Now on Resy: Zaab Zaab Queens, BLVD Bistro, Pylos, and More Local Favorites

The original Zaab Zaab wowed diners and critics alike with its undiluted and offal-y vision of Thailand’s northeastern Isan cuisine, and the trek to Elmhurst (if you live far) is still absolutely worth it, in case you were wondering. There’s a reason why everyone waxes poetic about the larb ped udon with duck, but don’t sleep on the hor mok (sticky rice dumplings filled with catfish or pork belly) and “crying tiger” sliced rib-eye either.

A standby Harlem bistro where the soul food shines, BLVD is a husband-and-wife venture that’s always a good time. Do drop by the weekend for their next-level specials (the “ultimate” grilled cheese is something else), but know that BLVD is pretty much foolproof — chef-owner and Mississippi native Carlos Swepson puts a lot of love and care into his food, and it shows.

One of Manhattan’s leading Greek restaurants since it opened in 2003, Pylos always satisfies. Go heavy on the mezethes, like the near-perfect vegetarian moussaka, grilled halloumi with Greek grappa, and the fried zucchini and eggplant. And don’t forget to look up: The beautifully entrancing clay plots were all made by teenagers, though a nonprofit that taught them the art of pottery.

Because Chalong, named after a district in Phuket, adds to Ninth Avenue’s excellent stretch of Thai restaurants with a focus on seafood and Southern Thai cuisine. Find love in the jar pu (fried crabmeat rolls wrapped in silky tofu skin), oxtail soup, and one killer crab curry — the chef-owners are Fish Cheeks and Soothr alums, so if you’re curious about another facet of Thai cuisine, run, don’t walk.

Hailed in the Upper West Side (and beyond) for its incredible margaritas, Santa Fe is a proper family-run gem going four decades strong. Don’t skip the tortilla soup and any of the tacos, and pay close attention whenever there’s a mention of chef José Gonzáles’ specials.

It’s simple: You’re here for the expertly fired thin crust pies, that shatter and satisfyingly crackle with every bite. Pro tip: Lots of people swear by the plain Margherita pie, which is free during happy hour (daily from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.) with any pitcher of beer or bottle of wine.

This Alphabet City stalwart for traditional Serbian cuisine can’t be beat, whether for its charming hospitality, comforting fare, and excellent wine selection highlighting varieties from Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia. Our personal favorites? The zeljanica (spinach pie) to start, shopska salad to share, anything from the grill section, and a hearty svinjsca plecka (braised pork shoulder). Pro tip: Do note it’s cash only.

A near-platonic ideal of a bistro, Manny’s hits the mark when it comes to French classics (steak frites, onion soup, escargots). But more than that, it’s got the genuine warmth and hospitality we all crave from a treasured neighborhood spot — you may even catch the owner, Manny Colon, serenading diners from time to time.

You’re going to want to head to this cozy little bistro for Portuguese specialties: Leitao excels in meaty street-style sandwiches, piri piri chicken, and a Porto specialty called the francesinha, a must-order melted cheese and steak sandwich dripping in a savory tomato and beer sauce. Don’t skip the wines (the list veers organic and natural) or dessert — this is the place to get pasteis de nata.

Cozy, inviting, and inspired by turn-of-the-century New York, this Lower East Side tavern (located within the site of a former tenement building) leans into hearty, comforting fare like rabbit pie and liver mousse, and spirit-forward cocktails.

If you ever wondered what the court of China’s Qing dynasty used to feast on, look no further: Chai delves into Beijing’s culinary traditions for its singular menu, and you’re going to want to make room for a treasure trove of specialties like a seafood bisque of abalone and beef tendon, duck rolls, and a steamed fish in golden soup.

If you’re thinking of the same Farm to People that delivers ethical groceries to New Yorkers, you’re not far off: This is their lofty restaurant in Bushwick, where mutton meatballs, a sumac-spiced smashed burger, Narragansett burrata, and the like are all sourced from the 150 farms they work with, almost all within a 300-mile radius of New York. Now that’s local.

A basement-level bar with a boozy take on Disney’s Dole Whip (get it, it’s good), Lullaby is a Lower East Side hot spot that toes the line between serious cocktail den and very fun dance party. Do drop in when the DJs spin records, three times a week.

Because Carla sits pretty in Hell’s Kitchen, just like its Long Island City sibling, with its neon and floral accents and dripping chandeliers. Keep this modern Mexican stunner in mind for group hangouts and catchups, where you’ll always want to start with an order of their impeccable wings.

With white tablecloths, a perfect FiDi location, and a four-foot-long pepper grinder (ask for fresh pepper and you shall receive), Antica Ristorante comes from two industry vets who dole out spruced-up Italian classics, from grilled calamari to lobster ravioli. Don’t overlook the complimentary fried zucchini petals — they’re mighty tasty.

Executive chef Shenarri “Greens” Freeman has accomplished the seemingly impossible: a next-level Southern and soul food vegan concept. As part of Ravi DeRossi’s Overthrow Hospitality revamp, Cadence is the culmination of Freeman’s love affair with plant-based cuisine, and her plates — smoked grits, jerk mac ‘n’ cheese, lasagna, and the usual suspects — are something else.

There’s lots to love within Alex Stupak’s ambitious bi-level flagship restaurant, from the excellent margaritas to the crab nachos. But as anyone will tell you: This is absolutely not the place to skip dessert — Stupak was the pastry chef at wd~50 and Alinea, after all.

Book Empellón Taqueria in the West Village and Waterline Square.

Shanghainese classics aside from xialongbao finally get their rightful due at this stunning restaurant on Saint Mark’s Place where you can feast on wine-soaked crab, crispy eel in sweet-and-sour sauce, and sea urchin egg tofu stew, among other thrilling delicacies.

A cushy little bistro with brick walls and plush seats, Avant Garden was James Beard-nominated restaurateur Ravi DeRossi’s first foray into plant-based dining (his portfolio has grown quite a lot since then). Luckily for everyone, the original still sings: longtime favorites include the cremini mushroom toast, the scorched cauliflower, and the reimagined and artfully plated paella.

Picture a moody wine bar where natural wines are sipped alongside platefuls of handmade pasta. Now picture it again, but make it vegan. Not convinced? Then you haven’t been to a Ravi DeRossi venture. The restaurateur, known for his chorus of vegan restaurants in the East Village, turns everything he touches into meat-free gold, and Soda Club — freshly Michelin-approved — is not one to miss.

In the Ninth Avenue stretch of excellent Thai restaurants dotting Hell’s Kitchen, LumLum brilliantly stands out. Perhaps it’s because sisters (and owners) Sommy and Mo Hensawang grew up watching the matriarchs in their family run a cherished seafood restaurant back in their hometown in central Thailand. Regardless, they’ve brought over some of those recipes and hard-to-source ingredients here, within a fun beachy setting (Beach Boys playlist included), and you’re not going to want to miss the tiger prawns or the squid ink soup.

Named for his daughter, Amrit Pal Singh’s Angel is arguably one of the best Indian restaurants in a neighborhood known for its array of Indian spots. Singh, a veteran of Adda, doles out the homestyle dishes that resemble what his mom would cook for him when he grew up in Northern India, near Punjab. Pro tip: Do order the dum biryani, housemade paneer, and the lotus root kofta.

Because this is Manhattan’s favorite late-night bistro, which feeds a crowd of nighttime revelers the canon of French bistro fare (escargots, croque monsieur, and the like) until 4 a.m. every Friday and Saturday night. Yes, you read that right.

The original outpost of the see-and-be-seen spot, La Esquina in Soho gathers a downtown crowd over always-satisfying elotes, taquitos, and queso fundido, day and night. But as the clock inches closer to midnight, try heading past the kitchen downstairs, for the subterranean party that awaits on weekend nights.

Book the Uptown and Midtown locations.

If a 7-train ride to Flushing isn’t in the cards, hit up St. Marks instead: Szechuan Mountain House has graced Manhattan with its intoxicating cuisine, where Sichuan peppercorns perfume the air. Most everything comes laden with the prized ruby-red chiles, and you’ll find regulars and newcomers alike getting teary-eyed over a heady fish stew. Pro tip: Always start with the pork belly with chile, where paper-thin slices of meat and cucumber are strung up like sheets on a clothesline.

Rooted in British pub culture, Jones Wood Foundry is a handsome wood-clad restaurant that knows its way around a Sunday roast. Come for the gastropub fare (fish and chips, Scotch eggs, shepherd’s pie), stay for the Premier League games, and know that Jones Wood Foundry makes a proper English breakfast should you be craving it, on weekends only. Pro tip: The secluded patio is lovely, head there on sunny days.

Chef-owner Jay Zheng applies a thoughtful approach to kaiseki at this Astoria gem, sometimes even introducing a few subtle influences from his own Chinese American heritage, too. The kaiseki-inspired omakase at Koyo always changes seasonally, and it also includes a sushi course.

Come for the curry and the ramen (including an excellent vegetarian option!) at Wanpaku; stay for the craft cocktails lurking behind the door in the back. There’s something infinitely comforting about this dual concept Greenpoint gem that keeps locals and visitors alike coming back.

Tom Colicchio’s flagship restaurant was a standout for its accessible and refined approach to seasonal New American cooking when it first opened in 2001 and even after all these years it still is, no doubt about it. You can’t go wrong with whatever you decide to order, but we must say, the mushrooms are a non-negotiable.

If you don’t think a chain restaurant can make you rethink tandoori chicken, think again. Born in New Delhi and exported to New York, Moti Mahal Delux stuns with its Mughlai cuisine (flecked with Persian and Muslim influences) and exceptional takes on the usual suspects — the butter and tandoori chicken are required ordering, as is the daal makhani (read: next-level lentils stirred in home churned butter).

Building an entire restaurant concept on fried rice may seem bold, but one bite into Fan Fried Rice Bar’s eponymous main dish and you’ll wonder why it hadn’t been done here before. You have chef-owner Paul Chen to thank, who remixes the fried rice specialty shops of his hometown of Taipei at this Williamsburg haunt, where fluffy grains of wok-tossed rice are studded with Taiwanese flavors (see the excellent bone-in pork chop version) and New York tastes (the unmissable pastrami). Pro tip: Do yourself a favor and always get the night market-inspired sausages as a side.