One of New York's most dynamic—and diverse—restaurant scenes is sprouting in a neighborhood once better known for lox and knishes (you can still get those, too). Here are a few of our favorites.
146 Essex St (btwn Stanton & Rivington St), New York City, NY
Restoran Tapas · Lower East Side · 579 tips dan ulasan
Travel + Leisure: Beautiful people, tufted sofas, killer cocktails, shared plates (try the grilled cheese with smoked bacon and tomato soup dumplings)—and complimentary pink champagne served in the ladies’ room.
153 Rivington St (Clinton & Suffolk), New York City, NY
Restoran Taco · Lower East Side · 56 tips dan ulasan
Travel + Leisure: The cult favorite food truck’s first brick-and-mortar location in Manhattan serves up wallet-friendly tacos, burritos, and stone-ground jalapeno-cheddar grits.
17 Orchard St (btwn Hester & Canal St), New York City, NY
Restoran Inggris · Chinatown · 223 tips dan ulasan
Travel + Leisure: Meals here start, aptly enough, with a gratis plate of radishes. Dishes are lighter and more vegetarian-friendly than your average gastropub. Case in point: sweet pea pot pie.
84 Stanton St (btwn Allen & Orchard St), New York City, NY
Restoran Italia · Lower East Side · 621 tips dan ulasan
Travel + Leisure: The mix-and-match menu of meatballs, sauces, and sides is worth the wait at this super-casual, deliciously simple spot. Save room for an ice cream sandwich on homemade cookies.
220 Bowery (btwn Spring & Prince), New York City, NY
Restoran Amerika Baru · Lower East Side · 97 tips dan ulasan
Travel + Leisure: Globally-inspired dishes are inventive, if on the small side. The real draw is the exceptionally well chosen wine list, which spans the world from Oregon to Lebanon.
137 Rivington St (btwn Norfolk & Suffolk St.), New York City, NY
Restoran Thailand · Lower East Side · 77 tips dan ulasan
Travel + Leisure: Forget gloopy delivery pad thai. Portland’s Andy Ricker has perfected the noodle dish—which comes five ways here—in a tiny, skinny-tabled space.
179 E Houston St (btwn Allen & Orchard St), New York City, NY
Toko Hidangan Istimewa · Lower East Side · 423 tips dan ulasan
Travel + Leisure: The legendary Jewish "appetizing" store—selling smoked salmon, herring, and bagels with a schmear—recently added caviar, a nod to the neighborhood's increasing gentrification.
Travel + Leisure: Pastas star at this cozy Piedmontese spot—we love the lamb ragu. The two-course prix fixe dinner menu, available Tuesday through Saturday, is a good deal.
126 Rivington St (btwn Essex & Norfolk), New York City, NY
Toko Kue Mangkuk · Lower East Side · 248 tips dan ulasan
Travel + Leisure: The best-kept cupcake secret in New York, where the perfectly sized treats cost just $1.75. Stick with the straightforward “Bob,” yellow cake with chocolate almond buttercream.
Restoran Hidangan Laut · Lower East Side · 22 tips dan ulasan
Travel + Leisure: Bivalve lovers should grab a seat at the marble-topped bar for oyster shooters; the dining room has more seafood favorites like Dungeness crab cake and lobster and chips.
79 Clinton St (btwn Rivington & Delancey St), New York City, NY
Restoran Cina · Lower East Side · 96 tips dan ulasan
Travel + Leisure: Start with stir-fried mushrooms at this brick-walled Chinese restaurant that imbues local produce with Yunnanese flavors. Other highlights: sausage fried rice, shredded chicken with taro.