In a spot that’s as food-obsessed as New York City, there are some meals that the Massive Apple would really feel incomplete with out. There’s the New York Joyful Meal, which generally consists of a martini and fries, usually accompanied by a caesar salad for peace of thoughts. There’s the sandwich order that your native bodega has memorized. There are the new canine at Yankee Stadium and Citi Subject and the wealthy, dense New York-style cheesecake.

After which there are the specialty NYC foods which have actually earned the town that by no means sleeps the title of the town that by no means stops consuming: pizza, bagels and burgers. They’re easy. Traditional. However for each New Yorker, they arrive with complicated opinions, together with these of us in Lonely Planet’s New York workplace.

After a lot investigative journalism (aka, asking all the workplace for his or her favourite spots), we narrowed down the highest eating places throughout the town to attempt these three NYC classics. Anticipate strains and competitors for reservations at many of those, however know it would all be price it – New Yorkers would by no means lead you astray.

One of the best pizza in NYC

L’Industrie

A number of places

One of many youthful institutions on this listing, however by far probably the most favored by our employees (severely, virtually half the responses included it), L’Industrie has been a Williamsburg favourite since its first store opened up in 2017, whereas new on the scene is a buzzy second location within the West Village. L’Industrie’s pizza can finest be described as a real crispy New York slice made with premium Italian elements.

Tip: Skip the notoriously lengthy line by ordering forward (on-line orders are for entire pies solely, so do it with a bunch).

Chrissy’s Pizza

Greenpoint

Commercial

What began as a COVID-era pizza store out of Chris Hansell’s Brooklyn condo now has wrap-around-the-corner strains on the weekends at its small Greenpoint store. Chrissy’s solely does pies, not slices, and there’s a particular pie each week. Pizzas are on the pricier aspect at greater than $30, however you get what you pay for – the standard right here is phenomenal.

Tip: On weekdays at off-peak instances, there’s virtually hardly a wait. They replace their Instagram stories with the road standing often and are fairly aware of DMs asking about wait instances.

Cello’s

East Village

While you’re pizza-hunting within the East Village, it’s received to be Cello’s. This place’s slices remind us of L’Industrie’s (actually, the chef at Cello’s used to work there), with a skinny, barely charred but chewy crust. Should attempt: the burrata pizza and the jalapeno-pepperoni slice.

Roberta’s

A number of places

Bushwick’s rise to culinary fame began with this pizza shop-turned-chain, which has been dishing creative wood-fired pies inside its renovated warehouse since 2008. Go to the unique Bushwick location, which was opened in a former storage, and dig into your pizza at their coated tiki bar subsequent door.

Juliana’s Pizza

Dumbo

Followers of the well-known Grimaldi’s Pizzeria could know that its former homeowners got here out of retirement in 2012 to open a second pizza store, Juliana’s, within the unique Grimaldi’s location below the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s the identical basic Grimaldi’s recipe with out the massive line. They dish out huge, classically skinny NYC pizzas every day.

Rubirosa

Nolita

Nab a desk at Rubirosa to scarf down whisper-thin pizza crust, smothered in vodka sauce and recent mozzarella. A cult favourite is the tie-dye pizza, which is topped with pesto, vodka sauce, tomato sauce and recent mozzarella.

F&F Pizzeria 

Carroll Gardens

Opened in 2019 in a transformed Brooklyn storage, F&F pairs top-quality elements with pure dough fermentation (which creates a pleasant sourdough taste) to provide pies price writing to Manhattan about. As one responding staffer put it, “The recent sausage and brown butter sage pizza is, hypothetically, my final meal request.”

Una Pizza Napoletana

Decrease East Facet

Anthony Mangieri’s wood-fired pizzas are among the top-rated within the USA. It’s a sit-down spot with a reasonably easy menu: a few apps, desserts and some pizzas. The Neapolitan-style pies are soupy within the heart and bready on the edges with a light-weight, fluffy crust. 

Scarr’s Pizza

Decrease East Facet

A retro slice shop up entrance and a hip sit-down for pizza, cocktails and pure wine in again. The strains are virtually as legendary because the pies. Pizzas are available all shapes, sauces and crusts; the menu options spherical, Sicilian and grandma types.

Ace’s Pizza

A number of places

We all know – consuming Detroit-style pizza in New York Metropolis sounds a bit…sacrilegious. However let or not it’s recognized that even die-hard New Yorkers can admire a style of the crispy-yet-fluffy Midwestern pie. Ace’s is our best choice for these rectangular pies.

Tip: In case you do not end up close to an Ace’s location, honorable mentions for Detroit-style pizza embody Emmy Squared (a number of places) and Mo’s General (Williamsburg).

One of the best bagels in NYC

Tompkins Sq. Bagels

A number of places

Not solely is Tompkins Square Bagels first on this listing as a result of it obtained probably the most votes, nevertheless it additionally wins in sheer number of bagel flavors and toppings. With 16 bagel and 23 cream cheese flavors (not together with seasonal additions), your dream bagel order awaits, whether or not it’s jalapeno cheddar cream cheese on a salt bagel or lox unfold on blueberry (we gained’t choose, however that might be attention-grabbing). Or go for a lunch bagel sandwich, just like the Stutto: bacon, avocado, tomato and chipotle rooster salad.

Ess-a-bagel

A number of places

Commercial

This can be a longtime kosher deli with wonderful bagels and sandwich choices – and a really devoted fanbase. The bagels listed here are what you image once you consider a New York bagel: a shiny exterior, a dense, chewy inside and beneficiant in dimension.

Greenberg’s Bagels

A number of places

Initially opened in Williamsburg after which adopted by Mattress Stuy and West Village places, Greenberg’s bagels are on the thinner aspect, excellent for filling in with sandwich elements. Lonely Planet editor Chamidae Ford swears by a sausage, egg and cheese on a sesame bagel with onions, scorching honey and mayo.

Tip: Whereas all places are fabulous, the Mattress Stuy location bagel joint is a employees favourite in our workplace. The people-watching on the weekends is unmatched.

Russ & Daughters

A number of places

For a conventional bagel with cream cheese and lox, attempt Russ & Daughters, which has been in enterprise since its pushcart origins on the Decrease East Facet in 1914. If you wish to transcend the ol’ bagel and cream cheese combo, go for the wasabi-infused roe or the whitefish salad.

Previous Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe

Prospect Heights

Old Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe’s lengthy line on the weekends is trivial when you’ve tried considered one of their well-known za’atar bagels. However actually, any of their kettle-boiled bagels will hit the spot. Take your to-go and scarf it down in close by Prospect Park (in the event you can final the couple of minutes’ stroll with out digging in).

PopUp Bagels

A number of places

PopUp Bagels skilled a social media-induced frenzy like no different when its first New York Metropolis location, properly, popped up in Greenwich Village in 2023. Since then, they’ve expanded to 6 places throughout the town. Their menu has a singular method: simply bagels and spreads (cream cheese or specialty butter), and the order minimal is three bagels and one unfold. Texture is essential right here – their bagels have a superbly crispy shell and a fluffy, chewy center.

Tip: Reserve forward to skip the road. The pre-order minimal is a dozen bagels with two spreads.

Knickerbocker Bagel

Bushwick

Just like PopUp, Knickerbocker’s bagels have that fluffy inside texture with a wonderfully crisp exterior. Oh, and these puppies are tall, which may be very genuine to the New York-style bagel. Lonely Planet picture editor Katelynn Perry’s go-to order is an egg all the pieces bagel with veggie cream cheese, not toasted. Hit it as early as potential on the weekends (particularly Sundays) to keep away from an extended wait.

Apollo Bagels

A number of places

Extra generally often known as Apollo, this native franchise has quickly expanded into 4 places since its first store opened in February of 2024, capitalizing on the fluffy-yet-crispy development with a singular twist. Apollo’s specialty, which has graced many a social media feed: open-faced bagel sandwiches. The 2 hottest are the cream cheese and recent tomato; and the cream cheese, salmon, capers, crimson onion and dill.

Tip: In true Brooklyn trend, the strains are way more manageable on the Williamsburg location.

Barney Greengrass

Higher West Facet

The Upper West Side institution’s smoked fish could be the most effective you’ll style. Bagel platters right here come heaped with smoked salmon, gravlax, whitefish and sable, all fantastically sliced to order. Additionally, there’s a cause the signal out entrance reads, “The sturgeon king.” Discover out for your self and order a sturgeon sandwich. 

Brooklyn Bagel

A number of places

With an excellent crust and a chewy inside, bagels here are available plenty of variations, with a blinding repertoire of flavored cream cheese together with chipotle and cinnamon walnut raisin. In case you’re overwhelmed, know that the true star right here is the all the pieces bagel (many diners go for scallion cream cheese).

One of the best burgers in NYC

Crimson Hook Tavern 

Crimson Hook

A sunny day spent in Crimson Hook will treatment any New Yorker’s winter blues. Someplace on that itinerary belongs a meal at Red Hook Tavern, whose burger got here out on high in our employees ballot. It’s easy, topped solely with American cheese and white onion, which actually permits the standard of the sizeable patty to shine. That with a shiny sesame bun, fries and considered one of their specialty martinis actually elevates the New York Joyful Meal.

Tip: Reservations are all the time really helpful, however don’t be discouraged in the event you can’t snag one. Stroll-in-only seats are sometimes reserved on the bar. Simply arrive barely earlier than they open.

Hamburger America

Soho

Our second-place choose feels extra like a retro American street journey cease than a typical New York lunch counter. Hamburger America takes the prize for finest smashburger, and their fried onion burger is by far the group favourite. For these within the know (aka, you), the Chester is a secret off-menu merchandise that’s like a grilled cheese sandwich with a burger patty caught inside. 

4 Charles

West Village

This West Village steakhouse pulls out double the stops on the subject of its wagyu cheeseburger – severely, they make it a double. Two patties, American cheese, pickles, onions and a tasty Marie Rose sauce (a British condiment produced from mayo, lemon juice, pepper and Worcestershire). It’s one of many higher-end patties on this listing, and each chew is price it. Prime it with an egg or bacon for much more indulgence.

Minetta Tavern

Greenwich Village

A proprietary mix of beef by Pat LaFrieda makes for one of the sumptuous patties on the town. Opened in 1937, this tavern was frequented by bohemians like EE Cummings. Its iconic burger is smothered in cheddar and caramelized onions.

Fairfax

West Village

Sitting fairly on an cute nook within the West Village, Fairfax’s burger pairs finest with some elite people-watching from its cozy home windows or outside seating space. Dubbed “The Burger,” the mixture of BBQ mayo, cheddar, crispy potatoes (sure, on the burger) and crimson onion is pleasant.

Tip: Fairfax all the time units apart some seats for walk-ins, so attempt your luck in the event you missed the reservation window.

Nowon

A number of places

Nowon is the favourite for American-Korean “consuming meals” within the East Village and Bushwick. The Legendary Burger with Kimchi Particular Sauce, American cheese, pickles and onions is a should. As an alternative of fries, it’s Extraordinary Tots on the aspect.

seventh Avenue Burger

A number of places

Stumble to this post-drinks counter chain for an inexpensive and tacky nightcap – it’s open virtually as late because the East Village’s bars. Their dependable smashburgers begin at US$6.50, which is an unbelievable deal, and never only for NYC.

JG Melon

Higher East Facet

A no-frills pub that’s been serving considered one of NYC’s finest burgers below its pressed-tin ceiling since 1972. Flushing it down with a Bloody Mary is an Higher East Facet rite-of-passage. And although that is technically a burger listing, JG Melon’s cottage fries are the right complement.

Tip: It’s cash-only, however there’s an ATM on that block in case you neglect.

Au Cheval

Tribeca

Fourteen years after the Chicago restaurant opened in 2005, Au Cheval hit downtown Manhattan with a hearty menu made hottest by its double cheeseburger: two juicy beef patties sandwiched on a brioche bun with cheddar, pickles and dijonnaise. Add an egg or bacon to essentially seal the deal that you just’ll be going straight residence and right into a meals coma.

Raoul’s 

Soho

Raoul’s is aware of the way to play exhausting to get – every night time, the restaurant serves simply 12 of its well-known Burger Au Poivre on the bar solely. So, even in the event you rating a aggressive reservation, no burger for you. If you’re one of many lucky bar walk-ins, you’ll rating considered one of their au poivre-style masterpieces, that means the patty is coated in peppercorns and salt and seared in butter, as one would put together a steak.

Tip: It’s a first-come, first-served state of affairs on the bar, so present up a minimum of half an hour earlier than they open to get in line.