New York's 9 Most Iconic Dishes (PHOTOS)

Photos and text by Gabi Porter

If you're going to come to New York for the weekend, there are a few sites you have to see - the Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, etc. But, what if you want to do the culinary version of a whirlwind tour? We've whittled down the millions of edible options into nine dishes that define the Big Apple - from bagels to soup dumplings to black-and-white cookies, these are the must-scarf foods if you want to take in the culinary scene of classic New York. Think we missed a few dishes that have shaped the city? Let us know your nominees for other iconic grub in the comments. Click through to check out the slideshow.

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Comments

[Geoff George]

02:14 PM on 02/08/2012

They forgot Popeye's Chicken, Junior's Cheesecake, Coney Island Hot Dogs, Matzoh Ball Soup from Second Avenue Deli, Falafel and Gyros from any street vendor.

[hopein2012]

02:54 AM on 02/08/2012

im hungry now

[mimmi1]

06:08 PM on 02/06/2012

I am sick of seeing every conceivable thing on the planet being described as "iconic".
it is me?

[hjo4]

11:49 PM on 02/02/2012

The pastrami at Katz SUCKS to native NYer's who know their pastrami. They serve it "lean"and I'm sorry pastrami with No Fat is not real pastrami in my book. The Hot Dogs, Corn Beef, Brisket and Tongue is still worth the pricey amount they charge but the $15 bucks for the Pastrami. Oh yeah don't forget the chopped liver,it's so out of this world I can't begin to tell ya.

[Chinny1102]

10:04 PM on 02/02/2012

Hey what about Nathan's in Coney Island!?

[Jim Tucker]

01:39 PM on 02/02/2012

All this NY food sucks. I'll happily stay here in Vegas and have 6.99 prime rib and 1.99 shrimp cocktails. We have better things to eat here than sandwiches and pizza.

[JacksonHts]

05:23 PM on 02/09/2012

and you have Wayne Newton

[rikster]

01:22 PM on 02/02/2012

I'm so grateful you did not reveal an good places.

[AlexNYC]

12:20 PM on 02/02/2012

Yonah Schimmel's Knishery is worth going out of your way for. Classic old world knish recipes, all natural, and yummy.

[emchem]

10:50 AM on 02/02/2012

Sorry to say it, but Joe's Pizza has sadly gone downhill. I don't know what they're doing differently, but the last few times I've been in there for a slice it's been tasteless.

[libwithaclue]

10:01 AM on 02/02/2012

Eisenberg's Pastrami is way better than Katz's. I've had 6 dishes on this list and they're all good. I've got to admit that I have a thing for Gray's Papaya Hot Dog.

[O K Ali]

03:22 PM on 02/01/2012

No Nathans?

[kimbanyc]

02:25 PM on 02/01/2012

KATZ/S IS A NATIONAL TREASURE

SHAKE SHACK IS A BLIGHT ON THE LANDSCAPE

[dblueII]

10:31 PM on 02/06/2012

And that pretty much sums up the last 124 years of culinary history.