Travel video guide
Where to Eat in Manhattan, New York: Plantains
This guide turns New York City's Most Iconic Foods in 24 Hours | Epic Food Journeys with Mark Wiens | Nat Geo from National Geographic into a practical restaurant map with 11 saved spots around Manhattan, Sunset Park, and Woodstock. The mapped places include a restaurant stop, a bagel shop, and a bar. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
National Geographic explored the immense cultural diversity of New York City through its iconic culinary staples and vibrant immigrant communities. The journey highlighted the contrast between historical institutions like Junior's and the high-energy street food scene in the South Bronx. The most memorable moment was meeting the charismatic 'La Piranha' and tasting his massive, garlic-drenched Puerto Rican feast.
What this map is good for
- Planning an american 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 11 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
- Grand Street Skewer Cart
Chinese Restaurant in 246 Grand St, New York, NY 10002, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Hours: Hours available - The Hot Dog King
Hot Dog Stand in 5th Ave &, E 82nd St, New York, NY 10028, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Hours: Hours available - Sylvia's Restaurant
Bar in 328 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10027, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Katz's Delicatessen
Deli in 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Lechonera La Piraña
American Restaurant in 766 E 152nd St, Bronx, NY 10455, USA, Woodstock, New York, United States
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available - Minetta Tavern
French Restaurant in 113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Price level: High
Hours: Hours available - Mei Lai Wah
Chinese Restaurant in 41 Mott St, New York, NY 10013, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available - Black Seed Bagels - Rockefeller Center
Bagel Shop in 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Adel's Famous Halal Food
Restaurant in 1221 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available - Junior's Restaurant & Bakery
American Restaurant in 1515 Broadway, W 45th St, New York, NY 10036, USA, Manhattan, New York, United States
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Luigi's Pizza
Pizza Restaurant in 686 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA, Sunset Park, New York, United States
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available
Food notes from the video
- everything bagel with cream cheese, tomato, and smoked salmon
- original New York style cheesecake
- New Yorker cake shake
- strawberry milkshake
- octopus with rice
- garlic shrimp
- plantains
Experiences captured
- visited a wood-fired bagel bakery in Brooklyn
- dined at Junior's, a 75-year-old historical institution
- met owner Alan Rosen at Junior's
- traveled to the South Bronx
- met legendary street food vendor La Piranha
- observed traditional Puerto Rican lechon preparation
- experienced a lively community street food party
Planning notes for New York
New York City, located at the mouth of the Hudson River, was established as a Dutch trading post named New Amsterdam in 1624. Control transferred to the English in 1664, at which time the settlement was renamed New York. The city served as the first capital of the United States under the Constitution from 1789 to 1790. The architectural landscape includes 19th-century brownstone rowhouses, Gilded Age mansions, and a high concentration of Art Deco skyscrapers.
Must-try foods nearby
- Pastrami on Rye
The quintessential New York deli staple, featuring beef brisket that is salt-cured, seasoned with a secret spice rub, smoked, and steamed until it melts in your mouth. - The New York Slice
A wide, thin-crust pizza slice that is foldable yet crispy, characterized by a high-gluten bread flour crust, light tomato sauce, and full-fat dry mozzarella. - Bagel with Lox and Schmear
A dense, chewy, and malt-boiled bagel topped with a generous layer of cream cheese (schmear) and silky translucent slices of salt-cured salmon (lox). - Halal Chicken and Rice Platter
The ultimate street food fuel, consisting of yellow basmati rice topped with chopped grilled chicken, a side of iceberg lettuce and pita, and the legendary. - Chopped Cheese
Originating from Upper Manhattan and Bronx bodegas, this cult-favorite sandwich features ground beef, onions, and melted American cheese grilled together on a flat-top.
When to go: The best time to visit New York is during the shoulder seasons of May to June and September to October.
Local tips
- Treat sidewalks like highways by staying to the right and pulling over to the side before stopping to check maps or take photos.
- Tipping is essential in full-service restaurants, where a gratuity of 18% to 22% of the total bill is the standard expectation.
- When using the subway, always let passengers exit the train completely before you attempt to board.
- Use the OMNY contactless system to pay for public transit by simply tapping your credit card, smartphone, or smartwatch at the turnstiles.
What travelers are noticing
- Shaver Hall: A massive new 35,000-square-foot food hall in the former Lord & Taylor building featuring the first U.S. location of London’s Pick & Cheese and the Japanese spot Mako.
- Somssi: A viral new Greenwich Village opening from Ahris Kim (NA:EUN Hospitality) featuring social media-famous dishes like the 'Potato, Potato, Potato' and White Rabbit candy ice cream.
- Noury: A modern Parisian-style izakaya in SoHo from the acclaimed Kiko team, trending for its reimagined futomaki and extensive sake program.
Extra place context
- Katz’s Delicatessen
Known for: Pastrami on Rye. Mentioned as a must-try spot in top foods.
food and Pastrami on Rye - Junior’s
Known for: NYC Cheesecake. Mentioned as a must-try spot in top foods.
food and NYC Cheesecake
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 National Geographic eat in Manhattan, New York?
This guide maps all 11 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 everything bagel with cream cheese, tomato, and smoked salmon, original New York style cheesecake, New Yorker cake shake, strawberry milkshake. 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.