As we enjoyed our food tour of New York so much last year, we decided to head back to New York for another food adventure on Labour Day long weekend. This time it was 4 of us in a group, which means we can try out even more foods as we are able to share with more people. I also stayed back for an additional two days so that I can experience the city on my own. Here are the highlights of our 2018 New York City Food Tour.
Cote Korean Steakhouse
We flew in to LaGuardia Friday night and started our adventure with our best meal as we were able to get reservations to Cote Korean Steakhouse. This critically acclaimed, Michelin starred restaurant definitely did not disappoint. We each got the Butcher’s feast which was $48 USD per person. With that you get four cuts of quality beef (45-day-aged ribeye, Wagyu, American Wagyu, galbi) along with banchan, scallion salad, savoury egg souffle, two kinds of stews, and soft serve for dessert. The service was phenomenal as they were knowledgeable with their cuts of meat and were very attentive to our needs. The wait staff are also the ones that do the cooking of the meat, so you don’t have to worry about under cooking or overcooking your steak. The meats were all very high quality as the wagyu and ribeye melts in your mouth. The sides were great complements to the meat and you definitely had enough food to fill you up!
Red Rooster
Another popular restaurant that needed a reservation, Red Rooster serves up American comfort food in the heart of Harlem. We got reservations for Saturday brunch right at when they open at 10 AM. We got a bunch of dishes to share but the top picks are the Hot Honey Yardbird for $27 USD and the Mac & Greens for $9 USD. The fried chicken had light crust drizzled with a light honey sauce and the meat was moist. The garlic mash potatoes along with their gravy and pickled vegetables were great accompaniments to the chicken.
I’m usually not a mac and cheese person, but their Mac & Greens (Mac and cheese with collared greens) are amazing. Definitely the best mac and cheese I ever had. You get big pieces of macaroni, with a good amount of greens, a generous amount of cheese, and a perfect crispy top.
Xian Famous Foods
Last year we went to Xian Famous Foods and only had room in our stomachs for one dish, which we chose their hand pulled noodles. This time, we decided to head back and try their popular Spicy Cumin Lamb Burger. This Western Chinese dish has sliced lamb sautéed with ground cumin, toasted chili seeds, long-horn peppers, red onions, and scallions, stuffed into a crispy flatbread bun. The lamb was seasoned very well and had a good amount of fatty meat. The bun was able to pick up the juices from the meat keeping all the flavours in. This burger will cost you $6 USD, but is definitely worth it!
Stuffed Ice Cream
This was this year’s Instagram spot for dessert! Much like our last year’s trip to Taiyaki NYC, this trendy dessert is sure to be a popular post on your Instagram. The similarity with Taiyaki NYC is also that it looks better than it tastes. At Stuffed Ice Cream, their specialty is cruffs which are ice cream stuffed into a doughnut. The ice cream was good but not as good as other ice cream spots on this list. What was disappointing was the doughnut, as it tasted pretty stale. All this for the price of $7 USD.
Morgenstern’s
I came back to this spot after I fell in love with their ice cream on our last year’s trip. Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream is a classic American style ice cream parlor with a decor that sets you back to simpler times. They offer some classic flavours and are some unique flavours such as durian banana and raw milk. Prices are also pretty expensive as a scoop starts at $4 USD, but the quality that you get from the ice cream is astonishing. It was a perfect amount of creaminess and sweetness. This spot is a definite must on a hot summer’s day in New York!
Prince Street Pizza
This pizza shop in Nolita specializes in square pizzas and New York-style pies. This small space attracts big lines and don’t count on eating in. We got their signature Spicy Spring pizza which is a square pie topped with spicy tomato sauce, mozzarella, and loaded with crispy pepperonis. The pepperonis are out of this world as they are cut in thick pieces and pack a lot of flavour. Each slice wont be your $1 New York slice as each slice is $4.50 USD, but they are definitely worth it!
Tian Jin Dumpling House
This gem is tucked away in the basement of Golden Square Mall in Flushing. I got the special which was the lamb and chives pan fried dumplings. They also serve many other toppings, and you can choose whether you want it pan fried or steamed. The lamb was juicy, rich and flavourful. The dough was also had perfect texture with a great balance of it being soft and just enough chew. Add some chili oil and you have an amazing combination! A plate of 12 dumplings came to a very reasonable $7 USD.
We also tried
- Nasi lemak and iced milo at Kopitiam
- Fried dumplings from Fried Dumpling
- Pastries from Supermoon Bakehouse
- Ramen from Mu Ramen
- Dim sum at Nom Wah Tea Parlor
- Kolaches at Brooklyn Kolache
- Soup dumplings at Joe’s Shanghai
- Bubble tea from Boba Guys
- Waffle fries from Chick-fil-a
- Gelato from Fresco Gelataeria
- Milkquake from Milk Bar
- DIY picnic (prosciutto, mozzarella, focaccia bread) at Eataly
- Chairman Bao from BaoHaus
- Artichoke pizza from Artichoke Pizza
- ShackBurger and cheese fries from Shake Shack
- Bubble tea from Bibble & Sip
- Japanese whiskey at Hi-Collar
- Ice cream from The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
- Taiwanese shaved ice from Taiwan Pork Chop House
- Lasagna alla bolognese and tonnarelli cacio e pepe from Cacio e Pepe
- Korean take out from Woorjip
- Coconut ice cream at Vanleeuwen
- Cheeseburger mac from Macbar
- Peanut butter banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery
- Chicken and rice at Halal Guys
And things we did in between eating:
- Checked out artwork at The MET ($20 USD for admission)
- Roamed around Columbia University
- Walked from Brooklyn to Manhattan on the Brooklyn Bridge
- Went in the United Nations Headquarters
- Took the Roosevelt Tram and roamed around Roosevelt Island
- People watching at Times Square at night
- Watched tango dancing classes at Central Park
- Checked out the Brazil Day Festival
- People watching at Grand Central Terminal
- Checked out the World Trade Center Monument
- Went on a pubcrawl for $15 USD
- Went to the US Open and watched the quarter final match (Kei Nishikori vs. Marin Cilic) for only $14 USD!
Bonus vlog footage:
The Sum of 2018 New York City Food Tour
My 6 day trip came in at $1,404.43 CAD. As you might already know, New York ain’t cheap! I spent more on this trip than my 9 day trip to Riviera Maya and Yucatan. This trip was pretty expensive because of:
- Again like last year, we did not hold back spending on food, as food was the main reason for this trip.
- Accommodation in New York is also expensive. We were able to save by getting an AirBnB in Brooklyn and staying in a hostel in Upper West Side during my two days of solo travel.
| Categories | $ (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Total | 1,404.43 |
| Flights | 302.52 |
| Food & Drinks | 477.84 |
| Transportation | 75.92 |
| Accommodation | 416.37 |
| Activities | 70.85 |
| Other | 60.93 |
