The Best Street Food in the West Village

Eater

a day ago

New York is a damn expensive city, and no more is that evident than in the picturesque Greenwich Village and the West Village in particular. The affluent neighborhood is lined with cobblestoned streets brimming with luxe developments, high-end boutiques, and the West Village Girls fulfilling their Sex and the City aspirations. It wasn't always this way: But these changes have impacted its dining scene, where restaurants are reflecting what the newer crowds are seeking: see-and-be-seen places with stylish and often expensive food and drinks to match, much of it sit-down. But between the corner restaurants, bakeries, takeout windows, and quick-serve spots, there's plenty of excellent — and actually affordable — street food to be found. So the Eater NY team headed into the West Village for a food crawl, with a mission to find the best handheld snacks, grab-and-go bites, and under-$20 meals in the neighborhood.
Lin & Daughters comes from Becky Lin, a first-time restaurant owner who opened her spot in 2023. Here, she's making home-cooked staples like beef noodle soup, grandma's peanut butter noodle salad, spicy cucumbers, and more. But it's the array of dumplings that are most satisfying – and portable – whether it's the pan-fried chicken curry number ($13.49), cumin beef, shrimp, or Lin's pork and chive dumplings ($12.49). Grab an order or two for a people-watching snack in the park. 181 W. Fourth Street, near Jones Street —Melissa McCart
State fair corn dogs aren't the first food-on-a-stick that comes to mind when I think of New York street food, yet they're my go-to order when I frequent my beloved Cowgirl (formerly Cowgirl Hall of Fame), the longtimer since 1989. What amounts to a deep-fried corn muffin exterior surrounds a snappy little cocktail dog for a perfect $6 beer snack (or two for $12). There's also Frito pie and catfish fingers, but the corndogs are the best throwback, particularly when it comes to summertime savory snacks. Order some for takeaway and duck into this restaurant that's a reminder of the way the West Village used to be: quirky, eclectic, and cheap. 519 Hudson Street, at West 10th Street — Melissa McCart
Cariñito Tacos is a fusion-y taqueria hailing from Mexico City for a summer pop-up in an empty storefront — which, as these things go, I have to assume is a preview of something longer-term they are exploring in New York. As far as other hot new taco spots go, this is one of the more expensive ($7.50 to $9 each), with tacos ranging in varieties like a play on Katz's with pastrami, as well as Thai-flavored tacos with shredded pork belly, mint, and rice powder — all served atop a cornhusk blanket. Not all of them are worth it, bhe best value is the take on the Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme (one of a handful of places that pay homage to the original), which comes with Sichuan-spiced brisket and pork, Oaxacan cheese, avocado, fermented beans, and cabbage slaw. It's eat at the standing counter here – or on the street. Grab plenty of napkins. 86 University Place, near East 11th Street — Emma Orlow
It seems like there's a gelato shop on every corner of the West Village, and debating which is best is like trying to decide who wrote the summer's best beach read. So instead of recommending a favorite gelato flavor, let's take a look at Gelateria Gentile's granita. Much like the corn dog, granita transports the person eating it, in this case, to an Italian summer. Stick with classics like lemon or coffee, in a cup or with brioche ($8.50). And if there's cantaloupe as the flavor of the day, order that, too. (This location of Gentile is so tiny that it's a given you're going to eat it on the street.) 43 Eighth Avenue, between Jane and Horatio streets — Melissa McCart
What is there to say that hasn't already been said about the burrata slice ($5.50) at L'Industrie? This second location of the famed slice shop in Williamsburg has lines that have followed from Brooklyn. Yes, this is New York City, so yes, you can get a decent, cheaper slice without waiting in line in pretty much every neighborhood. But L'Industrie isn't about decent; it's about excellence. If you are interested in a taste of one of the standard bearers for pizza's new wave in New York, then it's worth queuing up for. It's crispy in all the right ways, but creamy from a bountiful serving of burrata. It's a total coincidence that it opened just down the street from the second location of Mama's Too. Together, this has made for one of the most important pizza corners in New York. And, possibly — not to be dramatic — the world. 104 Christopher Street, near Bleecker Street — Emma Orlow
The motto here is rice-free burritos, which means none of the filler and all of the goodies. Takeout-only Son Del North first opened on the Lower East Side, before expanding with a second location in the West Village, and immediately catapulted to one of my favorite all-time New York burritos, doing justice to flour tortillas (yes, they make them themselves). I like the carne asada and the shrimp burritos, but at $9, the gooey bean and cheese is a filling and affordable move. Pre-order to beat the wait, and then post up at a bench at Demo Square across the street. 26 Carmine Street, at Bleecker Street — Emma Orlow
Is this some of the best Indian food in Manhattan? Not necessarily, but the order-at-the-counter Taco Mahal has been really important to me over the years as one of those reliable, easy spots that have become all too rare. Taco Mahal provides naan and roti folded like a taco for a quick bite you can snarf down. Their best deal is a three-roti deal for $14 with filling options like chicken malai, sag paneer, and channa masala. There are seats both indoors and outdoors, which makes it easy to get in even at primetime on the weekend before a night out, no matter the weather. Ignore the fluorescent lighting. 73 Seventh Avenue South, West Village — Emma Orlow
Wandering around NYU territory, I ducked into this tiny deli to grab the $12 chopped cheese sandwich. It's a very long sandwich on a sesame seed hero — enough for two meals for me — making the price well worth it. Co-owner and chef Antonio Barbieri knows what he's doing when it comes to food — he had been the executive sous chef at the fancypants Eleven Madison Park, before switching gears with this sandwich shop. The well-structured sandwich is evenly proportioned with cheesy, saucy chopped beef, crispy shredded lettuce, and slices of tomatoes. I was also glad for the bottle of Crystal hot sauce that was readily available because I needed just a little more spice in the sandwich. While there's minimal seating — two sets of double stools along the window — the tables make for a fun activity because you can browse through all of the pop culture stickers on the counter. 218 Thompson Street, near West Third Street, Greenwich Village — Nadia Chaudhury
The baked empanada mini-chain has a location right near the IFC Center, making it a good stop for a budget meal before seeing an indie movie. At $18.45 for a box of three, you can pick whichever empanadas you want. I got the classic Argentine malbec beef (which had a nice zip from the olives), the ooey-gooey ham and mozzarella, and, my favorite of the bunch, the smoked pulled chicken empanada made with well-balanced barbecue sauce. The empanadas themselves are flavorful enough that the extra order of chimichurri sauce for 50 cents isn't needed. On a nice day, it's pleasant to dine at one of the two tables out front. The 333 Sixth Avenue, near West Fourth Street, West Village — Nadia Chaudhury
The Japanese bakery had been on my radar since it opened last year, so I was happy for the excuse to stop by. For my savory option, I went for the chicken katsu sandwich, which is $13 for the whole thing and $7 for half. The sandwich is filling, with fluffy milk bread and juicy breaded chicken, and everything is gluten-free. The cute, vibrant pop-colored setting doesn't hurt either — it's good for a photo or two. 31-33 Carmine Street, at Bleecker Street, West Village — Nadia Chaudhury
I've been a fan of the Iraqi-owned Moustache Pitza since it was at its old location in the West Village (the original first opened in Brooklyn in 1988). A couple of years ago, it relocated to a bigger spot where there's plenty of space for dining in. If you're ordering for a group, shareables like labne and pita will go over well, but for takeout solo dining, the move here is the merguez sandwich, with spicy lamb sausage, lettuce, and tomato, which is very portable ($18); there's also a vegetarian-friendly falafel sandwich version at $12, a fraction of the cost. 29 Seventh Avenue South, near Bedford Street, West Village — Emma Orlow
The splendor that is Tashkent's first Manhattan location will astound anyone feeling the weight of rising food costs in New York — as it's very easy to get out for under $10 here. This one-of-a-kind Eastern European supermarket has five locations in New York, including its famous Brighton Beach one, making it a well-oiled machine that still puts a lot of care into its food (there's a whole kitchen in the basement that keeps food moving and fresh upstairs). The by-the-pound salad bar, which includes items like plov and carrot salad, is fun. But the best street food item for a picnic in nearby Washington Square Park, probably their samsa, a Central Asian pastry with a variety of halal-friendly meat fillings and vegetarian options (like one with pumpkin). 378 Sixth Avenue, at West Fourth Street — Emma Orlow See More: Cheap Eats
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