In today’s New York, dining out isn’t just about eating—it’s about experiencing culture, personality, and story through food.
From reinvented Caribbean fare to precision yakitori and no-frills classic burgers,
these three restaurants are defining what’s hot in NYC right now.


1. Kabawa – Caribbean fine dining with a heartbeat

Located in the East Village, Kabawa is the bold new vision of Paul Carmichael, the legendary Momofuku chef.
Here, Caribbean cuisine is reimagined into something elegant yet deeply rooted—think jerk duck sausage, royal red shrimp with sorrel, and soft Indo-Caribbean breads.
The energy is vibrant, the flavors are unexpected, and the entire experience feels like a culinary trip back to Carmichael’s roots.
Kabawa isn’t just a place to eat—it’s a place to feel something.


2. Kono – Yakitori as art, delivered omakase-style

Hidden inside a Chinatown arcade, Kono is a 14-seat restaurant offering one of the most refined yakitori omakase experiences in New York.
Chef Atsushi Kono presents 16 precise courses, each showcasing a different part of the chicken—from thigh to heart, to perfectly grilled skin.
There’s a quiet intensity here, where the rhythm of cooking meets the pulse of New York street culture.
You don’t just taste the food—you watch it unfold like a performance.


3. Hamburger America – Where the burger is the story

Tucked away in SoHo’s MacDougal Street, Hamburger America was founded by burger documentarian George Motz.
This is not a gourmet burger joint—it’s a love letter to the real, American burger.
The fried onion burger, the smash burger—each one is simple, nostalgic, and exactly what a burger should be.
With no gimmicks, it’s a place that captures the spirit of roadside diners in a space that feels right at home in New York’s evolving food scene.

In a city that’s always reinventing itself,
these restaurants remind us that the best meals are the ones with heart.
If you want to eat where New York is headed,
this is where the table is set.