2024 NYC Restaurant Guide

7.5 - This tiny cash-only (and Venmo) ice cream joint has 12-15 flavors made in small batches in-house, with some unique Asian-based flavors to try like Black Sesame, Taro, Vietnamese Coffee, Pandan, Durian, and more. Very solid ice cream and fun flavors to try, but quite expensive and not the best ice cream in the area. Great spot to go in if you pass by, but probably not worth seeking it out if it's not "on the way" to wherever you're going. We ordered the black sesame with taro, and loved both flavors, although wouldn't trek down there to get it again.

8.4 - One of the most popular Chinatown spots (and always crowded) since its opening in 2022, we headed to this unassuming Cantonese joint to check out if the hype was worth it. They specialize in authentic Cantonese food, with over 200 family style dishes to choose from. We went with a group of 9 and didn't have a single bad dish. Everything from the dumplings to the rice rolls, crispy garlic chicken, orange beef, pan fried noodles, shumai, sweet and sour whole fried red snapper and everything in between slapped. The quality was fantastic and the value was exceptional for what we ordered. But go in a big group or you will only be able to try 1-2 dishes, given the size. Very great bang for your buck in larger groups.

8.2 - In a city with weaker Mexican options compared to all other cuisines and many other US cities, Taqueria Ramirez found a way to stand out with their exceptional street-style no frills taco joint. Very basic menu with 5-6 different types of meat, along with a some Mexican soda staples, but they deliver on flavor! These were phenomenal and by far the best tacos we've ever had in the NYC area. It's deep in Brooklyn so may not be worth the trip if you're only in town for a few days, given Mexican is not the NYC bread and butter, but if you're craving tacos, THIS is the spot. Line is always out the door but it moves pretty quickly, although there's no room inside to eat so expect to be holding your colorful plastic plate of tacos outside on the sidewalk while the juices run down your arm.