13 TikTok-Viral Restaurants In NYC That You Need To Try (2024)

It's no secret that TikTok is one of the best ways to discover new restaurants. Content creators capture everything from local favorites to buzzy new spots, exposing audiences to cuisines they may have never tried before.

Our For You pages are inundated with viral dishes in every corner of the country. But those of us in New York City arguably have more options than residents of any other city.

We have croissants that garner lines around the block. There are pasta spots that require reservations months in advance. New York is the ultimate destination if you want to try TikTok-viral foods.

Whether you're a local looking to try a new restaurant or a tourist trying to taste a dish you saw online, we've rounded up 13 viral TikTok spots that are worth a visit.

Saint Theo’s

Saint Theo's in Manhattan's West Village first went viral for their creamy ricotta pasta that comes with homemade chili oil to drizzle over the top. It's basically the fanciest mac and cheese you'll ever eat.

Carbone

You can't scroll through FoodTok without seeing something about Carbone. The buzzy celebrity hot spot features Italian American classics, and people wait months to try a bite of their famous spicy rigatoni.

Hamburger America

George Motz is arguably the world's most knowledgable burger expert, so when he opened Hamburger America in late 2023 it immediately went viral. This burger spot is modeled after an old-school diner where you can sit at the counter and watch your smash burger cook on the griddle right in front of you.

Flippers

There are pancakes, and then there are pancakes at Flippers. This breakfast spot makes Japanese-style soufflé pancakes that are tall, airy, and impossibly fluffy.

Golden Diner

Another viral pancake spot is Golden Diner in the Two Bridges neighborhood of Manhattan. People wait upwards of three hours to get a taste of their pancakes, which are hearty, decadent, and topped with honey butter.

Skirt Steak

Skirt Steak in Chelsea has a $45 set menu that includes salad, skirt steak topped with béarnaise sauce, and unlimited fries. But if that's not enough for you, they also offer a rotating menu of sides and desserts.

Bad Roman

Bad Roman is one of the newest concepts from the Quality Branded team, and viral TikToks about the spot garnered a lot of controversy. But it is worth visiting to try their crispy pepperoni chips.

Loulou

The viral restaurant Loulou in Chelsea also boasts a speakeasy on the lower level. Come for the food, stay for the amazing co*cktails.

Red Hook Food

We can't talk about viral TikTok spots in New York without mentioning Red Hook Food, colloquially known as the Ocky Way bodega. It's a must-try spot if you're looking to enjoy a bacon egg and cheese with a side of some entertainment.

Lafayette

Croissants are delicious enough on their own, but Lafayette Bakery in NoHo ups the ante with their viral Suprêmes. These decadent treats are filled with seasonal flavors and generate lines that wrap around the block.

Lucali

Anybody who has followed the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef probably heard Lucali getting mentioned in the song "6:16 in LA." This viral spot has a limited menu with some of the best pizza and calzones in all five boroughs.

Misi

World-renowned chef Missy Robbins has two pasta spots in Brooklyn that fight for the title of the best restaurant in the borough. Misi in Williamsburg is our personal favorite, thanks to their viral whipped ricotta toast.

L’Appartement 4F

If you're willing to wake up early, the croissants from L'Appartement 4F are worth braving the line. You can also buy a box of their homemade cereal made with miniature croissants to take home.