The 11 best restaurants in Times Square

This cool izakaya a little below sidewalk-level defies its dowdy Times Square address with good food and a downtown ambiance. It's space, pitchers and plates of shumai dumplings, oshinko (assorted pickled veg) and crunky karaage chicken are great for groups. 

One of NYC’s best steakhouses, Gallaghers has been right here since 1927. It is exactly what you’d hope a classic Manhattan steakhouse would look like inside, with all manner of manicured meat visible through big picture windows from the sidewalk. Steaks are hickory log-grilled, maxing out at $78, and all the expected sides are available, too. 

With sips and sights for sore eyes after a long day of ferrying your favorite tourist friends between the M&M’s store and Elmos of dubious origin, this offshoot of downtown’s Dear Irving is sweet relief. The cocktails are crafty, snacks like au poivre sliders and rock shrimp tempura hit the spot and the views of the city below will make you forget that you’ll eventually have to again brave the masses below. 

Not to be confused with similarly named operations, Russian Vodka Room is warm, welcoming and convivial–like a kind of Cheers, if Sam Malone had been a washed-up Yankee instead of a washed-up Red Sock. (And, you know, Russian.) There are banquettes and an angular bar up front, a piano and more seating a little further back and blinis, pirozhki, caviar and several vodka varieties throughout. 

Cozy spots are particularly appealing near the chaos of Times Square, and Danji's as comforting as any. The menu's tidy too, including crispy vegetable dumplings, a couple of chicken wing varieties and sizzling bulgogi bibimbap. 

A trio of pals first opened friendly Los Tacos in Chelsea a decade ago and today it has seven Manhattan outposts. This one is standing-room-only for local favorite carne asada, pollo asado or nopal tacos.

As omakase prices have skyrocketed citywide since the first Sushi of Gari opened on the Upper East Side in 1997, here at its third location, twelve pieces are, well, still not cheap at $160, but somewhat below market, compared to its peers. Items are also available à la carte. 

A little removed from the heart (and technical boundaries) of Times Square, Valerie is centrally located between The Crossroads of the World and Grand Central Station for commuters who wish to gather for after work drinks in its ornate, gilded space. It also has a wide variety of crowd-pleasing lunch and dinner options (salads, burgers and steak frites, to name a few), plus brunch. 

Sushi Lab didn’t have to travel far for this expansion: Chemistry Room is on the ground floor of the Sanctuary Hotel, where it also operates a rooftop spot. The addition has a $125 omakase best enjoyed at its chef’s counter. More than a dozen courses might include a tuna flight and Wagyu beef with an optional sake pairing. Other boozy beverages are also available. 

The chances aren't bad that if you're around Times Square, you're seeking NYC at its most concentrated, and pizza is one of our culinary manifestations. Don Antonio makes some good ones, including Margherita and multi-ingredient behemoths like the truffle burrata pizza with the titular cheese, black and white truffles, grape tomatoes, prosciutto, basil and extra virgin olive oil.

On weekdays, this Dominican-owned midtown lunch counter is jammed with patrons, whom you’ll get to know better when sharing one of the precious few tables. They gather for roasted chicken and excellent octopus salad—thin, chewy slices of pulpo tossed with piquant olives. The Cuban sandwich is a standout: Crammed with roasted pork, ham, salami, sliced pickles and white cheese, it comes dressed with mayo and mustard unless you specify otherwise.