The Best Jewish Food in NYC, According to a Jewish New Yorker
Malka
As a Jewish New Yorker, food is always top of mind—at home, it revolves around cooking and preparing for the next Shabbat or holiday meal, and on the streets of New York City, the world of Jewish food exists vastly in the form of delicatessens, bakeries, lox counters, and steakhouses. In a city with such strong ties to Jewish heritage—namely the Lower East Side where Jewish immigrants settled in the early 1900s, and pockets of Brooklyn, home to one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities in the world—it’s no secret that some of the city’s best and most nourishing bites have deep historical ties to Jewish culture, with influence from Eastern Europe, Morocco, Israel, and everywhere in between.
Hanukkah is around the corner, and this year, the eight-night Festival of Lights coincides with Christmas Day and New Years. In other words, there’s never been a better time to celebrate this holiday and take advantage of New York City’s Jewish food offerings. These are the most quintessential Jewish and Jew-ish spots to visit this holiday season, and well beyond, no matter what holiday you celebrate.
Gertrude’s
605 Carlton Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
The “older sister” restaurant to Gertie’s, this new Brooklyn spot brings a young spirit to Jew-ish staples, including latkes with crème fraîche and trout roe, babka french toast, and brisket hash. Aside from Getrude's brunch menu, dinner offerings resemble those of a neighborhood European bistro with dishes like steak au poivre and a cheeseburger on a toasted challah roll (hence the Jew-ish). Oh, and don’t miss the Black & White Seven Layer Cake, a mashup of two classic Jewish desserts: black and white cookies and seven-layer cake.
Michaeli Bakery
401 E 90th St, New York, NY 10128
Founded by one of the bakers behind the widely-loved Breads Bakery, Michaeli Bakery offers a more low-key atmosphere with pastries and baked goods that are equally as delicious. Unless you’ve visited the shuks (markets) in Israel, you likely have not tried anything as divine as their babka and rugelach: moist, chocolatey, slightly greasy, and dense in the best way possible. You’ll also find seasonal specials year-round with creative flavors like pistachio and hazelnut sufganiyot (Hanukkah jelly-filled donuts).
B & H Dairy
127 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
This Yiddish luncheonette dates back more than 80 years, and its small storefront welcomes diners at their historic counter for bowls of borscht, cheese blintzes, and plenty more; the only thing you will not find here is meat, as this is a strictly kosher dairy restaurant where the two cannot mix. You won’t find garnishes or fancy accompaniments here either—you get what you order, plain and simple, and you’ll leave absolutely satiated. Make sure to try their veggie-filled tuna melt, and share some fried pierogies and challah french toast for the table—or, keep it all to yourself by solo-dining on a brisk New York City morning at the counter.
Pastrami Queen
1125 Lexington Ave # 2, New York, NY 10075
Ah, the classic debate: who has the best pastrami sandwich in New York City? Among friends and family, it’s really one of those “if you know, you know” answers: Pastrami Queen, famously home to one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite pastrami sandwiches. This spot is a no-frills deli serving all the essentials—juicy sandwiches, sour pickles, crispy french fries, and a nourishing matzah ball soup that will cure all of your ailments. A word of advice: stick to the original location on the Upper East Side for the best quality and timeless atmosphere.
Malka
161 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023
Named one of our Best New Restaurants in New York City in 2024, Malka arrived as a transplant from Tel Aviv, and brought along its bold flavors and sababa (“cool”) energy along with it. Chef Eyal Shani has opened multiple Mediterranean spots around the city, but Malka hits the closest to home, with their mouth-watering lamb dishes, hummus, decadent chicken schnitzel, and freshly prepared vegetables—all cornerstones of quintessential Israeli cuisine.
Edith’s Sandwich Counter
495 Lorimer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
What started as a COVID pop-up has become a beloved spot for modern Jewish-inspired sandwiches and bites in Williamsburg—and just recently, they opened their second location in the West Village. Edith’s is best known for their iced cafe slushie with oat milk and tahini, as well as their Sephardi breakfast wrap with Malawach (a Jewish Yemenite flatbread). For a take on the classic New York City bodega breakfast, their famous latke egg and cheese sandwich will also do the trick. Either way, add on a side of “totkes,” the beautiful offspring of tater tots and latkes.
Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
A strong example of the city’s Jewish roots, Russ & Daughters was started by a Polish immigrant selling schmaltz herring in 1907 on the Lower East Side. It has evolved into a haven with some of the best lox, homemade bagels, and smoked fish dips in the country. (It even made our list of the best bagels in New York City.) There are now several locations across Brooklyn and Manhattan, but we suggest heading to the original “Russ & Daughters Appetizing” storefront on Houston street. Take a number and order a Classic Bagel & Lox Sandwich with The Works—tomato, onion, and capers.
2nd Ave Deli
162 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016
This absolute institution was founded in 1954 by a Holocaust survivor, and deserves a mention on this list not only for its food, but the tangible Jewish atmosphere inside both of its shops: there are photos and memorabilia all over its walls, a logo mimicking biblical Hebrew text, and an overflowing amount of food—notably, their unlimited pickles policy for dine-in customers. Yes, 2nd Ave Deli carries the usual deli suspects, but it’s the details here that make it such a nostalgic spot, like their famous chocolatey egg cream drink to top off your meal, invented by Jewish candyshop owner Louis Auster in the 1800s.
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
