The 7 Best Restaurants in NYC Where No Reservations are Needed
It is sometimes nice to know that you can go to a restaurant at the spur of the moment and still be able to be seated with little to no wait time. These are the 7 best restaurants in New York City where no reservations are needed even during the busiest times like the weekend!
Kambi Ramen House – 351 E 14th St
Most of the ramen shops in New York City do not take reservations but some of the most popular ramen restaurants like Ippudo, Ramen Lab and even Kambi’s sister restaurant Minca can have huge wait times. Kambi Ramen House has top notch ramens and you are usually seated right away. They also have a lunch special that can’t be beat. Their amazing ramen, a rice bowl and a salad will only set you back about $16.
Joy Luck Palace – 98 Mott St
P.C.: yelp, Emmie W.
Dim sum restaurants also almost never take reservations. Joy Luck Palace is one of the newer dim sum restaurants in Chinatown. It is always busy but the dining room is huge and you can expect a shorter wait time than Nom Wah Tea Parlor, Jing Fong or Golden Unicorn. Their dim sum is always delicious and they are perhaps best known for their buns decorated as cute animals.
Augustine – 5 Beekman St
With Cherche Midi closing and Balthazar always packed, we recommend another Keith McNally restaurant to get your French fix. Like Cherche Midi and Balthazar, Augustine is a beautiful restaurant and you can enjoy French classics like steak frites and tuna nicoise salad here.
MarkJoseph Steakhouse – 261 Water St
Some steakhouses are nearly impossible to get into without a reservation like Peter Luger or Keens Steakhouse. One of our favorite steakhouses is a bit of a hidden gem, MarkJoseph Steakhouse. For the best bang for your buck, definitely check out this steakhouse during NYC Restaurant Week where you can get a steak dinner for only $42. Even during Restaurant Week, you should be seated right away.
Freemans – Freeman Alley
P.C.: yelp, Amy L.
Freemans used to have a long wait list every night but now it is one the best restaurants in New York City that you can actually get into. After all these years, we are still craving their artichoke dip, devils on horseback appetizer and grilled whole trout. Freemans is also a great option for brunch.
David Burke Kitchen – 23 Grand St
SoHo has a bunch of hip and trendy restaurants but the one we recommend is David Burke Kitchen. David Burke Kitchen has been wowing us in different ways every time we visit. Their steaks, burgers and pastas are all delicious. If you are looking for something a little different though, definitely check out their cheesecake lollipop tree for dessert.
Keste – 77 Fulton St & Other Locations
Finally pizza places like Arturo’s and Lombardi’s can have huge crowds of people waiting for a seat. One place with amazing pizzas where no reservations are needed is Keste. We especially recommend their prosciutto and arugula pizza and the montanara, a fried dough pizza.