Best Restaurants & Dining in Washington Heights, Manhattan

Washington Heights eating runs casual and local, with Dominican kitchens, taquerias and pizza counters alongside a few more ambitious rooms. Picks range from oxtail plates to Singaporean laksa and Ethiopian combos.

1. 

   Rank 1L Chingon Mexican Cuisine

   Mexican

   5.0 out of 55.0Price level $$

   Carnitas tacos come with guacamole, crema and salsa on the side, and the small room keeps good music playing while families dig into birria tacos.

2. 

   Rank 2Niccolo Pizzeria

   Pizza

   4.9 out of 54.9

   Crusts here use organic flour from Italy, and the owner works the floor; reviewers also save room for the strawberry gelato after the pasta.

3. 

   Rank 3Addey Ababa

   African

   4.9 out of 54.9Price level $$

   For Ethiopian food in a bright, clean room, regulars order the chicken doro tibbs and veggie sampler, with sambusa to start and bakhlava after.

4. 

   Rank 4Halal Chicks and Platters

   Middle Eastern

   4.8 out of 54.8Price level $$

   A longtime neighborhood resident singles out the crispy tenders at this halal chicken spot, where small groups can sit down or take food away.

5. 

   Rank 5Agave & Maiz

   Mexican

   4.7 out of 54.7Price level $$

   Weekend regulars come for warm service from the bar staff, plus quesabirria, yucca fries, and guacamole and elote appetizers.

6. 

   Rank 6El Linaje

   Dominican

   4.8 out of 54.8Price level $$

   Dominican plates of chicken, fish or beef arrive with beans and rice in generous portions; the shrimp mofongo in cream sauce gets a shout-out.

7. 

   Rank 7High Hill Diner

   American

   4.7 out of 54.7

   Family-run diner with breakfast all day and a terrace; its Croismash puts two smashed Angus patties on a buttery croissant.

8. 

   Rank 8Native Noodles

   Asian Fusion

   4.6 out of 54.6Price level $

   Singaporean noodles in a tiny dining room: reviewers praise the laksa's balance and the shrimp dumpling noodle soup, washed down with calamansi juice.

9. 

   Rank 9Budda Kitchen & Bar

   Asian Fusion

   4.6 out of 54.6Price level $$$

   Asian-Latin fusion with hookah and a loud, energetic room, better suited to a fun night out than a quiet dinner.

10. 

    Rank 10Monkey Brothers Lab

    Mexican

    4.6 out of 54.6Price level $$

    Wings with batata and a Monkey Burger that eats like a chimi win fans, as does the steak with chicken and tostones.

11. 

    Rank 11musubin' cafe

    Japanese

    4.7 out of 54.7Price level $$

    Omusubi are the focus, filled with salt-koji salmon, yuzu tuna or spicy pollock roe, and reviewers also rate the matcha.

12. 

    Rank 12Tinto Tapas Restaurant & Wine Bar

    Spanish

    4.7 out of 54.7

    Spanish small plates and wine: bacon-wrapped dates with blue cheese, garlic shrimp, and seared octopus with romesco.

13. 

    Rank 13La Casa Del Taco - Washington Heights

    Mexican

    4.7 out of 54.7Price level $$

    Homemade hot sauce and big tortas set this small taqueria apart, and staff push tables together for large families.

14. Rank 14Tampopo Ramen

    Japanese

    4.5 out of 5, 1,240 reviews4.5(1,240)Price level $$

    Noodles rolled and cut in-house each day anchor bowls built from scratch, with sake, cocktails and boba to drink.

15. 

    Rank 15El Nuevo Rincon Del Sabor

    Dominican

    4.7 out of 54.7Price level $$

    Fall-off-the-bone oxtail in rich gravy is what regulars rave about here, alongside salmon and hearty Dominican plates with rice and beans.