“So, do you just get paid to eat?” was a question I frequently received when I told people I’m a food writer in New York.
The answer isn’t so black and white, but essentially, I couldn’t properly do my job without eating a lot in New York City in order to properly assess. Like all jobs, being a food writer in NYC had its pros and cons: the pros being obvious, in that I got to eat my way around the greatest city in the world with pretty much no bounds. The cons are things that the majority of the public would and will never see — mundane behind-the-scenes factors, and also more obvious things like finding a way to balance a healthy lifestyle while overindulging.
Bowl of koshary, the national dish of Egypt, in NYC
(Kaitlyn Rosati)
But the biggest perk of all was getting to know my city in much more depth than I previously had. Food is far more than just what’s on your plate, and instead, every dish and ingredient tells a story. I’ve learned a lot about food history over the course of my food critic years, by traveling to places like the Far Rockaways which led me to tiny Uzbek haunts where I learned about Korean diasporas, and I stumbled upon enclaves like Yemeni and Albanian-saturated neighborhoods in the Bronx.
Overall, it takes very little effort to find a good meal in New York City, but if you want the best of the best, head to one of these neighborhoods for the ultimate treat.
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
A well-stocked fridge at Caputo’s Fine Foods
(Kaitlyn Rosati)
Perhaps I have a soft spot for Carroll Gardens, because my first-ever story for my dining column was about a small. no-frills Italian sandwich shop in the nabe. But I would, and still do, frequently return to Carroll Gardens anytime I want a slice of real New York. Carroll Gardens borders Red Hook, which also has a solid selection, but for Carroll Gardens proper, some of my favorite spots are Luana’s Tavern for their smashburger, Caputo’s Fine Foods for their “Road Trip” sandwich, Mazzola Bakery for their lard bread, and Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain for their ultra thick chocolate shakes.
Jackson Heights, Queens
Spread of food at El Chivito D’Oro
(Kaitlyn Rosati)
One of the coolest fun facts about New York is that it’s home to a neighborhood that collectively speaks more than any other languages in the world: Jackson Heights has at least 160 languages spoken within just a few-blocks’ radius. While that’s a cool fact on its own, what’s even cooler is you can travel quite literally anywhere in the world via the neighborhood’s wide selection of cuisine. I recommend stopping by Arepa Lady for a taste of Colombia, the Birria Landia taco truck to see that some things really are worth the hype, Nepali Bhanccha Ghar for some jhol momo, Dosa Delight for dosas larger than the size of your hand, the steak sandwich from Uruguayan eatery El Chivito D’Oro, and though not technically Jackson Heights, Elmhurst pizzeria Louie’s has one of the best grandma slices in NYC.
Little Yemen, Bronx
Mix of food in Little Yemen, Bronx
(Kaitlyn Rosati)
They say you can travel anywhere in the world with a trip to NYC, and while you might think that’s limited to going to Italy, Thailand, and Mexico, you can even head to places you might never have the chance to really visit… like Yemen! After the Yemeni Civil War broke out in 2014, many Yemeni locals were displaced, and with New York City being an arms-wide-open melting pot for the world, many of them ended up in a small-block radius in the Bronx (right on the cusp of Little Albania, which also deserves a mention). Now, a stroll through Little Yemen allows a peak into Yemeni cultural norms. There are Yemeni grocery stores, locals dressed in typical Yemeni garb, and restaurants serving up thin, fluffy malawah with spicy zhoug. My favorite restaurant in the area is Arth Aljanatain, but a general rule of thumb is go somewhere that’s cash only where the locals are eating, and you’ll be in for a treat.
Harlem, Manhattan
Crispy hot honey fried chicken from The Good Good
(Kaitlyn Rosati)
Come to Harlem hungry, and leave so stuffed that you’ll be glad you wore your stretchy pants (yeah, pro-tip: wear your stretchy pants to Harlem). I not only wrote a dining column for a major New York City publication, but I also wrote an entire guidebook chapter for Fodor’s on Harlem. The neighborhood is full of incredible history that should be required to visit on any trip to New York (hello, Apollo Theatre!), but for food, you’ll get some eclectic tastes that you won’t find elsewhere in the city. Red Rooster is prime for brunch, The Good Good is an underrated cocktail bar serving crispy hot honey-coated fried chicken, Melba’s and Amy Ruth’s serve the southern comfort food of your dreams, and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que has some of the best wings in the city.
Sunnyside, Queens
Sicilian slice from Philomena’s
(Kaitlyn Rosati)
Many mistakenly believe the only place you can get a “taste of the world” in Queens is Jackson Heights. Sunnyside, though a bit more gentrified than Jackson Heights, is a close runner-up when it comes to global flavors. At Dawa’s, you can eat Nepalese momos in a more refined setting compared to some of the hole-in-the-wall spots in other parts of Queens. Bolivian Llama Party is one of my favorite spots in all five boroughs, with soupy salteñas, the “dumpling” of Bolivia, which are like an empanada meets soup dumpling. Pro-tip: don’t skip their sopa di mani. Philomena’s Pizzeria has incredibly creative slices with a 72-hour fermented dough, like chickpea and broccoli rabe, and zucchini blossom and ricotta. For a taste of El Salvador, head to Ricas Pupusas & Mas, and for a no-frills Mexican breakfast, the Haab Mexican Cafe is hard to beat.
Nolita, Manhattan
Banh mi sandwich from Saigon Vietnamese Deli
(Kaitlyn Rosati)
She’s small, but she’s mighty. That little conglomerate of streets between some of the most popular downtown NYC neighborhoods like SoHo, the Lower East Side, and Chinatown is Nolita, and the mini neighborhood has some stellar dining options. Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Delis is one of the best deals on this side of Manhattan, with banh mis the size of a forearm for about 10 bucks (cash only). Thai Diner has a plate of Thai disco fries and a bowl of Khao Soi that I think of far more than any human should think of food, Boni & Mott is a fantastic Algerian-owned wine bar with incredible tapas, and Eileen’s Cheesecake is a staple for locals.
Little Italy (Bronx)
Calabria Pork Store
(Kaitlyn Rosati)
While I would never completely dismiss a neighborhood in New York, if there’s one that’s generally overrated on the food front, it’s Little Italy in Manhattan. However, if you take a trek up to Little Italy in the Bronx, the story is different. Home to some of the best old school bakeries in all five boroughs, you can eat a real taste of Italy up on Arthur Ave. Head to Casa della Mozzarella for some daily-made fresh mozzarella, Calabria Pork Store to see the “pork chandelier” due to the ceiling being completely covered in hanging sausages, Morrone’s Pastry Shop for cannolis and rainbow cookies, and for something to take home, head to Borgatti’s Egg Noodles for some of the best ravioli you’ll ever eat.