Hola everybody! Lemme take a minute to re-introduce myself. My name is Joana. I’m a CaribeΓ±a (half Puerto Rican- half Cuban) from New York City. More specifically, I’m from the Boogie Down Bronx; a born and raised New Yorker. I’ve had the great pleasure of traveling all over in my young life, but guys, even with all the beautiful places I’ve experienced… NYC has been and will always be MY FAVORITE. No lo puedo evitar, I cant help it.
NY is NY!
It’s vibrant, it’s colorful, it’s multicultural, it’s ALIVE. The best place on Earth, if you ask me. Now, a lot of that has to do with the fact that it’s my home, I own that, but it also has to do with the plethora of scrumptious food that you can only get in the city that never sleeps. And no, I’m not talking about the 5 star restaurants that are sprinkled all around the island of Manhattan. I’m referring to the cheap stuff… the street food that gives NY it’s flava.
That’s what I miss most when I’m away, and its the first thing I want when I land in JFK. If you aren’t familiar with la comida de la calle, allow me to enlighten you.
Lemme take you on a NYC quick eats food tour, highlighting all of MY faves.
You ready? Vamonos!
“Food is everything we are. It’s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.”
Anthony Bourdain
1. NYC Street Hotdog
Lemme start with the OG, the “dirty water hot dog” :). I know, I KNOW, some people have mixed feelings about the NYC hot dog. You either love them or you hate them. Pero la cosa es, they are quintessentially NEW YORK. Where else do you willingly stop at a hot dog cart in the middle of a bustling city?
Frankfurters are part of NYC’s food DNA, and I friggin love them. Always have.
They are fast, they are cheap, and they always taste just right. It doesn’t matter where you are in the city, you can find one and they always taste the same. They are comfort food. A Steamed foot long dog (thin and packed with flavor) and a wonderfully toasted bun… yum! If you have never tried one, you’ve got to at least once. And might I recommend doing it the right way: with mustard and sauerkraut. Que Rico!
2. Cafe con Leche and Pastries
Mornings in NY are fast. Who am I kidding? EVERY moment in NYC is fast!
People are rushing from here to there, at incredible speeds.
It’s part of the charm of the city, it’s hustle.
Escuchame, aint nobody got extra time to waste. Esp, not the in mornings. So you gotta grab a quick* bite on your commute; it can be yummy but it’s gotta be fast. My suggestion for NY mornings on-the-go: un cafesito y un croissant. Sounds simple right? It IS! That’s the beauty of it.
There are cafes, coffee shops, and bakeries everywhere. Most of them make a good latte, or cortadito (if you’re feeling brave) and almost all have freshly baked pastries. They have to in order to compete. This one (pictured above) is from a cozy spot in Tribeca called Aroma Espresso Bar; it was sabroso.
Wanna look like a real New Yorker? Grab a cafesito and munch on that chocolate croissant while you walk the streets.
Its the perfect morning choice, too, because they are damn good and hella cheap. Win win! Now, if you happen to be near a “Le Pain Quotidien“, skip the croissant and go straight for the French Creme Donut instead. Cree me, you won’t be sorry. And Bonus* you can eat it on the go!
3. Street Food Cart
I find it quite funny that when people travel to NYC for the first time, they often overlook the food carts on the street. They walk right by them, not realizing what they are missing. Que error! Here’s the deal: street food carts have some of the best food in any given NY neighborhood. Don’t believe me? Watch them in the early morning, you’ll see long ass lines for breakfast sandwiches and coffee. Peep them at lunch time, you’ll see plenty of people in suits waiting for their shish-kebabs or gyros. Evening time is crazy too, with people stopping by for their snacks… churros, pretzels, hotdogs, etc. Here’s the deal with the food at a street vendor cart, its GOOD. It’s inexpensive. It’s available in less than 5 mins (refer to previous point about NY’s speed). If I had to pick favorite street cart food, it’d be shish-kebabs. Yo! You can smell them cooking from blocks away! They are always cooked to perfection. It’s just a stick loaded up with tasty, fully-seasoned meat and garnished with a slice of bread, pero COΓO, it hits the spot every time.
“The more street food we have, the more it’s embraced by every income strata, the better world we have.”
-Anthony Bourdain
5. Pastelillos de Guayaba
(& other Caribbean Sweets)
Caribbean yummies at Valencia Bakery in the Bronx.
Soy Boricua, and as a proud NuyoRican, I have to confess: I’m obsessed with pastelillos de guayaba. They are my weakness. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been obsessed with them. For you gringos out there, lemme explain what they are.
They are a Caribbean pastry made with flaky sheets of pastry dough, filled with ooey-gooey guava paste, and sprinkled with powdered sugar. BOMB!
They cost like 50 cents. Cheap AF! Don’t get it twisted tho, they are a delectable treat. I literally can not walk by a Dominican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban bakery without doing a double take, and having to recite a “free me from temptation” mantra. They are positively sinful because they are so light and airy that you convince yourself that it’s OK to eat more than 1…or in my case, more than 5. Ha! Trust me on this, you haven’t really enjoyed the Latinx street food scene in NYC if you haven’t entered a pasteleria. Do yourself a favor, walk in. Inhale the smells, look at all the pretty desserts available to you, and walk out with no less than 3 pastries.
Damn the calories!
6. NY Thin Crust Pizza
Fight me on this if you want, but outside of Italy, New York Style pizza is the best in the world.
I may be biased, but it’s actually true. That thin crust, special sauce, and stretchy mozzarella is the stuff dreams are made of. You CAN’T spend time in the city and not eat a slice. Por supuesto que NO!
Now, there are a zillion pizza places all over the island that claim to have the best pie. It’s all relative.
Even New Yorkers disagree on which pizzeria is best. My recommendation is to google the area near you and read reviews, like this one. That always helps. Another tried and true method? Usa tus ojos! Use your eyes! If there is a long line for a slice at lunch time, that place has kick ass pizza! Bonus points if people walk out with the slice folded in half.:) Now, if you wanna sit down and have a some pizza and beer, I’d recommend Angelo’s on Broadway. El Marido and I popped in for some eats while waiting to go to a live taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater. We didn’t expect much, but damn….it was legit!
Wherever you go though, indulge!
New York pizza is a delicious treat you give yourself. Get one slice, eat the whole damn pie… no importa! What matters is making sure you enjoy that thin crust goodness while you’re in NYC.
7. Dinges Waffle Truck
One of my favorite things about New York is that it’s so culturally diverse.
Street food in the city is peppered with flavors from all over the world… Me encanta!
It’s like my idea of heaven, no lie!
One of my favorite ethnic eats in the city is none other than the Wafel & Dinges food truck. Lemme tell you something, it’s DELICIOUS! It might be one of the most famous food trucks in all of NY, if not in all of the country. They have the awards to prove it. The authentic Belgian waffles that they sell, melt in your damn mouth.
Ok, so dejame describir este waffle. It’s not that like that mess you put in your toaster. Or even like the waffles you get at brunch. I daresay, it takes our American concept of waffles and takes it up a million notches. Belgian waffles are more of a street food dessert than a breakfast. Imagine a thick, hand-held waffle, warm & cripsy, with melted sugar crystals baked into every single line. Top that with chocolate sauce, or strawberries, or whipped creme and it’s out of this world! Thank you Belgium! Oye me, I never “sleep” on the Dinges truck.
If I happen to walk by one in my travels through the city, I ALWAYS grab a waffle. Always. You should too!
“You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food.”
-Paul Prudhomme
8. Chinos! (Chinese Take out)
Growing up in the Bronx meant that I was well acquainted with Chinese take-out food, or ” Chinos” as my fellow Latinos like to call it. We ordered Chinos whenever Mami was too tired to cook, and we ordered Chinos whenever we earned our own cash and had a chance to buy whatever food WE wanted.
Ordering Chinos is a way of life in NY.
That’s because there’s a Chinos on every block and they stay open 24/7. Another reason is that Chinese take-out is such a great bang for your buck; you get enough food for 2 meals for the price of 1. AND the menu is hella stacked. You can get anything from Lo Mein to Spare ribs to Chicken Wings and French Fries (my personal favorite).
I call Chinese take-out “street food” cuz you can’t eat it in the actual restaurant; there’s no space. That’s actually my favorite part about getting Chinos, the fact that you get to enjoy it anywhere. In your living room in front of the TV, on the stoop of your building, on a blanket in the middle of the park, on the subway even. Chinese food, and it’s culture, is such an important part of the NYC food scene.
No te lo puedes perder! Don’t miss out on it.
Snag a menu and order yourself some Chinos.
9. Chelsea Market Eats
Chelsea Market is a food hall in the Chelsea district of Manhattan.
One of the first food halls in America to start the whole “food hall” craze. It’s huge, and packed with tiny restaurants and kiosks catering to any antojito you may have. Any and all cravings can be satisfied there. No joke.
I think of it as “NYC street food” because you can grab a bite at a few different places, all in one visit.
Also, you will more than likely have to eat standing up as there is rarely seating available. If that doesn’t qualify as street food, I don’t know what does. Ha! When I go, I head straight for Los Tacos No. 1, without hesitating. I’m Puerto Rican , but I aint ashamed to tell you que AMO a los TACOS! I could eat a taco everyday and be very happy. And this counter inside of Chelsea Market does them right! The taste is phenomenal! But that’s not all. They focus on just a few menu items and SLAY! None of this “diverse menu” crap, they know their shit and they stick to what makes them amazing. Tacos! Authentic, Mexican tacos. Fast, affordable, messy, perfect tacos.
OK, lemme just wipe my drool so I can tell you about my favorite bits of the rest of Chelsea Market. π We thoroughly enjoyed the Cull & Pistol oyster bar, the sweet shop, Creamline milkshakes, and we just HAD to grab some Oreos while we walked around. Fun fact: The Chelsea Market is the old location of the Nabisco Biscuit Company, the company that invented America’s favorite cookie. Go to the market, nibble on all the things you can. Trust me, it’s a NY street food experience you shouldn’t miss.
10. Late Night Diner Food
New York is called “The City That Never Sleeps” for a reason. People are out till all hours of the morning. Places stay open all night to cater to those people. And that includes yummy places to eat.
NYC nightlife is crazy, guys.
After several over-priced cocktails and dancing, you need sustenance. And even if you haven’t been out partying, all that street walking leaves you famished and in need of comida.
That’s where your classic NYC diner comes into play.
Now, I know diners aren’t exactly “NYC street food” but you typically walk right in from the street, you don’t need a reservation, you get food fast, you get it cheap, and it feels more authentic to the city than just another restaurant. Diners are a NYC institution, I don’t make the rules. And say what you will about the interesting nighttime clientele, diners have some bomb ass food. Food that always hits the mark and makes your belly happy. How good does it feel to fill up on a yummy plate of eggs and hash after a night of drinking? How sweet is it to have a perfect cup of coffee and a Monte Cristo sandwich at 4 AM when everyone else is asleep?
Bien rico y bien divertido. It’s a seriously fun food experience because not only is the food delicious but you feel a tad rebellious for just eating out that late. Like you are a part of a secret society of people who are brave enough to stay out till the dawn breaks. Classic NY, if you ask me.
“Street food, I believe is the salvation of the human race.”
– Anthony Bourdain
If you’ve noticed, I’ve used a lot of Anthony Bourdain quotes in this blog post. That’s not a coincidence.
The man was a hero to me (still is), a NYC legend, and he was a crusader for street food.
He understood how street food is the heart of any city, how it showcases the best of it’s people.
New York is my city. Siempre lo sera!
It’s street food makes it unique and special, to me… and to millions. Promise me, that you’ll use this post as a reference on your next visit. Try at least one thing from my list, see NYC through my eyes, and holla back. Tell me what you think! I’d also love to hear the street food that makes YOU happy! Until next time!
Safe travels and take care, mi gente!
Con mucho carino,
Joana
2 Comments
Krystin
Mi favorita street vendor food has got to be Arepas! Que Rico! Love this post and you are very right about the Chelsea Market! What a crazy experience it was, so fun!
USC
Loved the post, and the Anthony Bourdain quotes! In SoCalβs Orange County (βthe O.C.β), the cities of Westminster and Garden Grove contain what is likely the largest Little Saigon in the US (and probably anywhere outside of Vietnam). Westminster host the annual Little Saigon Night Market on Bolsa Avenue in front of the Asian Garden Vietnamese shopping mall. The night market (which runs the middle of June through the first weekend in September) features number outdoor vendor stalls selling traditional Vietnamese street food and grilled seafood, in addition to a couple of stalls selling Japanese street food and Taiwanese street desserts. Itβs an amazing experience for someone who has never traveled to SE Asia and experience a night market firsthand, and for me it feels like being back in SE Asia. There is a pared down version of Vietnamese street food around late January/early February, when the same venue hosts the Tet Cho Hoa Flower & Night Market, though anytime of the year one can enjoy traditional Vietnamese foods and desserts from the myriad restaurants, sandwich shops, delis, bakeries, βCheβ sweet shop and food counters in the Asian markets, not to mention potent βca phe sua daβ Vietnamese drip coffee with condensed milk from one of the Vietnamese coffee shops that allows smoking despite the state-wide ban and often features scantily-clad, high-heeled and elaborately-tattooed Vietnamese waitresses. Cheers!