Best Hidden Gems Restaurants in Murray Hill & Kips Bay (10016)
7 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Nonna Dora's
Handmade pasta bar where Dora’s Lasagna is a headline dish.
Notable Picks
#1
Nonna Dora's
8.9
Nonna Dora's is a Kips Bay pasta bar where Dora’s Lasagna, layered with meat sauce and béchamel, anchors a tight list of handmade noodles. Open since 2022, it draws pasta obsessives for carefully crafted plates, negroni variations, and counter seating that works for both dates and solo meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dora’s Lasagna, Maccheroncini Grano Arso, Pappardelle del Ristoro
What makes it special: Handmade pasta bar where Dora’s Lasagna is a headline dish.
#2
Little Alley
8.7
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Hidden Gems Heaven
Business Lunch Power Players
Little Alley channels a Shanghainese side street into a snug Murray Hill dining room, with soup dumplings, lion's head meatballs, and braised pork dishes that punch above the casual setting. Despite Bib Gourmand buzz and heavy foot traffic, it still feels like a neighborhood spot where regulars work through the menu family-style.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao), Dong Po pork with buns, Soft shell crab rice cake
What makes it special: Shanghainese cooking with stand-out dumplings and braised pork in a cozy bistro setting.
#3
Norma
8.7
Norma’s Murray Hill outpost leans into Sicilian comfort cooking, from arancini and panelle to richly sauced pasta alla Norma and pan-style pizzas. The cozy room and attentive staff make it a go-to for lingering dinners that feel more like a trattoria in Catania than a Third Avenue address.
Must-Try Dishes:
Arancini Siciliani, Pasta alla Norma, Rianata Sicilian Pan Pizza
What makes it special: Sicilian-focused trattoria known for arancini, pasta alla Norma and warm hospitality.
8.7
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Business Lunch Power Players
Quick Bites Champions
A classic Jewish deli in Murray Hill dating back to the 1960s, Sarge's serves crinkle-cut fries that are treated as seriously as its towering pastrami sandwiches. The fries come out hot, salty, and generously portioned, making the diner a go-to when you want old-school New York comfort with a proper fry basket.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crinkle-Cut French Fries, Pastrami Reuben, Open-Faced Hot Turkey Sandwich with Fries
What makes it special: Old-school deli where crinkle-cut fries share top billing with stacked pastrami.
8.4
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Group Dining Gatherings
Hyderabadi Zaiqa's Curry Hill location turns out dum biryanis, haleem, and Indo-Chinese plates at price points that feel gentle for Midtown. The room is simple but lively, and recent attention has come more from word-of-mouth and delivery platforms than splashy press, keeping it feeling like a current insider favorite.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hyderabadi goat dum biryani, Chicken 65, Haleem
What makes it special: Hyderabadi-style biryani and haleem with serious spice at modest prices.
#6
Pongal
8.3
Pongal is a long-running vegetarian South Indian spot on Lexington where dosas, uttapam, and thalis fill a narrow dining room packed with regulars. Prices stay reasonable for the neighborhood, and the menu quietly covers vegan, Jain, and gluten-free needs without fanfare.
Must-Try Dishes:
Masala dosa, South Indian thali, Chili cheese dosa
What makes it special: All-vegetarian South Indian menu with deep neighborhood roots.
Worthy Picks
#7
Kjun
7.9
Kjun is a small, reservation-driven spot in Murray Hill where chef Jae Jung fuses Korean flavors with Cajun and Creole cooking. Gumbo, fried chicken, and kimchi-driven plates show up with both Southern and Seoul accents.
Must-Try Dishes:
KJUN fried chicken with gochujang hot honey, Chicken-and-andouille or seafood gumbo, Gluten-free kimchi jambalaya
What makes it special: Korean-Cajun cooking from a fine-dining-trained chef in a tiny dining room.