
If you live in Manhattan and like discovering food and drink spots before they become “trendy” on Instagram, here are five new spots that just opened. Real eats. Real spaces. Real promise (and yes, you’ll brag you went there first).
Bufón — Modern European
78 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002 (Lower East Side)
Price range: mains typically $30-$50+, steaks up to $130+
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bufon.nyc/
Bufón, from the team behind Demo, serves up modern European cuisine grounded in steak and fish, a raw bar, and an elevated wine list. Not your flashy scene spot, but the kind of dinner place you’ll love after the spotlight moves on.
Colbo Next Door — Wine Bar + Retail Hangout
51 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002 (Lower East Side)
Price range: wine by the glass ~$15-$20; small plates ~$14-$25
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colbo.nextdoor/
This hybrid spot blends wine bar, retail, and curated chill in one. Think: après-work wine, artful plates, and browsing records or vintage gear next door. Ideal for the half-hangout, half-shopping vibe.
Taishoken — Legendary Tokyo Ramen Brand in NYC
92 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 (East Village)
Price range: ramen bowls ~$17-$23
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taishoken.newyork/
Taishoken, the Tokyo institution that invented tsukemen (dipping noodles), has landed in NYC. It’s ramen with history, flavor depth, and the kind of authenticity that makes it worth the line.
Mộc Mạc — Vietnamese Comfort Food in the East Village
79 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 (East Village)
Price range: most dishes under ~$30
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mocmacnyc/
Mộc Mạc offers Vietnamese-inspired dishes (hot pot, pho, grilled combos) served in a cozy East Village home-food vibe. It’s warm, real, and perfect for a dinner that feels like “I know what’s good.”
Oddball — Retro-Futurist Cocktail Bar
188 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009 (Alphabet City / East Village)
Price range: craft cocktails ~$15-$20+
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oddball.nyc/
A fresh bar opening with imaginative drinks (blueberry-ricotta whey-horseradish daiquiri, anyone?), design that nods to ’70s futurism, and an energy that’s playful without being wannabe. For nights when you want a drink that does more than just taste good.
Text by: Wika Soto-Hay






