If you are looking for the best restaurants in Times Square, NYC, the honest answer is that most of them are not worth your time. The neighborhood runs on tourist foot traffic, and the restaurants that fill it know that. Most are chains, overpriced, or both. New Yorkers generally avoid the area entirely. Sometimes we have to walk through it to get somewhere else, but if you stopped ten people on 42nd Street and asked where they were from, eight would say they are not from New York.
That said, Times Square is where most visitors to the city stay, and for good reason. It is centrally located, has more hotels than anywhere else in Manhattan, and puts you within walking distance of Broadway, Central Park, and most major subway lines. If it is your first time in New York, staying here makes sense even if eating here generally does not.
But there are genuine exceptions. The best tacos in NYC are arguably right here. A steakhouse that has been feeding Broadway crowds since 1927 is a few steps from the theater district. A Florentine sandwich shop that lines up around the block in Florence does the same thing on 8th Avenue. And Patsy’s on 56th Street has been Frank Sinatra’s favorite restaurant since the 1940s, which tells you something.
These are the best restaurants at Times Square that are actually worth your time. For everything else, walk two blocks west to Hell’s Kitchen, where the dining scene is significantly better and covered in my Best Restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen guide.
Top Picks for Best Restaurants in Times Square, NYC
Times Square has more restaurants than you could visit in a month, and most of them are not worth your time. So, if you are wondering where to eat in Times Square, these four are the ones I would send anyone to first, covering the best of what the neighborhood actually does well.
BEST STEAKHOUSE
Gallagher's Steakhouse
One of the great old school New York steakhouses, open since 1927 and still doing things the right way. The glass enclosed meat locker greeting you at the door sets the tone. Dry aged prime beef cooked over hickory coals, walls covered in a century of celebrity photos, and a room that feels like it belongs to a different era of the city. The porterhouse for two is the move.
BEST PIZZA
Don Antonio
The best Neapolitan pizza near Times Square, run by Giorgia Caporuscio, one of the most respected pizza makers in NYC. The Montanara, a deep-fried and oven-finished pizza with smoked mozzarella and tomato sauce, is the signature order and unlike almost anything else in the city.
BEST ITALIAN
Patsy's Italian Restaurant
Frank Sinatra’s favorite restaurant since the 1940s and still owned and operated by the same Scognamillo family that founded it in 1944. Three chefs in over 80 years, a second floor room officially named The Frank Sinatra Room, and a Southern Italian menu that has barely changed in decades. Not a fancy white tablecloth experience but a genuinely good dinner with real New York history behind it.
BEST TACOS
Los Tacos No. 1
Arguably the best tacos in NYC, from three friends from Tijuana who kept the menu to four options: carne asada, pollo asado, adobada pork, and nopal cactus. Fast, casual, under $20 for a full meal, and one of the few genuinely great things to eat in the Times Square area. The original location is in Chelsea Market but the West 43rd Street counter puts it right in the neighborhood.
What Are the Borders of Times Square?
The Times Square Alliance District lies within 40th St up to 53rd St between 6th Ave and 8th Ave. Additionally, W46th St between 8th and 9th Avenues, known as Restaurant Row has been carved out and included as part of Times Square.
You’ll find that many other lists will include restaurants outside this area because it is honestly difficult to build a strong restaurant list within Times Square itself. But I’m sticking to these defined borders for my list.
Gallaghers Steakhouse
If you are looking for the best steakhouse in Times Square, Gallagher’s on West 52nd Street is the answer. It has been here since 1927, when it opened as a speakeasy during Prohibition, serving illegal liquor listed on the menu as “the other soup.” When Prohibition ended in 1933, the owners converted it into Broadway’s first steakhouse, and nearly a hundred years later it remains one of the best steakhouses in NYC.
The first thing you notice walking in is the glass-enclosed meat locker facing the street, where between 2,800 and 3,800 pounds of prime beef hang at any given time, dry aging for 28 to 30 days before reaching a plate. All steaks are hand-cut in-house and cooked over live hickory coals, which gives them a char and smokiness that most modern steakhouses skip entirely. The porterhouse for two is the best order if you’re sharing. The New York sirloin and rib eye are the reliable solo orders. Start with the wedge salad or clams casino, and get creamed spinach on the side.
The walls are covered floor to ceiling with photos of celebrities, athletes, and Broadway stars going back nearly a hundred years. The Rat Pack, Muhammad Ali, Joe DiMaggio, JFK. The room tells the story of New York better than most museums. It earned a spot on OpenTable’s America’s Top 100 Restaurants in both 2022 and 2024 and is consistently ranked as one of the top steakhouse restaurants in the Times Square area.
This is not a cheap dinner. It is a special occasion restaurant that happens to sit a few steps from Times Square, and one of the few genuinely good reasons to eat in the neighborhood.
Reservations on OpenTable. Dress code is smart casual.
STEAKHOUSE | TIMES SQUARE | PRE-THEATER | DATE NIGHT | RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
Patsy's Italian Restaurant
Patsy’s has been on West 56th Street since 1944, which makes it one of the longest-running Italian restaurants in New York City and one of the most famous restaurants in the Times Square area. Founded by Pasquale Scognamillo, who immigrated from Naples and worked his way up from a Macy’s delivery driver to restaurant owner, it has had exactly three chefs in over 80 years: Pasquale himself, his son Joe, and Joe’s son Sal, who has been running the kitchen for the past 25 years.
The Frank Sinatra connection is real and well documented. Sinatra ate here so regularly that the second floor back room is now officially called The Frank Sinatra Room, named with the blessing of the Sinatra family in 2019. The restaurant has a statue of Sinatra at the bar and the staff will happily tell you stories about him if you ask. Mario Puzo reportedly found inspiration for The Godfather’s Don Corleone in the characters he encountered at Patsy’s. When Francis Ford Coppola asked to film a scene there for The Godfather Part II, Joe Scognamillo declined, reasoning that nobody wants to think about a man being stabbed at the bar while eating their spaghetti. Hard to argue.
The menu is Southern Italian and has not changed much in decades, which is a feature rather than a flaw. The spaghetti and meatballs, veal rollatine marsala, lobster fra diavolo, clams oreganata, and eggplant parmesan are the dishes that come up repeatedly in reviews. Sinatra’s personal favorite was the veal Milanese. Chef Sal is often on the premises and is known for coming out to greet tables, which gives the whole place a warmth that is increasingly rare in Midtown.
This is one of the best Italian restaurants near Times Square and genuinely worth the walk up to 56th Street. Smart casual dress code, no shorts.
Reservations recommended. Call directly as they are not on OpenTable.
ITALIAN | SOUTHERN ITALIAN | PRE-THEATER | DATE NIGHT | RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
Don Antonio
For the best pizza near Times Square, Don Antonio on West 50th Street is the one worth going a little out of your way for. Technically it sits just off 8th Avenue on the Hell’s Kitchen border, but it serves the Times Square and Theater District crowd as much as anyone, and the pizza is good enough to walk an extra block for.
Chef and owner Giorgia Caporuscio is one of the more respected pizza makers in the city. The menu has around 40 Neapolitan options, all made with double zero flour imported from Italy, dough fermented for 24 hours, and cooked in a proper pizza oven. Don Antonio ranked 7th in the 2025 50 Top Pizza USA Awards, which gives you a sense of where it sits among pizza restaurants in NYC.
The signature is the Montanara: deep-fried dough topped with smoked mozzarella, San Marzano tomato sauce, and fresh basil, finished in the oven. It is unlike most pizza you will find in the city and worth ordering even if you are not sure about the fried dough concept. The cocktail list is solid too if you want a drink with your meal.
If you are visiting NYC for the first time and want to try a classic New York slice rather than Neapolitan, Joe’s Pizza has a location on Broadway near 40th Street. It is not the best pizza in NYC but it is quintessential New York style and worth trying on your first visit. Just go to Don Antonio for a proper sit-down pizza dinner.
PIZZA | NEAPOLITAN | ITALIAN | CASUAL | FULL PIES ONLY
Los Tacos No. 1
For the best tacos in Times Square, and arguably some of the best tacos in NYC, Los Tacos No. 1 is the place. It started as a counter in Chelsea Market and has since expanded to several locations around the city, including one on West 43rd Street that puts it squarely in the Times Square area.
The concept is simple. Three friends from Tijuana built the menu around genuine Mexican street tacos, and the menu has stayed intentionally short: carne asada, pollo asado, adobada pork, and nopal cactus. You can get any of them as quesadillas instead. Add a side of guacamole and an agua fresca and you have a complete meal for well under $20, which in this neighborhood is practically a miracle.
The vibe is a Tijuana street stall, not a sit-down restaurant. It is fast, casual, and loud. This is one of the better options for Mexican food in Times Square, in a neighborhood that does not have many. No reservations, just show up.
MEXICAN CUISINE | TACOS | CASUAL | CHEAP EATS | QUICK EATS
La Masseria
La Masseria on West 48th Street fills a different role than Patsy’s on this list. Where Patsy’s leans into its New York history and celebrity lore, La Masseria is rooted in the Italian countryside. The name refers to the ancient fortified farmhouses of the Puglia region in southern Italy, and that is where chef and co-owner Pino Coladonato grew up. The menu reflects his background, with fava beans, chickpeas, and lentils working their way into dishes alongside the more familiar pastas and proteins.
The farmhouse theme works without feeling gimmicky, with antique iron sconces, old farming tools on the walls, and a rustic warmth that makes it feel removed from the Times Square area outside. The upstairs mezzanine is quieter and worth requesting if you want a more intimate dinner. Portions are generous across the board and the table tends to share.
The pasta and seafood are the strongest parts of the menu. It is a step up in price from the more casual Italian options in the neighborhood, and sits comfortably as one of the better Italian restaurants in Times Square for a proper sit-down dinner rather than a quick meal before a show.
ITALIAN | SOUTHERN ITALIAN | PRE-THEATER | DATE NIGHT
Oceana
Oceana on West 49th Street is the most upscale restaurant on this list and the best option for serious seafood in the Times Square area. It sits between Rockefeller Center and the Theater District, run by the Livanos family who have been a fixture of New York fine dining for decades.
The raw bar is the first thing worth knowing about. Oceana works directly with oyster farms and the selection changes daily, offered alongside clams, colossal shrimp, chilled Maine lobster, and optional osetra caviar. The main dining room menu is driven by fresh seasonal seafood and changes regularly. The Jonah crab bucatini, seared octopus, and tuna tartare are dishes that appear consistently in reviews. For a more casual visit the oyster bar and cafe area lets you eat and drink without committing to a full dinner.
The pre-theater prix fixe at $69 for three courses, available Monday through Friday from 4pm to 6pm, is one of the better values for the quality level in this neighborhood. The wine list has earned Wine Spectator recognition for over a decade. It is also one of the better options for a romantic dinner in Times Square, with a polished room and attentive service that most restaurants in the neighborhood do not bother with.
I have not spent as much time here as the other restaurants on this list, but Oceana has a long and consistent reputation as one of the best seafood restaurants in the Times Square and Rockefeller Center area and belongs on any serious list of the neighborhood’s best dining options.
SEAFOOD | FINE DINING | RAW BAR | PRE-THEATER | RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Ellen's Stardust
If you are traveling with kids or just want the most fun you can have at a restaurant in Times Square, Ellen’s Stardust Diner on Broadway is the answer. It is easily one of the most entertaining restaurants in NYC, and one of the most famous restaurants in the Times Square area for good reason.
The concept is simple. The waitstaff takes turns stepping away from tables, grabbing a microphone, and performing for the entire restaurant. This is not amateur hour karaoke. These are professionally trained singers, many of whom have performed on or off Broadway and are between gigs. The talent level is genuinely impressive, and the performances make the whole experience feel more like dinner theater than a regular diner meal.
The food is diner food. It is not the reason to come and I would not pretend otherwise. I prefer it for breakfast since the menu makes more sense in that context, and a plate of pancakes or eggs with a side of show business is hard to beat on a New York morning. For lunch and dinner the menu expands to burgers, sandwiches, and classic American diner staples, all fine without being memorable.
There is often a line during busy months, but it moves quickly so do not let it put you off. For family friendly restaurants in Times Square, this is the one I would send anyone to first.
No reservations. Walk-ins only.
AMERICAN | DINER | KID FRIENDLY | BREAKFAST | SINGING WAITSTAFF | NO RESERVATIONS
All'antico Vinaio
All’Antico Vinaio started in Florence in 1991 and has since expanded to multiple locations across New York City and beyond. The 8th Avenue location near Times Square was one of their first US outposts, though at this point you can find them in several neighborhoods around Manhattan as well as cities like LA, Las Vegas, and Nashville. The sandwiches are still worth the hype.
The bread is schiacciata, a Tuscan flatbread similar to focaccia but made with less water and given less time to rise, resulting in something thinner and crisper that holds up well to the fillings. Watch the counter staff slice meat and assemble sandwiches with condiments like truffle cream, artichoke cream, and pistachio cream. The La Favolosa, with salami, pecorino cream, artichoke, and eggplant, is the one most people order. I tend to go with the La Toscana, which is simpler: salami, Pecorino cheese, and truffle honey. Both are good.
The sandwiches run close to $20 but are large enough to split, which makes them reasonable for lunch in this part of the city. It is the best sandwich option in Times Square and one of the better quick lunches in the neighborhood if you are on your feet and want something substantial without sitting down.
ITALIAN | SANDWICHES | CASUAL | LUNCH | GRAB AND GO
Margon
Margon is the kind of hidden gem that tourists walk past without a second look, which is exactly why locals who work in Midtown have been going there for decades. It is one of the most non-touristy restaurants in the Times Square area, and easily one of the best cheap eats you will find in this part of the city.
The counter-service setup is simple. The menu is Cuban and Dominican, with daily specials that come with yellow rice, beans, and plantains. The Cuban sandwich, stuffed with roast pork, ham, and salami, is the thing most people order and it is hard to argue with. The oxtail stew, ribs, and whole fried fish are all worth considering if you want something more substantial. Prices are reasonable by any standard, and by Times Square standards they are practically a gift.
If you want something more atmospheric, Havana Central is right across the street and has a decent happy hour. But for the food itself Margon is the better call by a comfortable margin.
One thing to know before you go: Margon is a weekday lunch spot. It closes at 5pm Monday through Friday, opens slightly later on Saturdays, and is closed on Sundays entirely. Plan accordingly.
CUBAN | CASUAL | LUNCH | CHEAP EATS
Restaurant Row: West 46th Street
West 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, known as Restaurant Row, has been one of the most concentrated dining blocks in New York City for over a century. Sitting directly between Times Square and the Theater District, it remains one of the best areas for pre-theater restaurants near Broadway, with dozens of options packed onto a single block.
The Times Square Alliance officially includes it within the Times Square district, and it earns the designation. The block is lined with restaurants on both sides, ranging from pre-theater prix fixe spots to longtime neighborhood institutions, and it is worth knowing about even if none of the individual restaurants rise to must-visit status on their own.
A few worth mentioning:
Le Rivage is a French bistro that has been on the block for decades, and the French onion soup burger is one of the more unique things you will find on any menu in the Theater District.
Barbetta has been open since 1906, making it the oldest restaurant in New York City still owned by its founding family. The interior is stunning and the outdoor garden is one of the more beautiful dining spaces in Midtown, popular for private events and worth seeing even if you just stop in for a drink.
Sushi of Gari, whose original Upper East Side location helped elevate Japanese cuisine in New York and held a Michelin star for years, has a location here as well, though it has become more ordinary over time.
None of these are the reason to visit Times Square, but if you find yourself on W46th before a show, the block gives you more options than most streets in the neighborhood.
Are Carmine's, Junior's, and Virgil's Tourist Traps?
If you spend any time in Times Square Facebook groups or scroll through Google reviews, you will find plenty of recommendations for places I left off this list. Carmine’s, Virgil’s, Junior’s, and a handful of others come up constantly. Those recommendations almost always come from tourists. Locals rarely go to any of them and most New Yorkers consider them overpriced tourist traps with food that does not justify the lines or the prices.
That said, each of them has its place and I am not here to tell you not to go. Here are my honest takes on the ones you will hear about most.
Carmine's
If someone tells you Carmine’s is the best Italian restaurant in New York, you have just identified a tourist. Carmine’s is a corporate chain with locations at casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, at Atlantis in the Bahamas, and in Washington DC. The food is fine. It is not a destination.
That said, Carmine’s is genuinely useful for one specific situation: large family gatherings. The meals are served family style in portions meant for sharing, and the pricing is actually reasonable for the neighborhood. If you are feeding eight people before a Broadway show and need something everyone will eat without complaint, Carmine’s solves that problem. Just do not confuse it with good Italian food.
For actual Italian, walk up to 56th Street for Patsy’s, which has been here since 1944 and earned its reputation honestly. Try Becco on Restaurant Row. Or head downtown to the West Village where you will find some of the best Italian restaurants in the city at I Sodi, Via Carota, or L’Artusi.
Tony’s Di Napoli is essentially the same situation as Carmine’s. Family style, large portions, tourist crowd, owned by the same group that runs the Dallas BBQ chain (please don’t go to those). If Carmine’s works for your group, Tony’s will too. Neither is worth going out of your way for.
Junior's
Junior’s is a legitimate NYC institution, but mainly for one thing: the cheesecake. New York style cheesecake is made with cream cheese, fresh heavy cream, eggs, and a touch of vanilla, resulting in something dense and rich with a graham cracker crust, and Junior’s has been making it the same way for over 70 years. It is genuinely excellent and worth ordering.
The rest of the food is a different story. It is basically a glorified diner, and not a particularly good one. Come for the cheesecake, enjoy the casual setting if you have kids in tow, and do not expect much beyond that.
Virgil's Real BBQ
Virgil’s is owned by the same corporation as Carmine’s, with locations in Las Vegas and the Bahamas. That should tell you what you need to know about the BBQ.
If you are a serious BBQ person who has been to Franklin BBQ in Austin, Joe’s Kansas City, or Lexington BBQ in North Carolina, Virgil’s will disappoint you. The bar is decent and the jumbo wings are genuinely good, so if you end up here go for those rather than the BBQ itself.
Honestly, New York City is not a BBQ city and you should not come here expecting it to be. If you are determined to find good BBQ in New York, Dinosaur BBQ up in Harlem is the better option in Manhattan, or make the trip out to Hometown Bar-B-Que in Red Hook, Brooklyn, which is the closest thing the city has to serious regional American BBQ.
A Note on Rockefeller Center
If you extend your dining search east toward 6th Avenue and Rockefeller Center, the options get considerably more interesting. Technically within the borders of this guide but feeling like a different neighborhood entirely, a few restaurants here are worth knowing about. Le Bernardin on West 51st Street is one of the greatest restaurants in the United States, a three Michelin star seafood institution that has held that rating for decades and is worth planning a special trip around. Avra on West 51st does excellent upscale Greek seafood. La Grande Boucherie on 53rd is a massive Art Nouveau French brasserie with 40-foot glass ceilings that is as much a spectacle as a meal. None of these feel like Times Square dining, but all are walkable from the area and a significant step up from most of what you will find in the tourist corridor.
More Midtown and Times Square Guides
Hell’s Kitchen sits directly west of Times Square and has a significantly better dining scene for the effort of a two block walk. If you are staying in the area, my guide to the Best Restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen covers everything from Michelin starred Korean tasting menus to late night empanadas.
For where to stay in the neighborhood, my guide for the Best Hotels in Hell’s Kitchen covers options that put you in a better location without paying Times Square prices.
We will continue updating this list as the neighborhood changes. New restaurants open and close regularly in this part of the city, and we will add anything worth knowing about as we find it.
