Travel 1 minute 29 March 2024

The MICHELIN Guide's Take on Food Trends in New York City

From haute (and hot) Indian cuisine to unrivaled views with eats to match, these are the culinary moments sweeping Manhattan.

New York City by The MICHELIN Guide

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New York is the city that never sleeps—it’s always reinventing itself. From fashion and film, books to Broadway, New York doesn’t follow trends—it sets them.

Whether they’re wandering through Williamsburg, meandering around Midtown, or scoping out Staten Island, our MICHELIN Inspectors spend their days and nights dining across New York. They have a pulse on the city’s restaurant trends, and while some are just a flash in the pan, we think these trends here to stay.



Indian cuisine is hot 

And we don’t mean spicy (though if you’re craving spice, these restaurants won’t disappoint). Indian restaurants are expanding their breadth, from casual to fine dining,, and food lovers are taking notice. No longer relegated to quick date night spots with a curry-in-a-hurry style, these restaurants are sophisticated and nuanced.  Semma, in the West Village,  was the first Indian restaurant to receive One MICHELIN Star in New York.

Check out some of our favorite good-value Bibs Gourmands Indian restaurants in the city, plus one that’s just a MetroNorth train ride away, like Cardamom, Chutney Masala, Dhamaka, and RaaSa.

See all Indian restaurants in New York here.

Cardamom / Adam Friedlander
Cardamom / Adam Friedlander

Skyline views are cool

From the top of the Rock to the Empire State Building, New York is known for picture-perfect views, but these three restaurants offer some of the best vantage points. From its perch in a landmark 60-story tower at 70 Pine Street in the Financial District, two MICHELIN Star Saga is one such spot. Sip an aperitif on the open-air balcony before settling into the elegant dining room where the kitchen delivers cuisine as impressive as the views. Manhatta rises over downtown from its prized position. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame iconic views of the city skyline and river while Chef Justin Bogle does wonders with global ingredients and creative dishes. Finally, head over to Hudson Yards, home to the highest outdoor observatory in the western hemisphere and pull up a chair at Peak. Take in the views of lower Manhattan and New Jersey from this stunner in one of New York’s most exciting developments in recent decades.

Evan Sung / Alex Staniloff
Evan Sung / Alex Staniloff

Middle Eastern is top of mind

Shmoné has grabbed the spotlight of late, and in large part due to its One MICHELIN Star, awarded in 2023—but this Israeli restaurant isn’t the only one getting attention. From food trucks and fast casual spots to sit-down restaurants across the city, Middle Eastern is everywhere. Some of our favorites include the OG Balaboosta, Dagon, where the breads, and the short rib tagine can’t be missed, and Kubeh, where chef-owner Melanie Shurka learned the art of making the namesake dumplings from women of Kurdish, Iranian, and Syrian descent.

Quentin Bacon / Teddy Wolff
Quentin Bacon / Teddy Wolff

Fermentation is brewing

No longer relegated to kombucha or kimchi, fermentation is everywhere now—o much so that restaurants have started hiring specifically for that purpose. Three MICHELIN Star Eleven Madison Park has a fermentation sous chef. Chef Hooni Kim’s restaurant One MICHELIN Star Meju, named for fermented soybean paste, is so passionate about fermentation that he bases most, if not all, of his menu on it.

View some of our top Korean restaurants in New York here.

Evan Sung / Diane Kang
Evan Sung / Diane Kang

Hero image: Evan Sung

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