[title]
For me, 2025 came and went like a flash. Yet, what is left behind is a series of trends that defined the scene. The year started off strong as New Yorkers braved the cold for a baked good, lining up and saying hello to 2.0 versions of bakeries (Radio Bakery, L'Appartement 4F, and Win Son Bakery), while making room for ube-glazed doughnuts (Kora) and shops that offered only cinnamon rolls (Sunday Morning). Our love of carbs is clear, so much so that a pastry-fueled marathon fielded over 5,000 sign-ups in 24 hours.
Caribbean cuisine surely defined the year, with pepper shrimp and cassava dumplings finding their way in the fine dining sphere. According to the Michelin man, Japan's kaiseki cuisine is starting to edge out omakase, and Indian food continues to leave its mark, solidified by Semma's James Beard Award win and the rise of cocktail bars that shake up betel leaves and paneer. And as for wine? Nowadays, a bar is only as good as its snacks. Wine bars that solely stock cheeses in charcuterie? Out. Ones that serve a medley of banchan and tamarind-slicked snails? In.
So it isn't surprising that this year, some of my best bites aligned with the trends, as I tore through habanero-roasted goat and Filipino pastries. But as someone who eats out multiple days of the week, and sometimes twice in one day, all to find the best pizza, burgers, and steaks of the city, there were plenty of dishes that rose above the rest. Below, check out some of my best bites of the year. And if you need even more recs, I'd take a look at the best new restaurants of 2025 and discover our top pick for best restaurant and best bar of the year.
Apple Tamarind Fritter at Kora
It was a misty day when I finally made it to Kora, just chilly enough that my fingertips started to go numb as I waited in the line, a constant feature. But taking that first bite into the freshly fried fritter made the wait all worth it. Yes, it was a bit hot to handle, as it had just been pulled fresh from the oil. But I took a bite anyway, as I couldn't resist the crisp crunch that gave way to sweet apples and a caramelized touch from the tamarind glaze.
Burrata slice at L’Industrie
I’ve never seen L’Industrie without a line. But the times I happen to find myself in it, I wouldn’t dare leave without a slice of the Burrata. The crunchy crust (almost shatteringly so) is crowned with cold creamy rounds of burrata that have been hit with a few glugs of olive oil. The slice plays with temperatures and textures—hot and cold, crunchy and creamy—making for a fantastic slice, whether you eat it hunched over at one of the standing tables inside or on the street outside. And if you just need meat on your slice, L’Industrie slice also has Burrata and curls of prosciutto.
Cacio E Pepe slice at Mama’s TOO!
I rode up to the Upper West Side this summer, entranced by an elote slice I saw on Mama's TOO!'s Instagram. But when I walked up and saw the Cacio E Pepe slice sitting in the window, showered in so much Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano, it looked like a whiteout, I quickly added it to my order. Underneath the snowstorm hides aged mozzarella that adds a bit of funk, and mascarpone for a creamy, cozy touch. Much like the pasta, it was finished with enough cracked peppercorns that I had to be a bit wary of my molars. But it made me slow down and savor every cheesy, messy bite.
Camarones Zarandeados from Mayahuel
Mayahuel is more than just a restaurant, as the family-run operation in Astoria damn near runs its own tortilleria in the basement. The restaurant puts them to good use, as the tortillas serve as a steady base for all manner of tacos. However, Mayahuel also deals in the coastal flavors found across Mexico, and is certainly rich when it comes to its bounty of the sea. The camarones zarandeados is one of the sweetest catches as charred, palm-sized prawns are beached on a bed of rich guajillo butter, zipped with a bit of mole oil that lends the smoke.
Focaccia Borgo at Borgo
Is it possible to fall this hard for a piece of bread? If it is the Focaccia Borgo at Borgo, then the answer is yes. But before you go in expecting a spongy, dimpled square, Borgo specializes in a Ligurian style of the form. Meaning a flat, almost paper-thin, bread comes to the table, its edges charred black by the flames of the wood-fired oven. It's fragrant with flecks of oregano and a healthy coating of olive oil, so much so that your hands will have some slip to them. Underneath the almost phyllo-like dough hides a duo of salty, crumbly Robiola and Fontina cheeses. Order it for the table to share, but just know that you may have to fight for the cheesiest centerpiece.
Grilled Prawn at Markette
Backed by a Saga pedigree, chef India Doris now runs her own show at Markette, a serene and stylish dining hall where her Caribbean and English heritage come out to play. But before you move in on the peri peri chicken and incredibly rich 24-hour braised oxtail gratin dish, I say make room for the grilled prawn. Coming to the table with its head and its tail intact, the center shell of the crustacean has been removed, revealing charred and sweet meat that begs to be dragged through the orange-y sungold tomato sauce. The puffed chili crisp adds some interest with a nice crunch and a little heat to tie it all together. But to get the most out of the dish, I recommend cracking the head open and adding the buttery insides into the mix, unless you'd rather suck it right out of the shell.
Surtida taco at Carnitas Ramirez
If Carnitas Ramirez is a pork party, then the Surtida is the life of it. It is billed as a little bit of everything, and that’s because it is, as nearly all parts of the pig—the slow-cooked shoulder to the curl of the tail—are found in one tortilla. Crunchy? It might be from the crust of the pork belly or a bit of the ear. That chewy niblet? Hard to say if it is a slice of the cartilage or the gelatinous skin. But instead of overthinking it, just take it in, textures and all.
Red Pepper Shrimp at Kabawa
Everything at Kabawa was stellar—the buss-up-and-shut bread service, the fiery, slow-cooked goat, the vibes. But the red pepper shrimp occupies a special part of my mind. Raw, plump and incredibly buttery, the shrimp comes to the table blushing with a dusting of dehydrated hibiscus, thyme and scotch bonnet. Each is speckled with a bright orange dollop of pepper oil, which not only toes the heat and sweetness of Scotch Bonnet but serves as a foreshadowing for the fire to come.
Tuna Crudo at Pitt’s
Yes, Pitt's pancake soufflé has received much praise, all of it warranted. But before you trek out to Red Hook solely in search of a pancake, might I suggest something pickled? Because here at Pitt's, Jeremy Salamon doesn't shy away from the zip and the zing of acidity, and it is best played out in the tuna crudo. Shiny red chunks of tuna swim in a wonderfully smoky vinaigrette livened with the brightness of tomatoes, rounds of capers for salt and pickled peppers that might make you pucker.
Sweet Potato at Crane Club
While chef Melissa Rodriguez is a maestro when it comes to minding proteins that grill, smoke and char on her custom 12-foot Mibrasa grill, her finesse of the flame also extends to vegetables. The Japanese sweet potato is one of her greatest feats, as Rodriguez coal roasts potatoes in the fire's embers, allowing for caramelized flavors to come forward. It gets even sweeter as a combo of tamari butter and whipped honey sinks into the soft layers. For such a cozy bite, it almost feels like you are sitting at her Thanksgiving table, even in the middle of June.
View this post on Instagram
Lamb Parcha at Adda
When the server started walking through the freshly made paneer, this, and the curry-leaf crab that at Adda, my ears immediately perked at the mention of the Lamb Parcha. Why? Because it casually comes with a scoop of "lamb butter." I put in an order expeditiously. Soon, a ripping hot cast-iron was brought to the table, the deep red saffron sauce fragrant and bubbling. A golden dollop of lamb butter sat on top, easily coaxed into the sauce with a few stirs. Shreddy bits of lamb leg, a fiery sauce, made all the more unctuous with lamb butter? Let's just say it was easy to put the paratha to good use here.
View this post on Instagram
Pistachio Doughnut at Moe’s Doughs
This spring, I ate a lot of doughnuts. Like enough to make an entire doughnut matrix. And as I sank my teeth into yeast and cake creations, it was Moe’s Dough pistachio doughnut that easily rose to the top. Using a base of pistachio batter, the doughnut is fried golden, coated in a honey glaze and rolled in a generous amount of crushed pistachios. And when it is warm? Its crunchy exterior gives way to a soft, nutty inside that makes for the best start to the day.
All the things at Time Out Market New York, Union Square
I couldn’t say goodbye to 2025 without giving a nod to all things in our latest market. While there is plenty more to say and not enough space, a callout from each of our vendors looks like the Crab Meat Fried Rice at Kam Rai Thai, Chicken Biryani at Kebabwala, Panino Mortadella from Paninoteca by Anthony, Curry Chicken Patty from Patty Palace, and the Corn Pizza from Fornino. Oh, and for dessert, the Rainbow Cookie Shortbread from Shortbread Society is a nice, sweet on-the-go treat.