Best Places To Eat In NYC 2018

Sometimes it's not just enough to add a restaurant to your bucket list—you want to know exactly what to order when you get there. These are the dishes we've tried recently and loved, and think you will, too.

It was 9:30 a.m. on July 4, and it was time for lunch. In my defense, I'd been awake since 4 a.m., and also in my defense, lunch is a state of mind, not a time of day. Turkey, tomato, lettuce, Brie and honey mustard sounds like your average sandwich, but that's because a mere menu description doesn't account for the lack of side-eye served with our not-breakfast breakfast (one friend chose the Mediterranean shrimp salad), the noticeably excellent iced coffee and the welcoming atmosphere. —Abby Reisner, Content Director 

RELATED   NYC's Best New Bagel Sandwich Is a Glorified PB&J "

When I return to Di An Di, the lush, plant-filled Vietnamese spot that's been lucky enough to experience a boon of early buzz, it won't be for pho. It's not that the pho isn't delicious. It's just a testament to how much I enjoyed everything that came before it, including the tumeric crepe, grilled pork sausage and crunchy herb salad wrapped in rice paper. Served as two hefty rolls, the dish is accompanied with a porky dipping sauce and a pair of scissors just in case you need to divvy for the table. —Michael Nolledo, Senior Editor

I have a bad habit of biting off more than I can chew—in an all-too-literal sense of the word. In this week's case, it was the Chonqing noodles from Yiwanmen in Chinatown. The crimson oil slick on top should've been a warning, but after the fourth searingly hot bite of chewy noodles and minced pork, I felt like I was back in a dentist's chair, where instead of oral anesthetic, Sichuan chiles were the numbing method of choice.
—Andrew Bui, Editor

Being from Connecticut, I find myself as loyal to CT-style lobster rolls (grilled bun, warm lobster meat drowned in butter) as West Coasters are to In-N-Out. But the Lower East Side Roll may just be my one exception. With scallion cream cheese, red onions, chives and everything bagel seasoning on an everything potato roll, this sandwich is a flavor bomb that absolutely works. —Erica Bonelli, Social Media Editor 

After a day spent in the heat, this refreshing and acidic bowl of avocado, jalapeños, scallions, cilantro, lime and tuna was just what I needed—with freshly baked, gluten-free bread only an arm's length away to soak up the citrusy marinade, of course. —Aryelle Siclait, Editorial Intern 

It only took me a few minutes in Kottu House's three-table space to learn how much I like Sri Lankan street food. That's how long it takes for their signature dish—shredded roti stir-fried with curry, eggs and vegetables—to land at your table. You can choose from variations with beef, chicken, crispy prawns and tofu, which had a pleasantly spiced coconut milk base. Even more: This place accepts Venmo, so you can forget your wallet to your heart's content. —Julia Suarez, Social Media Intern