New York, the Big Apple, the world’s belly button. There’s no doubt everyone knows New York, even if they’ve only seen it on the big screen. The Statue of Liberty, the Rockefeller Center, Central Park are all landmarks that make NYC special. Still, the best way to learn about a place is through its food.
Here’s what to eat in New York, the most famous street-food snacks and quick bites that make you feel like a New Yorker.
1. Pizza
Pizza might have been invented in Naples, Italy, but Italian immigrants took their passion and expertise for the crowd-pleasing pie to New York in the early 20th century. Still, New York-style pizza looks anything like the Italian version.
New York’s pizza is made with a thick crust, topped with lots of mozzarella and tasty toppings, including New York’s own pepperoni. Pizza in New York is more than a quick meal; it’s an experience and a pretty wholesome one indeed!
2. Bagels
Bagels are donut-shaped, thick bread rolls usually cut in half and filled with a wide variety of goodies. This is a typical grab-n-go lunch in the big city and a must for anyone visiting for the first time.
Bagels arrived in New York with the Jewish community, especially Polish immigrants, establishing in the city in the 1870s. These treats were hand-rolled and boiled, not baked, giving them a rich and dense consistency. Filling with cream cheese and smoked salmon is customary, but for bagels, the sky’s the limit!
3. Hot Dogs
Legend says the first hot dogs stand in New York goes back to 1871, on Coney Island. They consisted of a milk roll filled with a Frankfurter sausage. By 1893, hot dogs were the most common food in baseball stadiums, and hot dog stands appeared all around the city.
Known as franks, weenies, dogs or coneys, hot dogs have deep roots in New York, and they sell billions of them every year. This might not be the tastiest or healthiest meal in the city, but hot dogs are synonymous with New York’s lifestyle.
4. East Coast Oysters
There was a time when people sold oysters for a few pennies from carts in the streets of New York. New York’s harbor was a great source of oysters during the 19th century until the water was polluted and the oysters over-consumed. Still, NYC oysters are back.
Several sustainable projects surrounding New York City are bringing back the local bivalves, and New York oysters are now back on the most refined restaurants’ menus.
5. Spaghetti and Meatballs
No, this is not an Italian dish but one of the most famous Italian American meals in New York. There’s a rich Italian tradition in NYC, but it’s been a while since things are not done like in Italy. Italian food in New York is distinctly New Yorker, and there’s nothing like it.
Other Italian American dishes you should try include chicken parmesan, shrimp scampi and chicken piccata. Of course, nothing beats a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs.
New York, New York
It’s true what they say; New York City has it all. If it exists, you’ll find it in the Big Apple, which goes for food too! There’s no doubt finding a good meal in the big city is easy, and meals come from all over the world and at all price points.
New York’s staple street foods will forever symbolize the city, and they’re a must when visiting NYC. What are your favorite New York foods?
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
