An admitted restaurant junkie, I gather tips from friends, magazine recs, plus inspiration from favorite Instagram and blog feeds, and store them in my head, or on pieces on paper often misplaced in my bag or on my desk. All of this never helps me when I'm that half-hour beyond hungry and can't remember where I wanted to try that really great pho, burger, or mezze plate, and wind up at my usual suspects. The same goes for making dinner reservations, and while my family's standby of Altro Paradiso is pretty darn good, there are nights you want to try something new. And by new, I don't mean something recently opened and trendy, though that works too. So for 2020, I made myself a list of places I want to try in the year ahead—my notes finally assembled all in one place. Originally meant for my family, but everyone kept asking if I'd share, so here it is. It’s not a static list and not for everyone as it slants towards downtown and ethnic restaurants, as that's what I like to eat. (In the parenthesis are some notes of what to order) And sorry for the lack of uptown spots, but c'mon that's not my fault if the Upper East and Upper West Side are mainly food yawns compared to downtown and Brooklyn. (Challenge me on this and send me places to try) And follow along on Instagram and Facebook for updates and reviews, and I'd love suggestions of restaurants to add to the list. Happy eating!

Asian

Niche (Dry Ramen, steak mazemen)
Cocoron (Soba)
Raku (Udon in East Village)
Golden Diner (Chicken katsu club, bibimbap style bowl, egg and cheese on scallion bun)
Da Yu Hotpot (Chinatown)
Hou Yi Hot Pot (Hester Street and East Village)
Nami Nori (Hand rolls on Carmine-spicy crab dynamite temaki, ginger squash, spicy sea bass)
Spicy Village (Big tray chicken)
Sun Hing Lug Co (rice rolls)
Wayla (Thai, order meatballs wrapped in crispy noodles, whole fish)
Kopitiam (Malaysian all day café, Kaya toast, beef rending, pandan chicken)
Davelle (Japanese café-breakfast toasts, lunchtime bowls)
Cho Dang Kol (Korean- hot pot dumpling jeongol)
Nowon (Kimchee burger, tater tots)
Piggyback—Pig and Khao’s new sibling (good choice before MSG)
Mala Project (Dry pot, new location on West 46)
Oiji (Korean, East Village)
Café China (Soup Dumplings)
Hwa Yuan Szechuan (sesame noodles, crispy beef)
Ho Foods (Taiwanese on East 7th)
Yoon (Korean on 36th)
Van Da (East Village Vietnamese)
Zusik (On 14th Casual Korean Gastropub)
Thep Thai (Upper East, 2nd and 75th, Order the Khao Soi)
Sanpoutei (Mabo Tofu on Ramen)
Sigiri (Sri Lankan, Sunday brunch buffet 12:45-3:30)
Yu Kitchen (Morningside Heights Chinese, great reviews)
Taladwat (Thai in Hells Kitchen)

Rezdora (Pasta tasting, impossible to get a reservation)
Galli (Italian on Mercer-get rigatoni Gambieri)
Anton’s (Try the angel hair Francese)
The Banty Rooster
232 BLEECKER
Zooba (Fast, casual Egyptian)
Pakistan Tea House (Indo-Pakistani fast food)
Bowery Road (Burger)
Made Nice (Chicken Rice, west 28th)
Una Pizza Napoletana
Ahisma (Vegan Indian on Thompson, weekday veggie buffet)
West-bourne (Sullivan Street, breakfast bowls)
Zyara (Vegan Arabic sandwich, shawarma and fattoush)
Casa Adela (tiny, rotisserie chicken, East Village)
Farida (tiny on 9th Ave Hells Kitchen, food from Uzbekistan-manti and kebabs)
Wild Air
Ernesto’s (Because I have FOMO with everyone gramming the iberico and potato chips)
NewYorkyina (Pozole Pop Up-go soon)
Frangos (Cheap Portuguese in East Village)
Gran Tivoli (Baked eggs in ragu)
Lekka Burger (Vegan Burgers in Tribeca)
Qanoon (Middle Eastern in Chelsea)
Flor de Mayo (Upper West for Lomo Saltado)
Lolo’s Seafood Shack (Harlem)
Mountain Bird (East Harlem)
Teranga (Harlem, West African)

Haenyeo (Homestyle Korean)
Red Hook Tavern (Some say best burger in the city, Romaine Salad)
Hart’s
Win Son and Win Son Bakery ( Taiwanese)
Bernies (Burgers, Vinegar Chicken)
Ops Pizza (And new sibling Leo)
Sunday in Brooklyn (Sunday Ziti)
Chez Ma Tante (And new sibling in Wythe-Le Crocodile)
Claro (Oaxacan)
Selamat Pagi (Balinese on Driggs)
21 Greenpoint
Barano (Southern Italian)
The Fly (A Chicken Bar, great drinks and rotisserie chicken in Bed-Stuy)
Gertie (Williamsburg-eclectic elevated diner food—an all day place)
Maison Yaki (Izakaya from Olmstead Chef)
Mimi’s Hummus (Ditmas area--pita sandwich in the old hood)
Popina (Italian)
Butler (Go for lunch, try cauliflower pita)
Di and Di (Pho and Vietnamese pizza)
Noods n’ Chill (Tiny, counter service Thai)
Hanon (Japanese, house made udon—try curry udon)
Mekelburgs (Deli across from Domino Park-try waygu roast beef or hot chicken sandwich)
Tanoreen (Middle Eastern)
Randazzo’s Clam Bar
Sahadi’s at Industry City (among other vendors)
Dumbo- Time Out Market

Hoboken-Loquito—(Lebanese inspired tacos --order the Taco Arabe)
Jersey City—Razza’s and Bread and Salt for pizza (some say Razza’s one of top in country!) And more… West African at Citi Grill
Elmhurst- HK Food Court –(Famous Food’s pork and chive dumplings and wontons in chili oil, LaMao Spicy’s hot pot combos)
Jackson Heights- Birria-Landia (Tijuana-style beef birria tacos and consommé)
Astoria- Abuqir (Seafood) and Lokanta (Turkish)
LIC- Takumen (New American Izakaya--wings, ramen, rice bowls)
Flushing-Lake Pavilion (lobster with ginger and scallion)
Arthur Ave—Cka Ka Qellu (Albanian)

Adda’s Canteen (because so good)
Casa Enrique (try this time for brunch)
Oxomoco (Equally good for brunch or dinner)
Cervo’s (Highlights were prawns on the plancha and piri piri chicken)
King (Because everyone loves and my first time must have been a off night)
Babs (Loved whole meal but especially divorced fish)
Le Sia (Messy, fun and delicious)
Momofuku (Because I am still thinking of the large format duck dinner)
Crown Shy (Besides that it’s inside an office building on Wall Street, food was delicious)
Llama San
The Fulton (Had the whole bass, now want to try Longevity Noodles, also it would be nicer to go in warmer weather)