The Best Restaurants in St Mark’s Place & the East Village
The East Village and specifically one if its main streets, St Mark’s Place is quickly becoming the go to destination for a wide range of exciting and tasty foods. It is in fact one of our favorite neighborhoods in New York City to dine in. With that in mind, here are the best restaurants along St Mark’s Place & the East Village.
Caracas Arepa Bar – 93 1/2 E 7th St & Other Locations
Arepas are a flatbread commonly used in Venezuelan and Colombian cuisine and they are often used to make sandwiches. Our go to spot for arepas is Caracas Arepa Bar. Grilled chicken, shredded beef and roasted pork shoulder are just a few things you can select for your arepas. All are very good options and we honestly have a hard time picking out a favorite. Also next door is the original location of Luke’s Lobster (93 E 7th St), our favorite spot for lobster rolls.
Alder – 157 2nd Ave
Chef Wylie Dufresne isn’t afraid of thinking outside the box and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. His restaurant, Alder is renowned for their unique, innovative takes of classic dishes, like their rye pasta with shaved pastrami and their pigs in the blanket with a Chinese sausage. Trust us, dining here is an adventure you can’t get anywhere else.
Momofuku Noodle Bar – 171 1st Avenue
One of the few must try restaurants in New York City is Momofuku Noodle Bar. The food here is divine and absolutely delicious especially their signature Momofuku ramen or their spicy miso ramen. Momofuku Ssäm Bar (207 2nd Ave) & Momofuku Milk Bar (251 E 13th St & Other Locations) are also a must.
Mark Burgers – 33 St Mark’s Pl
There are a lot of places for burgers in New York City but Mark Burgers along St Mark’s Place has to be one of the best. There is usually a crowd at Mark’s Burgers most likely lining up for their amazing sliders. Their sliders are juicy and full of flavor. Mark Burgers is a great place for a late night snack.
Otafuku – 220 E 9th St
Just a block away from St Mark’s Place is Otafuku and this small hole in the wall food shop is like a portal to Japan. They are famous for their takoyaki aka octopus balls. It is a popular Japanese snack made with a wheat flour based batter and it is made in a special pan. It is perfect for someone looking to try something a little different.
Yakiniku West – 218 E 9th St
Down the block from Otafuku is Yakinku West. It has an inviting and comfortable dining room where you can cook your foods on a special grill on the table. From grilling Kobe beef to more usual cuts like beef tongue, it is a lot of fun.
Other places of note include Mamoun’s (22 St Mark’s Pl & Other Locations), Gem Spa (131 2nd Ave), Crif Dogs (113 St Mark’s Pl) and Ramen Setagaya (34 St Mark’s Pl).