Everyone knows that after friends and family, the best part about the holiday season is obviously food. There are so many special treats that only come around during this time of the year. Latkes are one of them. For those who don’t know, latkes are a traditional Jewish potato pancake that people enjoy during Hanukkah time.
But here’s the catch: Once you have one, you won’t be able to stop. Here are some of my fave places besides my grandma’s kitchen to get my latke fix in NYC.
1. 2nd Avenue Deli
Location: 162 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016
When you think Jewish food, naturally the mind goes straight to delis, for good reason. The 2nd Avenue Deli has two locations, and they serve all the classic dishes from Pastrami sandwiches to everyone’s favorite potato pancakes. If you’ve ever had the urge to combine those two, don’t worry, they can do that, too.
2. Veselka
Location: 144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Talk about a classic. You can never go wrong with a traditional potato latke served with sour cream and applesauce. I mean, come on…just writing about it is making my mouth water. Veselka serves traditional Ukrainian food so take your taste buds on a trip and check this place out.
3. Cafe Orlin
Location: 41 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003
Every person that has tried a latke probably agrees that they are delish for all meals, at any time of the day. Cafe Orlin serves them up for in the morning along with an incredible array of other breakfast options. So if you wake up and you’re in the mood for a latke, you know where to go.
4. Essex Restaurant
Location: 120 Essex St, New York, NY 10002
If a restaurant is known for their pancakes, you know it’s gotta be bomb. Essex Restaurant serves their dreamy “famous” potato latkes with sautéed apples and honey cream sauce or lox and caviar. It really can’t be bad.
5. Ben’s Kosher Deli
Location: 209 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018
Continuing on the deli train, Ben’s Kosher Deli absolutely kills the potato pancake game. Frying up some potato may sound like a super easy job, but it’s truly an art and the chefs at Ben’s know how to do it.
6. Community Food and Juice
Location: 2893 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Everyone knows that with latkes, it’s all about the crunch. And you can tell just from this picture that Community Food and Juice understands that. Served with caramelized applesauce, how could you go wrong? The answer: you can’t.
7. Zum Schneider
Location: 107 Avenue C, New York, NY 10009
You know a latke is gonna be good if it’s called a Reiberdatschi (a German potato pancake). Zum Schneider serves traditional German food including this gem served with applesauce, a house salad, and it’s always fried to perfection.
8. Katz’s Deli
Location: 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
Another traditional deli, Katz’s definitely knows how to fry up a quality latke. They were established in 1888 and have been family run for over 100 years, making must-try latkes ever since.
So, if I were you, I’d try out as many of these latke spots as possible. Since it’s during the holiday season, the calories don’t count, right?