Best Restaurants & Dining in Lower East Side, Manhattan

Lower East Side restaurants range from casual, social rooms to refined counters, and these sit-down picks cover a lot of ground. Expect intimate omakase, provincial Indian cooking and house-made congee, along with Thai, Korean, Szechuan, Argentine plates and late-night burgers.

1. 

   Rank 1LECIEL

   American

   5.0 out of 55.0Price level $$$

   A speakeasy-feeling room where reviewers praise the cocktails, a savory pancake and a bartender who turns rough nights around.

2. 

   Rank 2Pasta Lab NYC

   Italian

   4.9 out of 54.9Price level $$

   Fresh pasta matched to sauces, with the spicy vodka rigatoni and truffle pasta drawing regulars, plus generous portions and friendly staff.

3. 

   Rank 3Blue Road Burger

   American

   4.9 out of 54.9Price level $$

   For a late bite, this small counter grills burgers to order and plays funky music; reviewers also rave about the chicken Caesar wrap.

4. 

   Rank 4Essex

   Steakhouse

   4.8 out of 54.8Price level $$$

   Mediterranean-leaning steakhouse with a lively bottomless brunch, where shrimp and grits and shakshuka win praise alongside attentive bartenders.

5. 

   Rank 5Fan Szechuan Restaurant & Bar 大宅门餐厅酒吧

   Chinese

   4.8 out of 54.8Price level $$

   Szechuan cooking in a cozy, pretty dining room; diners come for the mapo tofu and also single out the Peking duck.

6. 

   Rank 6Tiptara : Thai Food

   Thai

   4.8 out of 54.8Price level $$

   Small family Thai spot near Chinatown where drunken noodles, crispy pork with basil and roti with Massaman curry keep diners returning.

7. 

   Rank 7Taikun Sushi

   Japanese

   4.9 out of 54.9Price level $$$$

   Intimate omakase run by a two-person team, praised for restrained nigiri that lets the fish speak and a well-matched sake pairing.

8. 

   Rank 8Kaki

   Japanese

   4.8 out of 54.8Price level $$$$

   Budget-friendly omakase where the chef explains sourcing; king salmon and kanpachi nigiri come up often, though some find service slow.

9. 

   Rank 97 Elephants

   Thai

   4.8 out of 54.8Price level $

   Homey little Thai shop with kind owners and big portions of comfort dishes like green curry and pad thai.

10. 

    Rank 10Balvanera

    Argentinian

    4.7 out of 54.7Price level $$$$

    Argentine brasserie with a warm, spacious room; empanadas, octopus and a strong South American wine list stand out.

11. 

    Rank 118282

    Korean

    4.7 out of 54.7Price level $$$

    Inventive Korean sharing plates built on bold sauces, from miso black cod with ravioli to a spicy rib and uni tartare.

12. 

    Rank 12Izakaya Juraku

    Japanese

    4.7 out of 54.7Price level $$

    Rowdy Tokyo-style izakaya of skewers and small plates, where tables chant through the matcha sake bomb ritual.

13. 

    Rank 13Genki east omakase

    Japanese

    4.8 out of 54.8Price level $$$

    Wallet-friendly twelve-course omakase with a warm, funny chef; good for first-timers, though veterans and add-on costs draw complaints.

14. 

    Rank 14La Contenta

    Mexican

    4.6 out of 54.6Price level $$

    Mexican kitchen with French touches and a cocktail list leaning on agave spirits, open for dinner and brunch.

15. 

    Rank 15New Spicy Village

    Asian Fusion

    4.1 out of 54.1Price level $$

    Noodle and dumpling house where spicy scallion pork dumplings, beef pancakes and grilled pepper chicken get repeat orders.

16. 

    Rank 16Congee Village

    Chinese

    4.1 out of 54.1Price level $$

    Family-run Cantonese restaurant and bar built around house-made congee, with dim sum and Hong Kong-style dishes for a full table.

17. 

    Rank 17Dhamaka

    Indian

    4.5 out of 54.5Price level $$$

    Provincial Indian cooking rarely found outside homes, from goat kidney Gurda Kapoora to nalli biryani and butter pepper garlic crab.