Gu Shine in Flushing sells Chinese dishes alongside its Taiwanese items, but it's worth sifting through for a taste of a cuisine with few ambassadors in New York. More
Hangawi isn't the place for an everyday meal, to be sure, but as an occasional destination, it's a transporting treat, and one of the best places to eat in K-Town. Totally vegan to boot. More
I wasn't sure what to expect from Moldova in Midwood—before eating there I couldn't have pointed out Moldova on a map. But after eating there I want to know everything I can about the country, which I now know is sandwiched between Romania and the Ukraine. Sometimes we food obsessed people talk about beginning to understand a culture through its cuisine; that's exactly how I feel about my meal at Moldova. More
Woodside Cafe's Nepali and Newari food is unique even by Queens standards, and the menu is more than accommodating to vegetarians. More
Indian Road Cafe may just be the most north-westerly restaurant in all of Manhattan. It is literally across the street from Spuyten Duyvil Creek, separating Manhattan from the Bronx, and looking out from the restaurant provides a commanding view of the Henry Hudson Bridge. More
Lunch is the best time to eat at Spring Street Natural in Soho. You can grab a seat near one of the large windows that line the dining room and watch the busy intersection of Spring and Lafayette Streets. You can also enjoy some of their lunch-only specials, which include several vegetarian and even vegan options. More
This new Gowanus restaurant serves a sandwich that's all about balancing savory and sweet, soft and crisp. More
New York is home to hundreds of casual Italian "trattorias," and Lavagna, a restaurant in the East Village, identifies as one. It's more formal than most, fitting for a nicer dinner, but it keeps the uncomplicated, satisfying food at reasonable prices that trattorias are known for. More
This self-described "English Country Kitchen" is a new addition to Bushwick's ever-growing restaurant scene, and it comes with some pleasant vegetarian (and even vegan) surprises. More
Table Verte opened a few months ago, and though its offerings are inconsistent, it's a fully vegetarian effort at a decidedly un-vegetarian concept: the French bistro. More
Levant specializes in Jordanian cuisine, putting a less-seen take on Middle Eastern classics like falafel, eggplant, and yogurt. More
It's been a good year for vegetarian food here in New York City, where I've tasted everything from Indonesian food in Elmhurst to heirloom tomatoes in Brooklyn. Here are my ten favorite meat-free bites of 2012. More
Cold weather means bulking up and pasta's one great way to do so. We've had some great vegetarian-friendly pastas of late, and even if ingredients change with the seasons, here are ten kitchens we trust to make us a more than satisfying veg-friendly noodle. More
With winter effectively in full swing, it's time to turn our attention to a warming bowl of soup, and what a diverse subject it is, with varied flavors and textures, sometimes in the same bowl. Some are seasonal specials, and some are better served cold. Here are ten of our favorite vegetarian soups from around the city. More
'inoteca on the Lower East Side recently introduced an expanded menu, with a wide variety of pastas and other Italian-inspired entrées. Lunch may be your best time to visit, with a $15 soup and sandwich special worth ordering. More
There's nothing on the outside of Max that immediately distinguishes it from any other Italian restaurant in this city. Even upon entering, I wasn't expecting anything particularly special from this Tribeca trattoria. And yet the food was surprisingly well-prepared, red sauce classics done right. More
The dark, intimate space at La Esquina is a place to ease up and forget the anxieties of the week—and it's vegetarian-friendly, too. More
We can't deny it, Fall is finally here. The cold weather brings with it many things: seasonal vegetables like pumpkin and cauliflower; the chance to drink soups to protect against the cold; and the opportunity to indulge in some really rich and warming dishes. Here are ten great vegetarian dishes around NYC that are perfect for this weather. More
This Moroccan restaurant in Murray Hill is dominated by a large wooden bar, decorated with palm fronds. The air is redolent with spices, and the regulars greeting the staff lend the space the air of bonhomie I would expect from an ex-pat bar halfway across the world. More
What does "Nuevo Latino" cuisine man at Cabana in Midtown? Some standout arepas, vegetable fritters, and coconut-enriched stews for a start. More
A restaurant that features house-made pickles, pours craft beer, and specializes in home-style Southern food seems tailor-made for Brooklyn, but it sticks out like a sore thumb on the Upper West Side. Yet that's exactly where you'll find Jacob's Pickles, and if the crowds were any indication on the night of my visit, the West Siders are clamoring for exactly this kind of thing. More
The Himalayan food at Mustang Thakali Kitchen is very vegetarian-friendly; don't skimp on their flavorful sauces. More
Great Middle Eastern food can be a challenge to find, even in this city of immigrants. Bedouin Tent on Atlantic Avenue may not transport you to the streets of Tel Aviv or Cairo, but it's pretty darn good. More
New Orleans is well known as a food-centric town, but not so friendly towards vegetarians. Sugarfreak in Astoria has vegetarian versions of many New Orleans classics, and they stand up well to their meaty counterparts. More
Southeast Asian food is not known for being vegetarian-friendly. Many dishes contain shrimp paste, fish sauce, or they're just fried in lard. So, eating vegetarian in Southeast Asia will require some advance work. This guide should serve as a resource for any vegetarians, or just vegenthusiasts, planning to travel through Singapore and Kuala Lumpore. More
yeah, i stumbled into their place a few months ago and walked out with an amazing sourdough.
had a pretty terrible meal there the other night -- inconsistent-to-bad food, and inattentive, confused service. i think they're still trying to figure out how to run a restaurant. hope they turn things around.
i am intrigued by those fried cubes. was the dish vegetarian?
@bf - thanks for the praise. i can definitely try to include more info about vegan options, i appreciate the suggestion.
@coles - are they the same? this max shares a website with max in the east village, but max soha has its own site. even if they are the same owners, the two restaurants have very different feels, and, as you said, both are great.
@Feet2Eat - thanks! check out my other blogs for more vegetarian options!
@VegAstoria - yeah, it was that good.
@mrsdebdav - at upi jaya they use onion crackers on the vegetarian dishes. they are very considerate that way.
@Chris - love phayul, but haven't had the momo there. i'll have to check out your other recommendations.
@Jess + Garrett - the thalis with meat have much more food on the plate, if that's your thing.
@molly - thanks!
@otis - i'll take your word for it.
@jassybeans - it's true, we could have eaten more indian food but we wanted more variety. it wasn't easy finding vegetarian versions of the more popular malay foods, like laksa or even fried noodles -- most use shrimp paste or lard.
@ChiRunner - and a lot of vegetarian places don't serve onion or garlic.
@Pintchow - we had to seek it out, not every hawker center had vegetarian food.
@theotherworldly - if you click through the slideshow you'll see that we did visit ci yan, and although the food wasn't all great i agree that the old guy who runs it was definitely a fun character.
love this place, and they have great fresh mozzarella. my only complaint is that the prepackaged cheese i get there always taste flavorless, not sure why.
whoops, that's my fault. not sure why i wrote down "crudo" in my notes.
@KateN - i hope it's not a faux pas, because i always eat that too. i assume it's there to be eaten.
@salsasis14 - i don't know if it's gluten free or not, sorry.
@ruiniste - wish i'd known, that sounds great.
@DaisyNYC you're absolutely right, corrected!
@fatjerk - i went with my meat-eating friends, and was pleasantly surprised.
@Kelly - thanks for the recommendations -- i'll have to check out blue smoke.
@KateN - glad to hear i'm not the only one who got the bum cornbread.
fyi - the link on #6 is broken (not to be self-serving)
@gargupie - i agree, home-style is the way to go.
@LamRy - it was my 1st trip to astoria; i had a great time.
@Astorian - i noticed the tables outside, but it was just a bit too cold. another time.
@killatofu - yeah, sorry about that.
@Lauren Rothman - it's one of my neighborhood faves too.
@gargupie - seriously, have you been to every single restaurant in nyc?
@fascfoo - yeah, the prices are way too high for the portions.
@charm city - don't confuse "simple" with "boring".
awww, thanks guys.
well said, i feel exactly the same way.
With its rough-hewn walls, butcher block tables, and low golden light, Anella can make you wonder if Sysco sells a Romantic Brooklyn Restaurant starter kit. Yet, the food reveals a gentle care and attention to detail that can't be mass-produced. More
There's nothing on the outside of Max that immediately distinguishes it from any other Italian restaurant in this city. Even upon entering, I wasn't expecting anything particularly special from this Tribeca trattoria. And yet the food was surprisingly well-prepared, red sauce classics done right. More
Some call what comes out of the kitchen at Singapura "Asian fusion." While the dishes do draw on ingredients and preparations from a wide swatch of the continent, including India, Thailand, Malaysia, and the provinces of China home to the Hakka people, they represent, according to the menu, what's made by housewives and hawkers in Singapore. Singapura offers an excellent introduction into this multifaceted cooking culture. More
We can't deny it, Fall is finally here. The cold weather brings with it many things: seasonal vegetables like pumpkin and cauliflower; the chance to drink soups to protect against the cold; and the opportunity to indulge in some really rich and warming dishes. Here are ten great vegetarian dishes around NYC that are perfect for this weather. More
"I was on a date here last week," said the lady at the table next to ours at Alice's Arbor. We'll summarize for you: the date went well! Perhaps the couple simply had chemistry, but we think this seasonal American restaurant/grocery/cafe on the border of Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy played a big part. After all, it's a date-tastic place. More
This Moroccan restaurant in Murray Hill is dominated by a large wooden bar, decorated with palm fronds. The air is redolent with spices, and the regulars greeting the staff lend the space the air of bonhomie I would expect from an ex-pat bar halfway across the world. More
What does "Nuevo Latino" cuisine man at Cabana in Midtown? Some standout arepas, vegetable fritters, and coconut-enriched stews for a start. More
A restaurant that features house-made pickles, pours craft beer, and specializes in home-style Southern food seems tailor-made for Brooklyn, but it sticks out like a sore thumb on the Upper West Side. Yet that's exactly where you'll find Jacob's Pickles, and if the crowds were any indication on the night of my visit, the West Siders are clamoring for exactly this kind of thing. More
The Himalayan food at Mustang Thakali Kitchen is very vegetarian-friendly; don't skimp on their flavorful sauces. More
Grill 21 says it serves Asian American fusion in Gramercy. In reality this tiny, no frills spot specializes in Filipino food, and its location, on East 21st Street between First and Second Avenues, doesn't quite qualify as Gramercy. But it does make for comfortable eating, with some dishes familiar, some pleasantly new. More
Shoko sil sil ngoe ma shows the trouble that comes from confusing humble with meek. It's the Tibetan food equivalent of going from 0 to 80 in no seconds flat. More
Great Middle Eastern food can be a challenge to find, even in this city of immigrants. Bedouin Tent on Atlantic Avenue may not transport you to the streets of Tel Aviv or Cairo, but it's pretty darn good. More
AlMar, in Dumbo, is a restaurant that feels of its neighborhood rather than simply in it. More
New Orleans is well known as a food-centric town, but not so friendly towards vegetarians. Sugarfreak in Astoria has vegetarian versions of many New Orleans classics, and they stand up well to their meaty counterparts. More
Southeast Asian food is not known for being vegetarian-friendly. Many dishes contain shrimp paste, fish sauce, or they're just fried in lard. So, eating vegetarian in Southeast Asia will require some advance work. This guide should serve as a resource for any vegetarians, or just vegenthusiasts, planning to travel through Singapore and Kuala Lumpore. More
As the streetlights came on, Porteño's lights got lower, until the candles on every table almost matched the streetlights, glow for glow. Nestled beneath the High Line, the restaurant felt as cozy on the outside as on the inside. More
Bellwether lies on a sleepy stretch of Union Avenue, where it serves great late summer vegetables with elevated service. This isn't just another Brooklyn restaurant. More
Upscale Indian food can often be a gamble, but the vegetarian offerings at Benares deliver on their promise. The plating is fancy, but flavor comes first here. More
Shiva Natarajan knows what New Yorkers want, and with Chote Nawab he's saying it's a mix of North and South Indian dishes served in a space designed to evoke the concrete minimalism of Williamsburg coupled with the hokey village scenes of Little India. More
Park Slope has quite a few unremarkable Thai restaurants, but SkyIce features some unusual treats that make it worth the visit. Nothing outshines the Asian ice cream flavors, but we're happy to know that you can nourish both cravings here. More
Sometimes stumbled-upon meals can be a blessing, and Max Soha was an especially fortuitous find. It takes good ingredients, treats them simply, and makes the best of them. More
In the misty volcanoes of western El Salvador is a little town called Juayúa. Show up on a weekday and you'll see some interesting murals and a few picturesque buildings and you'll think it's a pleasant enough but rather sleepy place. Show up on a weekend, however, and you'll find the madre of all Central American food festivals. Papas fritas, pupusas, tortas, iguana (!) and more bites! More
The words "local" and "seasonal" get thrown around a lot these days. But Carlton Park is a pleasurable reminder of what simple, seasonal cooking can actually deliver. More
Cynics will say there's no romance in midtown, unless you count the relationship between people and money, but Le Bateau Ivre proves them wrong. More
For a while, the conventional wisdom in NYC has been that if you want good Greek food, you go to Astoria. But the recently opened Boukies in the East Village offers lower Manhattan a taste of upscale Greek cooking. Although not everything I ate at Boukies was great, it was all interesting, and definitely not your typical taverna fare. More
in fact we just did a column about hangawi - http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2013/03/the-vegetarian-option-hangawi-best-korean-koreatown-vegan-review.html