TLDR: Brooklyn’s food scene is one of the most diverse and exciting in the world. From authentic Sicilian pizza to Korean BBQ, Vietnamese pho to Caribbean jerk chicken — every cuisine is represented and excelled at somewhere in Brooklyn. Moving to Brooklyn means never running out of new restaurants to explore. Buy The Hour Movers helps you get to Brooklyn so you can start eating your way through it.
Best Places to Eat in Brooklyn, NY: A Food Lover’s Guide to the Borough
Few boroughs on earth can match Brooklyn’s culinary depth. What was once known primarily for pizza and bagels has evolved into one of America’s most innovative and diverse dining destinations — while still doing pizza and bagels better than almost anyone. Whether you’re a new resident or planning to move, here’s how to eat your way through Brooklyn.
What Is Brooklyn’s Most Famous Food?
Brooklyn is most famous for its pizza — specifically the New York-style thin-crust, coal-fired, hand-tossed pies that have been made here for over a century. Grimaldi’s (under the Brooklyn Bridge), Di Fara in Midwood, and Totonno’s in Coney Island are legendary destinations. Brooklyn is also famous for its bagels, deli food, and its Smorgasburg food market — one of the most celebrated outdoor food markets in America.
Where Should You Eat in Brooklyn as a New Resident?
New Brooklyn residents should explore their own neighborhood first — every Brooklyn neighborhood has hidden gems. But for bucket-list Brooklyn food experiences: grab a slice at Di Fara (Midwood), eat at a Caribbean spot in Crown Heights (Labay Market, or any of the Flatbush Avenue restaurants), try the West Indian and Chinese food in Sunset Park, explore the Vietnamese restaurants in Bensonhurst, and get a smashburger and craft beer in Williamsburg.
Brooklyn Food by Neighborhood
Williamsburg: Brooklyn’s Food Epicenter
Williamsburg’s food scene is relentlessly evolving — new restaurants open constantly alongside beloved institutions. The neighborhood is home to Smorgasburg (Saturdays on the East River), dozens of farm-to-table restaurants, artisan coffee shops, craft cocktail bars, and some of Brooklyn’s best ramen, tacos, and Japanese food. It’s where Brooklyn’s culinary innovation is most concentrated.
Crown Heights and Flatbush: Caribbean & African Cuisine
Crown Heights is Brooklyn’s Caribbean culinary capital — home to some of the best Jamaican, Trinidadian, Haitian, and Guyanese food in New York City. The annual West Indian American Day Parade and Carnival in Crown Heights is a celebration of the neighborhood’s culture and its extraordinary food. Flatbush Avenue is lined with authentic Caribbean restaurants representing nearly every island nation.
Sunset Park: Brooklyn’s Chinatown and Latin Hub
Sunset Park is home to Brooklyn’s largest Chinatown — second in NYC only to Manhattan — with outstanding dim sum, Cantonese seafood, and Fujianese cuisine. The neighborhood’s Latin section along Fifth Avenue is equally rich, with Mexican, Salvadoran, and pan-Latin restaurants serving some of Brooklyn’s most authentic food at remarkably affordable prices.
Park Slope and Carroll Gardens: Neighborhood Dining Excellence
Park Slope and Carroll Gardens are home to some of Brooklyn’s best-regarded restaurants — upscale Italian (Al di La), innovative American (Olmsted, considered one of NYC’s best restaurants), and neighborhood-perfect bakeries, wine bars, and casual bistros. These neighborhoods attract Brooklyn’s most sophisticated food culture without the Williamsburg scene’s intensity.
Our POV: Food Is the Fastest Way to Love Your New Brooklyn Neighborhood
We’ve moved clients into nearly every Brooklyn neighborhood, and the one piece of advice we give every new resident is the same: go eat. Walk your new blocks, duck into the local spots, introduce yourself to the owners, and discover what your specific corner of Brooklyn tastes like. Food is how Brooklyn welcomes new residents, and it’s one of the most profound pleasures of living here. Let Buy The Hour Movers get you settled into your new Brooklyn home — and then go eat something incredible.
Frequently Asked Questions: Eating in Brooklyn, NY
What is the best pizza in Brooklyn?
Brooklyn pizza debates are passionate and personal. Di Fara in Midwood (open since 1965) is widely considered Brooklyn’s most legendary slice. Grimaldi’s in DUMBO is iconic for its coal-fired pies. Roberta’s in Bushwick is beloved for its creative Neapolitan pies. L&B Spumoni Gardens in Bensonhurst serves a cult-favorite square slice. Pick your camp — all arguments are valid.
What is Smorgasburg in Brooklyn?
Smorgasburg is the largest weekly open-air food market in America, held every Saturday at Williamsburg’s East River waterfront (and Sundays at Prospect Park). Over 100 local vendors sell everything from ramen burgers to Japanese street corn. It’s a Brooklyn institution and a perfect introduction to the borough’s food culture.
Is dining in Brooklyn expensive?
Brooklyn offers dining at every price point — from $3 dumplings in Sunset Park’s Chinatown to $150 tasting menus in Carroll Gardens. One of Brooklyn’s great pleasures is that extraordinary food is available at modest prices in many neighborhoods. You don’t need a big budget to eat extraordinarily well here. Ready to move to Brooklyn? Contact Buy The Hour Movers today.
