The Resy Hit List: Where In New York You’ll Want to Eat Right Now
There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
Consider it your essential resource for dining in New York: a monthly-updated guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Five Things In NYC Not to Miss This Month
- Resolve to Dine Out: We know — it’s chilly out there — but hear us out: This is the perfect time of year to enjoy restaurants, when they’re less busy than usual and your odds for a top Resy are higher. Why not check out some of the newest openings before everyone else catches on? There’s Entre Nous, the new wine bar from the same team behind Fradei; Santi from chef Michael White (formerly of Marea and Ai Fiori); the new Upper West Side location of Pig & Khao; and Sal Tang’s, a joint venture between Cafe Spaghetti’s Sal Lamboglia and Nom Wah’s Wilson Tang. And don’t forget to stop by the newly reopened Danji in Hell’s Kitchen. Find all the latest new openings in NYC here.
- Don’t Miss These Events: One of Tokyo’s rising star sushi chefs, Masato Kimoto of Sushi Hiroya, is paying a visit to Hirohisa on Jan. 19 and 20. Kimoto is known for his knack for applying contemporary sensibilities to traditional Edomae-style sushi. And on Jan. 26, Layla is putting on a cozy British-inspired Sunday roast. That means traditional roast beef with all the sides and some satisfying small plates for sharing, best enjoyed with some beer or wine.
- Continue Those New Year Celebrations: Jan.1 may have passed but Jan. 29 heralds the start of a new lunar year, the year of the snake, and you know what that means: more opportunities to gather with loved ones for some proper feasting. Consider having a proper dim sum brunch, or embarking on a food crawl through Manhattan Chinatown or Flushing Chinatown. Toast with some sool over at Hana Makgeolli. And dig into some Vietnamese Tet specialties from Saigon Social.
- Keep It Cozy: What could be more enticing than a restaurant serving up steamy bowls of noodle soup, or one where the vibes are perpetually in that state of hygge? Well, we’ve got you covered on both fronts. Discover some of the city’s coziest noodle soups here, from lala bee hoon and phở bò to ramen and Persian herb and noodle stew. And find your new favorite après-ski (sans the ski) locales — fireplaces, snug corners, and heart-warming fare included — here.
- Raise a Glass: Whether you’re observing Dry January or not, we’ve got you covered with our guide to some of the city’s best zero-proof cocktails, and our guide to everywhere you’ll want to grab a drink this winter (with recommendations on exactly which drink to order, too). We’ve also got wine bar recs for every occasion.
New to the Hit List (January 2025)
Sunn’s, Leon’s, Blue Blossom, Mắm, Manny’s Bistro, Chrissy’s Pizza, Adda, Seoul Salon.
1. Sunn’s Chinatown
New York is blessed with a multitude of incredible Korean restaurants, but the dishes at this tiny Chinatown spot are truly something else. Those of you lucky enough to have experienced the roving Banchan by Sunny pop-up for the past few years — which included a longtime stint at Achilles Heel — already know exactly what we’re talking about. Venerable chef Sunny Lee’s cooking is heartful and soulful, delivering a lineup of Korean dishes that blend the best of traditional Korean ingredients and recipes with contemporary influences. Now that she has a permanent home in Chinatown, we know we’ll be calling ourselves regulars at Sunn’s, vying for tastes of her refreshing Sunn’s Salad with creamy jang, eager to order the ever-rotating assortment of banchan, finishing our meal with some sesame-crusted mochi cake, and pairing it all with pours from Parcelle Chinatown.
2. Kancil Upper West Side
It’s been six long years since chef Simpson Wong has been cooking regularly in New York, and his return couldn’t come soon enough. What was once Wau, Salil Mehta’s Upper West Side ode to Southeast Asian street food, has been transformed into Kancil (pronounced kan-chil), a showcase for Wong’s take on Malaysian cuisine. Over the years, Wong has built a reputation for fusing Asian cooking traditions with greenmarket sourcing, and that’s put on full display. Puyuh goreng (fried quail) is perfectly crisp thanks to an exceedingly light rice flake crust. Lala bee hoon, a vermicelli noodle soup with fresh clams, is wholly restorative. Handmade abacus beads (taro and butternut squash dumplings with the consistency of mochi) are paired with a flavorful duxelles of fresh mushrooms. For lucky Upper West Siders, this is an ideal neighborhood gem; for those of us further afield, it’s well worth the trek.
3. Kiko Hudson Square
At first glance, Kiko doesn’t seem particularly revolutionary, but once you go, you’ll understand how it quietly changes your understanding of “New American” cuisine. Chef Alex Chang takes familiar dishes — crab hand rolls, fried chicken wings, roasted duck — and transforms them into something exemplary. Spicy crab-fat mayonnaise melts perfectly into a mixture of sushi rice and meaty chunks of Dungeness crab. Makrut lime leaf, sansho peppers, and green peppercorns enliven a crisp thrice-fried chicken wing. Succulent roast duck accompanies a satisfying nabe consisting of hand-torn noodles swimming in spicy sesame and soymilk broth. They’re all touches of a chef who doesn’t just draw from his varied experiences, but also knows how to distill the very best of them into a dish. And it doesn’t hurt that the vibes — and service — are warm and inviting, whether you want a quick solo meal at the bar or an intimate date night.
4. Cafe Rue Dix Crown Heights
Now that it’s officially cozy season, you should definitely keep Cafe Rue Dix in your rotation of cozy locales. Why? Because you’re bound to feel right at home the moment you pull up a chair at this Senegalese-French restaurant, a neighborhood staple for more than a decade. With its cozy bistro-inspired setting, and hearty mix of fare, you’re bound to leave feeling full and satisfied. Our favorite picks? A steamy platter of thiebou djeun (Senegal’s national dish of jollof rice and fish), the spicy mafe (beef stew cooked with a creamy peanut butter sauce), and steak frites, paired with some café Touba (traditional Senegalese coffee blended with spices).
5. Leon’s Union Square
When you want an all-day spot that delivers from start to finish, head here for all your breakfast, lunch, and dinner needs. The vibe is supremely cozy, the seating arrangements are comfy and spacious, and the service is warm and welcoming. The menu leans Italian, as you might expect — chef-owner Nick Anderer (Anton’s) was a driving force behind the success of Maialino and Marta back in the day — but unlike most Italian restaurants in the city, you’ll also find lovely Egyptian influences, too. That’s thanks to the restaurant’s namesake, owner Nat Johnson’s grandfather, and it truly makes dining at Leon’s a delight. Some of our favorites include the heirloom beans Alexandria served with a creamy tahina sauce and a bright salsa or peppers and tomatoes; morsels of the expertly fried eggplant boulettes; any of the pastas; and the whole roasted fish.
P.S. Through Jan. 31 from noon to 6 p.m. each day, Leon’s is offering half-priced “icebox” cocktails and sparkling wines by the glass.
6. Smithereens East Village
The heady aroma of browned butter that wafts through the air is a portent of what awaits you at this new subterranean spot from Claud alum, chef Nicholas Tamburo, and Momofuku Ko alum, Nikita Malhotra. Smithereens is a celebration of New England-style seafood, from the anadama bread served with seaweed butter (a must) to the creamy yet light hake and clams, a deconstructed version of clam chowder. Other standouts include the beets with seaweed and rose oil, with its variety of different textures; the unctuous beans with red shrimp, squid, sea urchin; and for dessert, the mind-bending celery ice cream float topped with marinated cherries and a drizzle of coffee oil. If you love white wine, Malhotra’s fondness for riesling puts you in good company; but there are other playful options, including cocktails. (Order the Ben Affleck; trust us.)
7. Blue Blossom Midtown South
If you find yourself in the mood for Chinese food that’ll surprise you (in the best way, of course), consider stopping by this new Midtown spot from the same team behind CheLi and Szechuan Mountain House. The menu is very much rooted in Chinese traditions, but it also offers a number of dishes that expertly play with conventions. Think cheese xialongbao (yes, cheese!), mashed potatoes with braised pork sauce, and tofu topped with sea urchin in a hot claypot. Don’t overlook the signature salt-baked chicken, sweet-and-sour sticky ribs, or the fish filet in sour cabbage soup, either, and come with a crowd so you can order more dishes to share.
More info here.
8. Bridges Chinatown
Over in Chinatown’s old Hop Shing space, you’ll find chef Sam Lawrence, formerly of Estela, pulling from a multitude of global influences — French, Basque, Japanese, Cantonese — to create standout dishes that are both familiar yet unique. If you love Estela, chances are very likely you’ll feel the same about Bridges. (And the crowds indicate that’s a lot of you.) Yes, the Comté tart topped with chanterelles indeed lives up to the hype, as does a delicate egg custard topped with sea urchin and shrimp. Vin jaune gelato with passionfruit is a non-negotiable. The dimly lit, sleek dining room only adds to the experience of it all.
9. ACRU West Village
While it’s only been open since October, Acru is the sort of place that feels like it’s been open for years — a testament to warm hospitality, and the assuredness of the cooking from Atomix alum Daniel Garwood’s kitchen. In keeping with their vision of bistronomie cuisine with a decidedly Australian influence (Garwood hails from Tasmania), plus Scandinavian and Korean references, Acru keeps its prices relatively affordable. (The tasting menu is $95 with two optional supplements.) Current standouts include monkfish liver pate surrounded by a spiced carrot broth, tile fish served with crisp chicken skin and a chrysanthemum sauce, and brûléed golden haytime ice cream bars. If you’re keen to dine à la carte, that’s also an option for the walk-ins-only bar.
10. Mắm Lower East Side
Photo by Ben Hon for Resy
Chefs and owners Jerald and Nhung Dao Head continue to serve some of the most heartfelt Vietnamese cooking in the city, and we can’t think of a better way to spend a winter day (or night) than gathered with friends at their Chinatown spot, sharing every single thing on the menu. Since there’s a chill in the air, they’re now serving soup-based specials like bún cá with turmeric fish noodles in a sour broth, topped with taro stems, bouncy fish cake, and tofu. Speaking of tofu, if you see it on the ever-changing menu, order it immediately; they make theirs in house, and it’s incredible. P.S. After your meal here, head down the block to Lai Rai, owned by the Heads and Tuan Bui from Di An Di, for serve natural-minded wines, Vietnamese headcheese with wood ear mushrooms, and housemade ice cream and sorbet.
Photo by Ben Hon for Resy
11. Manny’s Bistro Upper West Side
New York’s love affair with French restaurants is eternal, and Manny’s Bistro is a near-platonic ideal of a bistro. It always hits the mark when it comes to classics like trout almondine and steak frites, but more than that, it’s got the genuine warmth and hospitality we all crave from our favorite neighborhood spot. When you dine at Manny’s, even if it’s just once, you’re going to feel like you’re a part of their regular crowd. That’s in large part thanks to owner Manny Colon, who was the longtime general manager of the spot that came before it, Bistro Cassis. When Cassis closed during the pandemic, he bought the restaurant and reopened it as his own. It’s not unusual to catch Colon singing a tune in the dining room, or to catch another regular — none other than Tony Danza (yes, that Tony Danza) — serenading diners from time to time.
12. Adda Long Island City
Semma and Dhamaka may get plenty of buzz these days, and rightfully so, but Adda holds a very special place in our hearts — and stomachs. The second restaurant collaboration between chef Chintan Pandya and restaurateur Roni Mazumdar still isn’t flashy in the least bit, but unforgettable food and kind service hit all the right notes, especially on blustery winter days. The flavors of Adda’s homecooked-style dishes are anything but muted, and every dish proves memorable. Take, for instance, the fiery bheja fry (goat brains) served with butter pao bread, juicy lamb chops marinated in yogurt and garam masala, or the peppery grilled king prawns. Whatever you do, don’t sleep on the housemade paneer, and do consider ordering the Lucknow dum biryani, rich with chunks of slow-cooked goat and slicked in saffron.
13. Chrissy’s Pizza Greenpoint
One of the city’s most covetable pizzas, Chrissy’s, now has its own brick-and-mortar space where chef Chris Hansell has graduated from using his “off-brand” home oven to Moretti Forni electric ovens, popping out piping hot, classic New York-style pies. That means tangy tomato sauce, melty mozzarella, and crisp dough; you won’t find fancy sourdough starters here. There’s also an excellent vegan pie, too. The menu changes all the time, but previous pizza specials have included roasted mushrooms with chopped Calabrian chiles, and a white pie with fresh and aged mozzarella, seasoned ricotta, spicy soppressata, black pepper, and hot honey. Be sure to come here with friends — they only sell whole pies — and come hungry.
Walk-ins only.
14. Time and Tide Rose Hill
The newest restaurant from Kent Hospitality Group (Crown Shy, Saga) bills itself as a steakhouse for seafood lovers, and it certainly hits that target. Executive chef Danny Garcia and pastry chef Renata Ameni have fun playing with steakhouse tropes and seafood ingredients. There’s the gigantic goldfish cracker that really does taste like an even more buttery version of Red Lobster’s famed cheddar bay biscuits. And there’s the longfin squid charred over a binchotan grill and sauced with creamy cacio e pepe. A showstopping halibut pithivier with mushroom duxelles pairs perfectly with T&T’s housemade vin jaune cream, and grilled prawns, head on, shine when laced with a flavorful mussel butter.
15. Passerine Flatiron
There’s no shortage of incredible Indian restaurants here in New York City at this very moment, and Passerine is a welcome addition to the scene. Helmed by chef Chetan Shetty, formerly of D.C.’s Rania and New York’s Indian Accent, it continues the Indian fine dining tradition launched years ago by counterparts like Junoon, and it’s not afraid to mix in truly global influences to delicious effect. Take, for example, the scallion uttapam with aged Comté (served in the walk-ins-only drawing room), the grilled oysters topped with a savory Ajwain masala hollandaise, or the blue corn bhakri, reminiscent of handmade tortillas, served with brown butter. Our ideal order would likely include all of the above, plus savory lamb cheela, hay-smoked dayboat scallops in a coconut moilee, and the pistachio cremeux.
16. Hani’s Cooper Square
If you’ve ever loved the chocolate chunk cookies from Gramercy Tavern, or pined for the peanut-butter-and-jelly layer cake they used to serve over at the now-closed Untitled at the Whitney, you’ll definitely want to head to this new bakery from acclaimed pastry chef Miro Uskokovic and his partner, Shilpa Uskokovic. Together, they’ve put together a bakery that entwines much of their backgrounds: Russian medovik, or honey cake, something Miro grew up eating in his native Balkans, is on the menu, as are plum butter lekvar-filled rugelach. Masala chai references Shilpa’s Indian heritage. The only difficulty you might have is deciding which of the Uskovics’ treats you’ll want to purchase, but that’s what return visits are for.
Walk-ins only. More info here.
17. Nin Hao Prospect Heights
New York has been in a long-term relationship with Chinese food since the late 1800s, but for most of that time, the focus has primarily been on Cantonese and Sichaunese traditions. This newcomer upends that by putting a spotlight on Fujianese cuisine, known for its seafood dishes and complex flavors. Tender beef short ribs draw inspiration from nearby Sunset Park; seafood pancakes include “Fujianese immigrant oysters” and dried seaweed; steamed whole fish is served alongside silken tofu and pickled greens. It serves all of this against a contemporary backdrop that’s got high floor-to-ceiling glass windows draped in curtains, a 12-foot-long aquarium behind the bar, and a uniquely eclectic playlist. Another standout tidbit? The ever-rotating, guest sommelier-curated wine list.
18. SEOUL SALON NYC Koreatown
Korea’s vibrant sool jib drinking culture gets the spotlight at this restaurant from the dynamic duo behind Atoboy, Atomix, and Naro. The beauty of a spot like this is how perfectly it works for a late-night drink and a snack (do consider the Newtro Negroni or Doenjang Old Fashioned if you find yourself at the bar) or, if you prefer, get something a bit heartier, with plenty of shareable dishes for you and your crew in the dining room. We highly recommend sharing the refreshing soy scallop with gim rice, some hearty rose tteokbokki with gimmari, and the fried chicken — one of the best ways to start or end a night out.
19. Theodora Fort Greene
The list of New York City restaurants touting the magic of dry-aged fish keeps growing (we see you, Time and Tide), and over at Theodora it’s put on full display, literally. But it’s not just seafood that’s drawing crowds to this bustling spot from chef Tomer Blechman (Miss Ada). It’s also the warm, welcoming service, and the fact that the menu has a little something for everyone. Our ideal order? Anything from the crudo section of the menu, followed by za’atar kubaneh and some hummus topped with monkfish liver and ‘nduja, an order of wood-fired greens, and either one of the whole-roasted fish or the lamb. Don’t sleep on the desserts, either.
20. Dirt Candy Lower East Side
Is there anything chef-owner Amanda Cohen can’t do? She’s a pioneer of vegetable-forward cooking who’s also intent on building a better restaurant industry, and we are the beneficiaries of her talents and efforts. Every season, Dirt Candy debuts a new tasting menu, offered both in a vegetarian and vegan version, priced at $105 per person; each one is as creative as the next, from takes on chopped cheese and soup dumplings to zucchini takoyaki and a spinach millefeuille. And it’s an especially opportune time to pay a visit to this longtime New York destination because Dirt Candy is celebrating its sweet 16th birthday. In fact, we’ve got a look at some of the restaurant’s most iconic dishes from the past few years here.
