The Lower East Side in New York City is a neighborhood full of culture, charm, and great places to eat. Join us as we explore the best food spots that will take your taste buds on a delightful journey.
We have places like Katz’s Delicatessen, Essex Market, and Dirt Candy to Economy Candy and Doughnut Plant on the list.
Katz’s Delicatessen – Pastrami sandwiches
Katz’s Delicatessen is located on the Lower East Side and is a must-visit if you love meat. This iconic restaurant has been around since 1888 and is famous for having the best pastrami sandwiches in New York City. Katz’s might be most famous for its starring role in When Harry Met Sally.
Address: 205 East Houston St, New York, NY 10002
Essex Market – Large variety of food
This indoor market on the Lower East Side has been around since 1939 and was originally created by Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia to bring pushcart vendors together and away from traffic. Today, Essex Market is a big part of the Lower East Side where you can shop for groceries like cheese and vegetables or grab something to eat like Oreo pancakes, cheeseburger empanada, fried rice balls, or a breakfast sandwich.
Address: 88 Essex St, New York, NY 10002
Economy Candy – Sweets from all over the world
Economy Candy has been a Lower East Side landmark since 1937. This family-owned candy store is packed with hundreds of varieties of amazing candy, nuts, and dried fruit from all over the world. It’s also famous for its selection of long-forgotten brands of candy like Mary Jane, Mallo Cup, and Black Jack. This is a must-visit if you’re craving something sweet.
Address: 108 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
The Pickle Guys – Everything pickled
This is such a fun place to visit if you like pickles. The Pickle Guys sell traditional Eastern European kosher pickles stored in barrels filled with brine, garlic, and spices, but also pickled garlic, beets, olives, string beans, okra, and more.
Address: 357 Grand St, New York NY 10002
Clinton Street Baking Co – Dreamy blueberry pancakes
This is one of the best places to eat brunch on the Lower East Side. They are well known for their delicious blueberry pancakes that are perfectly fluffy and airy.
Address: 4 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002
Dirt Candy – Vegetarian tasting menu with a Michelin star
Dirt Candy’s tasting menu has definitely shaped the way New Yorkers think about vegetarian cooking. This restaurant on the Lower East Side offers a plant-based tasting menu. This is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the whole city, but also one of the few that earned a Michelin star.
Address: 86 Allen St, New York, NY 10002
Russ & Daughters Café – Iconic lox bagels
Russ & Daughters might be the most iconic spot to get a bagel in NYC and is worth a visit for the smoked fish alone. I strongly recommend trying their lox bagel.
Address: 179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
Supermoon Bakehouse – Beautiful and delicious donuts
This Lower East Side spot makes some of the best donuts in New York, where each one looks like a piece of art. Trust me, Supermoon Bakehouse is worth the hype! Their menu and donut flavors change every two weeks, so don’t miss out.
Address: 120 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
Una Pizza Napoletana – Small wood fire pizzas
Una Pizza Napoletana serves some of the best Neapolitan pizzas on the Lower East Side. Their small, delicious wood-fired pizza pies are definitely worth a visit.
Address: 175 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Wolfnights – Late-night wraps
Here you can eat some of the best wraps in New York City filled with meat, seafood, or vegetables. They even have a vegan option. They use house-made ingredients to create their unique one-of-a-kind wraps.
Address: 99 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002