Think of Iris as your go-to place near Times Square for delicious Greek and Turkish dishes without sky-high price tags.

Raku is an udon spot in the East Village that we rely on for a great last-minute meal.

Hoek is a reliable Roman pizza place in Red Hook where you can bring dates, your kids, or a small army of birthday party go-ers.

This Gramercy Park Roman Italian restaurant is an excellent place for date night, brunch, or just went you want a great bowl of pasta.

Dame is an English seafood restaurant in the West Village with delicious fish and a long wine list.

Sona is an upscale Indian restaurant in Flatiron that’s especially good for a group meal.

Ravagh Persian Grill is a great place to bring a couple friends or your family for a comforting Persian dinner on the Upper East Side.

La Fonda Boricua has been a staple of the Puerto Rican community in East Harlem since the 1990s, and they make some fantastic shrimp mofongo.

Kjun is a takeout-and-delivery operation that makes delicious Korean-Cajun dishes in a basement kitchen in the East Village

Mission Ceviche is a fun Peruvian restaurant on the Upper East Side where you should bring a group.

Shanghai You Garden in Flushing makes some of the city’s best xiao long bao.

Dhamaka is an Indian restaurant in Essex Market on the Lower East Side serving fantastic regional specialties that are hard to find elsewhere in NYC.

Warique is a Peruvian restaurant in Jackson Heights where you should bring a friend and fill your table with ceviche and lomo saltado.

O:n° is a Korean restaurant in Nomad with excellent small plates and a couple of great hot pot stews to share.

Awash is an excellent Ethiopian restaurant in the East Village that works for everything from dates to solo meals and takeout.

Xiang Hot Pot is a hot pot restaurant in Flushing’s New World Mall that serves one of their broth options with an edible butter sculpture of a bear.