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.

Ahimsa is a kosher Indian spot in the East Village serving a mix of North and South Indian specialties.

Pongal is a kosher Indian restaurant in Kips Bay with a huge menu of South Indian dishes.

If you’re looking for Ethiopian food in downtown Manhattan, Meskerem in West Village is one of the best options around.

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

Ital Fusion is a Little Caribbean favorite and go-to spot for plant-based patties, juices, and seamoss cocktails.

Yellow Rose in the East Village specializes in fantastic Texan food and homemade tortillas made with Sonoran flour.

Sunrise Mart is a Japanese grocery store in the East Village where you can buy snacks, reheatable shumai, and more.

Roc-N-Ramen in the Bronx serves ramen bowls with Caribbean ingredients like curried oxtail and jerk chicken.

Milu is a fast-casual restaurant in Gramercy, but the Chinese food here is much better than what’s normally served at bowl-and-grain-plate spots.

Xilonen is a Mexican restaurant on a corner in Greenpoint with a fully vegetarian menu and a great brunch.

NY Dosas serves legendary vegan South Indian food from a cart in Washington Square Park.

Makina Cafe is a great Ethiopian food truck with locations in Fort Greene Park, Rockefeller Center, and Long Island City.

The West Village location of Spicy Moon is one of the best vegan restaurants in the area.

Tong is a Bangladeshi food cart in Jackson Heights that makes incredible fuchka.

Abu’s Homestyle Bakery in Bed-Stuy is one of the few places that sells navy bean pie in the city - and you should try it.