New York City is home to all things diverse: food, clothes, neighborhoods, and so much more. NYC is the place to be if you’re looking for a comfort meal from your culture or want to explore the diverse food that NYC has to offer. NYC is known as the melting pot of cultures as it has a wide range of cultures from all over the world. Neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Little Italy, East Harlem (El Barrio), Harlem, Koreatown, Brighton Beach, and so much more are all neighborhoods that showcase the roots of various cultures. For example, East Harlem (El Barrio) originally home to Puerto Rican culture, over the years has had other hispanic cultures find a home here in East Harlem. You can find restaurants from diverse cultures such as Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. In addition, the neighborhood has a museum called “El Museo del Barrio,” which showcases the history of Puerto Rican and Latin American culture through art and culture. In this photo essay I will be showcasing some of my favorite restaurants across NYC.
Starting off with the NYC classic, bacon, egg, and cheese. This iconic NYC food can be found on practically any block in NYC. Many iSchooler’s tend to get theirs from the Healthy and Fresh Gourmet Deli, which is around the corner from the iSchool. The history of the BEC is hard to pinpoint, however, the popularity of bacon, egg, and cheese sprouted when breakfast sandwich culture was invented. This is most likely a NYC staple because it’s a quick, cheap, and delicious meal that is sold on every block of NYC. A BEC is apart of many New Yorker’s daily routine, making it an iconic NYC food that everyone must try at least once. My personal order is a turkey bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel toasted.
If you’re looking for a sweet treat, Dough Doughnuts is the perfect desert. Dough Doughnuts was founded in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn in 2010. Soon enough they expanded into Manhattan, and from then on it has been a famous donut shop that sells oversized donuts of many different flavors. Dough Doughnuts are no ordinary donuts because they offer special flavors, such as Hibiscus, Blueberry Lemon, Chocolate-Cocoa Nib, Toasted Coconut. I personally have tried both Strawberry Shortcake and passion fruit, and I can say that they were both phenomenal. I definitely recommend it for anyone willing to try.
Did you know that you can take a trip to Mexico without booking the flight? La Esquina is a Mexican restaurant with decor that represents many restaurants in Mexico. The walls are covered in colorful paintings of luchadores, papel picado hanging from the ceilings, hanging lights, and so much more. They have locations in the Upper East Side, Midtown, Downtown, Soho, and Moynihan Train Hall. When you walk into La Esquina, you will feel as if you have taken a trip to a restaurant in Mexico. I got two tinga de pollo tacos and a side of moros y cristianos. I was so glad to stumble across this restaurant; the food tasted like a home cooked meal. It was so good and tasted very authentic.
After Los Angeles, NYC is the second largest city to have a large Thai population. In Queens they even have a “Little Thailand” that offers street food and dine experiences. Some of the most notable dishes are Pad Thai and Green Curry. I found this beautiful place called Spice, a Thai restaurant that can be found in the Upper East Side. It is just the place to experience authentic Thai cuisine. I ordered the grilled lemongrass chicken that came with a side of white rice that was served on a traditional Thai ceramic plate. The food was delicious, and the service was phenomenal. I had never had Thai food before this and was so grateful to be able to try it out; I would definitely come back.
Chinatown is the best place to experience Chinese food, and culture. I often go to Chinatown, especially in the summer to try new cuisines, explore history, visit markets, and get a glimpse of Chinese culture. One of my favorite spots in all of Chinatown is Jin Mei Dumpling, which is located right by the Manhattan bridge. I got 15 pork and chive fried dumplings for $5, which is a great deal! I definitely recommend checking this place out as it is delicious and is owned by a family.
Even though East Harlem is home to Puerto Rican culture, it also has a lot of Dominican culture present. I recently visited Santiago’s Beer Garden, which is a beautiful garden terrace with two colorful murals that are hard to pull your eyes away from. I ordered a jugo de chinola (passion fruit juice), which was amazing, and tasted just like the one’s I get from the Dominican Republic. For my meal, I got Chicharrón de Pollo sin Hueso (Fried Boneless Chicken Chunks) y Arroz blanco y Habichuelas marrones (and White Rice and Brown Beans). I would recommend checking this place to anyone who wants to immerse themselves in Dominican culture through food.
One of the things I love most about living in NYC are the endless amount of diners. Diners are the perfect places to go if you have no clue what you want to eat. Many diners like Ej’s Luncheonette offer a variety of foods on their menus, which is applicable to all guests. I got the classic eggs Benedict, a meal that originates from NYC. I have been going to Ej’s since I was a child, and every meal feels like home.
I first discovered my favorite Italian restaurant in all of NYC in the summer of my freshman year of high school when I was visiting Soho to get a sense of what my school commute would be like. I came across Il Corallo Trattoria. I was surprised to see that they had an amazing lunch special from 11:30am to 4pm for a great deal. My favorite thing to get is an italian soda and a Napoletana pie. The oven baked bread is also phenomenal. I love to come here with my family, the staff are all so kind, and the restaurant has such a feel of warmth to it. It is walking distance from the iSchool, it doesn’t hurt to try it out.
Astoria is known as a neighborhood that offers a large variety of cuisines: Chinese, Indian, Greek, Mediterranean, Mexican, or you can just be basic and get American. However, if you’re gonna get American food, you must do it right and go to Jackson Hole. When my dad first took me to Jackson Hole, my eyes lit up. There is so much to take in, the bright air line diner sign, the vintage look, and the mini jukeboxes on each table. Jackson Hole is a popular place that many like to visit for their famous 7 oz burgers, and because it is the location where a scene in “Goodfellas” was filmed. If you’re looking to transport yourself into the 1950’s atmosphere, definitely check out Jackson Hole.
Dominique Ansel is a French pastry chef who is known for his invention of the cronut, a croissant donut. The cronut can be found at Dominique Ansel Bakery in Soho. Each month, there is a new cronut of the month. In September, I got the Pumpkin and Rice Pudding donut, which was one of the best pastries I’ve ever had. But they have far more than just the cronut, they have: The Cookie Shot, Frozen S’more, Blossoming Hot Chocolate, and much more. I suggest trying the cronut because it is as good as it looks, and is worth the long line.
If you love sushi and are looking to support a family business, Sashimi Express II is just the spot for you. This hidden gem, located in the Upper East Side, offers sushi platters at a affordable price, which can be hard to find for sushi. I always get the 3 rolls for $11.45 combo. The staff are all very kind, and the food is made fresh right in front of you. You should definitely support this family owned business.
Dim sum is a cantonese meal that is traditionally served in small portions to share with friends and family. Dimsum Garden is located in Midtown East. Dimsum Garden is a spot with a comfortable atmosphere, great service, and amazing food. I got Crispy Shrimp Roll, Scallion pancakes, Pan Fried Pork Dumplings, and Chicken Fried Rice (not pictured).
In NYC, Indian culture is all around, the popularity of Indian restaurants first grew in the 2000s. The most popular dishes being chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, naan bread, and curry. In Jackson Heights there is a Little India, in East Village there is a Curry Row, and in Murray Hill there is a Curry Hill. Sathi is an Indian restaurant in Gramercy Park, it is a restaurant decorated with paintings, and marigold garlands. I ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Jasmine Rice. The food tasted like a home cooked meal – it was warm and flavorful.
I hope that this inspires you to step out of your comfort zone and appreciate the beautiful cultures that are intertwined in New York City!
