Brandon Hayes—the food obsessive behind @nyc_cheatdayking—shared his recs for "fine dining, must-have street food, and everything in between." The resulting list "represents just how diverse New York City is," says Hayes.
Less"If you’re looking for a local soul food spot, visit Vibes restaurant in Queens. They’re infamous for their turkey legs, mac and cheese, and red velvet chicken and waffles. Their Rasta pasta is perfect if you love creamy Alfredo with a kick!"
"Kokomo is a beautiful Caribbean restaurant in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Their chicken and waffles topped with plantains is a brunch staple. The drinks are amazing! They have a signature drink called the 'Ducky Wine,' a small rubber ducky in a tub of rum. Their oxtail poutine is amazing and can be accompanied by a rum tree. Yes, a rum tree! That’s an assortment of four different rum beverages hanging from a cocktail tower."
"If you’re in Manhattan and looking to spend good money on seafood and steak, look no further than Brooklyn Chop. This Asian fusion restaurant has everything from a 3pm Porterhouse steak to hamburger dumplings. Their sirloin steak is so tender and the gravy that accompanies it is rich and savory. My personal fave is the ginger beef and noodles. There’s nothing too fancy about it. It’s just good ole sauce, beef and noodles that always keeps me coming back for more."
"Co-owned by my favorite rapper Nas, Sweet Chick is my favorite chicken-and-waffle spot in NYC. It’s comfort food at its best at a moderate price. The waffles have a soft inside with a crispy exterior. I could munch on these all day! The chicken is well seasoned, fried to perfection, and each tender piece melts in your mouth with every bite."
"I have a serious sweet tooth, and if you’re in East New York and a looking for a refreshing treat, you have to check out Island Pops. They’re a Black-owned ice cream store that has a ton of Caribbean flavors like sorrel, rum sorbet, nutmeg, passion fruit cake, and my personal fave, coconut. I also love their lemon-lime-basil, guava, and mango popsicles. Their shop is packed with tropical flavors that will make it feel like summer all year long."
"Pretty new to the scene, this women-owned restaurant grew in popularity very quickly. Designed like a burger parlor, this place gives me a nostalgic feel and transports me back to the Grease era. Juicy and packed with flavor, their burgers are superb! They also have a variety of milkshakes, and my fave is their red velvet with red velvet crumbles. Well worth the trip to Harlem!"
"Peaches has amazing comfort food. My favorite menu combination is their fried chicken with collard greens and mac-and-cheese. The food is so good I feel like I’m eating at my mom’s house. They don’t do much advertising because they don’t need to. The food speaks for itself, and the word-of-mouth marketing about how good their food is keeps this place thriving."
"Another women-owned restaurant new to the scene is Pig & Butter on the Lower East Side. Their specialty is comfort food but with a twist. They have a chicken pancake sandwich that’s amazing, and their “Conductor” sandwich, which is fried chicken on cornbread with candied bacon, maple syrup, and eggs, gets the chef’s kiss!"