These Are NYC’s Best New Restaurants Of 2025, According To The New York Times

As 2025 winds down, we’re all diving headfirst into our end-of-year recaps –whether it’s discovering your actually most-listened-to artist on Spotify Wrapped (even if you swore you’d keep that a secret) or looking back at which restaurants you roasted or romanticized via Beli Plated 2025. And if there’s one thing we know about New York City, it’s that it never sleeps, which means more time for eating and, well, more year-end dining roundups! That’s why the New York Times’ newly released end-of-year lists are already making waves, especially its roundup of NYC’s best new restaurants of 2025. Basically a cheat sheet to the city’s hottest spots right now–and likely the toughest reservations you’ll fight for–the list highlights all the newcomers NYT critics loved most this year. As the Times puts it: > Our favorite new restaurants are wholly true to New York. Let others have their wide-open spaces, their palatial boredom. These spots — all opened in the past year and a half and listed here in alphabetical order — make small, even cramped rooms feel expansive. Their chefs, like the New Yorkers they serve, have roots around the country and the world. They came here to cook for us. How lucky we are. So go ahead and open up that Resy tab–you’ve got a whole new lineup of reservations to chase (and maybe...potentially...debate selling a limb for). New York City’s best new restaurants of 2025, according to the New York Times: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ### 1. Bánh Anh Em – East Village A vibrant Vietnamese newcomer bringing big, comforting flavors to 3rd Ave, Bánh Anh Em quickly earned itself a cult following. Expect soulful bowls, crispy bites, and the kind of dishes you immediately want to order again. 🍽️ Vietnamese 📍 99 3rd Ave ### 2. Cafe Mado – Prospect Heights Cafe Mado blends New American charm with French finesse, creating a cozy neighborhood spot that feels like an instant classic. Whether it be brunch or dinner, every dish served is beautifully balanced and deeply satisfying. 🍽️ New American, French 📍 791 Washington Ave ### 3. Cocina Consuelo – Harlem Cocina Consuelo is serving up bold, soulful Mexican plates that feel both homey and exciting. It’s the kind of place where rich sauces, handmade touches, and warm hospitality make you want to become a regular. 🍽️ Mexican 📍 130 Hamilton Pl ### 4. Ha’s Snack Bar – Lower East Side This LES gem mixes Vietnamese flavors with French technique –and somehow still feels like the coolest wine bar in the room. Expect inventive small plates, natural wines, and a seriously fun night out. 🍽️ Vietnamese, French, Wine Bar 📍 297 Broome St ### 5. Hellbender – Ridgewood Hellbender brings fiery, flavor-packed Mexican cooking to Ridgewood, with dishes that hit that perfect craveable sweet spot. It’s casual, buzzy, and the kind of place you recommend to people before the meal is even over. 🍽️ Mexican 📍 68-22 Forest Ave ### 6. Kabawa – East Village Kabawa is a Caribbean stunner: colorful, flavorful, and bursting with everything that makes island cooking irresistible. The tiny East Village location only adds to its “you have to know to go” charm. 🍽️ Caribbean 📍 8 Extra Pl ### 7. Kappo Sono – Greenwich Village This intimate Japanese spot offers a refined kappo-style experience tucked away on a discreet upper floor. With pristine ingredients and elegant pacing, it’s one of those meals you think about long after you leave. 🍽️ Japanese 📍 39 E 13th St 6th Floor ### 8. Smithereens – East Village Seafood lovers, rejoice–Smithereens is the kind of cozy, unfussy fish-forward spot the East Village didn’t know it needed. Expect ultra-fresh plates with creative twists that keep things exciting. 🍽️ Seafood 📍 414 E 9th St, ### 9. Sunn’s – Chinatown Sunn’s brings Korean flavors and a cool, wine-bar vibe to Chinatown, making it one of the neighborhood’s most stylish new hangouts. Think: shareable plates, funky wines, and a buzzy, late-night energy. 🍽️ Korean, Wine Bar 📍 139 Division St ### 10. Yamada – Chinatown Yamada is a serene Japanese hideaway offering pristine dishes in a minimalist setting that feels worlds away from the busy streets outside. It’s the perfect spot for a quiet, standout meal that still feels special. 🍽️ Japanese 📍 16 Elizabeth St Source: https://secretnyc.co/new-york-times-best-new-nyc-restaurants-2025/