The Lower East Side may be best known to you as the home of rowdy, rollicking nightlife, but that adventure extends to the food scene as well. Restaurants here tend to be as tiny and crowded as bars, but see it as an excuse to meet new people and try new things before you even hit the party scene. You might know iconic spots like Katz's Delicatessen or bagel heaven Russ & Daughters, but it's time to venture outside your comfort zone. The immigrant heritage of the LES colors its cuisine, leading to some fascinating hybrids — Chinese-Italian? French-Asian-American fusion? It all makes sense here.
Casa Mezcal
The live bands, DJ, and dance floor at Casa Mezcal, along with the absurdly happy decor, are all so fun that you might forget to eat and drink. But don’t! Like the name suggests, this place has the best mezcal cocktails in the city, alongside solid Mexican food for when all that revelry makes you hungry.
Casa Mezcal, 86 Orchard Street (at Broome Street); (212) 777-2600
Kitty’s Canteen
Opened by Richard Kimmel of The Box, this bizarre little gem also requires a game of hide-and-seek to locate. Once you do, you’ll be rewarded with bartenders in burlesque costumes… southern soul food with Jewish infusion… and jazz music. Like a New Orleans fever dream!
Kitty’s Canteen, 9 Stanton Street (between Bowery and Chrystie Street); 212-477-7047.
ápizz
Winter is coming? Get cozy in this literally warm space, which is dominated by a big brick oven. The gnocchi with braised short ribs, boar lasagna, and veal bolognese will comfort you, as will the very long, ridiculously affordable wine list. The place is like a culinary puffy coat.
ápizz, 217 Eldridge Street (between Stanton and Rivington Streets); (212) 253-9199
Cocoron
You already know that noodles are one of the most comforting dishes on earth (carbs!), and Cocoron runs with the concept — their name means “heartwarming” in Japanese. There are many kinds of soba noodles dishes on the adorable, cartooned menu, which is so sweet you won’t feel embarrassed if you need your helpful waiter to explain where to begin.
Cocoron, 61 Delancey Street; 212-925-5220.
Birds and Bubbles
In a city where you mixing new H&M with vintage Chanel is a major accomplishment, how did this idea take so long? The signature dish here is half a fried chicken and a split of champagne for $55. There are other elevated southern classics on the menu, which contains cheeky little chicken puns throughout — like “which came first” for the appetizer category.
Birds and Bubbles, 100B Forsyth Street, 646-368-9240.
Bacaro
How very New York: a Venetian-style gastopub in Chinatown, situated inside a converted aquarium. History is all around you in this space, where the ancient brick and vaulted ceilings make you feel like you’re dining in a castle. The most beloved dishes are carb-y goodness, like gnocchi with mushrooms in a brown butter sauce, and spaghetti with cuttlefish ink.
Bacaro, 136 Division Street (between Orchard and Ludlow streets); 212-941-5060.
Pig & Khao
You can spot Top Chef contestant Leah Cohen here at her restaurant, which mixes Thai and Filippino influences. That means a whole lot of pork (like the head, belly, and leg), as well as fish options, like cod in a banana leaf, or mussels with pineapple curry. One lovely little touch is the option of beer served “piggie style,” a.k.a 22 oz. in small bowls that you can slurp down.
Pig & Khao, 68 Clinton Street (between Stanton and Rivington streets); 212-920-4485.
Cafe Katja
This place is about as Austrian as you can get without boarding a plane. There’s hearty beef goulash, bratwurst, and a sausage sampler, but the best part may be what you wash it all down with. The carefully-chosen German and Austrian beers are both rare and interesting, especially for New York City.
Cafe Katja, 79 Orchard Street (between Grand and Broome streets); 212-219-9545.
Clinton Street Baking Company
They do much more than sweets, but it's the sweets that you'll get in line for. There's wild Maine blueberry pancakes and caramelized banana French toast for breakfast, plus loads of pie, cake, and milkshakes. But, if you insist on eating real protein (as fans of the bakery did years ago, pushing the owners to expand to other meals), then you won't be disappointed. Go for the fried chicken!
Clinton Street Baking Company, 4 Clinton Street (between East Houston and Stanton streets); 646-602-6263.
Contra
Like some other punk-rock places in this neighborhood, Contra has very little signage out front to help you find it. But you’ll forgive them once you do, because their tasting menu is the rare arrangement that won’t make you forfeit rent: a mere $55 for 5 courses. Recent offerings included a broccoli soup with uni, and swordfish with peas and pepper, gorgeously plated and delicately delicious.
Contra, 138 Orchard Street (between Rivington and Delancey streets); 212-466-4633 .
Freemans
Hidden at the end of an alley, this restaurant may have invented the lumberjack-hipster look. The walls are covered in stuffed animal heads like a hunting lodge, and the food is similarly rustic, like a cassoulet with three cuts of pork, or grilled trout with garlic and thyme. Luckily, it’s so delicious you’ll forgive them for the bearded masses.
Freemans, End of Freeman Alley, Off Rivington Street (between Bowery and Chrystie Street); 212-420-0012.
Ivan Ramen
A Jewish kid from Long Island who opened a ramen shop in Tokyo? You have to admire the chutzpah. Chef Ivan Orkin succeeded with the noodle connoisseurs in Japan, and then opened another shop here on the Lower East Side. Of course the ramen is amazing, (hello triple-pork, triple-garlic!), but there are other great dishes too, like the braised beef tongue.
Ivan Ramen, 25 Clinton Street (between East Houston and Stanton streets); 646-678-3859.
Cata
The vivid red and yellow interior invokes the flag of Spain, preparing you for the Catalan tapas you're about to inhale. The menu is divided into categories of sea, land, and vegetables, so there will be an option (or five) for everyone at your table. Oh, and the wide selection of gin and tonics is a refreshing kick against all of those bright flavors.
Cata, 245 Bowery (between Stanton and Prince streets); 212-505-2282.
Dimes
Take your Bay Area-friend here (you know, the gluten-free, dairy-free, veggie-tastic one), when they come to visit. The cuisine is healthy and creative, like spiced quinoa with eggplant and chickpeas, or braised chicken with lemon-apricot couscous. New York can do that ultra-fresh thing, too, you know.
Dimes, 143 Division Street (between Orchard and Ludlow streets); 212-240-9410.
The Fat Radish
You don't have to fight about where to eat: The Fat Radish is great for the vegetarians, but placates the carnivores with a killer bacon cheeseburger and pork chop. Your group will also agree on the gorgeously bright, all-white space, which perfectly complements the delicious food.
The Fat Radish, 17 Orchard Street (between Hester and Canal streets); 212-300-4053.
Mission Cantina
The bold blue and red exterior at this corner spot makes way for bright, colorful, neon lights. The playfulness keeps right on coming with Mission's "whimsical" Mexican cuisine, which features slight Asian touches. The tacos are inventive, but the shared plates are even more experimental, like smoked pork jowl with peanuts and fried lime leaves, or a three-egg omelette with sea urchin.
Mission Cantina, 172 Orchard Street (at Stanton Street); 212-254-2233.
Kuma Inn
If you hate sharing, Kuma Inn is not the place for you. The menu is 100% tapas, with chef King Phojanakong pulling culinary inspo (and talent) from his Filipino mother and Thai father. The small plates are a good way to get to know these flavors, with fan favorites like the drunken spicy shrimp with sake and baby octopus with bamboo shoots. Oh, and it's BYOB. You don't have to share that part, if you don't want.
Kuma Inn, 113 Ludlow Street (between Delancey and Rivington streets); 212-353-8866.
Louie & Chan
Of all the culinary mashups, Italian and Chinese? Louie & Chan pulls it off, with an Italian restaurant upstairs and a Chinese lounge/club downstairs. The food is pasta and pizza with special little details, like shelled clams and lemon zest, or kale and guanciale. The fun continues with Chinese cocktails — the signature Chan's Tonic contains 14 herbal ingredients that are infused for a year before hitting your glass.
Louie & Chan, 303 Broome Street (at Forsyth Street); 212-837-2816.
The Leadbelly
The place somewhat resembles the basement of your college dorm, but you can use that as an excuse to get college-style tipsy. There's an epic cocktail list, featuring liqueurs you're never even heard of, plus lots of yummy little plates of cheeses and baba ghanoush. You know, for when you get the late-night munchies.
The Leadbelly, 14 Orchard Street (at Canal Street); 646-596-9142.
Thelma on Clinton
Chef Melissa O'Donnell opened Salt Bar in this locale in 2003, and closed it at the decade mark to rebrand. Her newly reinvented space is Thelma on Clinton, and it aims to "reflect the diversity of the Lower East Side." What's that look like? A sort of French-Asian-American fusion, like a soy-poached chicken with bok choy, or smoked duck breast with a dried fruit compote. Very cool, and very yummy.
Thelma on Clinton, 29A Clinton Street (between East Houston and Stanton streets); 212-979-8471.
Taquitoria
If the only time you’ve ever actually had a taquito is off one of those little rollers at 7-Eleven, prepare to be delighted. With these little Mexican meat roll-ups, you pick a filling, pick a cheese, eat, and repeat, as they're five for $8. Consider it a simple and delicious cheap eat.
Taquitoria, 168 Ludlow Street (at Stanton Street); 212-780-0121.
Fung Tu
Here you’ll find extremely high-end Chinese-American food from Jonathan Wu, a chef whose last stop was at Per Se — so, there's a bit of a French twist, as well. To wit, we recommend trying his take on gnocchi: a new menu item for spring which features house-made ricotta and white dofu ru, an age-fermented bean curd. Feeling noncommittal? The $65 six-course tasting menu is a nice way to sample a bit of everything that makes this spot so interesting.
Fung Tu, 22 Orchard Street (between Hester and Canal streets); 212-219-8785.
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