best street food in New York City also originated in Europe. Dreamt up by the Jewish community in Krakow over 400 years ago, Polish migrants introduced these delicious bread rolls to New York in the late 19th century.
Traditionally made with yeasty wheat dough, bagels are iconic for the hole in the centre. Boiled before being baked, the dough is deliciously dense yet the interior has the perfect crunch.
The Best Bagels in NYC
Set apart by the addition of malt, before being fermented for several days, New York bagels are loved for their fluffiness. According to the locals, New York City’s high water quality makes them taste even better. It’s rare that there being “something in the water” is a good thing, but when it comes to bagels, it, apparently, makes all the difference.
Bagels are another street food in New York City you’ll never have to walk far to find. So famous are NYC bagels, they’re sold the world over. But not all bagels were created equal, and we’ve got a couple of favorites you really ought to check out.
Bagels & Schmear serve bagels for breakfast and lunch from a tiny hole-in-the-wall shop on East 28th in the Flatiron District. Freshly baked every morning, their bagels come with an endless list of toppings. Choose from the classic deli meats, several types of cheese, spreads and salads to create your perfect bagel.
For a slightly more upmarket bagel, or if you fancy sampling this street food in New York City whilst sitting down, head to Sadelle’s. Now with 10 restaurants worldwide from Riyadh to Seoul, their West Broadway location is the original. The highlight has to be their speciality fish bagels. Choose from salmon, sable, tuna, sturgeon or whitefish finished off with salad, capers and onion for extra crunch.
3. Pastrami Sandwiches
You don’t have to have seen When Harry Met Sally to have heard of Katz’s Deli. The chances are, you also know it’s their pastrami sandwiches they’re truly famous for.
Another street food in New York City with its origins in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, the very first pastrami on rye was served up at Sussman Volk’s tiny deli on Delancey Street. The craze quickly spread and soon, kosher delis across Manhattan were pushing out these sandwiches at an expeditious rate.
Where to try Pastrami on Rye in NYC
Katz’s Deli
It was way back in 1903 that Katz’s opened their doors, although it wasn’t until the 1930s that they moved across the street to their current location (205 E. Hudson). In the heart of, what was, one of NYC’s biggest Jewish communities, the deli quickly became a focal point for the community. In 1989, When Harry Met Sally really brought Katz’s to fame and since then in more than a dozen hit flicks and TV shows.
A visit to Katz’s is an experience in itself. If this is your first time in the Big Apple, Katz’s should definitely be your go-to to sample pastrami on rye. Plus, if you’re not a fan of pastrami, they have a whole list of other meats from turkey to corned beef. Expect a wait to get in, but when you do, the line moves quickly. You pay when you leave, with your check calculated from the ticket you’re given on arrival. Whatever you do, don’t loose it- it will cost you!
A Katz’s Alternative
If you’ve done Katz’s once, the chances are you’ll be hooked on their ginormous sandwiches but probably don’t want to wait in line to devour one. 2nd Ave Deli is a great alternative. They have two locations: East 33rd and First Avenue.
4. Hot Dogs
A true taste of the United States dished up streetside in every city, hot dogs are the ultimate street food in New York City – though Chicagoans would say it’s their street food, especially if it has relish, white onions, sauerkraut and on a poppy seed bun.
The NY staple: the Coney Island dog. Whilst you may well think they hail from Coney Island, like so much street food in New York City, the Coney Island dog is actually the work of European immigrants from Greece.
Original Coney Island dogs are similar to chilli dogs. Unique for the addition of meat sauce, they’re finished off with crispy onions and a drizzle of American mustard. These days, the choice of toppings is endless. Go for a bacon cheese dog, peppers and onions or a corn dog. All beef varieties are also readily available.
Where to find an Original Coney Island Hot Dog
If there’s one place famous for hot dogs in New York, it’s Nathan’s. Their flagship restaurant is right by Coney Island Beach, but you don’t have to venture that far out to try their hot dogs. You’ll find Nathan’s hot dog carts on street corners right over Manhattan, with several on the southern edge of Central Park.
5. Cookies
Sure, we all love a cookie (or maybe that should be plural), but they’re available all over the world. Invented in Persia in the 7th century, they spread to Europe before being introduced to the U.S. around 400 years ago by the Dutch. To be precise, they landed in New Amsterdam (now the area of Manhattan south of Harlem) which is where you’ll find the cookies which make the cut as unmissable street food in New York City.
Where to find the Best Cookies in New York
This one is simple: Levain Bakery. Established in 1995 on 74th Street in the Upper West Side, their original store is still going strong and is the perfect place for a snack after visiting the Natural History Museum or strolling around Central Park. If you’re not heading to that area, don’t panic; they have bakeries in Harlem, the Flatiron District, NoHo, Brooklyn and plenty more.
Whilst best known for their chocolate chip cookies (the black and white chocolate chip are our favorite), they also do a divine lemon cookie and oatmeal raisin. Their signature chocolate chip is now available in a vegan and gluten-free version.
6. Banana Pudding
Possibly the most unique, and certainly specific, of the best street food in New York City, banana pudding needs to be tasted to be believed. Sweet and decadent, these delicious concoctions feature layers of vanilla custard, wafers and ladyfingers topped with slices of fresh banana and topped off with meringue.
A popular dish in the southern states, the difference with New York banana pudding is that it’s chilled rather than baked.
Where to try this Street Food in New York City
The best banana pudding in NYC is, hands down, Magnolia Bakery’s. With 10 locations across the city, they even have concessions at La Guardia Airport, Grand Central and Penn Station. Their original at 401 Bleecker Street opened in 1996.
7. Waffles
From Dutch Stroopwafels to Pennsylvanian chicken and waffles, there really is no end to what you can do with one of the simplest foods around. Made from leavened batter, pressed between two hot iron plates, whether you coat yours in sweet syrup or with fresh berries, waffles are the ultimate street food in New York City and around the world.
Setting them apart from the European counterparts, American waffles are made from batter with added baking soda. This gives them a thicker, denser texture.
Where to try Waffles in NYC
A popular street food in New York City, you won’t struggle to find delicious waffles. Almost every diner features them on their breakfast menu. Andrews NYC Diner on 7th Avenue do a tantalisingly good waffle sundae. Never let anyone tell you ice cream isn’t a breakfast food.
Later in the day, Waffle Street in Greenwich Village is our go-to for waffles in New York. Go for a simple plain waffle topped with sugar or cinnamon or push the boat out with one of their sugar-fuelled specials. Highlights include Nutella, salted caramel, candy-topped waffles and strawberry & banana. If you’re really hungry, attempt to tackle the Titan, a waffle topped with Nutella, Kinder Beuno, bananas, strawberries and crème fouetté.
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