Créé par Emilie, le 5 juil. 2026
Votre guide Ryo
Top 10 culinary specialties of New York
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Let's dare to say it, American gastronomy doesn't have a good reputation.
Considered too greasy, processed and very unnatural, typical dishes are similar and blend together. Enough to put off healthy food enthusiasts or simply lovers of authentic flavors.
Specialties from each state spread across the United States and end up creating confusion about their origin. In this way, certain culinary must-haves easily pass themselves off as New York specialties. Don't be fooled! Burgers, pizzas and hot dogs are the pride of national gastronomy, but are not specialties of the city nonetheless.
In our selection, you'll discover ten of the best among them, to taste during your visit to New York.
Know that exploring the Big Apple can quickly become exhausting. Also, you'll appreciate only having to reach out your arm to revive yourself with typical street food that's just as representative of American culture!
What to eat in New York? Our selection of 10 New York specialties
Eating in New York also means tasting flavors from around the world. The coastal and essentially cosmopolitan city has adopted cooking techniques from every continent. Forged by centuries of immigration waves, New York has absorbed the great dishes from the rest of the world. You'll be surprised to discover dishes from elsewhere that have become true New York specialties! Taste revisited pizzas, Vietnamese pho soups and the best curries on the East Coast. This will be an opportunity to observe the successful fusion of different cultures. New York gastronomy is above all an excellent way to grasp the complexity of the city's culture.
1. Salmon and cream cheese bagel
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What would a New York brunch be without a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel? Bagel bread is recognizable by the hole in its center. It's soft, plain or occasionally sprinkled with sesame, poppy or pumpkin seeds. The bagel is then filled "New York style" with smoked salmon, avocado and cream cheese. This nomadic specialty can also satisfy a small hunger during the day or accompany a salad of raw vegetables.
2. Giant pretzel
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Want to grab a bite between two visits? The Pretzel awaits you on every street corner, in almost every street food stand. This American version of the Alsatian bretzel is enjoyed like on our territory, as a snack. The major difference between the two is that the pretzel is much larger. Don't hesitate to taste it to satisfy a small salty craving.
3. Fried chicken
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All poultry lovers eagerly await tasting this unmissable specialty. New York fried chicken is a simple recipe. Directly fried or marinated beforehand in barbecue or sweet and sour sauce. The meat is coated with a thick layer of breading and served golden to perfection. Of popular origin, this hot and crispy dish is eaten with fingers, for sure enjoyment.
4. Lobster roll
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No, you're not dreaming, New Yorkers have the habit of eating lobster in sandwich form. And not just any sandwich: hot dog bread. The lobster pieces are seasoned with mayonnaise or a parsley butter sauce. It's an excellent way to consume this noble seafood at a reasonable price. Especially when New York is crushed by blazing sun.
5. Pastrami sandwich
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It's time to taste New York-style deli meat! The rye bread pastrami sandwich. For the uninitiated, it's smoked beef, cut into thin slices and steamed. Generally, locals are great meat lovers and sandwiches are an excellent way to taste it several times. Besides being delicious, the pastrami sandwich also has the merit of being XXL size! One more reason to succumb to it.
6. Barbecue ribbs
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Prepare to lick your fingers for a long time. This barbecue specialty once again puts meat in the spotlight. The pork ribs are marinated in barbecue sauce before starting a slow cooking process. The meat comes out more tender than ever and crispy on the surface. Avoid ordering this dish if your outfit fears stains. Indeed, it's difficult to eat ribbs without getting it everywhere! You won't have any regrets though, you can take our word for it.
7. Mac and cheese
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Here's the regressive pasta dish of all Americans: mac and cheese. This family casserole has been consumed by New Yorkers since their earliest childhood. To make it, macaroni, an astronomical amount of gruyere and cheese cream will do. Actually, the creamier and more dripping the mac and cheese, the better! The cheese blends made to obtain the sauce are often indeterminate, but no matter. The final flavor is worth the detour.
8. Meat loaf
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Meat loaf is an essential specialty of the United States. In New York as elsewhere, it's made with ground beef and breadcrumbs. The mixture is then simply seasoned and topped with a delicious caramelized sauce. To accompany it, nothing beats thick fries or mashed potatoes. The famous "mashed potato" almost immaculate.
9. Cheesecake
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Succumb to the melting texture of an authentic New York cheesecake. As a snack or to finish a typical meal on a perfect note, the sweetness of cream cheese is exactly what you need! There are a multitude of flavors to enhance the smooth cream and buttery taste of the biscuit. Some fresh fruits or a red berry coulis will be welcome for that. Otherwise, salted butter caramel will double the indulgence.
10. Cupcakes
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The only rule regarding cupcakes is that you must taste several at once! These colorful little cakes have migrated to France, so there's no need to present them in detail. To taste them on their native land, you only need to go to the first pastry shop you find. You can also challenge yourself to find the best in New York! A multitude of flavors exist, ranging from classic to the most eccentric. Our advice for enjoying them without getting buttercream everywhere: "break" the muffin in half, just below the top. Then, turn the top upside down to sandwich the cream between the two layers of sponge cake. You'll then form a sort of mini sweet sandwich to eat with complete elegance.