After we published the 2024 list of the 100 best restaurants in New York City, we asked readers what restaurant would land at No. 1 on their own lists. This year, on the occasion of our 2025 list, we decided to pose a question to some of the chefs from the list itself: What’s your favorite restaurant in the city right now? Their answers show a perfectly New York variety of neighborhoods and cuisines. Some even overlap with The Times’s picks — but that’s purely delicious coincidence.
Wu’s Wonton King
Chinatown, Manhattan
I like to go to restaurants that remind me of home, and Wu’s Wonton King does just that. It’s loud and chaotic in the best way, you order too much on purpose and spin the lazy susan for hours. The crab fried rice, loaded with sweet chunks of crab, is a must: I always finish the plate. Overall, it’s just the kind of place where the food does all the talking, and that’s my favorite kind of spot. — Vijay Kumar, Semma
165 East Broadway (Rutgers Street)
Little Pepper
College Point, Queens
It serves Sichuan food and is run by a really sweet family. Mom up front, pops in back. The first time I ate there I was so full of joy that when the chef came out of the kitchen for a second, I just started clapping, and then everyone else joined in. I just wanted him to know how amazing his food was. I love everything on the menu there — cumin lamb, scallion fried rice, braised fish in spicy broth, salt and pepper prawns, and cabbage with dried chiles to name a few.— Dria Atencio, Salty Lunch Lady’s Little Luncheonette
18-24 College Point Boulevard (18th Avenue)
Raku
East Village, Manhattan
Our kids are obsessed with this place. It feels healthy and elegant in its simplicity, and the East Village location is cozy and makes me feel like I’m not in New York City. It reminds me of Souen back in the day but more flavor driven. — Alex Raij, Txikito
342 East Sixth Street (First Avenue), multiple locations
Cas West Indian & American Restaurant
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
A favorite is this hole-in-the-wall spot in Crown Heights. The oxtail is phenomenal, and a good oxtail makes me happy. — Paul Carmichael, Kabawa and Bar Kabawa
135 Kingston Avenue (Bergen Street)
Fish Cheeks
NoHo, Manhattan
From the moment you walk in you’re captivated by the smell of chiles, fish sauce and lime. I do have a go-to order. The scallops dressed in a fiery red curry. The crispy zaab zaab wings, perfectly crunchy and seasoned with a duality of flavors. The steamed branzino still bubbling when it hits the table and draped in thinly sliced lime and herbs. Don’t skip on the crab curry and fried rice, too. Their hospitality is as warm as the flavors. Always a must when I’m trying to impress friends or need a taste of comfort. — Kwame Onwuachi, Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi
Don Peppe
South Ozone Park, Queens
One of my favorite places to have dinner right now is Don Peppe in Queens. Our shop is just a mile down the road, and I grew up a few blocks away. As a kid, we would go there to celebrate special occasions. These days, it’s where I go with friends and family when I’m craving a home-cooked meal. Lately, my go-to orders are the baked clams and the tomahawk steak. The steak is always cooked to perfection, and the onions and vegetables served alongside it are incredible. I still don’t know how they manage to pack so much flavor into the veggies. I always make sure to grab a couple of bottles of their house wine. — Amit Maheepat, Trinciti Roti Shop
135-58 Lefferts Boulevard (149th Avenue)
Sailor
Fort Greene, Brooklyn
I went for the first time a few weeks ago, and I couldn’t have been more impressed. The atmosphere, the staff, all the little details around the restaurant were wonderful. And the kitchen team knows how to cook! Everything from the bread with leek butter to the oyster rice to the roasted chicken was delicious, all perfectly executed. I can’t wait to go back again. — Suzanne Cupps, Lola’s
228 DeKalb Avenue (Clermont Avenue)
Telly’s Taverna
Astoria, Queens
My all time favorite restaurant is this family-owned restaurant in Queens: I went there for the first time in early ’90s, when it was a very small restaurant. The matriarch-owner was always there and knew everyone. All our anniversaries, graduations and Sofreh celebrations have been in that place. — Nasim Alikhani, Sofreh
28-13 23rd Avenue (29th Street)
Le Bilboquet
Upper East Side, Manhattan
I think Le Bilboquet is so fun. As a Lower Manhattan dingbat, going up there, it’s like a two hour Upper East Side vacation. The service is fine-dining tight but properly devoid of corny obsequiousness, and the people watching is, my god, incredible. My partner and I go once, maybe twice a year for special occasions, like it’s Tuesday and I have the night off. And, yes, we always order two Cajun chickens — every table gets the Cajun chicken. It’s not a cheap restaurant but it’s not supposed to be, it shouldn’t be. — Brooks Headley, Superiority Burger
20 East 60th Street (Madison Avenue)
Smithereens
East Village, Manhattan
In terms of the question of where to eat right now, I’m sticking to the East Village. I’m a huge fan of Smithereens, probably my favorite new spot in the neighborhood. Nick Tamburo is one of the most creative and impressive chefs in New York City. He goes out of his way to seek out fun ingredients. Feels like that attention to sourcing yields a new surprise each time I visit. He also hits all the boxes with his desserts. The celery float never gets old. — Joshua Pinsky, Penny and Claud
414 East Ninth Street (First Avenue)
Cote Korean Steakhouse
Flatiron, Manhattan
Cote is a completely different kind of thrill — downtown, sexy, high-energy. I like to start with a cocktail at Undercote, then head upstairs for the main event. The quality of the beef is extraordinary — truly premium cuts, butchered in-house and presented in perfect cube-size bites that sear beautifully and eat effortlessly. It’s fun, convivial and paced just right by a team that knows how to make you feel taken care of from start to finish. — Eric Ripert, Le Bernardin
16 West 22nd Street (Fifth Avenue)
Pomp and Circumstance
East Williamsburg, Brooklyn
I’m a big fan of this restaurant in Brooklyn. The chef, James Ahearn, makes one of the best pita breads I’ve ever had. Lovely pairing with the bottarga onion dip! Overall flavors and hospitality are always exceptional. — Ali Saboor, Eyval
577 Lorimer Street (Metropolitan Avenue)
Uncle Lou
Chinatown, Manhattan
My favorite restaurant right now is Uncle Lou; they take so much care in the style of cooking they execute, it has something for everyone. They are wok masters. I often have it on my mind. They have an old-school style of food, no compromise on flavor and full of technique from the old country. Then on the other hand you can have the best “Americanized” Chinese: General Tso, fried dumplings, egg rolls, Singapore mei fun. All the classics. I love how they incorporate this balanced menu, something for everyone. — Anthony Ha, Ha’s Snack Bar
73 Mulberry Street (Bayard Street)
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
Lower East Side, Manhattan
It’s around the corner from my restaurants; I eat here probably four times a month. Very affordable, extremely quick service. Something about the peanut noodles and the pork and chive dumpling are incredibly addictive. Damn, now I want some. — Jerald Head, Mắm
295 Grand Street (Eldridge Street)
Place des Fêtes
Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
I’m big on consistency so I’m drawn to a restaurant that consistently delivers great food, has wonderful ambience and a friendly staff. The team at Place des Fêtes delivers that time and time again. It’s a go-to restaurant for me when I’m not looking to try somewhere new but want to have a great experience. The vibes are great, the wine list is stellar and the food is delicious. You can’t go wrong with a couple of their crudo or seafood preparations, all their veggies dishes and a hearty main to share. — Aretah Ettarh, Gramercy Tavern
212 Greene Avenue (Grand Avenue)
Roman’s
Fort Greene, Brooklyn
This probably won’t come as much of a surprise to many, but if I am not at King, you will likely find me at Roman’s, the local, iconic, always delicious Italian canteen in Fort Greene. It is everything you could want from your neighborhood restaurant. It’s classic, relaxed and sexy, with food that is simple but deeply delicious, served in a snug dining room. It has a friendly bar and low lighting that makes you accidentally stay for hours. It’s hard not to return daily when the cocktails are this good, the big-bright salads are boasting the season’s latest and the pastas are this silky and saucy. I imagine it’s not easy being everything to everyone, but after 15 years Roman’s remains a New York institution showing us exactly what warm hospitality and really great food is. — Jess Shadbolt, King
243 DeKalb Avenue (Vanderbilt Avenue)
Thai Diner
NoLIta, Manhattan
Thai Diner is one of those rare spots that manages to be both inventive and deeply comforting. The menu is full of personality and heart. Dishes like the scallops with a perfectly balanced sauce. The Thai tea buns are memorable takes that respect tradition while offering something new. The space itself feels warm and nostalgic, with retro décor that makes you want to linger. It’s the kind of place you keep coming back to — for the food, the vibe and the feeling that you’re somewhere special. — Karina Garcia, Cocina Consuelo
186 Mott Street (Kenmare Street)
Raval Steakhouse
Tompkinsville, Staten Island
I love dishes that speak to simplicity and doing what we do best with little effort and tremendous passion and purpose. I don’t get the opportunity to sit down and dine often, but when I do want to sit down and enjoy a really beautiful meal, I love Raval Steakhouse on Minthorne. The Cajun rib-eye is perfectly prepared and has so much flavor. — Shaw-naé Dixon, Shaw-naé’s House
12 Minthorne Street (Bay Street)
Responses have been edited and condensed.
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Nikita Richardson is an editor in the Food section of The Times.
The post New York City’s Best Chefs Pick Their Favorite Restaurants appeared first on New York Times.
