10 Best of New York Food Tours: From Bagels to Pizza

When visiting the Big Apple for the first time, are you unsure about where to eat? By reading on, discover the 10 best New York food tours and culinary favorites you must not skip during your trip to Gotham.

New York is a city of millionaires and immigrants in many ways. Many of the immigrants, who arrived more than a century ago, introduced a variety of culinary customs that are still practiced today. Let’s just say that the rich like to eat well. As a result, New York offers a wide variety of cuisine, from affordable global fare to top-tier fine dining.

Do you feel overwhelmed? Take a deep breath and begin right away your new york food tours with the following traditional New York delicacies:

1. New York Food Tour: Get Everything Bagel

Even though bagels weren’t created in New York, the city has the best bagels in the entire globe. We apologize to Montreal, but we prefer New York’s large, crisp, dense bagels over your smaller, sweeter variety.

In New York, bagels are made by hand using a unique twisting and shaping technique, then boiled in a combination of water and malt syrup, followed by baking to a deep, crusty brown. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly credit the great features of New York bagels to the city’s water. In contrast, we credit their brilliance to bagel-making techniques that have been perfected for at least a century.

Most New Yorkers are loyal to their neighborhood bagel shops. However, visit a few to discover your particular fave as well.

2. New York Food Tour: Classic NYZ Pizza

Pizza is the cuisine that powers New York, the largest metropolis in the United States, with thousands of pizzerias. Pizza is a food that unites all social classes and rarely disappoints, whether in the form of cheap slices or stuffed pies.

In addition to Neapolitan-style pies, you can also find them at establishments like Keste that are themed after other cities, such as Detroit’s Emmy Squared, St. Louis’ Speedy Romeo, and Louisiana’s Two Boots. Eat them all.

3. New York Food Tour: Hotdog on Street

Hot dogs are another traditional New York food brought over by immigrants, such as Germans and Austrians.

A New York hot dog won’t be hard to find. They can be found at Nathan’s, Gray’s Payaya stands, and street carts all around the city. But, of course, there isn’t a more traditional way to eat a hot dog than to do so while watching baseball, which is America’s national sport, at a Yankees or Mets game.

Add a lot of mustard, relish, and (unusual for ketchup) to your dog if necessary. Even sauerkraut is acceptable if that’s how you roll.

4. New York Food Tour: Iconic Pastrami Sandwich

These days, foodies on a mission flock to the Lower East Side to “have what she’s having,” otherwise known as a hand-carved pastrami sandwich.

Consider sharing your pastrami sandwich unless you are incredibly hungry. Good ones are both pricey and enormous. For maximum gratification, incorporate dill pickles and brown mustard.

While in New York, you should also have the Corned Beef Sandwich on rye, which is the cousin of pastrami. You can either choose a Reuben, a classic semi-Jewish sandwich made with Swiss cheese that isn’t kosher, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing.

5. New York Food Tour: Best Burgers in Town

Juicy burgers may be found all across the city, from fast-casual restaurants to some of the best New York restaurants, consumed by teenagers, businesspeople, and “ladies who lunch.”

In New York, no two hamburgers are ever the same because every cook adds a unique spin. As a result, burger lovers can enjoy two very different experiences on the same day by choosing between a juicy smashed patty burger from the fast food restaurant Shake Shack and a beefy, thick Black Label Burger from Keith McNally’s Minetta Tavern.

The majority of the greatest gastropubs in the city buy their meat from renowned New Jersey butcher Pat LaFrieda, who makes a unique mixture of ground beef and fat. So get a custom-made burger, preferably medium-rare, and savor each juicy bite.

6. New York Food Tour: Finest Brunch

These days, finding a place to have the best dinner of the day on a lazy Saturday or Sunday doesn’t need much searching. Additionally, there are various options, including dim sum in Chinatown, soul cuisine in Harlem, hipster food in Greenpoint, and ‘cheffy’ food in Gramercy Park.

Although the variety of brunch options, bagels, and lox is only available in New York City. Even though you can purchase everything you need to prepare a brunch feast in your hotel room, we suggest visiting the Russ & Daughters Cafe in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Then, share a fish board with friends and family to enjoy a New York culinary experience.

7. New York Food Tour: Discover Chinese Dimsum in Chinatown

Although the city’s original Chinatown in lower Manhattan continues to house some of the top Chinese eateries, Flushing is currently the most exciting Chinese food center. Those who are adventurous food tourists should take the subway to Queens and then travel to China.

You should try new Chinese foods on your trip to New York City. Start by savoring hand-pulled noodles at Xi’an Famous Foods and sucking soupy dumplings at Joe’s Shanghai.

8. New York Food Tour: Indulge Yourself in a Fine Dining

Leading restaurants like Eleven Madison Park and Le Bernardin have raised the standard for cuisine in New York City and kitchens worldwide. However, don’t disregard more avant-garde eateries like Momofuku Ko and upscale sushi bars like Sushi Nakazawa.

Although not everyone enjoys fine dining, if you spend money on a meal, you might as well do it in New York. So do your homework, book in advance, and enjoy the experience.

9. New York Food Tour: Finest Pastries of NYC

Donuts and coffee have long been a tradition in New York. However, the cronut is one of the innovative pastries artisan bakers have developed in recent years to push the boundaries of many possibilities.

Just to be clear, there are other dessert options besides cronuts. For example, numerous bakeries in the city sell cupcakes, cookie dough, and crack pie. But you may also easily find a plain donut if you like that. You could even go on a donut tour and sample a variety.

New York Food Tour: The Best Cheesecake in NYC

Eating creative pastries is entertaining, but there’s something special about tucking into a traditional slice of New York cheesecake. Even though the diner classic is offered around the city, Junior’s in the original Brooklyn location is the best at serving it.

Ingredients like eggs, heavy cream, sugar, and cream cheese—the key component—make up a good New York cheesecake.

Conclusion:

New York City is indeed well known for its diverse and vibrant cuisine, which can be found in local restaurants, bakeries, and specialty shops. Whether you’re a burger enthusiast looking to savor different recipes or a foodie who enjoys fine dining cuisines, New York has something to offer everyone. So come and experience the variety of flavors that have made New York City a renowned foodie destination. Bon appétit!

Are you ready to take your explorations of the United States to the next level? Look no further than Kansas City! Check out our blog for a deep dive into all that this vibrant city has to offer.

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