The best street food you find as a tourist, is the kind you happen across after a 5 mile walk through the city in the cold. Put another way, street food is about the experience. You’re not going to find any real hidden gems or incredible deals on amazing stuff. Go do something fun and stop at a halal truck. It’ll be the best memory.
đź“Ť Halal Guys (Midtown Manhattan)
🔥 Famous for: Chicken and Gyro Over Rice with White Sauce
💰 Price: $8–10
đź“ť Why try it? This legendary food cart is known for its flavorful, juicy meats and addictive white sauce.
đź“Ť Los Tacos No. 1 (Chelsea Market)
🔥 Famous for: Authentic Mexican Tacos
💰 Price: $4–6 per taco
đź“ť Why try it? Fresh tortillas, perfectly seasoned meat, and homemade salsas make it a must-visit.
Delis are similar – everyone will have their favorite local bodega, but it’s usually the best one that’s within a block or two of you rather than something you go out of the way for. As an exception, Russ and Daughters (known for bagels, schmear, lox, cookies) and Katz’s (known for pastrami, latkes, pickles) are both destination delis about a block apart on Houston.
Interesting neighborhoods to check out if you want a somewhat less-tourist experience: East Village (incl. Alphabet City), Astoria, Greenpoint, Jackson Heights. All great neighborhoods, off the main tourist paths, tons to eat and cool shops.
In December, you’ll want to do a Christmas market – Union Square and Bryant Park are two of the big ones. Many food trucks open a stall at these in winter. I like Union Square better because there are more food vendors and slightly shorter lines, but Bryant does have outdoor ice skating. Rockefeller Center is a December classic as well, I recommend walking around there and up 5th Ave for the decorations, though good luck getting to do anything with the swarms of people.
Finally, Taverna di Bacco is my favorite for local authentic Italian. It’s half a block off Katz’s and the owner is an Italian immigrant from Naples who’s been featured on cooking shows but maintains a pretty friendly, personable environment