New Yorkers have the world's best food available to them at any time of the day. But do we appreciate this? Nah.
We’d rather gripe about it. It’s because we take Gotham for granted. Everything becomes no big deal.
It’s only if and when you do leave the Big Apple that you’ll realize how good you had it.
There’s something in New York City's water that makes our food taste better, and no other city in the world gets some dishes just right, every single time.
Here are the 12 more quintessential New York City foods (in no particular order) that you'll definitely miss like crazy-- that is, if you're crazy enough to ever leave this town.
(By the way, if you didn't catch our first article on this very subject, check it out here.)
So, New Yorkers... which one tops your list? Leave your #1's in the comments below...
1. Pizza
lilmissfigmint After 12 years of living in NYC I finally made it to Difaras 🍕🍕🍕 #pizza #difara #brooklyn #flexibledieter #iifym
Thanks, Captain Obvious! Maybe it’s Brooklyn, others say the Bronx, someone else says Queens or even the Village.
[anad]
The point is nobody argues that New York City has the best pizza.
Instead, the argument becomes where in NYC has the best of the best pizza. But if you need a starting point, you absolutely cannot do worse than Di Fara in Brooklyn. Trust us on that one.
2. The Cronut
danasdesserts So this happened, it was delicious. Strawberry Rhubarb Thyme Cronut. @dominiqueansel #dominiqueansel #springstreet #nyc #nycfood #newyork #city #eeaattzz #foodonfleek #food #foodiegram #njfoodie #newyorkcity #cronut #donut #croissant #nyccronut #cronuts #strawberryrhubarb #thyme #strawberry #rhubarb #lovinngfoodlook #f52gram
Created by New York City’s own Chef Dominique Ansel, the Cronut became an overnight sensation for sweets lovers that was quickly copied the world over.
While many dismiss the rookie as not being around long enough to establish proper cred as an NYC staple, it was still born and bred here, and it’s here to stay.
3. Cupcakes
-->Sex in the City might have made Magnolia Bakery a household name, but their cupcakes have kept them relevant for as long as they have been. And here’s the kicker, they’re not even the best in the city.
Tucked away on Rivington Street is a little place called Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery. Pick the first cupcake that catches your eye.
You can thank us later for the new love of your life.
4. Kennedy Fried Chicken (a.k.a. Crown Fried Chicken)
Kennedy Fried Chicken, aka Crown Fried Chicken, is by no means a glamorous pick for this list. But born and bred New Yorkers, those of us who don’t just do Manhattan, are nodding their heads right now.
Sometimes it’s not the fancy choice, or the expensive option, that makes you feel good.
Sometimes it’s the food that was made local, feels familiar, and tastes like your neighborhood, that can make you happy. And that's just what this food does.
5. Baked ziti
miss_jayjay_cruz Mother's Day dinner is served! My specialty 5 cheese baked ziti! Made with my love to share with the ones I love! #familyfirst #mothersday #foodporn #bakedziti #f4f
I actually cried upon my first taste of baked ziti in the East Village, after ten years away from NYC. Actual tears and everything.
[anad2]
It is an absolute crime that so many places outside of New York don’t even know what baked ziti is.
It’s a harsh awakening for any ex-Gothamite to realize they can’t get this dish again.
6. Belgian fries
foodelventures HAPPY FRI-DAY! Lets pay tribute to #pommesfritesnyc and hope they come back strong! Definitely waiting for their fries with mango chutney to return! Taster: @zweizet #foodelventures #friday #pommesfrites #f52grams #feedfeed #foodintheair #EEEEEATS #eatfamous #eatingfortheinsta #eatsleepandeatmore #phatgirlzzz #PureGluttony #putaforkinit #presentationiskey #lettucedine #myfab5 #missnewfoodie
A fire in the East Village devastated this neighborhood recently. Amongst the numerous losses was the Pommes Frites on 2nd Avenue. (New Yorkers were so dismayed by its loss that it actually trended on Twitter.)
It’s a simple thing, ostensibly; fresh potatoes, cut, fried, salted, and poured into some paper. Get some nice dipping sauces on the side. It’s unbelievable that this is not a thing everywhere.
And here's to hoping Pommes Frites gets back on their feet soon... this city really misses you.
,7. Potato knishes
princelauren Finally got to try a real Knish and it was delicious @katzsdeli! #knish #potatoknish #katzdeli #NYC #NewYork #foodie
They get no respect but deserve all of it. Everybody forgets about them and takes them for granted. The humble knish is the poster child for overlooked foods.
[anad]
But when you leave New York, the knish craving will build and build and build some more. You’ll hear The Jackson Five singing “I Want You Back,” and you’ll think of that crunchy soft delight with a touch of mustard.
And then you’ll leave some tears on the ground.
8. Black-and-white cookies
misscox Exhibit H: #BestBWCookieSearch Zaro's Bakery (Penn Station location) Another reliable cookie. Both icings are quite mild, nothing here is too sweet. The base is thick, moist, very cakey, but does become a little paste-like in the mouth, which ruins the chewing experience. This cookie screams for a milk companion. Yet, it's good, another solid representation of the classic cookie (just don't forget a beverage!) #BlackAndWhite #BlackAndWhiteCookie #zaros #zarosbakery #PennStation #cookies #NYC #newyork_instagram #nycdotgram #newyork_originals #igersofnyc #imagesofnyc #nycfat BWCookie.Wordpress.com
Black. White. Awesome. These New York treats are everywhere in the Apple.
Every bodega and convenience store carries them. While they’re still pretty good from those places, make sure to stop in a local bakery from time to time, and experience their full power.
9. Katz’s Deli
This one’s an argument waiting to happen for most New Yorkers. Some of us write Katz's off as a tourist trap, while others call it a Gotham tradition. We’ve written about it before, and probably will again.
But their pastrami will seep into your dreams after you leave this city. And it will stay with you all day when you’re awake.
10. Hot dogs
jeanellmilan My only regret for today is that I didn't know that they made Yankee visors...my hair could be so much blonder from this experience. @lindsayjpaul @ccaasseeyy #nathanshotdogs #yankeestadium #sunshine #baseball #funtimes
The humble hot dog’s home is here, New York City. In fact, it’s a quintessential New York City food. That "Nathan" guy from Coney Island who got so famous? It was because he popularized this snack.
Yeah, hot dogs are everywhere now, but once you’ve had them in NYC, hot dogs anywhere else will just make you miss this city. That's the bottom line.
11. Cheesecake
New York cheesecake is on dessert menus all over the world, because we get it just right. That smooth tang cut with sweetness is trademarked by Gotham.
[anad2]
Everyone knows about Junior’s, and rightly so. They’re always at the top and there’s good reason for that. But don’t be afraid to try the small bakeries too.
When you’re on the Upper East Side, go look for Lady M. Cake Boutique... and then live in a cloud for the rest of the day.
12. Bagels
We opened with Captain Obvious, so we’ll close with him too. Go to Terrace Bagels in Brooklyn, maybe get some from Murray’s on 6th Avenue, or even hit up Tompkins Square Bagels... there’s no end to quality bagel places in this great city.
Maybe get a schmear, maybe get them plain. There are as many ways to eat a bagel as there are kinds of bagels in the first place. But once you leave New York, all that becomes moot.
Without New York, you’re without the high quality bagels you have come to expect.
And hey, this list doesn’t rank these foods from first to worst in any way. They’re listed randomly, there’s no way to say one dish is better than the other. It’s literally comparing apples and oranges.
The point is to remind you that New Yorkers are privileged to have pampered palates. The greatest city in the world has the greatest food. So when you leave NYC, you also leave that food. And you’ll never forget it.
So enjoy that next meal, New Yorkers. You definitely can't get it anywhere else in this entire world.
Want more classic NYC foods? Check out 9 Quintessential NYC Foods You’ll Miss Like Crazy If You Ever Leave This City.