The Best Restaurants in Times Square for Tourists and Locals Alike

As one of the most visited neighborhoods in New York City, Times Square offers no shortage of dining options for tourists and locals. However, the bright lights and excitement of this iconic area can sometimes overshadow the fact that Times Square is also home to some of the best restaurants in NYC. This guide will help you cut through the noise and discover the Times Square restaurants that are worth your time and money.

Navigating the Tourist Traps of Times Square

Let’s start with a reality check - Times Square has a lot of chain restaurants catering exclusively to tourists. Places like Olive Garden, Applebee’s, and Red Lobster may seem familiar to visitors, but they serve bland and overpriced food.

To find the best Times Square restaurants, you’ll need to avoid these tourist traps by doing some research beforehand. Consult reviews on sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor, ask your concierge for recommendations, and look for restaurants that have been awarded for their food and service. This will help separate the hidden gems from the mediocre joints.

Timing is also key. Times Square gets extremely crowded right before and after Broadway shows let out. Unless you want to gulp down your meal, avoid eating at those high traffic times. Instead, dine during matinee intermissions or after the evening dinner rush. Allow at least 90 minutes if you’re eating pre-theater so you can enjoy your meal at a leisurely pace.

The Best Restaurants in Times Square by Cuisine

Now onto the good stuff! Here are some of the standout restaurants to try in Times Square across a variety of cuisines:

Satisfying Italian Favorites

Carmine’s

• Enormous family-style portions
• Classic Italian-American dishes like chicken parm, pasta, and seafood
• Lively, bustling setting great for large groups

Tony’s di Napoli

• Similarly large shareable platters of Italian cuisine
• Specializes in pastas, steaks, seafood, and more
• Great for group dining or taking leftovers back to the hotel

La Masseria

• Elevated, upscale Italian dining
• Focuses on specialties from Italy’s Puglia region
• Intimate setting with an extensive Italian wine list

Sizzling Steakhouses

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

• Renowned chain serving excellent USDA Prime steaks
• Also offers lobster, seafood, signature sides and desserts
• Refined setting with live piano music in the Manhattan location

Bobby Van’s

• Alongside Ruth’s Chris, one of the top steakhouses in Times Square
• Specializes in prime beef and fresh seafood
• Clubby vibe perfect for a night out with friends or colleagues

Fine Dining and Celebrity Chefs

Le Bernardin

• Internationally acclaimed French seafood restaurant
• Run by celebrity chef Eric Ripert
• Elegant tasting menus, receives 3 Michelin stars year after year

Esca

• Sophisticated Italian seafood, crudo, and pastas
• Helmed by chef David Pasternack
• Light and airy upscale environment

Becco

• Refined Italian fare from Lidia and Joe Bastianich
• Dishes like braised short ribs, housemade pastas, and branzino
• Warm, inviting ambiance for a romantic evening

Hangouts for Broadway Lovers

Sardi’s

• A Broadway legend since 1927
• Features caricatures of Broadway stars lining the walls
• Classic Continental cuisine like steaks, seafood, and cheeses

Joe Allen

• Popular spot for Broadway performers since opening in 1965
• Theatre district staple with clubby, unpretentious vibe
• Hearty American fare like burgers, steaks, and chops

Top Pizza In Times Square

Finding excellent pizza is a must on any trip to NYC. Times Square offers several spots where you can get your pizza fix:

John’s Pizzeria

• NYC pizza icon slinging thin-crust pies since 1929
• Uses coal-fired brick ovens to get crispy, charred crusts
• Simple menu with traditional pizza toppings and sides like garlic knots

Don Antonio by Starita

• Brought Neapolitan-style pizza from Naples to NYC
• Uses wood-fired oven to bake the perfect pizza crust
• Authentic Italian toppings like prosciutto, bufala mozzarella, and arugula

Juicy Burgers

When you need a quick, satisfying meal in Times Square, two burger spots stand above the rest:

Shake Shack

• Hugely popular NYC burger chain created by Danny Meyer
• Known for delicious burgers, crispy fries, and hand-spun shakes
• Limited menu makes it easy to get a great burger fast

The Counter

• Offer over 1 million possible burger combinations
• Pick your patty, bun, cheeses, toppings and extras
• Also serve turkey burgers, salads, and milkshakes

Tastes of Asia

Asian cuisines are well-represented in Times Square, from Chinese to Thai:

Xi’an Famous Foods

• Specializes in noodles and dishes from Xi’an, China
• Signature hand-ripped noodles with flavors like cumin lamb
• Quick, inexpensive, and authentic fast-food

Szechuan Gourmet

• Perennially ranked one of the best Szechuan restaurants in NYC
• Prepares notoriously spicy, tongue-numbing Chinese fare
• Favorites like Mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, and dry-fried chicken

Pongsri Thai

• Regarded as one of the top Thai restaurants in NYC
• Serves signature Thai curries, noodles, stir-fries, and more
• Elegant setting for an authentic Thai meal

Ramen Galore

For piping hot bowls of Japanese noodles in Times Square, head to these ramen havens:

Totto Ramen and Tabata Ramen

• Two of the most acclaimed ramen shops in NYC
• Broths and noodles made in-house for optimal flavor
• Customize with extras like pork belly, egg, and scallions

Local Diners

Sometimes you just need some classic diner fare. Times Square has a few choice spots:

City Kitchen

• A food hall with stalls from some of NYC’s best vendors
• Great for sampling pizza, tacos, ramen, burgers and more
• Times Square location with quick counter service

Brooklyn Diner

• Diner classics like omelets and sandwiches, with NYC flair
• Upscale, kitschy setting compared to a greasy spoon
• Open 24/7, good for late night or early breakfast

Galaxy Diner and Westway Diner

• Both quintessential NYC Greek-owned diners
• Offer standard diner fare in retro, chrome-filled spaces
• Old-school NYC institutions open 24 hours

Dining Memorably Amid the Bright Lights

The key to finding the best restaurants in Times Square is doing your research, timing your visit properly, and knowing which spots offer quality food instead of just convenience. But with some smart advance planning, you can dine extremely well amid the iconic lights and energy of Times Square. Whether you’re craving a luxe steak, celeb-chef tasting menu, or just a quintessential New York slice, Times Square serves it all up with a side of world-famous ambiance.

Restaurant Row Offers Even More Dining Diversity

In addition to the restaurants right in the heart of Times Square, visitors should be sure to venture east along 46th Street to a stretch aptly known as Restaurant Row. Spanning three avenue-long blocks between 8th and 9th Avenues, Restaurant Row contains over 30 excellent dining and drinking establishments to suit just about any taste.

With theaters nearby and Times Square just a short walk away, Restaurant Row establishments attract plenty of pre-theater diners. The restaurants here also tend to be slightly less chaotic than those directly in Times Square. Here are some Restaurant Row highlights to consider:

Becco - An outpost of Lidia and Joe Bastianich’s fantastic Italian restaurant mentioned earlier. Their Theater District location serves upscale rustic Italian fare in a handsome and welcoming space.

Barbetta - This Restaurant Row staple opened in 1906 and still channels old-school fine dining elegance. The refined Northern Italian cuisine features seasonally inspired dishes.

Orso - A lively Tuscan-inspired restaurant dishing up homemade pastas, gorgeous crispy pizzas, Instagram-worthy cocktails, and more. The ambiance evokes a chic Italian trattoria.

Joe Allen - This Theater District institution first opened in 1965 and became a beloved hangout for Broadway stars and fans. The clubby eatery serves satisfying American fare like burgers, steaks, and chops.

Hourglass Tavern - A gastropub offering creative upscale pub fare, signature cocktails, and an extensive craft beer list, all in a cozy setting.

Lattanzi Ristorante - Another Italian spot on Restaurant Row, this one focused on seafood, homemade pasta, and produce sourced from Italy. Plus a great wine program.

Between Restaurant Row and the Times Square restaurants listed earlier, visitors have nearly endless dining possibilities all within a few blocks. Consult reviews, make reservations if possible, and time things properly, and you’re guaranteed to eat memorably amid the bright lights of Broadway.

Dining Tips for Times Square and Restaurant Row

Now that we’ve covered many of the best restaurants found in Times Square and along Restaurant Row, here are some tips to help you enjoy the optimal dining experience:

• Make reservations - For many of the finer dining restaurants like Le Bernardin, Esca, and Barbetta, reservations are highly recommended, especially for pre-theater dining.

• Time it right - Again, aim to avoid the 30-45 minutes before and after Broadway showtimes when restaurants are jam-packed.

• Eat early or late - Consider an early dinner around 5 or 5:30pm, or a later one at 9pm or later to avoid the worst crowds.

• Pre-theater dining - If eating before a Broadway show, arrive at least 90 minutes early to allow time for a relaxed meal.

• Lunch and matinees - Crowds are lighter at restaurants during lunchtime and matinee show intermissions.

• Dress code - Some restaurants like Le Bernardin and Ruth’s Chris Steak House enforce a smart casual dress code - no T-shirts, tank tops, shorts etc.

• Kids - Carmine’s and Tony’s Di Napoli are particularly family-friendly.

• Pickup/takeout - For pizza, ramen, and other quick bites, pickup or takeout is a good option to avoid lines.

• Dessert - Make reservations at a restaurant solely for drinks and dessert after your show.

• Apps - Use apps like Yelp and Opentable for reviews, hours, menus, and reservations.

With a bit of savvy planning, you’ll be rewarded with amazing meals and memories among the neon of Times Square and adjacent Restaurant Row. Just leave the Olive Garden for the tourists!

 Dining Well in the Heart of NYC

Times Square and its nearby Restaurant Row offer some of the most exciting and diverse dining options in New York City. With iconic Broadway theaters, towering billboards, and pulsing neon, the atmosphere alone makes these restaurants special.

However, visitors don’t have to settle for subpar chain restaurants catering exclusively to tourists. With research and strategy, foodies can experience incredible meals from some of the city’s best chefs and restaurants amid the unique energy of Times Square.

The key is avoiding tourist traps, reading reviews, timing your visit properly around Broadway shows, and seeking out spots liked by locals as well as visitors. Whether you’re looking for a stellar steak, decadent seafood, piping hot pizza, or just a quick and delicious bite before the theater, Times Square serves it all up with its incomparable spirit.

So next time you’re in the neighborhood, wander just off the chaotic main drags and immerse yourself in the lights while enjoying an unforgettable meal. Let Times Square and Restaurant Row surprise you with cuisine as memorable as the square itself. Just follow this guide, and dining well in the heart of NYC has never been easier.

We hope this guide helps you discover the best restaurants Times Square and Restaurant Row have to offer. For more dining inspiration in other quintessential NYC neighborhoods, check out these articles:

• 9 Best Restaurants in Little Italy, NYC
• GlobetrotterGO

Thanks for reading, and happy dining in the city that never sleeps!