Food In New York City

Food Signs

You're Definitely A Tourist

In New York City

*

by  Alison Spiegel
Posted: 05/22/2014

New York is one of, if not THE, greatest food cities in the world. Not only can you get just about any kind of food in New York, but you can get some of the best. You've got the iconic black and white cookies, the New York style cheesecake (from Junior's, of course) and the bagels (sorry, Montreal). Despite what some Chicagoans may think, the pizza reigns supreme in New York -- and so do the hot dogs. (Although we'll entertain a dispute and taste test deep dish versus thin crust any day.)

Indeed, the food in New York makes it worth all the hardship that the city requires; it makes the struggle worthwhile. It's no wonder that tourists flock to our great city not just to see the sights, but to eat.

The curse of all tourists, however, is that they're not locals and thus can't truly eat like a local -- no matter how hard they try. Despite even the most valiant efforts, most will inevitably fall into at least one tourist trap. Luckily it's not all bad. There's a reason visitors to New York seek out some of our most touristy food attractions -- many of them are great and New Yorkers love them too! New Yorkers really do love Junior's cheesecake, and we're damn proud of our pizza and black and white cookies.

Other touristy restaurants and iconic foods, however, are an egregious waste of time and stomach space. New Yorkers would never be caught dead at these establishments or eating this food -- or at least they don't have time to wait in the lines.

For better or worse, here are 13 signs that you're definitely a tourist in New York (or are at least acting like one). What's your favorite or least favorite culinary tourist trap in New York City? 

You stand in line for cupcakes
at Magnolia.

 

There are so many better cupcakes in New York. Just try Billy's or Buttercup Bakeshop and then see what you think about waiting for Magnolia. There's just no need to wait in a line that wraps around the block for a dry cupcake with inferior frosting.  

You eat pizza from Lombardi's.

 

It's not that Lombardi's pizza is bad, per se, but there are so many better places to get pizza in New York. You're just selling yourself short by waiting for an hour for pizza from Lombardi's.

You eat at the Olive Garden

in Times Square.

You eat anywhere in Times Square.

 

Unless you're forced to eat in or around Times Square because of your office location (for which we pity you), there's no good reason and no excuse for eating there. It's chaos -- get out as quickly as you can!

You order Cosmolitans to fit in.

 Just because the girls on "Sex in the City" drank them, doesn't mean real New Yorkers do.

You eat in Little Italy.

 

Little Italy may be one of the saddest places to eat in New York. 

We wish it wasn't so, but it is. 

You go to Serendipity
for Frozen Hot Chocolates.

 

We'll admit frozen hot chocolates are pretty awesome, 

but Serendipity is really just for tourists.

 

You think 4 dumplings for $1 at Vanessa's 

is the best deal you're gonna find.

 

New Yorkers eat at Prosperity.

 

 

You walk over the Brooklyn Bridge

just for Grimaldi's pizza.

 

Over-hyped

 

You think the Cronut

is worth the hype.

 

If you're willing to stand in line for two hours to wait for a Cronut™, we're not sure we should even let you in on this little secret. But... croissants and doughnuts are perfect foods. Combining them doesn't make them any better. Also, Dominique Ansel's DKA is FAR superior. 

You visit the M&M store.

No New Yorker has EVER gone inside the M&M store, unless he or she works there. We're sure it's fun, but we've never been, so we have no idea!

You think going to Smorgasburg

in Williamsburg is adventurous.

Smorgasburg

 

In fact, you think going anywhere

in Brooklyn is adventurous.

Tourists need to spend way more time in Brooklyn
and
ALL the outer boroughs.

That's where all the best food is!

There are also

30 Food Reason

New York

Is Worth The Struggle

The Pickle Guys
Order anything from here, and your day just got light years better.

Porterhouse Steak From Peter Luger
Yes, this dish will cost you your first born. But, it's worth it. Blow your entire paycheck on this meal and don't think twice, because you just can't get a steak this good anywhere else.

Disco Tots From Queens Comfort
Disco tots are tater tots smothered in sawmill gravy and cheddar cheese. Each bite makes us forget that we can't afford the subway ride it cost us to get here, let alone the breakfast that sits in front of us.

Shake Shack's Frozen Custard

Ice cream doesn't even rank when there's frozen custard. And Shake Shack does it best. It's one of the main reasons summers in New York are so great.

Everything Bagels

The fact that you can find an everything bagel at almost every corner deli means you're never far from an awesome (and cheap!) breakfast.

The Coffee

There is SO MUCH good coffee. (Which is reason alone to move here.) Every block has one, if not two, options for a cup that will jolt you back to life and make you forget that you worked a 14-hour day yesterday and are just about to do it again -- and again. Cafe Grumpy, Mud, La Colombe, Abraco, the list goes on and on.

ALL THE PIZZA
We're not talking dollar slices here, but the real good, art-in-the-craft type of pizza. Here are some of our favorites: Best Pizza, Motorino, Paulie Gee's, Lucali, Artichoke, Sullivan St. Bakery, Roberta's, DiFara's, Totonno and grandma-style pizza from L&B Spumoni Gardens.

Bialys
New York's best kept secret.

Xiao Long Bao
Xiao Long Bao, or Shanghai soup dumplings, are the only way we ever want to eat soup -- and they are the one thing getting you through the brutal NYC winter.

The Burger At Diner
There are so many good burgers in this city, but this one, this one is special. Just look at the way they blanket the patty in cheese. You'll remember this burger for the rest of your life.

Ramen
It's particularly great from Ippudo, but you can get good ramen almost anywhere in the city. That alone is reason to never leave this place.

Hibiscus Donut From Dough
Donuts from dough aren't cheap -- almost nothing is in this city -- but the fact that they're the size of your face makes up for that.

White Fish From Russ & Daughters
There's a reason this place has been around since 1914, and it's because of this white fish salad.

Prosperity Dumplings
The fact that you can get five dumplings for $1 makes NYC feel like the kindest place on earth.

Mille Crepe Cake From Lady M
When just one piece of cake won't do, a slice of mille crepe cake will set you straight.

Smoked Meat Poutine At Mile End
This is not just your everyday gravy-and-cheese covered fries. This poutine is made with smoked meat by the guys that don't mess around when it comes to meat. And it's just the type of food you need after sending out 98 resumes in one week and not hearing back a single response.

Grilled Octopus In Astoria
The number of Greek restaurants in Astoria means that there's no shortage of perfectly charred, tender octopus. One bite from this dish and you'll forget for a moment that you live in a concrete jungle.

Noodles From Xi'an Famous Foods
We have one thing to say about this: hand-pulled noodles are worth fighting for.

Pierogis At Veselka
Not only will eating these pierogis feel like you're being hugged by a Polish grandmother, but you can get them 24 hours.

Deep Fried Cadbury Egg From Chipshop
Just because you can get everything you've ever wanted in NYC, definitely means you should -- like a deep-fried Cadbury egg. Eat that and relish in that fact that you can get it any old day of the week. Along with deep-fried pizza, deep-fried cherry pie, deep-fried mac and cheese. You want it, you got it. That's the NYC way.

City Bakery Hot Chocolate
It's more like chocolate soup, and it can mend your battered-down spirit.

$1 Pizza Slices
We appreciate it for not letting us go hungry after we've handed our life savings over to our landlord.

Pastrami Sandwich At Katz's
This is the sandwich you eat when you just lost your job. Again. And if you're extra nice to the guys behind the counter, they'll load you up on half sour, full sours and pickled green tomatoes

Anything From Peter Pan's Donut & Pastry Shop
The fact that you can get a cup of coffee, a donut and a killer breakfast sandwich for under six bucks makes this place a true gem. And the 1950s feel of the place is pretty great too.

Luke's Lobster Roll
Yes, we know $18 is a lot to spend on this tiny sandwich. But we'll cough up our last 20 for just one bite of their lobster roll. Or their shrimp roll. Or their crab roll.

Black And White Cookies
This cakey cookie makes us momentarily forget that we dodged two rats on the subway ride home.

Momofuku Pork Buns
Worth the wait, every time. And if you go for lunch, there's no wait. (Which means you should definitely call in sick tomorrow so you can go.)

Lard Bread
How could you not want to live in a place where a loaf of bread made with pork fat, cheese and salumi exists? It's comfort food at its finest. And if you live in New York, you need good comfort food.

Egg Cream from Gem Spa

You don't understand how great milk and soda water go together until you've tried it at Gem Spa. This simple drink will make you feel like a child again, and wash away all your worries.