The dish: A chocolatey frozen dessert (dipped with fries)
Open since 1954 and decked out in bright colors and dessert-inspired decor, this world-famous landmark offering two floors of fun is flocked to by dessert-lovers of all ages. At Serendipity3, the signature must-try is the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate drink made with a rich blend of cocoas (be sure to add on an order of fries for dipping). Along with an adults-only Spiked Frrrozen Hot Chocolate and other treats like massive sundaes, the menu has everything else you’d need for a full meal, from appetizers and Mac N’ Cheese to salads, hamburgers, and brunch.

The experience: Al pastor tacos on your feet
There was a time when people would try to make the argument that NYC’s landscape of Mexican cuisine couldn’t hold a candle to cities like Los Angeles or Chicago. But with more solid spots continuing to find a home here, our gratitude for places like Los Tacos No. 1 runs deep. With locations in Chelsea Market, Grand Central, Times Square, and Tribeca, this fast-casual taqueria was started by three friends from San Diego who spent four months living in Tijuana to do research before launching in 2013. There’s no chairs here, but do expect a line for made-to-order tacos filled with Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, Adobada, or Nopal, all on housemade tortillas.

The dish: Steak
Open since 1977, Smith & Wollensky continues to uphold its standing in NYC steakhouse lore. This institution hand-butchers and dry-ages their beef through a four-week cure entirely in-house, and many members of the wait staff have been a familiar face to guests for over 30 years. In a city with no shortage of steak offerings, a meal here remains a quintessential dining experience. Along with cuts like the Bone-In Rib Steak, NY Sirloin, and Classic Prime Rib, dig into an array of seafood, meats, and classic sides like Creamed Spinach and Onion Rings before finishing it with the signature Bourbon Pecan Sundae.

The dish: Pinwheel Lasagna
In a city filled with Italian food institutions, Don Angie, which opened in 2017, could still be considered one of the new kids on the block. But this smash-hit homage to Italian American cuisine from married duo, Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli, has cemented itself to icon status with the help of a signature dish: the Pinwheel Lasagna. Meant for sharing and made with Bolognese sauce, mozzarella, and sweet Italian sausage, there’s a good chance that this eye-catching social media darling (and its crispy-edged top) already looks familiar. It’s just one of many must-try items on the West Village eatery’s menu, and how the restaurant continues to remain one of the most coveted reservations in town.

The dish: Hot dogs
While hot dog carts can be found throughout the five boroughs, typically, they’re strategically located in tourist-heavy areas. For the majority of residents here, hot dogs are often relegated as a warm weather bite for sports stadiums, cookouts, 4th of July, and the beach. But when a craving for a good frank comes throughout the year, head to Gray’s Papaya, a family owned and operated business since 1974 that’s a hit across all spectrums of locals. The most popular order is the Recession Special, a deal that’s been running for more than 35 years. The price was $1.95 throughout the ‘90s, but currently it will set you back $6.95, and comes with two Franks and a medium sized tropical drink in flavors like Banana, Coconut, Papaya, or Piña Colada.