Food Fire + Knives

From legendary deli sandwiches to five-star meals, the foods New York is known for reflect flavors from around the world.
The best food in NYC ranges from street-cart classics to cutting-edge fusion cuisine.
With a private chef from Food Fire + Knives, you can enjoy exciting takes on New York favorites without ever leaving home.

When writing about the New York food scene, it would probably be a lot easier to talk about the food the city ISN’T known for. That’s because the great food of New York reflects an entire globe of flavors and influences.

Nearly every cuisine imaginable exists somewhere in the five boroughs. You’ll find it all, from Michelin-level tasting menus to dollar slices eaten while standing on the sidewalk. So here is our humble attempt to scratch the surface of the top foods New York is known for.

NYC Staples

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that there are certain foods you simply have to try when visiting the Big Apple. Luckily, it takes less than a New York minute to locate these old standbys.

Pizza by the Slice

NYC’s rendition of this Italian-American favorite features thin crust and is lightly charred and chewy. Spots like Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich Village have been serving up authentic slices for more than 50 years.

Pastrami on Rye

Many of the foods New York is known for, like these hearty and satisfying sandwiches, are deeply influenced by Jewish deli culture. Katz’s Delicatessen on Houston Street is legendary for its towering creations.

Cheesecake

A whole style of this dessert is named for the city, so we can’t leave it off the great foods in New York list. You can even grab a slice of Junior’s “World’s Most Fabulous Cheesecake” at LaGuardia before your flight home.

Worldwide Influences

Of course, flavors brought to this melting pot of a city don’t end with staples like pizza and cheesecake. A tour through the New York food scene is akin to a spin around the globe, but you never need to leave the five boroughs.

Here are just a few of the global cuisines that number amongst the great foods of New York City:

Chinese food (Mandarin, Cantonese, and regional specialties) in Chinatown
Italian-American food in Little Italy
Dominican food in Washington Heights
Korean food in Koreatown
Middle Eastern food in Astoria
Caribbean food in Brooklyn

While none of these cuisines are confined to those specific neighborhoods, those spots are where you’ll find the biggest concentrations.

Fusion

There’s another “international” food New York is known for: fusion. Given the diversity of NYC menus, it’s not surprising the town is big on melding flavors, cultures, and customs into delicious one-of-a-kind creations.

Although fusion food evolved naturally here, influential chefs like Nobu Matsuhisa and Jean-Georges Vongerichten brought attention to the trend. Their namesake restaurants irrevocably connected the New York food scene with overlapping techniques and flavors.

5-Star Chef Culture

A chef plating gourmet Asian cuisine

Elevated dining is taken to its pinnacle in high-end spots dotted around the city. It’s impossible not to think of great food in New York City without envisioning Michelin stars, culinary innovators, and perfect plating.

From old-school spots that still ooze glamour and grace—think Delmonico’s, Gramercy Tavern, and Le Bernardin—to one of the dozens of restaurants boasting Michelin stars, you’re never more than a stone’s throw away from culinary excellence.

Current Hot Spots

Atomix: With only 10 seats, scoring a table at this Korean standout is like winning the lottery. It’s the #1 restaurant in America for a reason!
SAGA: One of the top spots to indulge in both a multi-course gastronomic journey and 360-degree views of the city.
Frevo: Frevo’s menu embraces one of the key food concepts New York is known for, as Chef Franco Sampogna effortlessly fuses classic French technique with South American and Asian flavors.

Street Food

A couple orders from a Halal food cart in NYC

Although we hinted at this with our first section on NYC staples, great food in New York doesn’t have to be pricey or receive any stamps of food-snob approval. To make your dishes stand out on the New York food scene, they just have to be delicious and memorable.

The fact that most of these treats are eaten standing up only adds to their charm. When it comes to what food New York is known for, sometimes the more lowkey, the better.

Halal Carts

Seemingly found on every corner, halal carts perfectly reflect the city's multicultural vibe. Just try to resist their overflowing platters of chicken, shaved meat, rice, salad, and famous sauce.

Chopped Cheese

Strange sounding? Yes. The ultimate late-night comfort food that New York is known for? For sure.

This sandwich features chopped ground beef, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, and the condiments of your choice piled onto a hero roll. It goes down great after a night on the town in the city that never sleeps.

Hot Dogs

Sure, you can get a frankfurter in a bun in any U.S. town or roadside convenience store. But something about a “dirty water dog” (so-named for the perfectly safe heated water they sit in before being served) just feels different. They’re cheap, they’re ubiquitous, and the New York food scene would feel empty without them.

Pretzels

Another grab-and-go classic, soft pretzels and the Big Apple are as connected as the twisted dough itself. Whether you sample one at a Yankees game or while strolling through Midtown, order yours with mustard if you want to taste what great food in New York is really all about.

Sample the Best of NYC With Food Fire + Knives

Did you know you can enjoy the huge variety of food New York is known for in one epic meal, thanks to a private chef from Food Fire + Knives?

Our culinary pros are as sensational at plating stunning five-star creations as they are at crafting elevated takes on street food classics. Enjoy it all, along with all-inclusive, interactive service, thanks to Food Fire + Knives. Book your private dining experience and savor the great foods of New York with FFK!