Where to find authentic experiences in New York City

George Abud, Camal

I am Lebanese on both sides, and I grew up completely immersed in Lebanese-ness. I love and cherish my culture and have always embraced and explored it. Since moving to NYC it has been hard to find the food that really transports me back to the good ol' days. But I’ve found one place, my favorite find on the food front, Al-Bustan, my favorite Lebanese food in New York so far.

It’s a little fancy, but not overly so. The food is the closest I’ve found to what I love from my childhood: Grape leaves, labne, fatoush, shawarma, loubia, all the delicacies. I totally recommend it for a nice burst of fresh, real Lebanese/Arabic food.

Sharone Sayegh, Anna

12 Chairs Cafe is a small Israeli restaurant that serves Jachnun—a Yemenite/Israeli breakfast dish made of layers of rolled dough and butter, cooked in the oven overnight for at least 12 hours, and then served with crushed tomatoes and hard boiled egg— on the weekends. Jachnun has been one of my favorite breakfasts since I was a kid, and since it's considered a home cooked dish, most restaurants here and even in Israel don't serve it.

When you're in 12 Chairs you feel like you're in Tel Aviv. You'll hear lots of Hebrew spoken around you, you can order in Hebrew, there are Israeli street signs on the wall, it's awesome. Not to mention the food—it's Israeli owned and run—the Israeli food can't be beat. The hummus, the labne, the shakshuka, the hamin, it's all so authentic and transports you to Israel with every bite. And you'll always see a lot of Israelis there, that's how you know the food is good.

Rachel Prather, Julia

My secret go-to for authentic non-American cuisine is the Food Gallery 32 in Koreatown. It's basically a food hall where every counter offers incredible Korean or Asian fusion dishes. I head there when I want a little escape from the madness of the city. Strolling down Korea Way (32nd Street) almost instantly makes me feel like I've traveled to a different country, minus the plane fare! I'd recommend this to anyone visiting New York who wants a uniquely cultural experience off the beaten path.

Ari Stachel, Haled

My favorite place to hang and grab a bite is the Halal Guys food cart on 53rd and 6th avenue. The food is absolutely delicious and there's a real grit and authenticity to the guys who work there. Almost all of them are Egyptian, and they unapologetically play and sing along to Arabic music as they serve the most delicious food. It's the epitome of the American dream—these guys had an idea, used what they had to make it come true, and went from one food stand to now having restaurants all over the country. And it seems no matter what time of day or night, there is a line and people usually eat outside next to the truck. It creates an amazing NYC melting pot-vibe. I would recommend it because first and foremost it's delicious Middle Eastern food. And it's a way of supporting this impressive operation that was started by immigrants with a dream. But most importantly, it's the spirit and vibe and Middle Eastern authenticity that makes it my go-to spot for a meal.

Andrea Grody, music supervisor
 
I love going to Meske, a delicious Ethiopian restaurant and a great spot to grab pre-show dinner with a friend or a group. Ethiopian-style eating is a communal experience: Everything is served on one big plate of injera (Ethiopian flatbread), and you eat with your hands, eating the injera base itself as you go. Meske is a cozy and friendly place, simply designed for good food and good company, and I love that the very nature of Ethiopian cuisine is about sharing and being together, something we could all use more of these days!
 

Rachel Prather, Julia

One of my favorite live music spots also happens to be in my neighborhood. Saggio is a little Italian restaurant up in Hudson Heights that offers late night live jazz on Fridays. One of the best perks of living in New York City is having so much culture at your fingertips.

George Abud, Camal

The most important thing to me is the passion and the commitment to specificity, whether it be in the music, in the food, in the atmosphere. Those from the Arab world, those of Arab-descent, and those that have found a connection with the culture and consider it a part of them, these are the people you want to talk to when trying to discover the most interesting and most true things the culture has to offer.