Steakhouse in the Lower East Side — 5.0 on Resy across 6,604 diner reviews
Must-try: Steak & eggs, Shakshuka, Manchego mac & cheese
📍 124 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
the place to order martinis first and wine immediately after
Must-try: Fried mussels, Rainbow trout pil pil, Martinis
📍 252 Broome St, New York, NY 10002
a dark dining room that opens into a beautiful back garden
Must-try: Crispy whole fried branzino, Noodles from lobster head, Back garden
📍 100 Forsyth St, New York, NY 10002
Contemporary American in the Lower East Side — 4.8 on Resy across 8,142 diner reviews
📍 115 Allen St, New York, NY 10002
The sit-down extension of the legendary LES appetizing shop — bagels, lox, and the Jewish food canon executed at its absolute peak
Must-try: Classic board (smoked salmon on bagel), The Super Heebster, Borscht
📍 127 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
a casual room with genuinely interesting drinks
Must-try: Bun cha, Garlic noodles with fried prawns, Cocktails
📍 172 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
The Lower East Side's iconic Jewish deli since 1888 — the pastrami sandwich is New York in a single bite
Must-try: Hand-carved pastrami on rye, Corned beef sandwich, Matzo ball soup
📍 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
Division Street Greek with no sign, cash-adjacent pricing, and a line that forms before it opens
Must-try: Saganaki flamed at the table, Grilled octopus, Dakos salad
📍 130 Division St, New York, NY 10002
The blueberry pancakes that set the citywide standard — plus a proper dinner menu most people never notice
Must-try: Blueberry pancakes with maple butter, Buttermilk biscuit sandwich, Fried chicken and waffles
📍 4 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002
Hidden colonial tavern at the end of a graffiti-lined LES alley — taxidermy, candlelight, artichoke dip, and two decades of neighborhood loyalty
Must-try: Artichoke dip, Trout with almonds, Porterhouse steak for two
📍 Freeman Alley (off Rivington St), New York, NY 10002
one of the best smashburgers this city has to offer
Must-try: Smashburger with pickled jalapenos, American cheese, Fries
📍 131 Essex St, New York, NY 10002
light-as-a-feather pizza served until 3:30am on weekends
Must-try: Vodka pepperoni slice, Plain slice, Late-night pies
📍 173 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
some of the city's best pizza, milled in house
Must-try: Thin-crust slice, House-milled grains, Zesty tomato sauce
📍 35 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
set meals inspired by the old-school diners of Korea
Must-try: Sweet bulgogi, Charred spicy pork, Seasonal sides
📍 205 Allen St, New York, NY 10002
outdoor bistro seating and a crowd best described as Saint Tropez casual
Must-try: Streetside martini, French dip, Natural wine
📍 37 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
a taqueria built on juicy carnitas, chicharron and very good salsas
Must-try: Carnitas torta, Chicken in mole verde, Chicharron
📍 69 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002
a tiny bistro with a short, constantly changing menu
Must-try: Duck confit, Garlicky escargots, Spicy grilled octopus
📍 188 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
counter seating only, and two styles of noodle worth the stool
Must-try: Tsukemen with cold noodles, Rich milky broth ramen, Counter seating
📍 117 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
a neon-and-smoke izakaya that has been serving ramen for over a decade
Must-try: Spicy Stamina ramen, Garlic and two pork types, Izakaya snacks
📍 170 Allen St, New York, NY 10002