Off-the-Beaten-Path NYC Food Tour

My name is Jenn and I eat in New York City. Oh sure, I live and work here too, but eating is really my main priority and preferred activity. I want NYC tourists to think beyond Magnolia Bakery cupcakes, brunch at Pastis, and the famous frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity. Granted, these places are awesome. Their wait time? Not so awesome. On that note, here are some great out-of-the-way places considered local favorites. Tell ‘em Jenn sent ya. Just don’t expect any special treatment because of it.

photo by nyc.metblogs.com

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (chinatownicecreamfactory.com)

While you’re casing Chinatown for that perfect knock-off Gucci bag, make sure you take the time to veer off busy Canal onto some of the more narrow and isolated streets. Here is where you’ll find the better restaurants, tea shops and the awesome Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. They specialize in exotic flavors like black sesame, taro, lychee, mango, ginger, almond cookie and my personal favorite, red bean.

photo by Much to My Delight

Economy Candy

(economycandy.com)

Sweet tooth still not satisfied? Head to the LES to this old-fashioned, family-run penny candy store. It’s been around since 1937 and still carries all the old-school candies your parents liked as kids. Remember the scene in 13 Going on 30 where they tried to track down a classic candy called Razzles? They found them here.

photo by roadfood.com

Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop 

(eisenbergsnyc.com)

No trip to NYC is complete without visiting an old school Jewish deli. Other delis get more coverage in visitor guides and movie scenes (Meg Ryan's famously faked moment of pleasure took place at Katz's downtown), but Eisenberg's offers the same classic NY taste for a fraction of the price. Skip the $17 pastrami at the bigger joints (no seriously, that’s what they cost—and they charge you an extra $3 “sharing fee” if you decide to split with a friend) and come to this humble lunch counter where the matzoh balls are bigger than your fist and the egg creams flow like Manischewitz wine.

photo by Much to My Delight

Chelsea Market 

(chelseamarket.com)

This place is no secret, but I couldn’t do a roundup on New York City food and not include Chelsea Market, a collection of bakeries, specialty food shops and restaurants in one super-cool industrial space. Here you’ll find everything from live lobsters to artisanal cheeses to hand-painted, just-out-of-the-oven cookies. Get your taste buds ready to party!

photo by amateurgourmet.com 

Tomoe Sushi

(tomoesushi.com)

There’s a reason the line wraps around the corner 30 minutes before Tomoe Sushi opens for lunch. What this unassuming sushi place lacks in décor it more than makes up for with unbelievable freshness and incredible quality. Even my aunt (who lived in Japan for four years) said this was the best sushi she’d ever tasted. I wholeheartedly agree.

photo by Much to My Delight

McNulty’s Teas

(mcnultys.com)

If you’re into exotic teas and classic coffees, you need to come see what’s brewin' at this West Village institution. There are over 100 apothecary jars filled with every tea leaf imaginable (I picked up chocolate tea and matcha green tea powder on my last visit) and the tin ceilings, creaky wood floors and antique cash register make each visitor feel like they stepped back in time.

photo by jamiesstomach.blogspot.com

Arthur Avenue Retail Market (arthuravenue.com)

Even a lot of New Yorkers don’t realize that the real Little Italy isn’t in Manhattan—it’s in the Belmont section of the Bronx, and is worth the trip. This place is like a covered Italian bazaar and houses five pastry shops, four butchers, two pasta-makers, six bread stores, three pork stores, five gourmet delicatessens, two fish markets, and three gourmet coffee shops. They even have cigar rollers up front!

photo by eatbigapple.com

Alice’s Tea Cup 

(alicesteacup.com)

Girly-girls of all ages go ga-ga for this quaint and cozy tea shop where the tea menu is longer than the phone book and the scones are so delicious you won’t even be paying attention to how much butter is in them. It’s a wonderful, whimsical place—the walls are covered with Alice in Wonderland scenes and tiny pink butterflies. Translation: Leave your boyfriend at the hotel.

And the best part? You’ll do so much walking in New York that any calories you ingest will be quickly burned off and you’ll basically break even. That’s the real reason so many tourists pick up an “I heart NYC” t-shirt before flying out—ravenous eating with no discernible weight gain. Happy eating!