Best Food and Restaurants in New York City USA – Quick Overview for Singapore Travellers
If you are planning a trip and searching for the Best Food and Restaurants in New York City USA, expect an incredibly diverse scene: world-class Michelin fine dining, iconic New York pizza, bagels, halal carts and neighbourhood gems packed into a compact, walkable city. From a Singapore perspective, NYC feels a bit like combining Orchard Road, Tiong Bahru and Jalan Besar into one massive, vertical food playground – but with stronger tipping culture and longer walking distances.
This article is a focused Homejourney cluster guide that complements our main New York City pillar, "Complete Guide to Things to Do in New York City (NYC) – Homejourney Travel & Property Insight" Complete Guide to Things to Do in New York City (NYC) – Homejourney Travel & Pro... . Here we go deep on food and restaurant choices, with practical tips tailored to Singapore travellers, expats and investors who may later consider Singapore property via Homejourney.
How New York City’s Food Scene Works (Especially for Singaporeans)
New York City’s food culture is built around a few key ideas: eating late, strong bar culture, big portions, and very clear tipping expectations. Many top restaurants require reservations weeks in advance, similar to trying to book a popular omakase in Singapore on a Friday night.
For Singapore travellers, the biggest adjustments are: 15–20% tipping added on top of prices, larger serving sizes (you can often share mains), and much more reliance on walking and subway compared to hopping between malls and hawker centres. Prices at high-end Manhattan restaurants are roughly comparable to or higher than premium spots in Marina Bay and Orchard.
Iconic Fine Dining in New York City
If you are used to Singapore’s fine-dining scene at Marina Bay Sands, Dempsey or Raffles Place, New York City offers a similar – often more intense – version, especially around Midtown and Flatiron.
1. Eleven Madison Park – Plant-Based Fine Dining Landmark
Location: 11 Madison Ave, Flatiron (about 5–10 minutes’ walk from Flatiron Building).
Style: High-end, tasting menu, modern plant-based cuisine.
Experience: Eleven Madison Park is a globally recognised fine dining restaurant overlooking Madison Square Park, known for its elegant, multi-course tasting menu and minimalist, seasonal creations.[4]
For Singapore diners familiar with tasting menus at Odette or Les Amis, expect an equally choreographed experience, with strong attention to service and table-side elements. Book at least 1–2 months ahead for prime dinner slots, and budget at least a few hundred USD per person before tax and tip.
2. The Modern – Refined Dining Inside MoMA
Location: Inside the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Midtown Manhattan.
Style: Contemporary American, prix fixe and tasting menus.
Why go: The Modern offers Michelin-starred contemporary American cuisine with a view over MoMA’s sculpture garden, making it a strong choice if you plan a museum day plus lunch or dinner in one stop.[2] It features multi-course prix fixe lunches and tasting menus, with polished yet playful plates and a sleek dining room.
Comparable to combining National Gallery + fine dining in Singapore, The Modern lets you efficiently plan a culture-plus-food day. For Singapore travellers with limited time in NYC, pairing MoMA and The Modern is both logistically convenient and high-value from a “experience per hour” perspective.
Classic New York Eats: Pizza, Bagels and Street Food
No guide to the Best Food and Restaurants in New York City USA is complete without the affordable icons. These can easily fit between sightseeing at major Manhattan attractions and other things to do NYC.
New York Pizza – Fast, Filling, Everywhere
New York pizza is the fast, reliable equivalent of grabbing chicken rice or nasi lemak in Singapore – you can find a slice near almost any subway stop. A few well-known favourites frequently recommended by food writers include Lucali, Di Fara Pizza and other long-standing Brooklyn institutions, plus more central Midtown slice shops.[1]
For Singapore travellers:
- Expect to pay USD 3–6 per slice in Manhattan, more for gourmet toppings.
- Ordering by the slice is normal – you don’t need a whole pie unless you’re sharing.
- Most places are walk-in and turnover is fast; great for a quick lunch between attractions.
Bagels – The New York Breakfast Essential
Like kaya toast and kopi in Singapore, New York bagels are a daily habit for many locals. You will find them around most busy neighbourhoods and near office areas. A typical bagel with cream cheese costs around USD 3–6, while salmon and more elaborate toppings can go above USD 10.
Insider tip from a Singaporean who has done multiple NYC work trips: weekday mornings before 9am can come with long queues in business-heavy districts (similar to CBD kopitiams), so plan 10–15 minutes extra if you have a timed attraction or meeting.
Halal Carts and Street Food
Around Midtown, especially near major offices and tourist spots, halal carts offering rice plates and gyros are extremely popular. They are one of the fastest, most filling and relatively budget-friendly options – think of them as the NYC equivalent of a solid hawker rice stall, but on the street.
Many Singapore travellers appreciate halal carts because you can customise spice and sauce, and portions are big enough to share. Expect around USD 8–13 for a rice platter. Do check hygiene visually (cleanliness of cart area, food storage) and choose the more popular carts with a steady queue.
Neighbourhood Food Highlights Around Key Manhattan Attractions
To maximise time, it helps to cluster your meals around popular Manhattan attractions and other things to do NYC. Here is how many Singapore visitors typically plan their days.
Midtown & Times Square Area
If you are visiting Times Square, Broadway shows or Fifth Avenue shopping:
- Pre-show dinner: Choose a sit-down restaurant 1–1.5 hours before curtain time. Many theatre-goers dine around 5–6 pm.
- Post-show bite: Diners and pizza slices around Times Square are open late; great if you are jet-lagged coming from Singapore.
- Nearby fine dining: The Modern at MoMA is one subway stop or a short walk from many Midtown hotels.[2]
Flatiron & Madison Square Park
This area mixes iconic buildings, casual eats and serious dining:
- Combine a visit to Flatiron Building and Madison Square Park with a long lunch at Eleven Madison Park for a special occasion.[4]
- Nearby casual spots include burger chains and fast-casual salad places if you want something quicker and cheaper.
SoHo, Greenwich Village and East Village
These neighbourhoods are popular for brunch, coffee and more experimental or independent restaurants. If you enjoy areas like Tiong Bahru or Joo Chiat in Singapore for their café culture, SoHo and the Village will feel familiar – but more crowded and stretched over bigger walking distances.
Budgeting and Money Tips for Singapore Travellers
For USA travel and NYC tourism, food is often one of the largest variable costs. Singapore travellers should plan for higher daily food budgets than in Tokyo or Taipei, especially if mixing in one or two fine-dining meals.
- Everyday meals: USD 15–25 per person for a casual lunch or dinner (including tax and tip) if you choose simple sit-down places or fast-casual chains.
- Mid-range restaurants: USD 40–70 per person with a main, shared appetisers and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Fine dining: Several hundred USD per person at places like Eleven Madison Park or The Modern, excluding wine.[2][4]
If you are planning longer stays and are already thinking ahead about investing in property – either in NYC or Singapore – tracking your daily spending will also help you benchmark cost of living between cities.
Safety, Booking and Dietary Considerations
Homejourney prioritises safety and trust, and this extends to international travel guidance. While New York’s food scene is impressive, it is important to approach it with the same due diligence you would use for viewing a resale flat or new launch project.
- Reservations:
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