So, it’s November and it’s getting colder which normally means it’s time to start thinking about Thanksgiving, but this year it also signals the time to start thing about Hanukkah since they fall on the same day. It’s a rare occurrence that only happens once every 95 years giving many people the chance to plan a strange meal they’re calling Thanksgivukkah blending the culinary traditions of the two. Well, today I’m going to ignore Thanksgiving all together because I’d like to talk about some of my favorite Jewish comfort foods and where I go to eat them in NYC.
If you think about it, there’s a very large range of food that qualifies as Jewish Comfort Food, especially because the Ashkenazi and Sephardic styles are so different. Ashkenazi dishes include things like matzah ball soup, pastrami, and pierogies. Think Eastern European dishes, whereas the Sephardic dishes include things you might think of as Middle Eastern like falafel and hummus.
Below you’ll find a list of the places I head to that are serving the best renditions of the dishes I hold so dearly. Know of a place serving a Jewish Comfort Food that I need to try to add to the map? Email me at info@winstonwanders.com
| Title | Category | Address | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Shelsky's Smoked Fish | 251 Smith St. Brooklyn, NY 11231 | Lox, Bagels, Specialty Sandwiches | |
| Barney Greengrass | 541 Amsterdam Ave. New York, NY 10024 | Lox | |
| Nish Nush | 88 Reade St. New York, NY 10013 | Falafel | |
| Hoomoos Asli | 100 Kenmare St. New York, NY 10012 | Falafel, Mellawach, Sabich | |
| Hummus Place | 305 Amsterdam Ave. New York, NY 10023 | Hummus, Shakshuka | |
| Hummus Place | 71 7th Ave. New York, NY 10014 | Hummus, Shakshuka | |
| Hummus Place | 109 St. Marks Pl. New York, NY 10009 | Hummus, Shakshuka | |
| Bread's Bakery | 18 E. 16th St. New York, 10003 | Ruggelach | |
| Streecha | 33 E 7th St. New York, NY 10003 | Weekend Only! Pierogies, Borscht, Kielbasa | |
| Zucker's Bagels and Smoked Fish | 370 Lexington Ave. New York, NY 10017 | Bagels, Lox, Whitefish Salad | |
| Zucker's Bagels and Smoked Fish | 146 Chambers St. New York, NY 10007 | Bagels, Lox, Whitefish Salad | |
| Ess-a-bagel | 831 3rd Ave. New York, NY 10022 | Bagel | |
| Ess-a-Bagel | 359 1st Ave. New York, NY 10010 | Bagel | |
| Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop | 174 5th Ave. New York, NY 10010 | Pastrami, Chopped Liver, Tuna Melt | |
| Katz's | 205 E. Houston St. New York, NY 10002 | Pastrami Sandwich | |
| Ukranian National Home | 140 2nd Ave. New York, NY 10003 | Pierogies, Halusky, Borscht, and other Ukranian specialties | |
| 1st Ave. Pierogie | 130 1st Ave. New York, NY 10009 | Pierogies | |
| Taim | 45 Spring St. New York, NY 10012 | Falafel, Hummus, Sabich | |
| Taim | 222 Waverly Pl. New York, NY 10014 | Falafel, Hummus, Sabich | |
| Russ & Daughters | 179 E. Houston St. New York, NY 10002 | Lox, Chopped Liver | |
| B&H Dairy | 127 2nd Ave. New York, NY 10003 | Matzah Ball Soup, Borscht, Lithuanian Cold Borscht, Tuna Melt, Challah | |
| Stage | 128 2nd Ave. New York, NY 10003 | Matzah Ball Soup, Borscht, Schav, Pastrami, Fried Pierogies |
I would argue that Kielbasa/ Ukranian food in general shouldn’t count as Jewish, though it may be an unpopular opinion!
You know, that’s a completely fair argument. I think I just associate it because my Jewish ancestors are from that Eastern European region (Russia/Poland) and have a similar cuisine.