Must-Visit New York City Restaurants that Don’t Take Reservations
Come on up to the countertop restaurants of Chelsea
Despite being known as one of New York City’s swankiest neighborhoods, Chelsea was once filled with factories and warehouses, meaning the culinary traditions of the neighborhood have more humble roots.
Even Chelsea Market, which we know today as one of the best indoor food halls in the world, was built in a converted biscuit factory. Get to know the walk-in only restaurants of Chelsea that have fed the neighborhood through the decades.
Chelsea Market
You can’t talk about impromptu dining in Chelsea without mentioning Chelsea Market. Whether you’ve planned a morning around sampling every food stall or are just popping in for a quick bite, Chelsea Market delivers a variety of options from dozens of New York City’s best restaurants.
Los Tacos No.1 and Los Mariscos are widely regarded as having some of NYC’s best tacos, and Very Fresh Noodles offers some of the best beef noodle soup outside of Chinatown or Flushing. There are several bakeries, plus a number of places to pick up pasta, cheese, or other small grocery items to take with you for a picnic.
Salumeria Biellese Delicatessen
For those who want to try the classics, Salumeria Biellese is a must-visit. It’s a no-frills, walk in and order at the counter type spot that has been serving up delicious cured meats since 1925. You can grab a classic sandwich with their house-cured pork guanciale, or even a pasta with red “gravy” (think: marinara sauce) at lunch. If you’re visiting (the city, or the neighborhood) and looking for a true New York food experience in Chelsea, look no further.
Jun-Men Ramen Bar
Chelsea restaurant Jun-Men offers guests a selection of buns, ramen, sake, and beer in a casual but squeaky clean space with only communal seating. Their selection of ramen ranges from spicy pork bone to uni mushroom with truffle, plus several chicken options which are somewhat rare in New York’s ramen scene.
The food is quick and they’re open for lunch and dinner, meaning this restaurant is a great one to have in your back pocket if you’re in a pinch in Chelsea.
Sullivan Street Bakery and Pizza
Sugarfish
Just a short walk from Chelsea in the Flatiron, you’ll find Sugarfish, serving sushi dinners on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to have your whole party with you to be seated and you’ll be able to enjoy Nozawa-style sushi sets plus a selection of hand rolls and sashimi.
Sugarfish is hyper focused on fish freshness and preparation. The price point is on the higher end for sushi restaurants, but is perfect in a pinch when you want to know you’ll be getting something of the highest quality.
Walk around the West and East Villages
The West Village is known for hard-to-get reservations, so walk-in only options can be a lifesaver. The same can be said of her sister neighborhood to the east. But, just because they don’t all take reservations doesn’t mean it’ll be easy to get in.
There may be some queueing involved, but we’ve rounded up some can’t miss restaurants from the villages. Compared to the casual restaurants we highlighted in Chelsea, these next walk-ups are a bit nicer for when you’re looking for a last minute splurge.
Via Carota (West Village)
Via Carota is a beloved culinary institution with what we’d call a limited reservation policy. They release a few bookings 30 days in advance, but encourage guests to walk-in. This restaurant is adored by visitors and professional critics alike, including René Redzepi, who owns and operates the world’s best restaurant, Noma. All of this to say, it’s very good and very worth the wait.
Fiaschetteria “Pistoia” (West Village and East Village)
If you're looking for a more traditional Italian, just across downtown you’ll find a perfect place to eat pasta. The owners are from Tuscany, and serve up fresh pasta dishes daily to a crowd of mostly walk-ins. They have a stellar offering of Italian wines to pair with pappardelle al ragu and cacio e pepe with hand-rolled spaghetti. You can finish off a bottle of wine (or two) with a red wine poached pear or a tiramisu that is absolutely to die for.
Thursday Kitchen (East Village)
The other neighborhood with ‘East’ in the name
The Lower East Side has quickly become the hip little sister to all of its surrounding neighborhoods. There’s a booming culinary scene, an intensely cool bar scene, and plenty of competition looking to snag the table you want for dinner. Luckily, you can be rewarded for your patience at these standout spots.
Le French Diner (LES)
Nestled in a skinny space on the Lower East Side, Le French Diner has fewer than 20 seats (most of which are at the bar), making it one of the more exclusive spots on this list. Their online presence is slim, lending to the feeling that you need to know someone who knows someone to hear about it.
Kiki's (LES)
Kiki’s is always busy, and for good reason. Everyone loves Greek food, and everyone loves to have fun, so this buzzy restaurant on Division Street is a great bet for a lively date night or to please a crowd. Don’t let the outside sign fool you, this place is Greek through and through. Wash down a whole branzino from the grill with a plate of Moussaka, Imam baildi, and garidomakaronada (if you can say it).
Kiki’s is a good place to eat, and a great place to hang out. Google’s question and answer feature says it loud and clear: “They do not take reservations, you just show up and hope for the best.”
Across the bridge, to Brooklyn
If you’re visiting the city, heading across the river to Brooklyn for dinner is a must-do. If you live in New York City, it is even more essential (if you haven’t moved there already). There is so much good food in Brooklyn, with more walk-in options than Manhattan, that we’re hard pressed to pick just a few. We’ll start simple with a few in North Brooklyn that will whet your appetite for exploring the borough across the river.
St. Anselm (Williamsburg)
Bernie's
Bernie’s is somewhat of a neighborhood institution. On any nice day, you’ll see families and young couples lining the corner around the entrance praying for a table on the sidewalk. The food is comforting through and through: double-patty burgers with American cheese, XL mozzarella sticks, baked clams, and generous baskets of fries. Go early and come hungry (but not so hungry you can’t wait a little while).
Taqueria Ramirez (Greenpoint)
Ops (Bushwick)
Heading a little deeper into Brooklyn you’ll find Ops, a small restaurant that has gained a lot of attention for their wood-fired pizza. Half of their tables are available for walk-in only, which means with a little patience you can dine on their cicero “many onion” pizza or rojo with mortadella and pickled peppers.
They offer some classic pizzas, and some more inventive options that still maintain a distinct New York-y flavor profile. The wine list is long and excellent. This is the type of restaurant you’ll wish was your neighbor.
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