18 NYC Restaurant Copycat Recipes You Can Make At Home

    Can't make it to NYC? Make the city's best bites to your own kitchen.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    There's no doubt that New York is one of the greatest food cities in the world. Whether you live far away and can't swing a trip or you're a loyal New Yorker craving your favorite dishes, here are some iconic NYC restaurant dishes you can recreate right in your own kitchen.

    1. Carbone's Spicy Rigatoni Vodka

    A big bowl of rigatoni in creamy spicy vodka sauce.
    Indulgent Eats / Via indulgenteats.com

    There are two obstacles involved in getting your hands on Mario Carbone's famous spicy rigatoni. First, you have to snag a coveted reservation at Carbone, and second, you'll have to shell out over $30 for a bowl. Or, of course, you could just try making it from scratch. Get the recipe for Carbone's spicy rigatoni vodka here.

    2. Roberta’s Bee-Sting Pizza

    A Neopolitan-style pizza topped with tomato sauce, melted mozzarella, basil, and hot honey.
    Shared Appetite / Via sharedappetite.com

    If you've ever been to Roberta's, the Bushwick, Brooklyn pizzeria that is among the best in NYC, you're probably familiar with the "bee sting" pizza, a sweet-meets-spicy combination of creamy mozzarella, hot soppressata, and honey. Try making it at home with your favorite homemade or store bought pizza dough. Get the recipe for Roberta's bee-sting pizza here.

    3. Levain Bakery's Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

    Hands holding a gooey chocolate chip walnut cookie sliced in half with a baking sheet full of cookies behind it.
    A Bountiful Kitchen / Via abountifulkitchen.com

    There might not be a more delicious cookie on this planet than Levain's gooey, thick, and decadent chocolate chip walnut creation. When you make these at home, try to use both cake flour and AP flour for the best results. Get the recipe for Levain Bakery's chocolate chip walnut cookies here.

    4. Maialino's Orange Olive Oil Cake

    Always Order Dessert / Via alwaysorderdessert.com

    You use olive oil in your cooking all the time, but have you ever used it in your baking? If the answer is no, this indulgent cake inspired by Mailino on Gramercy Park will change your mind. Get the recipe for Maialino's orange olive oil cake here.

    5. Xian Famous Foods' Spicy Cumin Lamb Biang Biang Noodles

    Two bowls of spicy cumin lamb noodles with thick hand pulled noodles, spicy chili peppers, and chopsticks.
    The Woks of Life / Via thewoksoflife.com

    If you don't have the time to make the noodles from scratch, try to find fresh, store-bought hand-pulled noodles. That will make your home-cooked dish most similar to that of fast casual chain, Xi'an Famous Foods. Get the recipe for Xian Famous Foods' spicy cumin lamb biang biang noodles here.

    6. Prince Street Pizza's Sicilian Pepperoni Pizza

    A thick crust Sicilian pizza with charred edges topped with pepperoni.
    Baking Steel / Via bakingsteel.com

    This Nolita institution always draws a line around the block for its Sicilian pizza topped with thick and crispy pepperoni. Do yourself a favor and make 72-hour pizza dough from scratch. It will be well worth the effort. Get the recipe for Prince Street Pizza's Sicilian pepperoni pizza here.

    7. Breads Bakery's Chocolate Babka

    Feeling Foodish / Via feelingfoodish.com

    This eastern European recipe of Jewish descent was perfected by Breads Bakery. It's basically a moist and flaky braided braid with decadent chocolate swirls. Pro tip: It tastes just as good for breakfast as it does for dessert. Get the recipe for Breads Bakery's chocolate babka here.

    8. Magnolia Bakery's Banana Pudding

    The Girl Who Ate Everything / Via the-girl-who-ate-everything.com

    Magnolia Bakery's light and fluffy banana pudding is so much easier to replicate than you'd expect. In fact, all you need are five ingredients: condensed milk, vanilla instant pudding mix, heavy cream, bananas, and Nilla Wafers, Get the recipe for Magnolia Bakery's banana pudding here.

    9. Clinton St. Baking Co.'s Blueberry Pancakes

    A stack of thick and fluffy blueberry pancakes with blueberry compote on top.
    Top With Cinnamon / Via topwithcinnamon.com

    Not your ordinary pancake, this iconic recipe from Clinton Street Baking Co. on Manhattan's Lower East Side calls for flour, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, salted butter, and lots of blueberries. Get the recipe for Clinton St. Baking Co.'s blueberry pancakes here.

    10. Momofuku Noodle Bar's Pork Buns

    A wooden cutting board topped with barbecue pork, bao buns, scallions, cucumber, and hoisin sauce.
    Honest Cooking / Via honestcooking.com

    If you don't have the time to make Momofuku-style steamed pork buns from scratch, opt for a store bought fresh or frozen version. These airy buns get filled with roasted pork belly, then garnished with scallions, cucumber, and hoisin sauce. Get the recipe for Momofuku Noodle Bar's pork buns here.

    11. Balthazar's French Onion Gratinée

    A spoon taking a bite of Balthazar copycat French onion soup from a bowl with a thick layer of cheese on top.
    Feed and Be Fed / Via feedandbefed.com

    This French brasserie is a SoHo institution for a reason. Their iconic soup is made with a thick top layer of country bread and tangy, melty Gruyère cheese. Get the recipe for Balthazar's French onion gratinée here.

    12. ABC Cocina's Spring Pea Guacamole

    Freshly made guacamole in a wooden bowl with sliced lime, cilantro, scallions, and tortilla chips to the side.
    Once Upon a Chef / Via onceuponachef.com

    Leave it to chef Jean Georges Vongerichten, owner of ABC Cocina, to discover that fresh green peas are the perfect addition to a bowl of creamy and zesty guacamole. Get the recipe for ABC Cocina's spring pea guacamole here.

    13. Beecher's Mac 'n' Cheese

    A bowl of super cheesy, creamy mac 'n' cheese with penne noodles.
    The Baker Upstairs / Via thebakerupstairs.com

    While Beecher's Flagship cheese is sold at grocery stores around the country, you can use any sharp white cheddar if you can't get your hands on it. Get the recipe for Beecher's mac 'n' cheese here.

    14. Milk Bar's Birthday Cake Truffles

    Momofuku Milk Bar copycat birthday cake truffles on a countertop surrounded by rainbow sprinkles.
    The Salted Cookie / Via thesaltedcookie.com

    It doesn't have to be your birthday to treat yourself to these seriously sweet Milk Bar truffles. The secret ingredient: a whole lotta butter. Get the recipe for Momofuku Milk Bar's birthday cake truffles here.

    15. Rezdôra's Ragu Modenese Recipe

    A plate of tagliatelle pasta with pork ragu.
    I Am a Food Blog / Via iamafoodblog.com

    Rezdôra serves recipes from Italy's Emilia Romagna region like this hearty and savory pork ragu, which is made with prosciutto, mortadella, ground pork, vegetables, and chicken stock. Get the recipe for Rezdôra's ragu modenese here.

    16. Shake Shack's Cheeseburger

    A platter of shake shack inspired cheeseburgers with lettuce and tomato and crinkle-cut fries.
    A Cozy Kitchen / Via acozykitchen.com

    You could use plain old ground beef, but we find the best results when we use a combination of ground sirloin and chuck beef. Of course, you can't forget Shake Shack's special sauce made with mayo, ketchup, pickle brine, cayenne, and paprika. Get the recipe for Shake Shack's cheeseburger here.

    17. Veselka's Cabbage Soup

    Two bowls of cabbage soup with carrots, pork, celery, and potatoes.
    Smitten Kitchen / Via smittenkitchen.com

    This East Village mainstay serves eastern European classics like pierogi, borscht, and this comforting cabbage soup. Ready in under an hour, it's the kind of recipe you'll want to make in bulk and freeze for a rainy day. Get the recipe for Veselka's cabbage soup here.

    18. The Halal Guys' Middle Eastern Chicken and Rice

    A plate of diced chicken over yellow rice with tomatoes, fresh herbs, and spicy white sauce.
    Dinner Then Dessert / Via dinnerthendessert.com

    There are halal carts and then there's The Halal Guys, New York's most iconic street cart for chicken over rice. When you make it at home, don't forget the spicy Sriracha yogurt sauce, which ties together the whole dish. Get the recipe for The Halal Guys' Middle Eastern chicken and rice here.