Best Instagram Worthy Restaurants in Forest Hills
18 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Martha’s Country Bakery
A massive cake-slice program that stays reliable at destination-level volume.
Notable Picks
8.7
A high-volume Forest Hills institution for American-style cake slices and old-school pastry case classics, built for late-night dessert runs and celebration cakes. The best orders lean into what they execute at scale: napoleon-style layers, rich cheesecakes, and chocolate-forward slices that stay consistent even when the room is packed.
Must-Try Dishes:
Berry Napoleon, Oreo Cheesecake Slice, Black Forest Cake
What Makes it Special: A massive cake-slice program that stays reliable at destination-level volume.
#2
Forest Cafe
8.5
A bright, line-prone neighborhood cafe where the real draw is flavor-forward lattes and matcha drinks that actually taste like what they’re named. Treat breakfast here as a drink-plus-one move—grab a seasonal latte, pair it with a small sweet or sando, and keep it tight so everything stays crisp and fresh.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dirty Ube Latte, Matcha Latte, Japanese Sando
What Makes it Special: Seasonal latte execution with standout, clearly defined flavors.
8.4
A modern Forest Hills Korean kitchen that balances crispy fried chicken with stew-and-rice comfort, so you can build a full dinner instead of a one-note order. It’s most reliable when you anchor with one chicken style, add one bubbling jjigae, and keep the rest to a couple of banchan-friendly sides.
Must-Try Dishes:
Soy garlic fried chicken, Seafood pajeon, Soondubu jjigae
What Makes it Special: Fried chicken plus stew-first Korean comfort in a modern room.
8.4
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Family Friendly Favorites
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Comfort Food Classics
An old-school ice cream parlor built around sundaes and house-made nostalgia—best experienced seated, at full speed, with a classic topping combo. The move is one big sundae split or one tight two-scoop order; it’s about texture, fudge, and the soda-fountain rhythm.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hot fudge sundae, Coffee chip ice cream, Banana split
What Makes it Special: A true soda-fountain-style parlor where sundaes are the main event.
#5
Tourmaline
8.3
A French-leaning, special-occasion room on Metropolitan Avenue built around fine-dining pacing and showpiece dishes (including a preorder duck à la presse). It’s strongest when you treat the night like a tight tasting: 2–3 starters, one luxe pasta or main, then dessert—letting the intimate, polished service carry the rest.
Must-Try Dishes:
Duck à la presse (preorder), Truffle pasta, Celery root latkes
What Makes it Special: French-inspired fine dining with rare tableside-style showpieces in Forest Hills.
8.2
A more upscale Greek dining room that leans mezze-forward with a polished cocktail-and-raw-bar vibe, best used for a paced, shareable meal. The strongest order is two dips or cold starters, one hot appetizer, then one grill or fish main to finish without the table getting muddy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb chops, Grilled calamari, Mezze spreads (dips)
What Makes it Special: Polished Greek mezze-and-grill dining with a cocktail-friendly room.
#7
White Radish
8.2
A polished New American room that balances comfort and technique—pastas, seafood, and a few standout plates that reward a focused order. It’s at its best when you go “one luxe starter + one main + one dessert” instead of trying to cover the whole menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Short Rib Ravioli, Oxtail Croquettes, Duck Two Ways
What Makes it Special: A Forest Hills New American kitchen with legit pasta-and-seafood range.
#8
Mito
8.2
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Trendy Table Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A polished lounge-y dining room where sushi shares the spotlight with broader Japanese-leaning comfort and cocktails. Best for groups who want a lively setting and a menu that can cover rolls, apps, and shareable plates without overthinking it.
Must-Try Dishes:
Joker roll, Monster Lobster roll, Sushi & sashimi entrée
What Makes it Special: A modern sushi-and-cocktails room that plays well for groups.
8.1
A coffee-forward Austin Street cafe that shines when you treat breakfast as a clean, caffeinated reset—espresso drinks, pastries, and light bites that pair well with a quick sit-down. It’s strongest as a one-drink, one-food-item stop rather than a full multi-course breakfast.
Must-Try Dishes:
Espresso Drink, Croissant, Breakfast Sandwich
What Makes it Special: A reliable all-day cafe rhythm where coffee leads the order.
#10
Mojo Restaurant
8.1
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Trendy Table Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A high-energy Latin fusion room where tacos shine as the smart, focused order—crispy shells, bold sauces, and a cocktail-driven night-out vibe. Treat it like tacos plus one starter, then stop before the table turns heavy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Baja shrimp tacos, Chorizo tostada, Maduros
What Makes it Special: A cocktail-forward Latin spot where tacos are the cleanest win.
#11
Bamboo Ya
8
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Trendy Table Hotspots
A full-service Japanese spot on Austin Street with a steady sushi bar and a menu that works for both casual rolls and cooked plates. It’s strongest when you mix one clean, fish-forward roll with one hot appetizer so the meal has contrast.
Must-Try Dishes:
Yellowtail jalapeño roll, Hamachi kama (yellowtail collar), Agedashi tofu
What Makes it Special: A versatile, full-service sushi bar that fits both groups and casual dinners.
Worthy Picks
7.9
A design-forward, nightlife-leaning New American bistro that mixes playful plates with a cocktail-bar rhythm. The move is to treat it like a curated order—one signature starter, one main, then call it—so value stays intact and the table doesn’t sprawl.
Must-Try Dishes:
Red Beet Wellington, Kung Pao Calamari, Braised Short Rib
What Makes it Special: A cocktail-forward bistro where the room and plating are part of the meal.
A made-to-order donut counter where the appeal is heat and texture—fresh-fried rounds that land best when you keep it simple and eat them immediately. It’s a quick-hit sweets stop on Austin Street, more about craveable warmth than pastry finesse.
Must-Try Dishes:
Nutella donut, Cinnamon sugar donut, Classic glazed ugnut
What Makes it Special: Hot, fried-to-order donuts that hit best straight from the bag.
7.8
A boba-forward cafe that earns its spot in the donuts lane when you want mochi-style donut bites alongside sweet drinks. Best used as a quick dessert-and-sip stop—pick one donut-style snack, one drink, and keep the order tight.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mochi donuts (rotating flavors), Crème brûlée-style dessert cup, Milk tea with boba
What Makes it Special: Mochi-donut energy paired with a bubble-tea dessert lineup.
A late-hours dessert cafe where the ice-cream lane is Italian gelato paired with waffle-and-treat builds that lean playful rather than traditional parlor. Best used as a tight two-item stop—one gelato-based dessert plus one drink—so sweetness stays clean instead of heavy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Italian gelato (cup), Bubble waffle with gelato, Macarons
What Makes it Special: Late-night gelato-and-dessert builds in a cafe setting, not a parlor.
7.6
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A quick, counter-style Korean street-food stop built around crisp corn dogs and sweet-savory egg toast, ideal for a snack run or fast lunch. It lands best when you choose one cheese-forward dog, add one toast, and skip over-ordering so the crunch stays the point.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mozza dog, Potato dog, Egg toast
What Makes it Special: Crispy Korean corn dogs and egg toast made for fast cravings.
#17
Rafaelis Palace
7.5
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A chef-driven, kosher Mediterranean room that reads like a lounge and event-friendly dining space, with a menu that spans grilled meats and richer, banquet-style mains. It’s best when you keep the order centered on one standout kebab or grilled plate plus a couple of bright sides so the meal doesn’t feel overly heavy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mixed kebab platter, Grilled steak skewer, Fresh chopped salad
What Makes it Special: Kosher, chef-led Mediterranean with a celebration-ready dining-room format.
7.5
A modern Mediterranean-leaning nightlife room where food is part of the experience, not the whole point—best approached as a shared-plates-and-drinks night. Order a tight set of starters and one main dish to match the vibe, then let the room do the rest.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mediterranean mezze platter, Grilled branzino-style fish, Crispy calamari
What Makes it Special: A nightlife-forward Mediterranean room where ambiance carries the night.