New York City is famous for lots of different kinds of foods, as we’ve written before. But many Gothamites don’t ubealize how many of these foods originated in NYC.
In fact, there’s a very good chance you might not know that your favorite New York food is a food that New York actually invented.
Take a look at these 12 famous NYC foods that were born here and prepare to pick your jaw up off of the floor.
1. Manhattan Clam Chowder
Ah, Captain Obvious, you’re such a laugh riot.
Okay, clearly this dish surprises nobody that it came from New York.
The twist is that Manhattan Clam Chowder comes from Brooklyn. That’s why it has not only a different taste but a different look depending upon if you order it in Midtown or in Sheepshead Bay.
2. The Reuben
Let us tell you the tale of Arnold Reuben, a simple sandwich maker from New York City, who loved an actress who loved a very unique sandwich he created, with sauerkraut, at that.
It would become Arnold’s most famous Special, and the sandwich that bore his name would cement his immortality.
That’s how we heard it, anyway.
3. The Waldorf Salad
Clearly, this dish was invented at the iconic NYC hotel that bears its name, The Waldorf Astoria.
The most surprising thing about the Waldorf Salad is that it wasn’t conceived by legendary chef Oscar Tschirky.
4. Pastrami and Corned Beef Sandwich
Just give it a minute, Captain Obvious will leave in a second.
But world famous Katz’s Deli introduced the concept of marrying their succulent pastrami with decadent corned beef, and that sandwich is everything.
5. Coal Oven Pizza
What a difference the elements make.
Before coming to New York City, pizza was traditionally cooked in wood burning ovens. Lombardi's changed everything by making their delicious pies with a coal burning oven, and the New York Pizza became a thing.
6. Fried Chicken and Waffles
No, this dish didn’t come from the South. Sure it’s super popular there, even becoming synonymous with that area, so they’ve tried to claim ownership of the dish. But fried chicken and waffles came from Harlem.
The infamous jazz club, Wells Restaurant, used to be open 24 hours.
As a result, the late night menus would transition to breakfast selections and it was during that time someone ordered one item from each, and voila, NYC creates another quintessential American meal.
,7. General Tso’s Chicken
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New York launched into a full on craze for Hunan food in the 60’s, and one dish in particular, General Chin’s chicken, was tweaked and renamed General Tso’s Chicken.
8. Eggs Benedict
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Who created this dish first is in dispute, but two things we know for sure about Eggs Benedict is that it came from a New York City eatery, and was thought up by a chef named Oscar.
The aforementioned Oscar Tschirky from the Waldorf Astoria and Oscar Tucci from Delmonico’s both have a claim to the dish’s origin.
9. Lobster Newberg
This one is all Delmonico’s.
A sea captain (yes, we’re serious) brought Charles Delmonico a lobster recipe he’d come across in his travels. It was a smash hit, and so it stayed on the menu to this day, named for the sailor, Ben Wenberg.
10. Hamburgers
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Bet you didn’t see that coming. We sure didn’t.
But it’s true, the sandwich we’ve come to know and love as the trusty burger came from New York City. They were originally served to German Sailors on Gotham’s Lower West Side as early as the 1820s.
That’s how this food icon got their name; they were first called “Hamburgs.”
11. Hot Dogs
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Nathan Handwerker is Famous Nathan. He got so famous, and remains so to this day, because of the humble hot dog. It was Nathan who first devised the plan to sell these snacks from carts, and the idea caught fire overnight.
While the origins of the hot dog itself gets murky, with the meat originating from Frankfurt or weiner, uh, that is Vienna, it was famous Nathan who popularized and originated what we now accept as the hot dog.
Especially how it’s best served and enjoyed, from a cart on the street.
New Yorkers can take this city for granted. When you live here, it’s easy to forget how special Gotham really is, and the influence it’s had on the whole world. Especially in the way that most affects everyone; the food we eat.
Because the best food aren’t just from New York City, they were invented here.
Check out 12 Classic NYC Foods You’ll Miss Like Crazy If You Ever Leave This City!