Whether you’re looking for a great place to eat in the Lower East Side or West Village, we’ve got you covered with the 10 best restaurants near Houston Street NYC!
There are a few telltale signs that someone is not from New York City, and one of them is how they pronounce Houston Street. I made that mistake the first time I visited and I’ve been extra mindful ever since being corrected. You don’t say HUE-stun (like the Texas city), but HOW-stun. If you’re curious as to why, here’s an article by the New York Times.
Despite which way you choose to pronounce Houston, there’s no doubt that the street spanning lower Manhattan from west to east is home to some of the best food.
Here is a list of the best restaurants near Houston Street NYC that you NEED to try!
Restaurants Near Houston Street NYC
1. Katz’s Delicatessen
Katz’s Delicatessen is NYC’s oldest deli with its origins dating back to 1888. It’s a very popular destination, so expect to see crowds of people and be prepared to wait in line! The line did move pretty quickly, which is great because I wasn’t waiting for a long time.
My friend ordered Katz’s Pastrami Sandwich ($27.45), which seems expensive for a sandwich, but I kid you not when I say that this sandwich was HUGE. Don’t think for one second that you’ll be getting a small portion. I don’t eat red meat, but it was definitely big enough for two people to share. My friend described the pastrami as soft and thick-cut, but also packed with flavor. Their sandwiches come with a side of pickles, so I helped myself to those!
Like Prince Street Pizza in Soho, Katz’s has its walls lined with photos of famous celebrities that have visited. This establishment is definitely a must visit for people looking for a classic taste of NYC!
📍205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
2. Carbone
Despite being stripped of its Michelin star in 2022, Carbone is (arguably) one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. Carbone is notorious for being difficult to snag a reservation—I was lucky enough to get one back in 2021 when it still had its star!
I went with a group of 4 other people, so we were able to try a few different things on the menu. The complimentary bread was SOOO GOOD. We ordered the Caesar alla ZZ ($32) to start, which they make right in front of you. Great service, if I might add. I was never a big fan of Caesar salad, but this one changed my opinion.
Their most famous dish is the Spicy Vodka Rigatoni ($34). Though some may say that the rigatoni at Carbone is overrated, at that time I remember it being the best pasta I’ve had at a restaurant. We also ordered the Tortellini al Ragu ($35) and Linguini Vongole ($47).
Everyone was so full at the end of the meal, but we couldn’t pass up dessert… We ordered all the desserts they offered that night: tiramisu, carrot cake, and cheesecake. Absolutely delicious.
I am still a firm believer that the food and overall experience is worth a trip to Greenwich Village, so grab a reservation if you can!
📍181 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012
3. Russ & Daughters
Russ & Daughters is an iconic Jewish appetizing shop to grab a bite (they’re featured on most “Best Bagel in NY” lists) with a few locations across Manhattan. From smoked fish to freshly-baked bagels to imported candies, there are so many things you can get here! It’s definitely the kind of place you come back to time and time again because once just isn’t enough to try everything. I had a great experience there—mainly due to the friendly staff who were so patient in answering all my questions.
I ended up buying the chocolate babka ($16), bagels ($1.50 each), and bialy ($1.50 each) to bring home to LA—they were a hit! The chocolate babka was soft and sweet, while the bagels and bialy were chewy and filling. It was my first time having a bialy and I learned that bialys are less chewy than bagels because they aren’t boiled before being baked.
If you won’t be in the city but still want to try their famous lox or any of the other amazing delicacies they offer, Russ & Daughters ships across the United States!
📍1179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
4. 7th Street Burger
Situated on Orchard Street, 7th Street Burger Lowest East Side is just one of the many locations throughout Manhattan. Many people swear that the burgers here are the best in the city! I deferred to my friend to be the judge of that.
She got the Cheeseburger ($6.50), which is a beef patty with grilled onions smashed in topped with melted American cheese and sliced pickles on a potato bun. After her first bite, she immediately said, “This is so good. I wish I had gotten a Double.” The patty was thin, so you really get the crunchiness of the edges. That, when combined with the flavor of the onions, made for a mouth-watering bite (in her words).
I had the fries ($4); I thought the fries were crisp and well-seasoned. It is the perfect accompaniment to a hearty, greasy burger!
The reasonable prices make 7th Street Burger a great fast food spot for anyone in need of a burger fix!
📍173 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
5. Houston Hall
What better way to honor Houston Street than to include a restaurant with its namesake? Houston Hall is a beer hall and brew pub that offers craft beers in a renovated garage. I’m not 100% sure if this is true, but I’ve heard that it used to be an old FBI garage… The space is huge and has indoor picnic-style seating, which makes Houston Hall a good choice if you’re with a large group.
It’s also a great place to go for Happy Hour, as their prices are pretty low. Beers are $8, cocktails $9, wines $9, and sliders and empanadas $9 (great value or what??). Once I saw the Giant Soft Bavarian Pretzel ($14.95) on the menu, I had to get it. It came with cheddar dip and honey mustard sauce. The pretzel was the biggest soft pretzel I’ve had; the inside was pillowy and the outside sprinkled with salt. So good…especially when dipped in the cheese.
I would especially recommend coming here to watch a game—the energy is electric and the projectors make it easy to see what’s happening. It reminds me of a college sports bar, where everyone is chatting and snacking on bar food while also screaming at the screens. With the lively and great atmosphere at Houston Hall, you’re bound to have a good time!
📍222 W Houston St, New York, NY 10014
6. Clinton St. Baking Company
Hot take: brunch is the best meal. For indecisive people like me, brunch allows for both sweet and savory foods in one sitting. Clinton St. Baking Company in downtown Manhattan is known for its brunch and American breakfast staples. Even though they take walk-ins, I would recommend making a reservation beforehand if you plan on coming for weekend brunch! The food is worth the wait, but it can get pretty long (up to 2 hours).
I’m more of a waffle girl myself, but even I have to admit that they have some delicious french toast and pancakes! We got the Brioche French Toast ($18) and Pancakes with Warm Maple Butter ($18) to try. The brioche was so soft and fluffy and the caramelized bananas on top were SO GOOD. Bananas and caramel are truly a top-tier pairing. For the pancakes, we got them with Maine blueberry. I’m not usually a fan of fruit jams or compotes, but the tartness from the blueberries helped balance the dish out.
I’m still kicking myself for not ordering the Fried Chicken & Waffles—Clinton St. Baking Company, I will make my return! Highly recommend coming here for a satisfying brunch.
📍4 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002
7. Fish Cheeks
Thai is my favorite cuisine and Fish Cheeks does NOT disappoint. Their focus is on Thai seafood, so it was a nice change from the usual Pad Thai or Green Curry I would get. I’ve been here twice and the food has been consistently delicious!
I don’t want to exaggerate, but the Zabb Wings ($15) were life-changing. They fried the chicken and coated it with a spicy, tangy seasoning that took me to flavortown. I’m the biggest fan of Crab Fried Rice ($27) at any Thai restaurant and Fish Cheeks has a solid one as well. The rice comes with a green sauce and a Thai dipping sauce that reminds me of Vietnamese nước chấm!
The must try is definitely the Steamed Fish with Thai Herbs ($40). This is a whole branzino that is steamed and covered in a delicious cilantro lime broth. It was my friends’ favorite dish out of everything we try—so good that one of them went back the next week to eat it again.
Fish Cheeks is the best place to take out-of-towners to impress them (like yes, this is the type of food we have in New York!). There’s always a great vibe here and you can count on great food too!
📍55 Bond St, New York, NY 10012
8. Spicy Moon
Spicy Moon has some of the best vegan food in the city. For a few years, I was vegetarian and even now, I usually go for vegetarian options when eating out; so, imagine my excitement when I found out about an all vegan Szechuan Chinese restaurant. I visited their East Village location; the place had a good ambience with its warm, pink lighting and artwork displayed on the walls.
I went on a Friday night with my friend who loves eating meat and she also really enjoyed all the dishes. We ordered the Vegetable Wonton in Chili Oil ($14.50) to start and the Dry Pepper Style Tofu ($21) and Chili Glass Noodles with Beyond Beef ($20) as entrees. Everything was so flavorful that you won’t even miss the meat! My favorite was definitely the Dry Pepper Style Tofu—the tofu was fried to perfection and the seasoning had the right balance of spice and umami. It also came with a bowl of rice, which was the perfect complement to the tofu.
Every now and then I think about the food I had at Spicy Moon, remembering that I’m due for another visit. There are so many different things on their menu that I need to try…
It makes me so happy to see how many vegan friendly restaurants there are in NYC—and Spicy Moon is definitely not one to miss!
📍328 E 6th St New York, NY 10003
Restaurants Near Houston Street NYC
Looking for a great spot with delicious food? These are the 8 restaurants near Houston Street NYC that you need to pay a visit to…
- Katz’s Delicatessen
- Carbone
- Russ & Daughters
- 7th Street Burger
- Houston Hall
- Clinton St. Baking Company
- Fish Cheeks
- Spicy Moon
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