New York City is a melting pot of food, culture, and music from all over the world. One of my favorite parts of living in this city is the ability to get authentic food from pretty much any part of the world, at almost any time.
The neighborhood of the Upper East Side is no exception, with a variety of restaurants to choose from depending on the type of cuisine that you are in the mood for.
During the past year I have not been able to travel as much as I would have liked, so I have satisfied my travel itch by eating my way around the world all across my home neighborhood of the Upper East Side.
Below are my recommendations of the best Upper East Side restaurants specializing in cuisines from around the world. Most of the below restaurants also have vegan and vegetarian options.
Belgium: B. Cafe
B. Cafe is a Belgian restaurant located on east 75th street. They have an impressive beer list- be sure to try one of their “trappist” beers, which is beer brewed by monks. I recommend accompanying your meal with an order of frites and a warm pretzel. They also have a daily happy hour with $5 wines, $6 beers, and $1 oysters. Ask to be seated in their beautiful back garden!
France: AOC East
AOC East is a French bistro with an award winning selection of French wines and regular live music. Be sure to try their ratatouille and raclette. AOC East is located on 1st avenue and 83rd street.
Thailand: Thep Thai
Thai food is my favorite cuisine, and there are many Thai restaurants on the Upper East Side to choose from. Thep Thai is my favorite Thai restaurant on the Upper East Side. Their food rivals some of the amazing dishes that I tried when I traveled to Thailand in 2016. My favorite items here are their chive pancakes, drunken noodles with mock duck, and massaman curry. Be sure to get a cute cocktail to accompany your meal, such as their seasonal “Bird of Paradise” drink. Thep Thai also has many vegan options.
India: Tandoor Oven
Tandoor Oven offers authentic Indian cuisine in a beautiful setting.
We love their Manchurian Cauliflower appetizer, Chana Masala (chickpeas), Yellow Daal (lentils), and Garlic Naan.
For dessert, you absolutely must-try their Gulab Jamun (which is basically little balls of dough in a sweet sauce). It is so good.
They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as take-out.
Tandoor Oven is located on 83rd Street between 3rd Avenue and Lexington.
India: Ashoka
There are so many amazing Indian restaurants on the Upper East Side! I had trouble choosing just one, so I had to add another favorite Indian restaurant to this list. I love Ashoka because of their authentic flavors and dishes. A few of my favorite items from Ashoka are their Sag Makai, Dhal, and Dumalu.
India: Honorable mention- Punjabi Junction
This is not a restaurant, but I had to give Punjabi Junction a mention on this list! They are an Indian bodega on the Upper East Side that has great Indian groceries as well as delicious food for take-out. I regularly pick up a few containers of their dhal and vegetables to eat throughout the week.
Italy: San Matteo
San Matteo specializes in Neopolitan brick oven pizza, and Panuozzi (a pizza-panini hybrid). They have two locations on the Upper East Side- I recommend their original location on East 90th Street, but expect a long wait for a table here.
China: Xi’an Famous Foods
Xi’an Famous Foods specializes in hand-ripped noodles. This is primarily a to-go restaurant, but be sure to eat the noodles right away while they are fresh. This restaurant was endorsed by Anthony Bordain who described their food as a “whole new spectrum of flavors”.
Spain: Boqueria
Boqueria is a well known tapas restaurant. They have a few locations throughout NYC and it is a must-visit for New Yorkers. The portions are quite large for a tapas restaurant!
Georgia (country): Oda House
For authentic Georgian food, be sure to visit Oda House located on 73rd Street and 1st Avenue.
Oda House has beautiful indoor and outdoor seating areas.
To learn more about what makes Georgian cuisine so special, here is an excerpt from the Oda’s House website: “The Great Silk Road passes through Georgia and has played a highly significant role in the country’s culture and history. As it served as the roadways of cultural exchange, Georgian cuisine has absorbed the best culinary traditions of the many peoples of Asia, the Black Sea coast and Europe”
We tried their Borscht, Badrijnis Quarteti (Eggplant Quartet), Mtsvane Lobio (Green Beans), and Adjaruli Cheese Bread. It was delicious!
Turkey: A La Turka
Greece: Yefsi Estiatorio
Japan: NR
NR is an upper east side cocktail bar and ramen restaurant located on East 75th Street between 1st and 2nd avenue.
According to their website, “NR is a contemporary twist on restaurants that were found in traditional Japanese port towns during the Meiji Period, when Japan first became open to the rest of the world after nearly two centuries of seclusion”
We loved their vegetable soup curry and pineapple/passion fruit cocktail.
Germany: Heidelberg Restaurant
Peru: Mission Ceviche
Ireland: Finnegan’s Wake
Jamaica: Jerk Off The Grill
Mexico: Toloache
Australia: Hutch and Waldo
England: Jones Wood Foundry
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