Erica Choi 최유진

Sendo (@sendo.nyc ) is the kind of place that reminds you great sushi does not have to feel overly formal or reserved for special occasions. The Edo-era inspired counter on West 8th Street draws from the roots of sushi in 1850s Japan while capturing the spirit of Tokyo’s neighborhood sushi bars, where quality and accessibility go hand in hand. The concept first earned a devoted following in Midtown, where long waitlists quickly formed around one of the city’s best values in sushi. The Greenwich Village location continues that approach, with omakase sets starting at just $34. Premium fish from Toyosu Market, award-winning rice from Hokkaido, and house-made sauces and aged vinegars come together in a way that feels thoughtful and balanced. In a city filled with omakase counters at every price point, Sendo stands out for delivering an experience that feels both refined and genuinely approachable. It is the kind of neighborhood spot you leave already planning to return to. 📍 Sendo 📞 Reservations available on Resy 🍽 Cuisine: Sushi 💸 Cost: $$ 📌 🇺🇸 43 W 8th St 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10011 🏷️ sendo, sushi, omakase, greenwichvillage, nyc, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_manhattan #eggyguide_greenwichvillage

Bazaar Meat by José Andrés (@bazaarmeatnewyork ), inside The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, feels like a modern steakhouse reimagined through a more playful, theatrically lens. From the moment you walk in, there’s a sense that dinner here is meant to be experienced, not just ordered. The menu leans into large-format, wood-fired meats alongside luxurious, unexpected small plates. Dishes like José’s Taco, layered with jamón ibérico and caviar, or the cotton candy foie gras, capture that balance of indulgence and whimsy. Even something like the A5 “Philly cheesesteak” feels elevated but still rooted in familiarity. The Ultimate Tasting Menu brings it all together, moving from composed bites to the fire-roasted ribeye chuleton, with moments like a tableside Caesar and a playful key lime dessert that keep the meal feeling dynamic from start to finish. I would highly recommend going this route. It’s the best way to experience the full range of the kitchen and settle into the rhythm of the meal. Dining here also felt a bit personal. I had the pleasure of photographing @chefjoseandres years ago at the first annual Culinary Weekend at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, a once-in-a-lifetime gathering with Eric Ripert, Anthony Bourdain, and José Enrique. Experiencing his cooking again in this setting brought that memory full circle in a meaningful way. It’s an ideal spot for a special night out, whether with a date, friends, or even family. Rich, bold flavors meet moments of surprise, all within a space that feels polished but never too serious. It’s a steakhouse that invites you to lean in, stay curious, and enjoy the experience. Favorites: Marinated “Ferran Adria liquid olives” Caviar cone Jose’s taco Neptune’s pillow Bluefin tuna and fried egg A5 “Philly cheeseteak” 📍 Bazaar Meat by José Andrés 📞 Reservations available on OpenTable 🍽 Cuisine: Steakhouse 💸 Cost: $$$$ 📌 🇺🇸 35 W 28th St Second Floor, New York, NY 10001 🏷️ bazaarmeat, joseandres, ritzcarlton, nomad, steakhouse, prefixe, nyc, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_manhattan #eggyguide_nomad

Barlume Downstairs (@barlumedownstairs ) feels like slipping into a different version of the night. Tucked beneath @barlumenyc , the main dining room, it’s one of those spaces you don’t quite expect until you’re in it, darker, softer, and immediately more intimate. The room leans into that subterranean mood, with low lighting, warm tones, and a sense of quiet escape. It has the feel of a true cocktail club, somewhere you naturally slow down and settle in. The cocktails are the focus, crafted with care but never overcomplicated, paired with Mediterranean-inspired bites meant for sharing. It’s the kind of place where you order gradually and let the evening unfold. What I loved most was the contrast. Upstairs holds the energy of the restaurant, while downstairs feels hidden and private, perfect for a nightcap or stretching the night just a little longer. Must-Orders: Truffle pizza Jamon croqueta Tuna & tomato carpaccio Invite only cocktail 📍 Barlume Downstaids 📞 Reservations available on Resy 🍽 Cuisine: Mediterranean 💸 Cost: $$$ 📌 🇺🇸 900 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 🏷️ barlume, flatiron, bar, cocktailbar, cocktails, nyc, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_manhattan #eggyguide_flatiron

Fedora (@fedora.newyork ) has that kind of quiet West Village charm that feels increasingly rare. I went with a few friends for a Friday night dinner, and it turned into one of those easy, lingering evenings where everything just works, the room, the pacing, the conversation. It’s a revival of one of the city’s most venerable restaurants, now overseen by some of the city’s best wine talent from St. Jardim and The Four Horsemen. The spirit of the original still holds. Fedora leans into anti-trend, neighborhood dining, the kind that doesn’t chase attention but earns it over time. The menu reflects that sensibility, with dishes like chicken cordon bleu and spaghetti with clams, familiar but thoughtfully executed. The space feels intimate and softly lit, with a slight refresh that keeps things current without losing its character. The iconic neon sign still glows outside, a small detail that makes you feel like some things, thankfully, don’t change. At its core, Fedora is driven by a love for low-intervention wines and seasonal cooking, but more than that, it feels rooted in community. It’s the kind of place that belongs to its neighborhood, warm, unfussy, and built for return visits. Must-Orders: Spaghetti with clams and oregano Chicken cordon bleu Banana split 📍 Fedora 📞 Reservations available on Resy 🍽 Cuisine: Bistro 💸 Cost: $$$ 📌 🇺🇸 239 W 4th St, New York, NY 10014 🏷️ fedora, westvillage, bistro, nyc, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_manhattan #eggyguide_westvillage

Our second visit to DubuHaus (@dubuhaus.nyc ) felt even better than the first. We had come shortly after it opened and immediately loved the Gogi Mandu, so returning felt like revisiting something familiar. This time we reordered the spicy pork & dubu kimchi and somehow it tasted even better than we remembered. DubuHaus, from Urimat Hospitality, the team behind HOWOO (@howoo.nyc ) and Musaek (@musaek.nyc ), is built around a single idea done exceptionally well. True to its name, which translates to “tofu house,” the restaurant centers its menu on housemade dubu, crafted fresh each day from organic, non-GMO soybeans grown from seeds sourced from South Korea. Guests can even glimpse the process through the Dubu Lab, an open kitchen where the tofu is prepared throughout the day. The meal begins with freshly made Chodang Dubu, a delicate, custard-like tofu that highlights the pure flavor of soy and gently sets the tone for the rest of the menu. The cod jeon was a lovely way to start, crisp and light, while the seafood soondubu paired beautifully with kettle pot rice, deeply comforting and satisfying in that unmistakable Korean way. The room itself feels warm and modern, polished yet relaxed. With a glass of makgeolli, especially the white peach, the experience feels balanced and nourishing. Returning a second time only confirmed that DubuHaus is the kind of place that reveals itself more with each visit. Must-Orders: Spicy pork & dubu-kimchi Cod fish jeon White peach makgeolli 📍 DubuHaus 📞 Reservations available on Resy 🍽 Cuisine: Korean 💸 Cost: $$ 📌 🇺🇸 6 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016 🏷️ koreanfood, asianfood, korean, koreatown, ktown, soondubu, nyc, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_manhattan #eggyguide_koreatown

Once in a blue moon, there is a restaurant where every dish you order is exactly right. That was our experience at Kiko (@kiko.newyork ), where we went to celebrate Hoon’s birthday. Kiko, an Asian-American restaurant in SoHo from husband and wife team chef Alex Chang and sommelier Lina Goujjane, has quickly become one of those places people quietly recommend to each other. Since opening last November, it has already landed on Esquire’s Best New Restaurants list and earned a strong review from New York Magazine. After dinner there, it was easy to see why. The space is cozy and intimate, with an atmosphere that makes you want to settle in. It feels like a hidden gem in SoHo, warm, lively, and just the right setting for a celebratory dinner. Chang’s cooking reflects his multicultural background, born in Hong Kong to a Chinese father and Mexican-American mother, and trained internationally from Pujol in Mexico City to kitchens across Japan and Europe. The menu moves fluidly between influences while staying grounded in thoughtful, ingredient-driven cooking. Lina’s beverage program carries that same East-meets-West sensibility, pairing the food with distinctive sakes, thoughtful wines, and refined cocktails. By the end of the night we realized there had not been a single miss, making it a birthday dinner that felt both special and effortless. Must-Orders: Pink moon oysters Razor clams Dungeness crab Maine lobster crispy rice Lychee highball Nashi highball 📍 Kiko 📞 Reservations available on Resy 🍽 Cuisine: Asian-Inspired New American 💸 Cost: $$$ 📌 🇺🇸 307 Spring St, New York, NY 10013 🏷️ asianfood, american, hudsonsquare, tribeca, soho, greenwichvillage, southvillage, nyc, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_manhattan #eggyguide_soho

We went to Musaek (@musaek.nyc ) for date night and enjoyed two seats at the bar, which ended up being the best place to be. From there you can watch the cocktails come together, each one clarified for hours and built around Korean ingredients that taste clean and precise. The room is low and intimate, a hidden layer beneath Dubu Haus (@dubuhaus.nyc ), and it immediately changes your pace. It was one of those nights where conversation stretches between sips, where nothing feels rushed and you forget how loud K-Town is just above you. When we finally went back upstairs, it felt like reentering the city after being somewhere else for a while. Must-Orders: Scallop Uni bibimbap 📍 MUSAEK 📞 Reservations available on Resy 🍽 Cuisine: Korean 💸 Cost: $$$ 📌 🇺🇸 6 E 32nd St Lower Level, New York, NY 10016 🏷️ seafood, bar, nyc, koreatown, ktown, midtown, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_manhattan #eggyguide_koreatown

abc kitchens (@abckitchens ) in DUMBO feels like a natural continuation of the original, but lighter and more open to the water and sky. After years of associating abc with Union Square, seeing it set against the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River gives the whole experience a different kind of light. You walk in and everything feels airy and quietly buzzing. Ordering the crab toast again felt almost ceremonial. It was such a marker of my early life in New York, one of those dishes I tied to date nights, weekend brunches, and the feeling of discovering the city through its restaurants. Tasting it here brought all of that back, but in a softer, more spacious setting. The menu still follows that market-driven philosophy Jean-Georges is known for, where vegetables lead and everything tastes clean and intentional, food that nourishes rather than weighs you down. What I loved most was how naturally it fits into DUMBO. It carries the polish of abc, but the room feels more relaxed, almost like a daytime restaurant that slowly becomes dinner. I left with that familiar abc feeling, full but light, and a little nostalgic in the best way. Must-Orders: Razor clams Peekytoe crab toast Grilled avocado Gruyere cheeseburger Turmeric tonic 📍 abc kitchens 📞 Reservations available on OpenTable 🍽 Cuisine: Contemporary American 💸 Cost: $$$ 📌 🇺🇸 55 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 🏷️ plant-based, seafood, burger, jean-georges, local, brooklyn, dumbo, waterfront, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_brooklyn #eggyguide_dumbo

Dinner at Pranakhon (@pranakhon_nyc ) felt like stepping into motion. I stopped by with a friend after an event without a reservation and we were able to grab seats at the bar, which made the whole night feel even more serendipitous. The room is colorful and buzzing, and somehow that energy makes the food taste brighter. We shared the crab fried rice, tom yum soup, and fried branzino, and everything arrived in a rhythm that made the small bar space feel generous. The tom yum was the first thing that really stayed with me, warm, citrusy, and layered with heat. The crab fried rice was quietly comforting, and the branzino became the dish we kept reaching back for, building each bite a little differently. It was one of those dinners where you look up and realize time has passed without noticing. Loud, lively, and deeply satisfying. I left feeling like I had briefly gone somewhere else with a friend, and then gently returned to New York. Must-Orders: Crab Fried Rice Krakow Pla 📍 Pranakhon ⭐️ @michelinguide Bib Gourmand 📞 Reservations available on Resy and OpenTable 🍽 Cuisine: Thai 💸 Cost: $$$ 📌 🇺🇸 88 University Pl, New York, NY 10003 🏷️ bangkok, michelin guide, mahattan, thaifood, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_manhattan #eggyguide_greenwichvillage

Santo Taco (@santo.taco ) has quickly become one of those taco spots that feels worth returning to, with the kind of simple, focused menu that rewards just showing up and ordering a few tacos to share. What you get here feels like a fresh take on classic street tacos, where the corn tortillas are pressed to order and the fillings are generous and straightforward. The vibe is casual and no-frills, with a bright counter-service setup and the hum of people grabbing tacos to eat right there or to go. There is a clarity to the food and experience that makes it feel effortless and satisfying rather than overthought. Whether you are passing through after work or building a quick dinner around a couple of tacos and a drink, Santo Taco delivers consistently good results without fuss. 📍 Santo Taco 📞 Walk-in only 🍽 Cuisine: Mexican 💸 Cost: $$ 📌 🇺🇸 114 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012 🏷️ santotaco, soho, mahattan, tacos, #takeout, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_manhattan #eggyguide_soho

Godunk (@godunknyc ) is a lively new Thai street food destination that brings a welcome sense of energy and focus to the city. The food comes from Master Thai Chef Nate Limwong of @chalongnyc and @unglo.nyc , whose approach balances bold flavors with clarity and restraint, staying true to the spirit of Thai street food without veering into pastiche. The menu is built for sharing and casual indulgence, the kind of food that arrives quickly and disappears just as fast. The beverage program, led by Ryan Saputra, formerly of Angel’s Share, adds another layer of intention. Cocktails are thoughtful yet approachable, offering balance and brightness alongside the heat and depth of the food. Must-orders: Fried Calamari Tom Yum Seafood Soup 📍 Godunk Thai Street Food 📞 Reservations available on OpenTable 🍽 Cuisine: Thai 💸 Cost: $$ 📌 🇺🇸 332 Bowery, New York, NY 10012 🏷️ godunk, thai, thaifood, noho, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_manhattan #eggyguide_noho

The Grill (@thegrillny ) feels like a return to a certain idea of New York dining, one rooted in ritual, polish, and confidence. Set inside the Seagram Building, it channels midcentury glamour without feeling frozen in time. There is a sense of occasion the moment you walk in, but it never feels stiff or inaccessible. The menu leans classic and American at its core, built around prime meats, seafood, and tableside preparations that reward patience rather than trends. Everything arrives with clarity and restraint, emphasizing technique and quality over reinvention. It is food meant to be enjoyed slowly, in courses, with conversation unfolding alongside it. 📍 The Grill 📞 Reservations available on Resy 🍽 Cuisine: Steakhouse 💸 Cost: $$$ 📌 🇺🇸 Seagram Building, 99 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022 🏷️ thegrill, manhattan, newyork, nyc, midtown, nycrestaurants #eggyguide #eggyguide_ny #eggyguide_manhattan #eggyguide_midtown