The 13 best restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen

Topping our list of the best restaurants in NYC, this Michelin-starred restaurant serves skewers inspired by Korean royal court cuisine in a small, lively setting, priced at $85 for four-courses. Tack on the sool pairing, available for $75 dollars more. 

Soft lighting and warm woodsy tones evoke a turn-of-the-century general store at this Midtown eatery and gourmet emporium. The restaurant, tucked behind the retail shop, hits its stride when tangy Mediterranean spreads—artichoke dip and hot-pink beet skordalia—hit the table. Resist the urge to make a meal of Kashkaval’s impressive roster of charcuterie as the entrées are not to be missed.

This small Hell’s Kitchen canteen run by husband-and-wife team David and Vanida Bank is a gem on Ninth Avenue. Pop in for budget-friendly wok dishes and crowd pleasers like the Ratchaburi homemade egg noodles with crab and roasted pork.

Mohammad Wali is the owner behind this slip of a spot in HK, running one of the few remaining Afghani restaurants in the area. He is a constant presence in the dining room, walking guests through the tableside hot sauces and dropping off plates of kebabs and koftas. Get an order of samusa's and the Kabuli Palow served on a hefty plate of basmati rice with all the fixins—carrots, raisins, almonds and pistachios.

Even though it has only been open for less than a year, this Hell's Kitchen restaurant has already received a nod from the Michelin Guide. It's not so surprising given that owner Bolun Yao reinterprets traditional regional flavors through a Western lens. Reserve the eight-course, $165 tasting menu and admire the sleek dining space outfitted with pops of red. 

The restaurant locals might remember as Azucar became Guantanamera a few years back, and it's as popular as ever. Time your visit to a live performance for Cuban cuisine and a show. 

Terriffic wood-fired pizzas like the the truffle burrata and Margherita varieties top tables populated by locals and the occasional particularly clever tourist at Don Antonio. Plus, you can also order gluten-free pies so all can indulge. 

This neighborhood find leans Italian peppered with Asian spices. The warming, earthy undercurrent in the Duck Rigatoni? That goes to the addition of garam masala. Meanwhile, the Caesar Salad comes with shavings of Parm, furikake and puffed-up rice chips. But to come close to glory, put in an order of the Kissing God bread served with a homemade citrus peppercorn butter. 

Chef Andy D’Amico (Nice Matin) explores the interplay of French and Italian influences along the Mediterranean at Nizza (Italian for Nice). The sleek, mod space is an ideal pre- or post-theater spot, provided you don’t spend too much time navigating the extensive menu. 

Career changer Zachary Schmahl—who transformed himself into a food entrepreneur after losing his marketing job—built a successful online cookie business before opening this Hell's Kitchen bakeshop. Choose from cookies in flavors like red velvet, peanut-butter cup and gluten-free sweet corn with cranberries and pecans. Also on the menu: sticky buns, milkshakes and granola-and-yogurt parfaits.

The flagship eatery peddles more than 40 varieties of the main attraction. Fillings range from basic (plain cheese or rice and beans) to ultra creative (ham, cheese and pineapple) and sweetly addictive (banana and Belgian chocolate, or figs, caramel and cheese). Things can get pretty rowdy after hours, the massive sangrias are likely to blame. 

This stylish Theater District restaurant reimagines American classics. We've spotted buttermilk-fried chicken with a chive waffle and blue-claw crab fritters served with a tomato-tarragon fondue. 

We’ve been fans of this expensive spot since it was actually in Brooklyn and you had to call at certain times to get a reservation. Now that its in Manhattan on a reservation platform with a $395 price tag (before drinks, tax and tip), it’s still just as hard to get into. But once you do, you’ll see why the seafood-forward tasting menu continues to command so much buzz.