Travel video guide
Matt Peterson in Manhattan, New York: 4 Spots
This guide turns Letting random strangers decide where we eat in TIMES SQUARE #shorts from Matt Peterson into a practical restaurant map with 4 saved spots around Manhattan. The mapped places include a restaurant stop, a hot dog stand, and a plaza. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Matt Peterson explored Times Square to let strangers dictate his diet for the day, starting with a trip to Raising Cane's. He strongly disagreed with a local's claim that the signature Cane's sauce is overrated, insisting on its quality. He also discovered the rare value of finding a restaurant in the area that offers both a seating area and a public bathroom.
What this map is good for
- Planning a fast food restaurant stop or short itinerary in Manhattan.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 4 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
Fast Food Restaurant in 1501 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Price level: Inexpensive
Hours: Hours available - Nathan’s Famous
Hot Dog Stand in 1251 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Hours: Hours available - Times Square
Plaza in Manhattan, NY 10036, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States - COOK EATERY
Restaurant in 115 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available
Food notes from the video
- Raising Cane's chicken
- Cane's sauce
Experiences captured
- Let strangers choose meals in Times Square
- Visited Raising Cane's
- Interviewed locals for restaurant recommendations
- Discovered a food cart with chicken and rice
- Found a hidden buffet with a bathroom
- Met the Naked Cowboy
Planning notes for New York
The Theater District in Midtown Manhattan is a geographic area bounded approximately by West 40th Street to the south, West 54th Street to the north, Sixth Avenue to the east, and Eighth Avenue to the west. This district contains a concentration of 41 professional theaters with 500 or more seats.
Must-try foods nearby
- Joe's Pizza Broadway Slice
The quintessential New York thin-crust slice. While the original is in the Village, the Broadway location is the gold standard for theater-goers needing a quick. - Junior's Famous Strawberry Cheesecake
An absolute landmark staple. This dense, creamy, Brooklyn-style cheesecake topped with heavy syrup and giant strawberries is the most iconic post-show dessert in the Theater. - Gallagher's Dry-Aged Ribeye
A Theater District institution since 1927. Famous for its glass-enclosed meat-aging room visible from the street, their steaks are hickory-grilled to perfection. - The Halal Guys Chicken and Rice Platter
Originating at 53rd and 6th, this is the most famous street food in the world. The combination of yellow rice, seasoned chicken. - John's of Times Square Coal-Fired Pizza
Located in a stunning de-consecrated church, this spot serves no slices, only whole pies.
When to go: The best time to visit the Theater District is during the shoulder seasons of April to June and September to October.
Local tips
- Arrive at the theater at least 30 minutes before the curtain time to clear security and find your seat, as latecomers are often held in the lobby until a designated break in the performance.
- Avoid bringing large shopping bags or luggage into theaters, as seating is extremely cramped and most venues lack the space to store bulky items.
- Step to the side of the sidewalk if you need to check your phone or a map to avoid blocking the heavy flow of pedestrian traffic.
- Make dining reservations well in advance if you plan to eat before a show, and inform your server of your curtain time to ensure you finish your meal promptly.
What travelers are noticing
- Cats: The Jellicle Ball – A viral reimagining of the classic musical set in the Harlem ballroom scene, transferring to the Broadhurst Theatre in April 2026.
- Pick and Cheese – London’s viral cheese conveyor belt restaurant making its U.S. debut at Shaver Hall in spring 2026.
- Star-studded Broadway debuts – High-profile premieres including Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle in 'Proof', and Adrien Brody in 'The Fear of 13'.
Extra place context
- Raising Cane's
Known for: Raising Cane's Box Combo (Times Square Flagship). Mentioned as a must-try spot in top foods.
food and Raising Cane's Box Combo (Times Square Flagship)
Official tourism resource
The official destination marketing organization and visitor guide for the five boroughs of New York City, including Manhattan.
Planning questions
Where did Matt Peterson eat in Manhattan, New York?
This guide maps all 4 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in Manhattan, New York.
What are the must-try foods in Manhattan, New York?
Creator picks from the video include Raising Cane's chicken, Cane's sauce. Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
Use it on your trip
Save this restaurant map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.