Must-Try Foods in New York
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Top Foods to Try in New York

New York's food scene is renowned for dishes like bagels, pizza, ramen, and gnocchi, showcasing global culinary influences.

  • 17 Apr 2025
  • 3 min read
  • 3 views

New York is renowned for its far-reaching culinary influence. Most of its eateries have birthed many mouth-watering delicacies. The city has attained a high reputation as it continues to shape the modern dining experience. Several tasty dishes originated in New York long ago, while others that came in recent years are already legendary.

Some of the top foods to try in New York include gnocchi, nasi lemak, ramen, shawarma platter, bagels, Ropa vieja and plantains, pizza, and oysters. Keep reading; our article gives more details about these foods below.

Popular Food in New York

These food items represent culinary influences from across the globe and fittingly describe New York’s cosmopolitan environment.

  1. Gnocchi

One of New York's favourite foods, people enjoy both the old and modern versions of Gnocchi, which are available city-wide. You can have gnocchi served with accompaniments such as fresh sage, lightly sweet butternut squash, maitake mushrooms, pickled Fresno chillies, and crunchy hazelnuts.

  1. Nasi Lemak

Nasi lemak is an extremely flavourful dish that is a mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malay cuisines. It's a fragrant rice dish prepared in coconut milk and served with spicy lamb curry, a hard-boiled egg, crispy fried anchovies, and fresh sliced cucumber.

  1. Ramen

Ramen is one of the simplest yet delicious New York street foods. It's a Japanese wheat noodle dish prepared in a meat—or fish-based hot soup. The noodles are then flavoured with miso, soy sauce, or garlic oil and enhanced with toppings such as dried seaweed, sliced pork belly, soft-boiled egg, and bamboo shoots. In New York, you'll find different versions of ramen noodle soup, from tonkatsu, a pork bone broth, to Okinawa, a chicken broth flavoured with yuzu and sake lees.

  1. Shawarma Platter

New York City now has many halal cart street food vendors (a grab-and-go scenario) famous for their outdoor dining destinations. They offer platters that include chicken, seasoned lamb, or falafel over rice.

Even though the halal carts resemble each other, individual food vendors add their style to make each dish appear unique. A shawarma platter is perfect for those looking for inexpensive delicacies to eat while watching people sitting on a bench. 

  1. Bagels

Bagels are tasty, ring-shaped yeast breads that are boiled before being baked. They have a shiny outer part, a thick crust, and a fluffy centre. Some people love sumptuous fresh bagels, which can be eaten plain or with smeared butter.

Others enjoy bagels with smoked salmon (lox), cream cheese, tomatoes, red onions, and capers. When you visit bagel shops or corner delis, you have the liberty to choose the flavour you like. They range from sesame and poppy seed to cinnamon raisin and a people's favourite branded as "everything". This flavour is topped with toasted sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, garlic, and salt.

  1. Pizza

Pizza Pie, as New Yorkers call it, is a popular food in New York. You can't visit the Big Apple without trying the thin-crust delicacy, flavoured with sweet marinara sauce and flecked with heaps of oregano and mozzarella.

Several walk-in spots sell traditional New York or square Sicilian (thick crust) slices. These are ideal for eating on the go or a tight budget. You can also try a more personalised pizza, such as vegan-friendly options, a gluten-free crust, or toppings like ricotta or meatballs.

  1. Ropa vieja and plantains

Ropa vieja is a Cuban stew made with slow-cooked shredded beef, chilies, and peppers. The tender, vinegary meat is more flavourful when paired with Caribbean-stirred black beans, plantains, and yellow rice. 

  1. Oysters

Whatever time of year you visit New York, you will find many fabulous places to enjoy oysters. They taste perfect when paired with a cold white wine or prosecco.

Conclusion

New York is one of the best places in the world for an exciting food experience. You can find fantastic restaurants, bakeries, food trucks, and diners all around town. Here, you're sure to have some of the most exclusive moments to wine and dine. One more important thing: As you plan to travel to New York City, remember to choose the best travel insurance online for your security in a foreign land.


 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the Insurance industry and products. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.

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