The New Yorker's Best Things I Ate: 2025 Edition

Jr &amp; Son on Lorimer Street earned a spot on <em>The Best Things I Ate</em> list, giving it a dish-level credential that separates it from the surrounding Williamsburg field. Booking is easy — no weeks-out planning required — making it a practical late-night option when you want to eat well without the reservation scramble. Go with the award-winning item on your first or second visit.

The View Restaurant &amp; Lounge at 1535 Broadway offers a rotating panoramic room above Times Square — at its best late at night when the visual payoff is highest. Book it for spectacle rather than serious cooking. Easy to get into compared to New York's culinary flagships, recognised by <em>The Best Things I Ate</em> for good reason.

Mommy Pai's on Mott Street is a low-key NoLita spot that earned its place on The Best Things I Ate through cooking worth returning to, not marketing. Booking is easy by New York standards, the address sits away from tourist-heavy corridors, it rewards diners who order widely. A clear yes for regulars looking for a reliable, recognised meal without a month of advance planning.

A West Village Spanish room with real atmosphere and a kitchen that earns its following. Bartolo delivers hearty, sharing-plate cooking — Iberian pork, oxtail, suckling pig — alongside a cocktail program Esquire ranked among America's best martinis in 2025. It's an easy booking, a warm room, a strong choice when you want quality without ceremony.

Chateau Royale at 205 Thompson St, SoHo, holds a Best Things I Ate recognition and is currently an easy booking by New York standards. It is a practical choice for a considered weeknight dinner or a flexible group outing without the weeks-ahead planning that the city's most decorated rooms require. Confirm private dining availability if you are coming with a group of five or more.

Bong is a small Cambodian restaurant in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, serving traditional and modern Khmer dishes built around bold, sour, fermented flavors. It landed on Resy's Best of the Hit List for 2025. Booking is relatively easy for New York, but the room is tiny — reserve a week or two out for weekends and plan to return: the menu rewards multiple visits.

Kabawa is worth prioritizing for a New York City celebration when the table wants a Caribbean tasting menu with a clear point of view. The counter-forward room suits solo diners, dates, small groups better than large parties, the strongest reason to choose it over nearby alternatives is the more structured, occasion-ready experience.

A Michelin Plate restaurant at $$ on Abbot Kinney, Gjelina is one of Los Angeles's strongest casual dining options for the price. The kitchen combines Italian-influenced pizza with contemporary vegetable cookery to a level that outperforms its neighbourhood setting. Easy to book, open seven days, worth it for a relaxed but technically sound dinner in Venice.

Danny & Coop's Cheesesteaks on Avenue A earned a spot on The Best Things I Ate list, which means the kitchen is operating above the casual-counter baseline. No reservation needed, pricing is accessible, the East Village location makes it a natural stop on any food-focused New York itinerary. Walk in, order the cheesesteak, trust the editorial record.

Golden HOF earned a spot on <em>The Best Things I Ate</em> — dish-specific recognition that makes it worth a Midtown detour. Booking is easy, the pace suits a genuine lunch rather than a production, the 48th Street address is subway-accessible. Come in person for the award-cited dish; delivery is an option but the in-room experience is the safer call.

Bánh Anh Em is a no-reservations Vietnamese spot in the East Village with a pre-opening queue that is fully warranted. Named to Resy's Best of the Hit List 2025, it delivers in-house baked bánh mì, homemade-noodle pho, shareable small plates at a price point that makes ordering across the menu easy. Go with a group and order everything.

Named among New York Magazine's 43 best restaurants in New York for 2025, Zimmi's at 72 Bedford Street delivers editorial-grade credibility in a West Village setting that suits date nights and low-key celebrations. Booking is easy relative to the city's tasting-menu circuit, the intimate room works best for two to four guests. A practical alternative to the $$$$ format if you want recognised quality without the full ceremony.