But they offer loads of other unique dim sum options as well, from Peking duck and asparagus dumplings with a lilac hue to sui mai dumplings delicately topped with roe. The pork buns alone are enough to distinguish Jing Fong on our guide to the best restaurants in NYC. Most importantly, Jing Fong has a bustling atmosphere embodying all the essential elements of “yum cha”– a traditional dim sum brunch.

Fun fact: their site in Chinatown is 20,000 square feet, making their dining room more of a banquet hall (or 36 studio apartments, to give you a New York perspective). With locations in both Chinatown and on the Upper West Side, this enormous Cantonese restaurant draws crowds on weekends for dim sum rolled out on carts. SEE ALSO: TOP 20 DESSERTS IN NEW YORK CITY 25. We hope you enjoy the best 25 places to eat for a first timer! Additionally, this post features restaurants in Manhattan only. Plan accordingly to make reservations or prepare to wait. Please note, this guide includes several extremely popular restaurants. We aimed to cover the best restaurants in NYC for a first-timer, but we welcome seasoned city food aficionados alike. While this is by no means an exhaustive list of every notable New York spot, consider this guide a jumping-off point to some absolute must-trys, from legendary Manhattan landmarks that have been around for decades to quintessential restaurants newer to the scene. And with tens of thousands of restaurants offering cuisines from every corner of the globe, picking the best of the best seems an impossible task, especially to city newcomers.

When it comes to New York City, finding (and eating) the best food is a greater pastime than even baseball.

East village pizza double stack