My wife and I are going to be at Times Square for three hours tomorrow evening. What should we do? We’re going to eat supper there, too. What’s the must-go for dinner? It would have to be casual and affordable. We’ve never been to NYC before. (If that wasnt obvious.)
I’m not a city native. But Junior’s is a local landmark. Order the cheesecake.
Junior’s is a local landmark on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The Times Sqaure version is ersatz.
…but still good. 5 Napkin Burger for dinner, Junior’s for dessert.
Just FYI–most of us who live in NYC don’t hang out in Times Square. We go there if we have to, or if we’re getting discount theater tickets. But that’s about it. Many of us see it as a very large, frustratingly crowded, pretty overpriced tourist trap. There are some solid dining options tucked in among the Applebees and Olive Gardens, but I’m not sure I’d fight my way through a lot of Times Square for them.
My advice would be to take the subway a stop or two up or down to eat. The trip to and from Times Square would be fast, and you’d have a much better experience.
What kinds of food do you like? If you’re into Korean food, or would like to try Korean food, take the 1, 2, 3, A, C, or E trains at Times Square and go one stop down to Penn Station. Koreatown is about a block away. The trip from Times Square would take about 15 minutes, max, door to door.
You could also take the N, R, Q, or W one stop down to Herald Square. Then Koreatown is about 2 blocks away. Or you could just decide to try the great food trucks, with dishes from a variety of cuisines, right near the Herald Square subway stop.
If the idea of taking the subway is intimidating, or you really don’t want to deal with it, walking a few blocks away from Times Square itself might be a good choice. Totto Ramen, on W. 51st St., between 9th and 10th Aves., might be a good choice. I’ve heard good things about Toloache, the Mexican place a couple blocks up (50th St., I think). There are also the Original Halal Guys, on 53rd St. and 6th Ave.
When you started mentioning taking the subway, my thought was that would be overwhelming to a visitor. I’ve visited NYC a few times and find the subway system confusing and intimidating. But I’ve walked all around Manhattan from Central Park down to Battery Park. It’s pretty easy to walk from Times Square to other nearby neighborhoods, as you mention. So, I’d suggest to the OP that they do their normal research on restaurants within a 10 or 15 minute walk of Times Square.
If they want to stay in Times Square, I don’t have much advice, other than DO NOT eat at Guy Fieri’s restaurant there. We ate there one time and it was terrible. Since they are NY standbys, are there any good delis or pizza joints in or near Times Square? That would at least be different than a chain restaurant or tourist trap eatery.
Please, for the love of God, do not get dinner in Times Square.
There’s lots of good stuff to do there - Broadway shows, gawking at lights, getting robbed by drunken Elmos, but food is not one of them.
Is that Guy Fieri restaurant called “Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar”? Because five years ago, it received this memorable review from the New York Times. It’s written as a series of questions to Guy Fieri and here’s a sample, “Has anyone ever told you that your high-wattage passion for no-collar American food makes you television’s answer to Calvin Trillin, if Mr. Trillin bleached his hair, drove a Camaro and drank Boozy Creamsicles? When you cruise around the country for your show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” rasping out slangy odes to the unfancy places where Americans like to get down and greasy, do you really mean it?”
That’s the one. The NYT just visited the restaurant again for a review. The latest review is better, but far from glowing.
I highly recommend that yo do not eat at Times Square. Walk through, get your pictures, marvel at the spectacle, and then go eat at any one of the vastly better and normally priced restaurants outside of Times Square.
why would anybody eat at a Guy Fieri why would anybody eat at a Guy Fieri restaurant? Every time you see that jerk on TV, you think, I gave that guy some of my money. Sad!
When you get to Times Square, just walk a couple of blocks west, to 7th, 8th, or 9th Avenues. You’ll find better restaurants, lower prices, fewer people, and all within a 10-15 minute walk.
When I lived across the river in Hoboken, my aunt and uncle visited NYC and stayed in the Times Square area. When I went in to meet them for breakfast, this is what we did. Had a great breakfast at some random place on 9th avenue. Lots of interesting places in that part of town, with lots of different ethnic varieties to choose from.
I lived in or around NYC for 25 years, including many in Manhattan. The only times I was ever in Times Square was going through it, to get to the other side. I cannot imagine spending more time there than is necessary.
Seriously. Do you like pizza? There’s a Patsy’s on 56th that is well worth the little walk.
When we go n for a show we usually have lunch at Virgil’s barbecue on 44th.
There’s a decent cheesesteak place on near 9th and 42nd, just west of Times square, called Shorty’s. They have a decent bar as well. Other than that, just walk around and people watch.
Times Square is a fun experience. It is basically an open air shopping mall these days.
Note: It will be crowed. It’s always crowded. Like shoulder to shoulder crowded. If that makes you uncomfortable be ready for it.
There are any really good local restaurants in the area. The one I go to most in the area is Sardi’s. There are places that probably have better food but I have been gong there for years and enjoy it and always get a good meal and service. Be aware that a lot of the restaurants around there get packed when the Broadway shows let out and before they start.
Speaking of Broadway, if you are willing to wait, the TKTS line is there for heavily discounted same day Broadway tickets. Get there early though.
Something very touristy that is fun to do at least once is visit the M&M and Hershey stores there. It’s a blast. I also really liked the Toys R Us but that has closed. It had a life size robotic T-Rex.
Have fun!
Or, go to the line at the far left. That for plays only and it usually takes only 10-15 minutes to get your tickets (sometimes less). No musicals, but there are plenty of good non-musical plays available for half price. I was able to see Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart on stage using it.
Times Square is definitely a shopping mall. It can be pleasant on a nice day – there are places to sit and enjoy the experience.
As for stores, there is little there that you can’t find at home. Junior’s is pretty good, though. But you should follow my rule: never eat at a restaurant that you could eat at in your home town.
There’s Sapporo on 49th Street, just a few doors east of 7th Avenue. It’s the Japanese equivalent of a greasy spoon burger joint. Zero ambiance. Fast service. Enormous bowls of delicious hot ramen fer cheap. Beer. Go and get your Tampopo on.