The Resy Guide to Where Chefs Get Takeout in New York

For spicy food cravings, Niche Niche owner Ariel Arce heads to her new obsession: Ayada in Chelsea Market. “Every time I’m feeling ‘eh,’ I need spicy Thai food,” she says. You can also find Ayada at its original location in Elmhurst, Queens.

NY Pizza Suprema is a revered slice shop that’s been slinging pies outside of Penn Station since 1964. It’s a regular stop for many, including Ariel Arce.

Pinto Garden chef-owner Teerawong “Yo” Nanthavatsiri swears by Wondee Siam: “My all time favorite Thai takeout since I was in college.” His absolute go-to is the mieng ka na — a lettuce wrap with dried shredded pork, and served with fresh Chinese broccoli alongside peanuts, shallots, fresh chile, ginger, and lime juice.

Han Dynasty focuses on Sichuan and Taiwanese specialties and has locations in the East Village, Upper West Side, and Downtown Brooklyn. The go-to order for Emily Hyland, founder of the Detroit-style pizza empire Pizza Loves Emily: dry pepper-style shrimp, veggie lo mein, and an extra side of spicy pickled vegetables.

New York pizza institution Joe and Pat’s also has a Staten Island headquarters; Emily Hyland keeps it classic with a large plain pie (the 16” 1960 Original) and a meatball sub.

The West Village’s temple to Tuscan fare has finally gone online, also offering its roster of antipasti and fresh pastas for takeout — the towering lasagna a sugo included. “It really needs no more hype, but the delivery from I Sodi is incredible,” says Niche Niche’s Ariel Arce.

This Greenwich Village pizzeria with outposts across the city is beloved for its large, cheesy pies sold by the slice way into the night. It’s a favorite for many, including bubbly advocate and Tokyo Record Bar owner Ariel Arce included.

“They have the temaki rolls and it’s pretty outstanding how they hold,” says Suzanne Cupps, the executive chef of the West Village’s 232 Bleecker Street, located across the street. “They’re just as delicious as they are in the restaurant.”

Fast-casual chain Taïm is known for its perfect falafels, which fill freshly-baked pitas, bowls, and salads. “I always love Taïm because I feel like I’m being healthy even though, let’s be honest, I’m not,” Ariel Arce says.

This Indian spot specializes in nizami rolls, Calcutta’s street food rolls in which flaky paratha bread envelops a variety of fillings. “TheLeWala’s chicken spicy roll is a guilty pleasure,” says Ariel Arce. “Luckily it’s right between Tokyo Record Bar and Niche Niche.”

A neighborhood go-to for roast pork and congee, Chinatown’s Big Wong also happens to be Jenny Kwak’s favorite place to get a whole Peking duck. “My family loves it,” says the chef-owner behind Park Slope’s exciting Korean restaurant, Haenyeo.

As a big fan of the heady, cumin-laced dishes of China’s Turkic minority, MáLà Project’s Amelie Ning Kang loves to order from FiDi’s Caravan Uyghur Cuisine. Her picks include the special braised chicken and vegetables in soup, and the pan-fried noodles with chives.

A Two Bridges destination and local favorite, Golden Diner is a favorite of Nowon chef-owner Jae Lee. “I always get their breakfast burrito, lemongrass avocado toast, and green tea coffee cake,” he says.

At this beloved all-day Malaysian café, don’t miss the pan mee, a brilliant noodle soup of flat, hand-pulled flour noodles in an anchovy broth topped with vegetables, minced pork, and fried anchovies. That’s the order from MáLà Project owner Amelie Ning Kang.

Everyone has their dumplings spot. For La Vara’s executive chef and owner, Alex Raij, that’d be Ming’s, her local Chinese café. “They do exceptional wonton soup and jade dumplings,” she says. “They also have the most delicious, super spicy vegetarian wrinkled string beans with fermented cabbage and radish — not to be missed, but very spicy.”

Vietnamese hotspot Saigon Social does takeout right with its fish sauce wings, glazed in nuoc mam and dotted with fried garlic and pickled jalapeños. It’s a must in Amelie Ning Kang’s Lower East Side takeout rotation.

The Greek restaurant’s namesake — the pork souvlaki pita, studded with thick salty french fries and spicy feta inside —  is a standby for Kim Hoang, the managing partner and owner of Di An Di. You can find Souvlaki GR in Midtown East and West, and in the Lower East Side.

The city’s ultimate purveyor of spice-laden fresh hand-pulled noodles has pretty much won over everyone, Di An Di’s Kim Hoang included. Head to Xi’an Famous Foods and order Hoang’s favorite, the NS1, spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles in soup.

Bessou’s Maiko Kyogoku trusts one of the oldest sushi restaurants in the city, Sunnyside’s Takesushi, where she always orders the sushi and sashimi deluxe.

Whenever Michael Schall has “a real night off,” the co-owner of Locanda Vini & Olii likes to revisit what he considers his favorite restaurant in his Jackson Heights neighborhood “and probably the city,” Mustang Thakali Kitchen, a bona fide Nepalese kitchen. He always makes sure to grab an order of momos and the goat thali plate — though he specifies his kids prefer the chicken — which he’s been eating on the regular for the past five years. “[It’s] the best dish under $15 you can find anywhere in the city.”

This Williamsburg slice joint is a regular haunt for Bessou owner Maiko Kyogoku. Her absolute favorite? The anchovies and raw onions pizza.

Cafe Alula is a cozy day-time spot serving modern Lebanese bites, where Bessou’s Maiko Kyogoku springs for the halloumi and harissa egg sandwich to eat on-the-go.

Oxomoco’s wood-fired tacos are some of the city’s best, and that’s exactly what you should be ordering from their takeout menu, according to Tomer Blechman, the chef and owner of Miss Ada. Blechman goes for the lamb barbacoa and carnitas, which you can get by way of a burrito or a first-rate DIY taco kit.

This beachy Mexican taqueria is another favorite of Emily Hyland’s. Her Tacombi picks include an order of guacamole with corn chips, corn esquites, and fish tacos served Yucatan-style with cabbage, pickled jalapeños, and dry chile salsa. See all Tacombi locations here.

There’s one place Michael Schall, the co-owner of Locanda Vini & Olii, will always go to for breakfast and that’s the Corner Grind, a Bed-Stuy stalwart, where he grabs the breakfast burrito. “It’s nothing fancy, but just has the right amount of everything: cheese, beans, and oh, that hot sauce…”

When it comes to sandwiches, Hanco’s in Boerum Hill is the spot to pick up a pitch-perfect grilled pork banh mi, which Maiko Kyogoku of Bessou recommends ordering medium spicy. Hanco’s is also serving up band mi in Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights, too.

For Vietnamese food, Suzanne Cupps of 232 Bleecker goes to Mekong. “I just can’t pass up the crispy spring rolls,” she says.

Over in Cobble Hill, Oh Dumplings is putting out incredible handmade dumplings (Miss Ada’s Tomer Blechman goes for the pork and chives) and braised beef bings, densely packed sandwiches coated with egg, scallions, and sesame seeds.

A Crown Heights favorite, Peppa’s counts Locanda’s Michael Schall as a dinnertime devotee, where he orders the jerk chicken plate with rice and beans, cabbage, and a festival (the crispy-fried food, not the party) on the side.

Don’t be afraid of spice. Alex Raij recommends Ugly Baby for its “just sensational, super spicy Thai food.”

If you’re looking for an on-point bowl, Michael Schall of Locanda Vini & Olii says you can’t go wrong with Warude’s salmon miso rice bowl in Bed-Stuy. “When we were building out Bar Camillo last year — which is right up the street — I probably had that dish at least two times a week.” The ramen is worth ordering during colder months, too.