Whenever I visit a place, I like to research any foodie traditions, speciality dishes, and food bucket list items that I should try. When it came to visiting New York, there were so many foods synonymous with the city. We decided to play a game of ‘food bingo’ in New York – ticking off as many famous foods as we could during our 4 days in NYC.
Food Bingo in New York
What ended up on our food bingo list? It was mostly formed by years of watching movies based in New York, and talking to friends who live there. Foods included:
- Nathan’s Hotdog ✔️
- Katz’s Deli Sandwich ✔️
- Halal Guys meal ❌
- Pretzel ✔️
- Knish with mustard ✔️
- New York Cheesecake ✔️
- Times Square Diner ✔️
- Cronut ✔️ ❌
- $1 Slice pizza ✔️
- Corn dog ❌
- Big Gay Ice cream Truck ❌
- A proper bagel ✔️
- Boozy Brunch ✔️
- Gelato from Jacques ✔️
Street Foods
Nathan’s Hotdogs
Nathan’s is the most famous export out of Coney Island. Their hotdogs are now available from carts all around New York and beyond, as well as now in grocery stores.
We visited Nathan’s in Coney Island, but were too full to eat anything. Instead, we got a dog from a cart at the edge of Central Park, after 2 hours of cycling round the park. Delicious!
A Knish with mustard
New York City food bingo wouldn’t be the same without grabbing a warm knish filled with mustard, and chomping it on a street corner as you wait for the crossing signal.
These Ashkenazi Jewish snacks are made with a dough of mashed potato. I prefer mine deep fried, but they can be baked too. Most hotdog or street food vendors will carry them.
Combined with a well-timed yellow cab – this photo and experience is a New York treat for any foodie. New York food bingo level up!
$1 Slice Pizza
We had been partying down in the Lower East Side (one of my favourite parts of Manhattan), and post a few too many birthday cocktails found ourselves in need of a midnight snack. Revelling in the drunken $1 slice tradition, we grabbed 2 x pepperoni slices and headed back to our hotel. I don’t know whether it was the booze talking, but they tasted amazing!
$1 slice pizza is hands-down one of my favourite street food delicacies.
Pretzel
I love the immigrant legacies from around the world that are evident in New York. One of them is the prevalence of proper german pretzels. I saw them all over the place, and usually they are a street food. A grab and go warm pretzel, with rock salt on top.
We chose to tick this bingo item off the list at the famous revolutionary pub, Fraunces Tavern. And it was HUGE! It also came with delicious hot cheese and mustard dips – which added gravitas to the usual street food.
A Proper Bagel
I used to frequent a Jewish bagel shop in London, so had high standards for ‘proper’ bagels. We chose Ess-a-Bagel in Midtown, grabbed a couple of ‘Everything’ bagels (1 with schmear, 1 without), and walked along nibbling at them. So chewy and soft and perfect.
So perfect, no picture was taken…
Only have a layover in New York? Use my handy 24 hour guide to make the most of your visit!
Sit-down Meals
Breakfast at Times Square Diner
A New York native told us to have breakfast at Times Square Diner, we obliged. We were seated in a row of tables down the middle of the restaurant. It’s melamine tables, endless filter coffee, and portions that could sate a teenage boy.
I had simple eggs (over easy) and home fries. Husband had these epic fluffy pancakes and ham – with syrup.
Nobody needs this much food – and neither of us finished, but it was fun trying.
Hot Pastrami Sandwich at Katz’s Deli
Where Harry Met Sally… and where we met our favourite sandwich. Piled high with warm slow-cooked meat, and accompanied with pickles, one sandwich serves two.
Be sure to tip your cutter (the person who makes your sandwich), there are jars on the counter. And bring your stretchy pants, these sandwiches are HUGE!
Boozy Brunch
I had heard rumour about fantastic boozy brunches in New York, where you pay a set amount and get unlimited mimosas or bloody marys. Unfortunately these are a weekend thing, and we were in New York during the week. BUT where there’s a will, there’s a way.
We had a boozy brunch down in Soho, having walked the High Line. Cocktails before noon? Why not!
Desserts
Cronut
Failed on this one, got a donut instead. It was a cruller, and it was delicious… and the US is the kingdom of donuts after all. But it wasn’t the famous Dominique Ansel Croissant / Donut crossover. Why? Because queueing for ages wasn’t something I wanted to waste time on. This cruller, eaten on the Staten Island Ferry, was awesome though.
New York Cheesecake
I picked up a takeaway slice of key lime New York cheesecake from a generic bakery near Times Square. It was midnight and you could buy cheesecake – gawd, I love this city.
New York style isn’t my favourite type of cheesecake, but trying some while in NYC was a must!
Gelato from Jacques
Did you know there was an amazing food market under Grand Central Station? It’s a great place to grab a snack while sightseeing. I recommend a decadent gelato or pastry from Jacques.
The market is full of walk-while-you-eat treats, plus high top tables and toilet facilities.
An unexpected extra : A Cannoli
We were having dinner one evening in the upper east side, at this little hole in the wall Italian family restaurant. And as dessert was served, it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t put cannolis on my bingo list.
Manhattan has its own ‘Little Italy’ in the lower east side, due to the concentration of Italian immigrants that settled in that area in the late 1800s. Because of the gentrification of these old neighbourhoods, the best Italian enclaves can now be found in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island.
Playing Food Bingo in New York
Food bingo is something we play a lot when we travel, and it certainly makes for fun adventures and amusing situations. I challenge you to try it next time you are visiting a super ‘foodie’ city. Playing food bingo will have you chasing down bucket list foods, talking to locals for where to find the best of the best, and having fun on your next trip!
Take in my Foodie Travels series for more delectable reading!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with an iPhone6.
i’ve never been to NY but those hotdogs are stuff of legend!
I loved the sliced pizza in New York. but I can see I wasn’t as adventurous will my food choices. I have to go again to try these out
NYC is the best foodie city in the states! What a fun way to eat your way through it!
I definitely should have eaten before I read this – Yum! I would love to play food bingo in New York!! They do have a lot of well known treats!
This is such a brilliant idea! I always have such a hard time deciding what and where to eat – Food Bingo in NYC or even here at home is perfect! I’ve done 6 on your bingo card. You’ve inspired me to do this on my staycation and future travels!
Yay! It’s a fun game for travel for sure!
Food bingo sounds like such a fun activity! I definitely want to try this on my next trip!
I usually have a list of foods to try when I visit a country. I like thinking of it as bingo. You certainly nailed the NYC Foods.
This is such a fun idea for a food game while travelling! I think I’ll play a similar one on my next trip – just so I don’t miss any must-try foods!
Oh my gosh, I love this idea!! Your list really encompasses the food we need to try when in NYC. Halal Guys was soooo good and of course $1 pizza! I can’t wait to finally go back and check off the rest of your bingo list!
This is such a fun game idea! I definitely want to try it next time I’m travelling to another country. Also, I need to go back to NYC, I didn’t try as many dishes as you 🙂