Where to Eat + Drink in Times Square: A Local’s Guide

Everyone will tell you: Don’t dine in Times Square; it’s all touristy overpriced nonsense. And there is a lot of that, sure. But there are also plenty of spots that are not that—at least 22 of them, by our count. And you really ought to know about them if you’re considering where to eat in the area. Here’s your guide to some of the best food in Times Square. Last update: Jan. 10, 2025

Although New Yorkers may say they don’t eat in Times Square, inevitably they do—lots of us have worked in or around the area, or attend the occasional Broadway show or other event that requires a trip here. And a visitor to NYC really can’t escape it. Nor should they—everyone coming to New York has to see Times Square!

Thankfully, it’s not the food wasteland it’s purported to be (and indeed used to be). But it is usually crowded. And overwhelming. You’ll want to have a game plan, whether you are here for lunch, dinner, drinks, the whole pre-theater shebang or something quick and easy. And especially if you’re with kids. Here’s our guide to where to eat (and drink) good food in Times Square—22 places strong.

*Note: For our purposes we are broadly defining the Times Square area as 38th St.-48th St., between Sixth and Ninth Aves., for the most part.

Best Lunch Bets (or Budget Dinners)

Margon: This iconic Cuban luncheonette does inexpensive Latin American food, and it’s the real deal. Specials change up daily, but you can always grab a stellar Cubano sandwich and score a plate of soulful black or red beans and rice, topped with a riot of pink pickled onions and, ideally, some sweet fried plantains. Seriously: Thank god this place still exists in Times Square. Open Mon-Fri, 6am-5pm; Sat, 7am-5pm. 136 W. 46th St., betw. Sixth Ave. & Broadway, map

Los Tacos No. 1: The Chelsea Market favorite has an outpost in Times Square, and it’s all about those fresh tortillas (the nearly translucent flour ones are just as good as the corn, FWIW). Get as many tacos as you can afford (they’re not cheap, at $5-$6 a pop) and some horchata to drink, then find some counter space—there’s no seating here. Open Sun, 11am-9pm; Mon-Sat, 11am-11pm. 229 W. 43rd St., betw. Seventh & Eighth Aves., map

Biryani Cart: Food trucks and carts are a fantastic lunch option to be had in this part of town, although many of them are mobile and therefore not reliably present. Try one that catches your eye, or head to this fixed-location cart for its signature biryani or, even better, one of its kati rolls. This was a frequent working lunch for us when we worked in this area! Open daily (roughly), 11am-12am. 46th St. and Sixth Ave., map. Another good bet a block south on 45th/Sixth, should you find Biryani Cart closed, is Kwik Meal.

Eating With Little Kids

Virgil’s Real BBQ: In the heart of Times Square, this big, bustling BBQ restaurant is a welcome retreat for parents who want to sit down and chow down on all manner of BBQ meats and sides. The food’s inherently kid-friendly, but there’s a children’s menu too. Great for large groups if you reserve ahead. Open Mon-Thurs, 8am-11pm; Fri & Sat, 8am-11:30pm; Sun, 8am-10pm. 152 W. 44th St. nr. Broadway, map

Dos Caminos: This popular, busy Mexican (mostly local) chain restaurant has a fun vibe, good food, and kids’ menus and crayons. Also a lot of tequila! Always a good option. This branch opens early, which means it has Mexican breakfasts (and more). Open Sun-Thurs, 7am-9pm; Fri-Sat, 7am-11pm. Weekday happy hours at 3pm-6pm and 9pm-close. Times Square branch at 1567 Broadway at 47th St., map

Melt Shop: Pull up a picnic table at this specialty grilled cheese shop, with beer and wine for the parents. Kids’ menu available, but … it’s grilled cheese! (OK, also salads and sides and shakes. You probably should get some tater tots too.) Mon-Fri, 7am-9pm; Sat & Sun, 10:30am-9pm. 135 W. 50th St. betw. Sixth & Seventh Aves., map

John’s of Times Square: A classic thin-crust, coal-fired brick-oven New York pizza joint, housed in a soaring former church. Pies only! Lots of toppings are on offer, as well as calzones, pasta, and salads. We also love the Caesar salad and the cheesy garlic rolls. We recently brought our kids and all their friends here before going to see A Cursed Child! Open daily, 11:30am-11:30pm. 260 W. 44th St., betw. Seventh & Eighth Aves., map

Tony’s di Napoli: Since 1959, this red-sauce joint has dished out family-style Southern Italian food. It’s the kind of food that everyone loves—lots of pasta, scampi, chicken Parm, meatballs—and there’s plenty of it. Open Sun-Thurs, 11:30am-10pm; Fri & Sat, 11:30am-11pm. 147 W. 43rd St. (at Casablanca Hotel), between Sixth Ave. & Broadway, map

Shake Shack: We hesitate to recommend it anymore, since it’s SO BIG and everywhere now, but this popular NYC burger chain is remains a good option for families, what with the tasty burgers (meat and veg), fries, shakes, and beer. This branch is often mobbed, unsurprisingly, particularly at peak hours. Open daily 10:30am-midnight. 691 Eighth Ave. at 44th St., map. There’s a second branch nearby at Bryant Park … and on Broadway at 53rd St. Another solid burger option if it’s just too busy here is Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen, a few blocks south at 620 Eighth Ave., betw. 40th & 41st Sts., map

Traveling to Manhattan with kids? Check out our downloadable one-day Kid-Friendly NYC Food Itinerary!

Willing to Splurge (a Little)

Becco: It’s easy to justify a nice meal out at this friendly Italian spot by Lidia Bastianich, between the extensive $40 wine list and choice of three $36.95 all-you-can-eat pastas. Open Tues and Thurs, 4:30pm-10pm; Wed, 11:30am-2:30pm; Fri, 4:30pm-11pm; Sat, 11:30am-2:30pm and 4pm-11pm; Sun, noon-2pm and 4pm-9pm. 355 W 46th St., betw. Eighth & Ninth Aves., map

Sushi of Gari: Super fresh, creative sushi (130 kinds!) plus traditional Japanese dishes, with the option for omakase, from the Times Square outpost of the popular mini-chain. Open for lunch Tues-Fri, noon-2:15pm; dinner Tues-Sat, 5pm-9:45pm. 347 W. 46th St., betw. Eighth & Ninth Aves., map

The Lambs Club: For that swanky NYC wood-paneled, red-leather-boothed, white-tableclothed vibe—plus good, if pricey, modern, seasonal American food—the Lambs Club, by chef-restaurateur Geoffrey Zakarian, delivers. There are pre-theater three-course meals available with half-bottles of wine, if that’s your thing. Open daily for breakfast, 7am-10:30am; lunch, Mon-Fri, 11:30am-2:pm; dinner, Tues-Sat, 4:30pm-10pm (drinks and snacks till 11pm). 132 W. 44th St. at The Chatwal Hotel, betw. Sixth Ave and Broadway, map

More Times Square Restaurants We Like

Joe Allen Restaurant: An old-school Broadway hangout for pre- and post-theater since 1965, Joe Allen is an experience. It’s the kind of place where people in “the industry” hang out, and that likely includes your server or bartender too. The lively dining room is lined with Broadway show posters, but we prefer to dine at the bar, or at least at a table in the bar room. And while the food is secondary to the vibe, it’s very good nonetheless. We’ve enjoyed the porchetta sandwich (with terrific fries) and the salads; we’ve also heard the burger is very good (and our server swore by the sauteed calf’s liver). You absolutely should get a classic cocktail here, like a Manhattan or dirty martini. Open Tues, noon-11:30pm; Wed, 11:30am-11:30pm; Thurs-Fri, noon-11:30pm; Sat, 11:30am-11:30pm; Sun, 11:30am-10:30pm. 326 W. 46th St., map

Sake Bar Hagi: We put this beloved decades-old sake bar/izakaya, perfect for those late-night okonomiyaki/yakitori/mentai pasta cravings, on this list back when it was squarely in the Theater District, on 46th St. near Eighth Avenue. It’s since moved north to 51st St., not exactly Times Square but we are going to count it anyway. It’s a great option to know about. Open for lunch, Mon-Fri, 11:30am-2:30pm; for dinner, Mon, 5pm-11pm; Tues-Fri, 5pm-midnight; Sat, 4pm-midnight; Sun, 4pm-11pm. 245 West 51st St., betw. Seventh & Eighth Aves., map

Dutch Fred’s: This long and narrow cocktail bar is a great spot to know about. It’s very popular with the after-work crowd, so if you are hoping to grab a table, definitely reserve or arrive before 5pm. As expected, the cocktails are fantastic, but while the food menu is small (and served after 4pm), everything we’ve tried here has hit the spot: the gluten-free crispy shrimp, Brie and mushroom quesadilla, fried chicken sandwich and fries, the signature flatbreads. If you’re here on a Wednesday, two of the flatbreads are discounted to just $10, and they are generously sized. Do ask about the seasonal flatbread on offer—we loved the winter one, with mozzarella cheese, diced pumpkin, cranberries, chorizo, and  shaved Brussels sprouts. Open Mon-Tues, 4pm-2am; Wed, noon-2am; Thurs-Fri, noon-3am; Sat, 11am-3am; Sun, 11am-2am. 307 W. 47th St., map

Ippudo Fifth Ave.: The downtown branch is beloved for its real-deal ramen and other Japanese dishes, and now Midtown has two Ippudos to call its own. This one near Times Square specializes in kasane broth, a pork and chicken blend, and is the only branch to offer takeout. (If you’re craving tonkotsu (pork only), head up to the branch on 51st St.) Open daily, 1oam-11pm. 24 W. 46th St., between Fifth & Sixth Aves., map. More ramen: We’ve long liked the narrow ramen bar at Totto Ramen (248 E. 52nd St.), though there is often a line; ramen and yakitori bar Tabata is another good bet on Ninth Ave. at 40th St.

Toloache: This lively two-level upscale Mexican restaurant keeps it real with tacos featuring chapulines, roasted grasshoppers, among its offerings, as well as wonderful guacamole and ceviche options and quesadillas from its brick oven. Reservations recommended. It has indoor and outdoor seating. Open for lunch, Mon-Fri, 11:30am-4pm; for dinner, Sun-Mon, 4pm-10:30pm; Tues-Thurs, 4pm-11:30pm; Fri-Sat, 4pm-midnight. 251 W. 50th St., betw. Broadway & Eighth Ave., map

Where to Drink in Times Square

Jimmy’s Corner: Our No. 1 pick, Jimmy’s Corner is that rare oasis combining cheap drinks, boxing memorabilia everywhere you look, a jukebox, and a legit dive-bar stench. No matter it’s a half-block from the heart of flashy Times Square. We love it. 140 W 44th St., betw. Broadway & Seventh Ave., map

Lantern’s Keep: Hotel bars are generally a good bet around here, like this elegant one inside the Iroquois Hotel, where classic cocktails rule. Open Mon-Fri, 5pm-10pm. 49 W. 44th St., betw. Fifth & Sixth Aves., map

The Rum House: When you need that civilized, red-walled and wood-paneled piano bar experience, this swanked-up spot inside the historic Edison Hotel is it. Opens at 4pm daily. 228 W. 47th St., nr. Broadway, map

Sardi’s: We admit we’re suckers for a classic Manhattan at the mellow upstairs bar (after the pre-theater rush and on a weeknight, please) at this legendary time capsule of a restaurant. Open Tues-Sat, 11:30am-11:30pm; Sun, noon-7pm. 234 W. 44th St., betw. Seventh & Eighth Aves., map

Beer Culture: Our pick for craft beer-swilling, this chill spot is a hybrid bar and bottle shop with a great daily rotating list of international and local brews. 328 W. 45th St., betw. Eighth & Ninth Aves., map Craft beer fiends might also want to check out nearby Valhalla and Beer Authority for bigger selections (and also crowds).

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Last updated: Jan. 10, 2025