Can't get enough of this place!! Super quick and always consistent…read more The lamb cumin noodles are just delicious. I opt for the mild option always; the spice levels here are crazy so be careful! I usually ask for less oil + mild to make it as least spicy as possible! I've also tried the minced pork noodles which were good, but not nearly as yummy as the lamb that they are famous for. Anyways, must try!!

I was excited to learn that Xi'an Famous Foods - which is indeed famous - had a branch right near…read morewhere I was staying on the Upper West Side in New York. It was the very first place I went to eat, on my very first day in the city. I was after the lamb dumplings. What nobody had warned me about is that this is not a restaurant per se. There are a few formica tables, yes, but mostly it is a cheap eats place catering to Columbia students that order from Uber Eats or Door Dash. No matter, I ordered those dumplings. Asked whether I wanted it with or without soup, I chose the soup. Because, why not? I think most Americans will find the soup over the line spicy. The dumplings themselves were okay, but difficult to manage over a steaming bowl of liquid that splattered every time you dropped an inelegantly managed bit of dough-encased meat. Ay! So just order the dumplings by themselves, okay? And you may want to compare them to the Georgian lamb khinkali (also dumplings but much easier to handle) at Sipsteria, not far away. One thing Xi'an did deliver on: cheap eats.

The chicken at chirping chicken is fantastic. Get the 1/2 chicken meal with Greek salad sweet…read morepotato fries and a half and half. Get the honey mustard. The service is nice - the gentleman behind the counter know what they are doing and the ambiance is very chill - perfect for a quick solo bite.

Hot. Fast. Great vibes inside. Friendly service. Delicious. as always. got the chicken cutlets and…read morethe chicken soup and the soup was SO GOOD it's nice and thick.

Best burgers in the UWS! cool staff, great chefs, quick…read moreservice despite the crowds. My new default for a great burger -

We come here every time we're in Manhattan--my 14 year old daughter absolutely loves their burgers!…read more Classic cheese smashburgers paired with Mexican Cokes. It's easily one of the better smashburgers around--juicy patty, delicious sauce, grilled onions, pickles and a soft bun. The burgers are on the smaller side (not White Castle small, but my daughter usually eats two!), but at $6.50 for a single patty cheeseburger, it's a OK value. Don't skip the fries--they are crispy, delicious, and a generous portion for the price. Quick, easy, and fast! The staff was friendly, welcoming, and easygoing. Fast-casual vibe that feels a bit more low-key than standard fast-food joints. There is a small number of seats inside (stool seating) plus a couple of high tops tables outside.

Went to Tacombi Upper West Side with a friend for a quick bite on a Saturday late afternoon/early…read moredinner. The space is quite large, with plenty of seating inside and on the sidewalk. We were seated quickly, and the service was attentive. I ordered the agua de sandía (watermelon juice) and the Baja crispy fish taco, while my friend got two tacos. The watermelon juice was refreshing, and fresh, without added sugar. The tacos were flavorful and enjoyable, and I appreciate that they are served on corn tortillas. We were also given complimentary chips and salsa. I've visited several Tacombi locations across NYC, and they are consistently reliable in both quality and experience. The prices are also very reasonable for the quality of food. I would definitely recommend this location, as well as any of their others.

Walked in wanting a quick taco for me and my son and instantly was greeted with horrible customer…read moreservice. The night manager needs to reevaluate her position. Speaking spanish like people don't understand in NYC is despicable. Very antagonizing escalates problems and sarcasm to the point her manager comped my whole meal. Imagine being disguising to a guess in front of your manager and they say go to the back and they just stand there saying no I'm doing nothing wrong. 5pm night manager will ruin your business. Just look at the views they speak for their self. Ta lucio princesa

Great experience at this location today! My family and I came to eat after the museum of natural…read morehistory and exploring the city and it didn't disappoint. I wish i took photos of my food or this location but I ate too fast ! My husband ordered the food at the kiosk and entered his phone number and got a $10 coupon for spending more than $30. Total was $49 which is expensive but food was excellent. We got 2 burgers, 3 fries and 3 drinks. We sat downstairs with our numbers where an employee was using a walkie to talk to the employees upstairs. They brought our food to us and it was fresh. The employee working downstairs today around 5pm was so nice and helpful. Made sure tables were clean and we had all we needed. Excellent service from her. I used the bathroom after which there was a line for but the bathrooms were very clean. They have 2 bathrooms, i went into the smaller one but i was surprised with how clean it was. Def enjoyed this location and will make sure I come back here when in the area!

This This burger chain is world-famous, and I've tried it in other countries, including Shanghai…read more I've always thought their burgers tasted pretty good, better than average fast-food burgers. Its origins trace back to the US, right here in New York, so I had high expectations. Sadly, my experience here was a huge letdown. It wasn't even as good as the locations overseas. Value for money is extremely poor. The beef patty was slightly burnt, and the overall flavour combination felt off. It's surprising that in the birthplace of hamburgers, this iconic brand can only deliver such mediocre quality. I'm quite disappointed and won't be ordering from this chain again while in the US. I'm giving the food 2 out of 5 stars. On a positive note, the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming -- far better than the burger itself. I'd give the service a solid 5 stars.

I can't go to NY and not have a hot dog. On my last day I walked to Gray's to get a dog with…read moreeverything and a pineapple juice. There was a short line, but it moved quickly. The staff let me use tap pay even though I didn't reach the minimum that was on their signage. I ate at the counter they have outside. The hot dog had a nice snap to it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The pineapple juice was cool, sweet and tart.

New York City has a remarkable ability to turn ordinary things into cultural institutions. Given…read moreenough decades, a basic diner becomes a historic landmark, and a simple hot dog counter becomes a neighborhood shrine. Gray's Papaya on the corner of 72nd Street and Broadway is the quintessential example. Founded in 1973 by Nicholas Gray after he split from Papaya King, Gray's built its reputation on snappy franks, tropical fruit drinks, and microscopic prices. High rents and Manhattan real estate realities eventually shuttered the other outposts, leaving this Upper West Side location as the last one standing. We ordered the famous Recession Special: two hot dogs and a papaya drink. One dog came loaded with mustard and sauerkraut, the other with grilled onions. Both were aggressively, heroically average. They were not bad, which would at least make for a compelling story. They were simply the sort of hot dogs that seemed to spend their lives avoiding taking a firm stance. If hot dogs were graded on a bell curve, these two would sit directly in the middle, quietly hoping nobody called on them. The mustard was mustard, the onions were onions, and the sauerkraut did its job. The papaya drink was cold and pleasantly sweet, offering a refreshing counter to the salty franks. The service was purely transactional. Nobody threw a hot dog at us, but warmth and hospitality are clearly not core company values. You step up, state your order, exchange cash, and move along. Still, three stars feels fair because nobody visits Gray's Papaya in search of culinary perfection. You go because you are hungry on the Upper West Side, you do not want to spend twenty dollars on lunch, and you want a quick taste of a Manhattan that existed before every storefront turned into a luxury bank branch. The hot dogs are strictly middle of the road. The history and price tag are considerably better.

This is such a cute spot to grab a fresh bite to eat! The side salad is so affordable, less than $8…read moreand I added tuna for my protein. The tuna was SO fresh! I kept making little "mmm" sounds with every bite. They also have a free water station, which I love. The staff member who took my order was super nice and welcoming. I'll definitely be back here for lunch whenever I forget to bring my own. There are several locations throughout Manhattan, so definitely check them out!

The Ultimate NYC Breakfast Sandwich…read more My husband rarely eats sandwiches, but he noted that the breakfast sandwich here was easily one of the best things he had during our entire trip to New York. There are several locations across the city, but a local friend recommended this for their food and proximity to the American Museum of History. Because it is incredibly popular, the cafe was very crowded, and the counter-service line stretched straight down the middle of the shop. It was quite difficult to find an indoor table that could accommodate our party of four, so we grabbed some of the outdoor seating instead. While the venue was bustling and the service was understandably a little on the slower side due to the heavy crowd, we still had a wonderful experience and highly recommend stopping by.

Bagel sandwich was incredible. Absolutely packed with everything I ordered, they don't skimp out…read more It literally revived me after a night out thank you lenwich

A sandwich I will think about for the rest of my days. The lenwich sans cheese and add pickles was…read more*chef's kiss* I appreciated the self-service option so I could fully browse the menu and add-ons, without feeling the rush of ordering at the counter; we went during the lunch rush and could tell this was thee spot to be at! After we got through our sandwiches and soups, we could see why. 10/10 would get this again the next time I come to New York!

Impeccable! It's a chill atmosphere. The Korean sandwich is the best for sure. I wouldn't get the…read moreNashville chickwich--a little bland and too much ranch. The fries are crazy crispy and warm. Perfect fries actually. The coleslaw is a nice add too, not necessary tho. Very juicy tho.

After passing by this place all the time, we finally stopped in for dinner on a Saturday evening…read more We were seated immediately, and it seemed like a chill, family-friendly vibe! I had high expectations, but I had to dock a star bc even though the sandwiches were tasty, the chicken was a bit dry and tough for both :( considering the steep prices, I expected more from the sandwiches. The truffle fries were phenomenal though with a generous heaping of cheese!

Always a great meal! I tried the Tuna Poke and my husband had the turkey bacon baguette. We would…read moredefinitely recommend both. The only thing that would make the experience better is to bring back the Tuna Burger!!!! ...PLEASE

The wings are usually perfection--crispy, flavorful, and exactly what I'm hoping for--but…read moreapparently, their fate depends entirely on who happens to be commanding the kitchen that day. I'm also a fan of the burgers and absolutely love the charred broccoli. The fries, however? Tragically disappointing. And this is coming from a serious French fry enthusiast. Somehow, they consistently arrive cold, bone-dry, and tasting like they've been sitting around contemplating life for far too long. The desserts are another story altogether--severely overpriced for what you actually get. Recently, though, they made me an absolutely PERFECT BLT. Everything was right. No complaints. No notes. Just BLT bliss. But therein lies the problem: consistency. My happiness with an order seems to depend entirely on who is working in the kitchen. I recently had the Grilled Chipotle Chicken, and it absolutely sucked. The Turkey Burger? Loved it once, hated it another time. The Turkey BLT Baguette has been equally unpredictable--delicious one day and disappointing the next. Still, despite the culinary roulette, this remains one of my go-to spots for food delivery. When they get it right, they REALLY get it right. I just wish I knew who was cooking on the good days so I could check their schedule before placing my order!