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05

Eat New York

Good food is part of the plan

Markets & food halls

Chelsea
Chelsea Market
A former biscuit factory under the High Line, packed with food counters and shops. Go at opening to beat the crowds.
Lower East Side
Essex Market
The Lower East Side’s century-old market in a bright new building; stalls, produce and the Market Line below.
Midtown East
Urbanspace Vanderbilt
A food hall steps from Grand Central with rotating local vendors. Good for a fast, varied lunch.
Seaport
Tin Building by Jean-Georges
A glamorous market hall at the Seaport with counters, a grocery and sit-down restaurants.
Midtown East
Grand Central Dining Concourse
Under the main hall: classic counters, the Oyster Bar and the “whispering gallery” arches outside it.

New York classics

Lower East Side
Katz’s Delicatessen
Hand-carved pastrami since 1888. The meat is beef, but it is not halal; go for the scene, or choose a vegetarian side.
Lower East Side
Russ & Daughters
Smoked fish and bagels from a family shop on Houston Street, opened in 1914. Take a number at the counter.
Greenwich Village
Joe’s Pizza
The classic New York slice, folded and eaten standing. The Carmine Street original is the one to visit.
Downtown Brooklyn
Junior’s
Famous for New York cheesecake since 1950. The Brooklyn original is on Flatbush Avenue; there is a Times Square branch too.
Midtown East
Grand Central Oyster Bar
Seafood under a vaulted Guastavino tile ceiling since 1913. A good halal-friendly option for fish lovers.

Bakeries & cafés

Upper West Side
Levain Bakery
Giant, gooey cookies; the original basement shop on West 74th Street draws a queue that moves fast.
NoHo
Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery
A French grand café on Lafayette and Great Jones; the bakery counter is ideal for a pastry and a coffee.
Union Square
Breads Bakery
Chocolate babka and rugelach by Union Square, beside the holiday market.
Upper East Side
Café Sabarsky
A Viennese café inside the Neue Galerie; Sachertorte and hot chocolate after Klimt.
Check museum-day hours
SoHo
Dominique Ansel Bakery
The SoHo pastry shop that started the Cronut craze. Arrive early for the monthly flavour.
Check current hours

Highly recommended

Midtown
The Halal Guys (original cart)
Chicken and gyro over rice with white sauce at 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue. The cart that started a chain.
Astoria, Queens
Kabab Café
Chef Ali El Sayed’s tiny Egyptian kitchen at 25-12 Steinway Street; listed as fully halal and alcohol-free. Closed Mondays.
Astoria, Queens
Sami’s Kabab House
Afghan kebabs and rice in Astoria; long-loved by local Muslim diners.
Confirm halal status
Chelsea
Shukette
Lively Middle Eastern cooking in Chelsea; bread, dips and grilled fish. Not halal-certified, so ask about meat and alcohol.
Greenwich Village
Mamoun’s Falafel
Falafel in pitta on MacDougal Street since 1971; cheap, quick and open late.
Ask about meat sourcing

Eat more

Bagel & schmear
Dollar-ish slice
Halal cart platter
Steinway Street kebabs
Jackson Heights momos
Chinatown dumplings
Black-and-white cookie
Hot chocolate

The December plate

Latkes & hot chocolate
Crisp potato latkes appear for Hanukkah (4–12 December 2026); pair them with a thick hot chocolate from a café or holiday-market stall.
Tip 18–22% at sit-down restaurants; counter service is optional. Tax is added at the till. At holiday markets, check ingredients — sausages and stews often contain pork or wine.
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