Best Trendy Restaurants in Lower East Side (10002)
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Jajaja Mexicana
All-vegan Mexican menu with big flavors and a party-ready room.
Notable Picks
8.8
Jajaja Mexicana is a plant-based Mexican restaurant where colorful plates, creative tacos, and a deep mezcal list pull in crowds from beyond the neighborhood. The space feels bright and social, leaning more toward fun group dinners and brunch than quiet, lingering meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grande Nachos, Buffalo Flower Tacos, Chorizo Burrito
What makes it special: All-vegan Mexican menu with big flavors and a party-ready room.
8.8
Scarr’s is a Lower East Side slice shop with old-school looks and new-school craft, milling some of its own flour and topping pies with carefully sourced ingredients. Lines move steadily for classic rounds, Sicilian squares, and a small menu of sides that make it a destination for both locals and pizza pilgrims.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pepperoni slice, Sicilian square slice, Vegan Caesar salad
What makes it special: Slice-shop nostalgia backed by serious grain and ingredient work.
Clinton Street Baking Company is a tiny Lower East Side institution where blueberry pancakes, biscuit sandwiches, and all-day breakfast draw lines down the block. Brunch tourists mix with locals at tightly spaced tables, turning the dining room into a kind of informal theater for pancake service.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blueberry pancakes, Buttermilk fried chicken & waffles, Latke eggs Benedict
What makes it special: A long-running brunch institution serving standout pancakes and hearty American plates.
#4
Cervo's
8.6
Cervo's is a seafood-focused Spanish and Portuguese-inspired spot where fried shrimp heads, Manila clams in Vinho Verde, and piri-piri chicken anchor a tight, shareable menu. The long bar, back dining room, and Canal Street patio keep it in heavy rotation for Lower East Side dates and small-group dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crispy shrimp heads, Manila clams with garlic and Vinho Verde, Half chicken with piri piri and fries
What makes it special: Spanish-leaning seafood, strong vermouth program, and patio people-watching.
#5
Wayla
8.4
Wayla hides an underground Thai dining room and back patio behind an unassuming Forsyth Street entrance, serving homestyle dishes with market-style flavors and polished plating. The combination of moody interior, garden-like outdoor space, and a menu built for sharing has made it a reliable choice for dates and small groups.
Must-Try Dishes:
Moo sarong pork meatballs, Khao pad pu crab fried rice, Peek gai tod chicken wings
What makes it special: An almost-hidden basement Thai spot with a leafy patio and dishes that feel more home-cooked than takeout.
#6
Kopitiam
8.3
Kopitiam is a counter-service Nyonya cafe that channels Malaysian coffee-shop culture with breakfast plates, snacks, and kopi served from morning through late afternoon. The mix of sweet and savory dishes, low-key pricing, and sidewalk seating has made it a go-to for casual meetups and solo meals alike.
Must-Try Dishes:
Nasi lemak, Kaya butter toast, Pan mee noodles
What makes it special: A Nyonya cafe from chef Kyo Pang bringing Malaysian coffee-shop culture downtown.
#7
Ernesto's
8.2
Ernesto's brings a Basque-inspired menu and serious wine program to a calmer stretch of East Broadway, with a dining room that feels more like a European cafe than a typical downtown spot. Guests build meals from pintxos-style small plates and larger seafood and meat dishes, often pairing them with sherry and Spanish bottles.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gilda skewers with tuna and guindilla peppers, House-made potato chips with jamón Ibérico, Basque cheesecake
What makes it special: Basque small plates and serious Spanish wines in a buzzy room.
#8
Dimes
8.0
Dimes is a compact, all-day restaurant at the heart of the so-called Dimes Square microneighborhood, known for health-forward plates, grain bowls, and acai-driven breakfasts. Fashion, art, and media crowds pack the room from morning through dinner, treating it as both a canteen and a social clubhouse.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Burrito, Berry Acai Bowl, Macro Bowl
What makes it special: A health-leaning, all-day breakfast cafe that helped define its micro-neighborhood.