American food and culture has many things that it can thank New York City for.
New York has some of the best original foods in the country; so much so, that many other places in the United States simply replicate them to the same extent.
Also, you may be surprised to find that some of your traditional favorite foods were created in New York.
Other more exotic food hybrids were also born here, and soon, they too will become national favorites-- all thanks to New York City. But these foods, in their original glory, can only be found in the culinary landscape of NYC.
Here are ten finger-lickin' good foods you'll only ever find in NYC. Enjoy them while you can, will ya?
1. Bagels from Bagel Hole (400 7th Avenue)
New Yorkers are fiercely loyal to their favorite bagel shop, whichever it may be.
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Bagel Hole has some of the best bagels in the city, even supplying bagels to other famed New York eateries such as Russ and Daughters.
Good bagels don't seem to exist outside of the tri-state area, even though other places try to put on a convincing rendition of the "New York bagel."
2. Cheesecakes from Junior's (386 Flatbush Ave Ext)
Who doesn't love delicious cream cheese filling bedded on top of a graham cracker crust?
Junior's Cheesecake is delectable and timeless on its own, but this Brooklyn diner serves up a lot more than just your classic cheesecake.
They have seasonal cheesecake selections, as well as fun flavors like red velvet and crumb cheesecake with cinnamon streusel crumbs on top. Delish!
3. Italian ices from the Lemon Ice King of Corona (52-02 108th Street)
This favorite summer treat originated here in New York, and the Lemon Ice King of Corona has been perfecting the art of Italian ices for more than sixty years.
Their fruit flavors all have real fruit pieces in them, and other flavors like coffee and pistachio will keep your taste buds delighted and on definitely on your toes.
4. Mallomars
These delicious cookies help capture the summertime spirit of s'mores in the fall and winter months, as they only appear on store shelves in the New York area when the cold weather begins.
If you hail from out of town, you probably have never heard of Mallomars, but it's about damn time you did.
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These little clouds of marshmallows with a graham cracker crust and dipped in delectable dark chocolate are worth stocking up on when they debut each Mallomar season.
5. Manhattan clam chowder from Randazzo's Clam Bar (2017 Emmons Avenue - Brooklyn)
There's a huge battle between Manhattan and New England clam chowders, and wherever you stand on this divide, you have to admit that Manhattan clam chowder is definitely awesome.
Savory tomato broth, luscious bits of clam, and just a hint of grease make Randazzo's chowder rendition a standout amongst its Manhattan competition.
,6. Hot chocolate and a marshmallow from City Bakery (3 West 18th Street)
We'll bet you've never had hot chocolate and marshmallows like this before.This joint is famous for their hot chocolate (fun fact: in February, they have hot chocolate month with a new flavor of hot chocolate served every day of the month!).
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The hot chocolate itself is rich, thick, and creamy, and the marshmallows are larger than life, making this classic treat a true NYC delight.
7. Cronuts from Dominique Ansel Bakery (189 Spring Street)
Oh, cronuts. You appeared by chance one day, and soon you took the entire nation by storm.
NYC life would never be the same again as we know it, with mobs lining up out the door of this little Soho bakery, as soon as news of this creation hit the streets.
Many other bakeries and cafes have tried to recreate you (Doughssaints? And did you all know Dunkin' Donuts now makes one?), but none can compare to the original creation of the baking guru himself, Dominique Ansel.
8. Nutellasagna from Robicelli's Bakery (9009 5th Avenue - Brooklyn)
We all know and love the homestyle Italian lasagna we've grown up on, but just because we are lovers of cheese and red sauce doesn't mean that all lasagnas have to be like that.
Robicelli's created Nutellasagna, a crazy combination of lasagna noodles stacked high with cannoli cream, Nutella, chopped hazelnuts and chocolate, and (of course) topped with fluffy toasted marshmallows.
You might wonder what they were thinking, but you'll be able to answer that once you taste it for yourself.
9. Ramen burgers
Have you ever had a day where you could not decide whether you wanted ramen or a burger for lunch? Thanks to Keizo Shimamoto, you will never have to make this decision again. Because you can have both. At the same time.
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The bun of this NYC favorite hybrid is made from fried ramen noodles, with a delicious burger and toppings smacked right in between.
10. Mac and cheese bagel from Tompkins Square Bagels (165 Avenue A)
If you like bagels and you love mac and cheese, have you ever thought of putting mac and cheese on top of your bagel?
Allow Tompkins Square Bagels to open this possibility up to you. Famous for their speciality bagel and cream cheese bagels, TSB brings you a creation of gooey mac and cheese on top of a melt-in-your-mouth bagel.
Trust me, you won't be sorry you tried.
If you enjoyed this article, check out 9 Finger Lickin’ Good Foods You Gotta Try at Ballparks in NYC!