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Best Bars & Restaurants in Hell's Kitchen (HK)

Theater kids, global eats on 9th Avenue, and the gritty-turned-great west side neighborhood.

  • Eclectic
  • Foodie
  • Theater-Adjacent
  • LGBTQ+-Friendly
  • Lively

  1. Number 1Jan Jao Kha Thai RestaurantRestaurants & DiningRated 5.0 out of 5
  2. Number 2Pop’s Pizza - Times SquareRestaurants & DiningRated 5.0 out of 5
  3. Number 3KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot PotRestaurants & DiningRated 4.9 out of 5

More top places in Hell's Kitchen

Restaurants, bars and cafes, ranked by rating and how many reviews back it, after the three above.

  • Rank 4

    Restaurants & Dining

    Valla Table

    4.9 out of 5Price level $$

    Unique and Authentic Thai flavors that pair perfectly with a carefully curated wine list. Chef Chuck is an expert in both the kitchen and the dining room.

  • Rank 5

    Restaurants & Dining

    Chalong Southern Thai

    4.9 out of 5Price level $$

    Chalong Southern Thai is a restaurant in Hell's Kitchen described by visitors as food-focused, thai and indian, cozy interior. Based on 10 reviews.

  • Rank 6
    4.9 out of 5Price level $$

    Jerk House Caribbean Restaurant is a restaurant in Hell's Kitchen described by visitors as food-focused, latin and american, moderate energy. Based on 10 reviews.

  • Rank 7

    Restaurants & Dining

    Manhatto

    4.9 out of 5Price level $$$

    Manhatto is a well-known japanese restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. Serving quality food in a welcoming atmosphere.

  • Rank 8

    Restaurants & Dining

    Annapurna Bhavan

    4.9 out of 5

    South Indian vegetarian restaurant in Murray Hill serving dosas, idli, vada, and traditional thalis. Known for authentic flavors and warm hospitality in a sit-down setting.

  • Rank 9

    Restaurants & Dining

    Pasta Eater Hell’s Kitchen

    4.9 out of 5Price level $$

    Pasta Eater Hell’s Kitchen is a restaurant in Hell's Kitchen described by visitors as a cafe, pizza and italian, cozy interior. Based on 10 reviews.

  • Rank 10

    Restaurants & Dining

    Mountain House

    4.9 out of 5Price level $$

    Mountain House is a well-known chinese restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. Serving quality food in a welcoming atmosphere.

  • Rank 11

    Restaurants & Dining

    Koji Chicken

    4.9 out of 5Price level $$

    Koji Chicken is a well-known american restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. Serving quality food in a welcoming atmosphere.

  • Rank 12
    4.9 out of 5

    The most prominent French macaron company in the U.S. is here. If you want to have a taste of the best macarons in all of the New York City area, then come and say hi!

What to do in Hell's Kitchen

Every category, narrowed to this neighborhood.

What makes Hell's Kitchen one of the best neighborhoods in NYC

9th Avenue: the restaurant row nobody warned you about (in a good way)

Hell's Kitchen is the neighborhood that proves Midtown doesn't have to suck. While Times Square bleeds tourists, 9th Avenue quietly runs one of the best restaurant rows in the city — Thai, Mexican, Ethiopian, Italian, all within stumbling distance. The theater crowd eats here before shows. The locals eat here after. Everyone wins.

Hell's Kitchen (some call it Clinton, but nobody who actually lives there does) runs from 34th to 59th Street west of Eighth Avenue. Ninth Avenue is the main event—a nonstop parade of Thai, Ethiopian, Mexican, Greek, and Japanese restaurants that makes it one of the best food streets in Manhattan. The pre-theater crowd floods in from Broadway. The neighborhood has a strong LGBTQ+ community and some of the city's best gay bars outside the Village. DeWitt Clinton Park and the Hudson River Greenway offer escape. It used to be dangerous; now the biggest risk is eating too much.

Best for

Walking 9th Avenue from 42nd to 56th and eating your way through every cuisine on the planet without leaving one street

Insider tip

Pre-theater dinner on 9th Ave beats any Times Square tourist trap by a mile. Trust us.

Hell's Kitchen is known for

  • 9th Avenue restaurants
  • Pre-theater dining
  • Gay bars
  • Restaurant Row
  • Hudson River Greenway

Local lingo: “We don't call it Clinton. It's Hell's Kitchen. Always has been.”

Frequently asked questions about Hell's Kitchen

What are the best restaurants in Hell's Kitchen?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top restaurants in Hell's Kitchen on Moodap are Jan Jao Kha Thai Restaurant (Thai, 5.0 stars), Pop’s Pizza - Times Square (Pizza, 5.0 stars) and KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot (Korean, 4.9 stars).
What are the best bars in Hell's Kitchen?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top bars in Hell's Kitchen on Moodap are Central Park Tavern (Dive bar, 4.9 stars), The Dickens (Cocktail bar, 4.8 stars) and Sir Henry’s (Cocktail bar, 4.8 stars).
What are the best cafes in Hell's Kitchen?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top cafes in Hell's Kitchen on Moodap are Woops! Macarons & Gifts (Port Authority NYC) (Bakery, 4.9 stars), TP TEA 茶湯會 (Columbus Circle, NY) (Bubble tea, 4.9 stars) and Broad Nosh Bagels Deli & Catering 58th Street (Bagels/Pretzels, 4.8 stars).
Where can I eat or drink cheap in Hell's Kitchen?
187 places in Hell's Kitchen are marked budget-friendly ($). The best-ranked are Pop’s Pizza - Times Square (Pizza, 5.0 stars), Woops! Macarons & Gifts (Port Authority NYC) (Bakery, 4.9 stars) and The SSam - Midtown (Korean, 5.0 stars).
What kind of food is Hell's Kitchen known for?
Of the 343 restaurants Moodap lists in Hell's Kitchen, the most common kinds are American (42), Deli (38), Pizza (38) and Japanese (34).
How many places does Moodap list in Hell's Kitchen?
343 restaurants, 99 bars and 103 cafes, each with its own page. The best-ranked are at the top of this page.
What neighborhoods are near Hell's Kitchen?
Chelsea, Midtown, Times Square and Hudson Yards are next door. Each has its own guide on Moodap, linked on this page.
How does Moodap rank places in Hell's Kitchen?
By star rating, weighted by how many reviews back it: a place with hundreds of strong reviews ranks above a perfect score from a handful. Places with few or no reviews come after well-reviewed ones. Not sure which fits your plans? Find Your Vibe™ picks one for your mood in about 25 seconds.

Find your Hell's Kitchen spot

Answer a few quick questions and Moodap narrows the neighborhood down to places that fit your mood.

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