New York

New York’s Iconic Eats

As one of the world’s greatest food cities and a historic melting pot of cultures, New York has cemented an iconic culinary legacy spanning decades of innovation and adherence to cherished traditions. From Manhattan’s buzzworthy restaurants constantly reinventing global cuisines to old-world neighborhood delis, pizzerias, and bakeries doing it the way great-grandma did, the Empire State offers a true feast for the senses.

A few delicious fun facts about New York’s edible wonders:

• Buffalo originated and perfected the tangy, vinegar-laced “Buffalo sauce” that coats their namesake chicken wings, to the point that over 3.8 billion wings are consumed in that city alone each year.

• The Hamptons on Long Island produce some of the most exclusive sea salt in the world, harvested from local bays and packaged into gourmet salt blends.

• Rochester lays claim to having one of the highest “snackfood densities” in the nation, being the birthplace and/or headquarters of Zweigle’s hot dogs, French’s mustard, Whitman’s Samplers, Salad Toppins’ crackers, and more.

Now let’s bite into some iconic New York originals:

Bagels & Lox
No one does this classic deli nosh quite like New York. From toasted, chewy bagels smeared with cream cheese to thick-cut smoked salmon lox, red onions, tomatoes, and briny capers, it’s a traditional brunch masterpiece.

Spiedies
A signature street food from New York’s Southern Tier region, these skewers of marinated meat cubes are grilled over charcoal to tender perfection and then served simply in Italian marinade for dipping.

New York-Style Pizza
Whether a foldable NYC slice with crispy outer crust or the chewy grandma-style pan pies of Long Island, New York knows their pizza with charred edges and judicious, simple toppings.

Garbage Plates
Arguably the city of Rochester’s signature messy creation, the infamous “garbage plate” piles things like cheeseburgers, Italian sausages, steak fries, macaroni salad, and more into an indulgent, hangover-crushing clash of flavors.

From melting pot immigrant fare, five-star dining, and bustling food truck scenes to nostalgic bodega offerings and handcrafted delicacies in every corner, New York’s culinary footprint and urban culinary lens are second to none. These timeless dishes remain core to the New York food fabric.