Why locals love it: Court Street locals know the sandwich counter at the back of the bodega; tourists looking for a Brooklyn deli walk past the front window every Saturday.
Tip: The Italian Combo with hot pepper relish is the signature. Order online to skip the lunch-hour line.
Address: 485 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231, New York City
Why locals love it: Tucked behind an unmarked door on Wythe Avenue, this Williamsburg restaurant runs a vegetable-forward menu that locals send friends to long before tourists find it.
Tip: Brunch books a week out; weekday dinner walks in. The roasted carrots with date and labneh is the signature plate.
Why locals love it: A modern Chinese-American room on Park Avenue South in Flatiron is the New York City pick for hand-pulled noodles and Sichuan dumplings without the Flushing trek.
Tip: The mapo tofu and the spicy beef noodle soup are the two-order minimum. Walk-ins at the bar are easy after 14:00.
Why locals love it: Locals book the back room for whole roast duck two days ahead; the front room counter draws walk-ins for noodles and dim sum without the long lines tourists hit elsewhere.
Tip: Call to pre-order Peking duck; same-day requests are routinely refused. BYOB with a small corkage fee per bottle.
