Discover The Ultimate Guide To Street Food In New York City

New York City, or The Big Apple, has more than some fruity tastes to offer to its multitude of visitors and locals. Street food in New York City has always been part of its culture to match its inhabitants’ busy life. This is also for their search for something flavourful on mundane days. From authentic hot dogs to true Halal options, the variety of street food here is reflected on every corner. You can always have a quick bite or explore the versions of the cuisine around the world.

Table of Contents

10 Famous Street Food In New York City

To get the real New York experience, make sure you try out the signature dishes among the street food in New York City:

1. Waffles

A plate of waffles served with sliced strawberries and two whole strawberries on top.

Photo: Parkerman & Christie / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Waffles are, hands down, everyone’s favourite dish. Waffles are the best grab-and-go option for a busy morning breakfast or a lazy afternoon craving. Waffles from Waffles and Dinges, especially, is a New York City street-food favourite. You can enjoy fresh and delicious waffles that are made and delivered the same day. When you choose Waffles and Dinges, the quality is as uncompromising as the taste. What’s even more appealing is that you can choose your own toppings for your waffles among the various fruits, spreads, and whipped cream options. You can also choose the size of your waffle from traditional to snack-size, making it more customisable.

Best Paired With: Fresh berries, syrups and spreads
Common Variations: Savoury waffles with bacon, eggs or Greek yoghurt

2. Chicken Over Rice

A plate of white rice is topped with cooked slices of chicken and spices such as cloves.

Photo: Jack Lawrence / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

If you are looking for a Halal option with a journey of spices, the Chicken over rice platter would be the perfect choice. The Halal Guys provide one of the best Halal chicken platters you can find in The Big Apple. Their chicken platter can be customised with your choice of vegetables and toppings along with their famous signature white and hot sauce. Pair it with hummus, and you will have a full meal to appease your hunger and spice cravings. The sandwich option for the same is available if you are looking for a small bite.

Best Paired With: Steamed vegetables, mayonnaise and salads
Common Variations: Chicken on fries with toppings

3. Steam Rice Roll

A plate of one whole steamed rice roll dipped in brown gravy and topped with parsley.

Photo: DragonSamYU / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

If you are in the mood to update your street-food game, you can always try a steamed rice roll. Also known as a rice noodle roll, it is a roll made of steamed rice with, usually, a non-veg filling and a savoury sauce. Steam rice roll is a Cantonese dish, and it appeals to people whose taste palette prefers dishes that are less spicy but filling. For first-timers, Joe’s Signature Rice Roll is a safe bet with its chicken and soy sauce filling.

Best Paired With: Shrimp, Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork) and dipping sauce
Common Variations: Vietnamese rice roll with shrimp, vegetables or meat fillings

4. Fish And Chips

A piece of fried fish on top of fries in a takeout order, looking extremely delicious

Photo: Grendelkhan / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

One cannot simply skip fish and chips while exploring street food in New York City, and GG’s Fish and Chips knows just that. This classic British dish usually has a deep-fried fish paired with thick-cut potatoes fried to perfection. It’s an easy snack for anyone craving a simple seafood delicacy. GG’s Fish and Chips is a must-try if you want to try soul-food-inspired Fish and Chips. GG’s has a small food truck with its mouth watering in-house meals and is a famous spot for street food lovers. There, you can also try out their shrimp dishes.

Best Paired With: Peas, tartar sauce and cider
Common Variations: Poutine-style fish and chips with cheese and gravy

5. Dosas

A plate of dosa with a side of lentil soup and chutney, a popular street food in New York.

Photo: Jack Baghel / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

If you are in search of gluten-free and vegan street food, you can never go wrong with the Dosas from NY Dosas. This South-Indian dish has already captured the hearts of millions who have fallen in love with its light, crispy texture. NY Dosas took it up a notch and made this dish even more appealing to the vast majority by making it completely vegan and gluten-free. Paired with a lentil soup with mixed vegetables and coconut chutney, the dosas here are an easy choice. NY Dosas provides different varieties of dosas to choose from, all made with fresh vegetables, lentils, and rice.

Best Paired With: Aloo masala, vada and varieties of chutneys
Common Variations: Masala dosa with lentil soup and chutney

6. Tacos

A plate of tacos served with slices of fruit, along with a packet of sauce, one of the popular street food in New York City.

Photo: Larry Miller / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

If you are in the mood for something Mexican, tacos would be an obvious choice. This meat and vegetable-filled delight takes your taste buds on a flavour journey like no other. The best street food often comes from Taco trucks like Tacos El Bronco. You will have a variety of tacos to choose from at Tacos El Bronco, from their signature Special Mexican Tacos to more common plain chicken tacos. Tacos El Bronco is the best place to try out a hearty meal of tacos paired with a thick smoothie made from fresh fruits.

Best Paired With: Guacamole, salsa and chips, and rice and beans
Common Variations: Vegan tacos with tofu, lentils and grains

7. Mini Cakes

A cake stand sits on top of a table with mini cakes neatly arranged on other trays, one of the popular street food in New York City.

Photo: Cristian Mihaila / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

Sweet mini cakes are the perfect companion for your sweet tooth. These Hong Kong-style mini cakes are a famous dessert for street food enthusiasts in New York City. Ling’s Sweet Mini Cakes in Chinatown has the best sweet mini cakes in town. The aroma of warm, freshly baked dough will make Ling’s food truck hard to miss. This fluffy delight is baked to perfection and combines the Hong Kong-style street food flavour twist. Made with minimum ingredients, these mini cakes are best paired with condensed milk or chocolate syrup. Apart from the plain mini cakes, the other cake choices include honey coconut, Nutella, and peanut butter fillings.

Best Paired With: Ice cream, frozen yoghurt and whipped cream
Common Variations: Pineapple upside-down cake with cherry toppings

8. Hot Dogs

A hot dog cut in half and topped with diced avocados, tomatoes and onions on a plate, one of the popular street food in New York City.

Photo: Caleb Oquendo / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

How can you forget hot dogs when you look for famous street food in New York City? If you want some Chicago-style hot dogs, then look no further. Dog Day Afternoon serves one of the best hot dogs you can ever find. The hot dogs here are famous for their sausages grilled to perfection in poppy-seed buns, topped with their famous cheese sauce. Their Polish Kielbasa Dog and Chilli Cheese Dog are equally mouthwatering choices. Made from the finest locally sourced ingredients, Dog Day Afternoon brings finesse to hot dogs.

Best Paired With: Mustard, ketchup and relish
Common Variations: New York Dog with white bun, sauerkraut and onions

9. Injera

A brown straw plate of five flat injera bread, one of the popular street food in New York City.

Photo: Edsel Little / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Makina’s signature sourdough flatbread, called Injera, is an authentic Ethiopian-Eritrean dish. It is served with your choice of protein, vegetables, and sauce from a variety of options. This thin flatbread is a perfect companion for your favourite meat and veggies. The injera meal platter is a perfectly balanced, nutritious dish that can fill your stomach and mind. If you are looking for a fully vegetarian option, Makina’s provides that as well with their Injera platter.

Best Paired With: Stews and curries
Common Variations: White injera bread with vegetable or chicken stew

10. Pizza

A thin single slice of pizza being pulled from a pizza, one of the popular street food in New York City.

Photo: Engin Akyurt / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

No list of the best street food in New York City is complete without mentioning pizza. Now, pizza is an obvious fast-food choice for a lot of people. Joe’s Pizza took up this challenge and started serving the authentic New York street slice. The “purist” approach of Joe’s makes it an authentic pizzeria with only pizzas on its menu. You can order either a single slice or an 8 slice pie according to your needs. You can enjoy the full experience by ordering a classic cheese pizza with up to 3 toppings. Joe’s also provides vegetarian pizza choices with a create-your-own pizza option.

Best Paired With: Garlic bread, fries and soda
Common Variations: Neapolitan pizza with chewy crust and simple toppings

The street food in New York City is not only a unique culinary adventure but also gives a taste of different cuisines around the world. Authentic international food with its own respective street food twist offers a mouth-watering and memorable experience. From fast-food favourites like pizza and hot dogs to unique mini cakes and waffles, the street food here is delicious. Book your trip to New York with TripXL today.

Cover Photo: Burst / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

Street Food In New York City: 10 Iconic Bites & Global Flavours