Discover NYC Places

Royal Grill Halal Food is a popular street food cart in NYC, located near Times Square at 44th Street and 6th Avenue, known for its flavorful Indian and Middle Eastern halal dishes. Locals and tourists alike flock here for generous portions of chicken tikka, shawarma, biryani, and falafel, all made with fresh ingredients and authentic spices. Open daily until midnight, it’s a go-to spot for a quick, satisfying, and affordable meal on the go.

Located across from the original Hamza and Madina cart, Madina halal has been a friendly rival since both of their inception. Offering a more orange rice, they have a much different taste but similarly delicious.

While currently expanded to many locations across the tristate, the original lies on Hillside Ave where it has been a staple of the neighborhood for over 20 years.

Parked near Union Square, Adel's stands out for its exceptionally flavorful chicken over rice and homemade sauces. While most carts offer the standard white and hot sauce combo, Adel's has a distinctive green sauce that regulars swear by. The portions are famously generous, often providing enough for two meals.

Doris is the kind of bar that nails the sweet spot between effortlessly cool and genuinely welcoming. It's trendy without trying too hard—a place where the drinks are solid, the crowd's stylish, and the decor feels like it was curated by that friend who's backpacked everywhere and always has the best playlists. On certain nights, a DJ spins old-school R&B and house, adding to the laid-back but vibey atmosphere. During the week, it's mellow enough to post up with a book while you wait for your date, soaking in the soundtrack and scene. And when the weather's right, the backyard is a total win.

Craving an Irish pub with a bit of character? Hartley's is a hidden gem nestled in the brownstone-lined streets of Clinton Hill, and it nails that classic pub feel with a slightly offbeat charm. Think no-nonsense drinks and bartenders with just the right amount of grumble. There's a handful of tables if you want a quieter corner, but the bar's always open for a more casual setup. Some even swear it's home to the best Guinness pour in Brooklyn. With occasional live music and an unpretentious vibe, Hartley's makes for an easy, low-pressure first date with plenty of room for conversation—or just listening.

A beloved neighborhood staple in Crown Heights, Bagel Pub has expanded to multiple Brooklyn locations due to their consistently excellent bagels. They're hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked throughout the day. Their bagels have a slightly sweet flavor, a glossy crust, and a perfect chew. Beyond traditional varieties, they offer specialty flavors like rainbow bagels that have become Instagram favorites.

Despite the name, Brooklyn Bagel is actually located in Queens and Manhattan (not Brooklyn). Their bagels are hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked fresh all day. What sets them apart is their wide variety of bagel flavors and cream cheese options. Their bagels are on the larger side but maintain a good chew and crust. They're consistently rated among the city's best bagel shops.

This East Village favorite offers bagels that are larger and softer than most traditional New York bagels, but they've built a devoted following for their creative cream cheese flavors (including birthday cake and cookie monster) and generous toppings. The bagels themselves are hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked fresh throughout the day, resulting in a soft interior with a nice chew.

Once an iconic Upper West Side institution, H&H Bagels has reopened under new ownership. Their bagels are still made the traditional way - hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked on stone. The result is a slightly sweet, light interior with a thin, shiny crust. While purists debate whether the new version matches the original, they remain a strong contender in NYC's bagel scene.

A Greenwich Village institution, Murray's makes traditional New York bagels with no shortcuts. They refuse to toast their bagels (though they've recently relaxed this rule) because a fresh Murray's bagel doesn't need it. Their bagels have the perfect balance of a crisp exterior and a chewy interior, and their cream cheese is applied generously. While not as famous as some other shops, locals consider Murray's among the city's best.

A relative newcomer to the NYC bagel scene, Black Seed has quickly made a name for itself by creating a hybrid between Montreal and New York-style bagels. They're hand-rolled, boiled in honey water, and baked in a wood-fired oven. The result is a slightly sweeter, smaller bagel with a distinctive char. Their creative sandwich combinations have helped them expand to multiple locations across the city.

This old-school Park Slope shop makes smaller, denser bagels in the traditional New York style. Unlike many modern bagel shops that prioritize size, Bagel Hole focuses on quality and authenticity. The smaller size allows for the perfect ratio of crisp exterior to chewy interior. They've been making bagels the same way since 1985, and bagel purists consider them among the city's best.