Food is always a big part of any trip for us, and this time with New York was no different. We didn’t set out to eat anywhere overly fancy every day – it was more about mixing booked favourites with easy, on-the-go spots that fitted around sightseeing, sport, and walking miles across the city.
Top Places We Ate in New York
Here are the places we genuinely loved, and would happily return to.
Breakfast favourites
Bubby’s – Our favourite for a proper sit-down breakfast. The pancakes are everything you want them to be — comforting, generous, and perfect fuel for a busy day exploring. Relaxed, welcoming, and ideal for starting the day as a family. We got there for 8am as it opened and still queued so be prepared or book!
Clinton Street Baking Co (DUMBO) – If you’re over in Brooklyn, this is absolutely worth the stop. Located in Time Out Food market, a great location for after you have visited the famous photo spot! The pancakes are legendary for a reason and felt like a real treat rather than just another breakfast spot. Despite the 45 minute wait, we would recommend it.
Utopia Bagels – For mornings when we wanted to grab something and go, Utopia Bagels was spot on. Fresh, filling, and ideal when you’re keen to get moving. We loved the breakfast bagel, we just didn’t have them enough.
Easy, on-the-go meals
When you’re walking as much as you do in New York, quick food that doesn’t feel like a compromise is key.
Pizza slices – Sometimes you don’t need anything complicated — just a great slice of pizza, eaten standing up, while deciding where to head next. We didn’t manage the famous spots as the queues were so long, instead we dropped on spots on the go and were never disappointed!
Los Tacos No. 1 – Always a win. Quick, flavour-packed, and perfect when everyone’s hungry and you don’t want a long wait. We grabbed them outside of Madison Square Gardens before watching the Knicks. We first came across them in Miami in the Summer and couldn’t wait to find one in New York.
Hamburger America (SoHo) – An on-the-go burger spot found by Mr H on Instagram, and a great afternoon snack stop while exploring SoHo. Casual, quick, so tasty and really good value – exactly what you want between sightseeing stops. One we’ll remember.
Must-book/do meals
These were planned in advance and worth every bit of effort.
Au Cheval – Famed for being one of the best burgers in America, and discovered by Mr H on YouTube. It lived up to the hype — indulgent, incredible tasting, and one of those meals you talk about long after you’ve left. The bar felt like we walked into a movie set with awesome service.
Tonchin – A must for ramen lovers, think elevated authentic Japanese food. Recognised by the Michelin Guide and absolutely deserved. Warm, comforting, and perfect on a cold New York afternoon. They even catered for George, our chicken loving teen! I only wish we’d known about the LA location!
Katz Deli – I think it’s fair to say you’ll find Katz Deli chaotic but authentic, a New York experience with efficient and super friendly service. Famous for its huge pastrami sandwiches and pickles, we can concur that the sandwiches were incredible, we only wished we had one each. Expect queues but they do move quickly, we opted for the table service however we wished we had gone to the counter.
Something sweet
Levain Bakery – We couldn’t leave New York without a visit. The brownie was quite something — rich, indulgent, and definitely one to share (or not).
Little Cupcake Bakeshop (SoHo) – A late discovery and one we wish we’d found sooner. A lovely sweet stop and a perfect end to a wander around the neighbourhood.
Final thoughts
New York does food so well because it fits around real life – whether that’s sitting down for pancakes, grabbing something on the go, or planning a meal you’ve been looking forward to for months.
This mix worked perfectly for us as a family, and every single place earned its spot on the list. George has voted Katz Deli his favourite meal of the trip so it’s one not to be missed!
Hopefully this list has been useful for anyone planning a trip. I’ve also written a Guide from our trip and tips for making the journey from Newark Airport to Manhattan.
Top Places We Ate in New York
I’m Kerri-Ann or KA as my friends call me, always found with a cup of coffee in one hand and my camera in the other. I have a huge passion for photography, fitness, fashion and family travel. I started this blog in 2014. It began as my creative outlet after becoming a mummy to our little boy George Archie. I started out blogging about parenting and over the years it has evolved into a blog that covers lifestyle, fashion, family and travel. Today TheKAEdit is ultimately a life and style blog. Thank you for reading x x
