The Lower East Side is filled with fun bars, but it’s also one of the best neighborhoods to eat in if you’re looking for a wide range of restaurants. Want a classic pastrami sandwich on rye? Covered. An innovative tasting menu for a special night out? The best Neapolitan pies in all five boroughs? A warm bowl of ramen that will make you forget it’s snowing outside? All covered as well. Here are the LES spots you should know about.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Teddy Wolff
9.0
French
Lower East Side
$$$$
Perfect For:
Date NightsWalk-Ins
Le French Diner feels like an underground dining club that you wish was a lot more exclusive (as long as you got to be one of the lucky members). This tiny bistro only seats about 20, mostly on black leather bar stools. The short, constantly changing menu has a lot of bistro classics like tender duck confit, garlicky escargots, and spicy grilled octopus, all of which are pretty close to perfect. If we had to cut this list down to five places, Le French Diner would still be on it.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
8.9
Pizza
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Date NightsCasual DinnersEating At The BarImpressing Out of Towners
This pizzeria on the Lower East Side is the sixth version of this restaurant, and we know exactly why this place won’t die. It has the best Neapolitan pies in NYC—and possibly the world. Una Pizza Napoletana only serves five pies (plus any daily specials), and at least one margherita pizza should always be on your table. But since all the pizzas have the same otherworldly crust, you really can’t go wrong. The owner never stops tinkering with the recipe for the crust, even though it’s hard to imagine the pizza here getting any better.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
9.1
Chinese
Chinatown
$$$$Perfect For:Cheap EatsDining SoloImpressing Out of TownersLiterally EveryoneLunch
As a resident of NYC, you should have an answer for when someone asks you: “Where should I go for dumplings?” H Mart is a perfectly valid answer, but for a place that involves no cooking, send them to Shu Jiao Fu Zhou. The decor couldn’t be more basic, but that’s fine because the main reason you come here is for the relatively inexpensive food. A plate of 10 dumplings will run you $4.50, and you can add on some great peanut noodles for $3. Be sure to bring cash.
8.6
Indian
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:BirthdaysDate NightsDinner with the ParentsImpressing Out of TownersVegetarians
Yes, Dhamaka is technically located in a food hall, but it happens to be one of the best Indian restaurants in the city. This colorful Essex Market restaurant is from the team behind Semma and Adda, and meals here often consist of dishes associated with four or five different regions of India—some of which are virtually impossible to find elsewhere in the city. Try their lamb biryani and the gurda kapoora in a fragrant onion-tomato stew.
8.6
Spanish
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Date Nights
If you don’t have a reservation, getting a table at this Spanish and Portuguese restaurant is a pain in the butt. On any given night, you’ll be told to come back in an hour, or if it’s the weekend, you could put your name on the list, watch a movie, and your table still might not be ready. Don’t give up. Once you’re sitting with a martini and a plate of crunchy shrimp heads, you’ll be glad to be part of the scene. Your efforts will be rewarded with manila clams in vinho verde, a block party atmosphere, and all the vermouth you can handle.
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
8.6
American
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Date NightsDining SoloPeople Watching
POWERED BY
Wildair is a Parisian-style wine bar with highly creative, shareable small plates and an extensive list of natural wines that will help you become a more interesting person. The casual space, filled with high tables, is ideal for a first date—and it’s relatively small, so we don’t suggest coming here with a big group. The rotating seafood-centric menu includes things like spicy grilled prawns and scallop crudo, and it always features a Wildair classic: the hashbrown-like pommes darphin topped with Santa Barbara uni.
photo credit: Kate Previte
8.5
Korean
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Casual DinnersImpressing Out of Towners
Get in and out for $32. That’s the beauty of Kisa, a snug little spot serving set meals inspired by the old-school diners of Korea that cater to cab drivers. The quality of the homestyle food is just an added bonus. Choose from a few mains that include sweet bulgogi and charred spicy pork, then enjoy a wreath of bottomless sides like raw marinated shrimp and braised beef with potatoes. If you supplement with soju, plum liqueur, or one of the other Korean spirits on hand, your check will obviously exceed $32, but do it anyway.
photo credit: Kate Previte
8.5
Basque
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Eating At The Bar
If you can’t get a table at Cervo’s, you could try for a bar seat at nearby Eel Bar. It’s from the same team, and its menu features similarly generous amounts of olive oil and aioli. But only using this Basque spot as a Cervo’s backup plan would be selling it short. Eel Bar is a great place to bring a group, order martinis and then wine and then more wine, all while snacking for several hours. Crowd into a tavern-like wooden booth, and share fried mussels, custardy black rice a la plancha, and rainbow trout pil pil the texture of velvet.
8.5
Sandwiches
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Classic EstablishmentDining SoloImpressing Out of TownersQuick EatsSerious Takeout Operation
We don’t really have to sell you on Katz’s. The classic Jewish deli has been around for over 130 years, and it’s one of the few touristy spots worth your time. Bring a friend, and get the matzo ball soup and a three-meat platter so you can sample the pastrami, brisket, and corned beef. Be sure to tip the person slicing your meat, and don't lose the ticket handed to you as you walk in. Even though the dining room is huge, you’ll still be competing for seats with plenty of people who have flown in just to try this place.
8.5
Vietnamese
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Casual DinnersDogsOutdoor/Patio SituationSerious Takeout OperationWalk-Ins
We make a note in our mental calendars (and sometimes our electronic ones) to not let too much time pass between visits to this Vietnamese spot to eat their bún chả and garlic noodles with fried prawns. Stop by for a casual meal, and if the weather’s nice, try and grab one of their sidewalk tables. You can also get interesting co*cktails made with ingredients like lemongrass vermouth and a tamarind shrub.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
8.4
Korean
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Date NightsEating At The BarFirst DatesSmall Plates
There are a few other Korean spots on the LES, but 8282 does anju and banju that operate in a different, more upscale lane. Bluefin tuna tartare gets tossed in sesame oil, topped with uni and egg custard, and served alongside puffed nori chips, while the dakgalbi kimchi-bap is a full crock of cheesy rice and tender chicken thighs. Portion sizes run a bit small, so split plates between three people max. Or just order two of everything.
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
Vegetarian
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:BirthdaysDate NightsFine DiningKeeping It Kind Of HealthyUnique Dining ExperiencesVegans
Dirt Candy was one of the first restaurants in NYC to treat vegetables as the focus of fine dining. Most tasting menu spots don’t easily accommodate vegan diners, but almost every dish here can be made with only plant-based ingredients. The seasonal dishes might include a savory cucumber-key lime pie or crispy romanesco with salsa verde and ninja radishes, and you can enjoy them in an industrial-looking space with black plants painted on a white brick wall. The $105 tasting menu comes with five courses, and the price includes gratuity.
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
8.3
Jewish
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Big GroupsBirthdaysUnique Dining Experiences
The Lower East Side lost a legend when the Jewish steakhouse-slash-bar mitzvah afterparty that is Sammy’s Roumanian closed in 2021, after nearly half a century of chopped liver and chocolate egg creams on Chrystie Street. Fortunately, their new location on Stanton recaptures the magic. Where else can you enjoy frozen vodka-fueled singalongs and dance the hora with somebody else's grandparents?
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
8.3
Wine Bar
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:First DatesDrinking Great WineSmall Plates
Gem Wine is a great middle ground between a restaurant and a bar, and it’s an ideal place for a date. The menu changes frequently, and it’s full of interesting vegetable-forward small plates, as well as more substantial options like grilled skate wing in a rich oyster beurre blanc. It’s a great place for snacks if you’re just looking for a big hunk of sourdough served with marmite butter, but if you’re feeling a bit hungrier, they offer a $80 menu called “The Experience.” It’ll get you five to seven menu items (with some specials) that come coursed out like a tasting menu.
photo credit: Gotham Burger Social Club
8.2
Burgers
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:LunchQuick EatsCheap Eats
You’ll need a carpenter’s caliper to measure Gotham Burger Social Club’s wafer-thin patties, and they griddle their top buns to create a super crusty, toasty texture. Add in the pickled jalapeños and regular pickles, gooey american cheese, and sweet steamy onions, and you have one of the best smashburgers this city has to offer. They also sell beer, wine, and canned co*cktails, making this a great spot to start a night, or refuel during a Lower East Side bar crawl.
8.1
Pizza
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Casual DinnersFeeling Hot
POWERED BY
Ask any stranger on the Lower East Side what their favorite slice shop is, and they’ll probably say Scarr’s. (The odds increase dramatically if said stranger is wearing Aimé Leon Dore or New Balance 550s.) Home to some of the city’s best pizza, Scarr’s is now in a larger, second location on Orchard Street—their original spot is now occupied by Sushi Oku, and Clubhouse Sandos. There’s a good chance you’ll have to wait in line to place your order, but the thin-crust slices made with house-milled grains and zesty tomato sauce will always be worth it.
photo credit: Okiboru House of Tsukemen
8.2
Ramen
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Casual DinnersDining SoloLunchQuick Eats
If you see a quick-moving line of people on the sidewalk around Orchard and Delancey, it’s probably for Okiboru, a noodle shop with a few other locations in Georgia. Only counter seating is available, so you’ll get to hear everything going on in your neighbor’s life as you eat one of the two types of ramen offered here. The tsukemen comes with udon-like cold noodles that you dip in a warm chicken and fish broth, and the ramen has a super rich, milky broth that will immediately conjure images of pork bones in your head. If you’re looking for just udon, they have a new spot in the East Village with equally long lines.
8.2
Sushi
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Date NightsFirst DatesSpecial Occasions
This tiny omakase counter has only eight seats, so you have slightly better odds of booking just one instead of two. The 13-course meal is $85 per person (with an optional $55 beverage pairing), which is a pretty decent deal considering the fact that it contains some of our favorite individual pieces of fish at any price point. People tend to strike up a conversation across the counter here, so don’t be surprised if you leave with a new favorite sub-$100 omakase spot and a new friend.
photo credit: Rachel Lerro
8.2
Italian
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Eating At The BarDining SoloCasual DinnersDate Nights
There are about a million places in NYC to have a bowl of pasta at the bar, but there are a few reasons why you should skip most of them and head to Forsythia. The LES Italian spot has a great lineup of seasonal fresh pastas and a perfect, low-lit atmosphere that works for dates or some solo carbs if you just want to read a book and occasionally bother the bartender.
photo credit: Teddy Wolff
8.1
American
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Date NightsPeople Watching
If you’re looking for a place to meet up with a few friends who spend too much money at sample sales, head to Corner Bar in the opulent Nine Orchard hotel. Open all day, this spot from the Estela team offers a memorable breakfast and a top notch burger that’s only available at lunch. At dinner, straightforward, solid French and Italian bistro classics like caesar salad and steak au poivre make up the tight menu. Sure, you might pay $36 for a shrimp co*cktail, but it might be some of the best shrimp you’ve ever had.
photo credit: Russ & Daughters Cafe
Diner
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:BrunchClassic EstablishmentDining SoloImpressing Out of Towners
The original on Houston is an over-a-century-old institution that’s absolutely worth a visit for the smoked fish alone (not to mention smoked fish on chewy bagels). That location has one major flaw, though: There’s nowhere to sit. That’s where Russ & Daughters Cafe comes in. This full-service restaurant offers both seating and an extensive menu that adds things like eggs, platters, and co*cktails to the usual bagel-and-nova situation. Note that this place isn’t open for dinner.
photo credit: Teddy Wolff
8.0
Japanese
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Date NightsDining Solo
There’s not a ton of good, casual sushi on the LES. Douska fills that void with its straightforward handrolls. Stop by for a date at the sushi bar, and order a set of temaki with crab, scallop, toro, and more. If you’re looking for something slightly more extravagant, Douska has a few omakase options ($50 or $70) as well as some sushi and sashimi combinations that start at $29.
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
8.0
Thai
Lower East Side
$$$$Perfect For:Date NightsFirst DatesOutdoor/Patio Situation
Wayla’s space outshines nearly every other restaurant in the neighborhood. The dark dining room connects to a beautiful back garden filled with plants, wicker furniture, and twinkling string lights. The next time the weather’s nice and you want to appear cool and in-the-know, make a reservation for the backyard, then bring a few friends for some shareable Thai dishes. The food—like the crispy fried chunks of branzino, slightly sweet noodles spilling out of a lobster’s head, and crunchy noodle-wrapped meatballs—will always make you feel just the right amount of deluxe.