A Quick Food Guide to NYC's 24-Hour Dining Scene

Empire Biscuit

Celebrating national FRIED CHICKEN day with this beauty: slaw, jalapeños, ranch & fried chick smushed inside a biscuit. Praise be to @empirebiscuit

A photo posted by HUNGRYBETCHES (@hungrybetches) on Jul 6, 2015 at 1:46pm PDT

Empire Biscuit’s motto reads; “Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drunk.” No matter what time of day, this 24-hour venue turns out fresh southern-style biscuits. We highly recommend the conventional signature combos, Benton’s heritage breed bacon with a runny-yolked egg and Cheddar, in-house smoked ham and egg and the spicy fried chicken biscuit with pickled carrots and sauce a l’orange.

Where: East Village

Empanada Mama

Shrimp, crab, scallops, pork and chicken empanadas with plantain chips and jalapeño guacamole 👌#NYC

A photo posted by ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀GENEVIEVE GALMAN (@genevievegalman) on Jul 9, 2015 at 10:02am PDT

Colombian-inspired, Empanada Mama is a great spot for a pre-theatre bite, but 5 am works too. It offers more than 40 empanadas, from wheat flour to oven-baked wheat flour to corn flour to dessert. Their fillings range from shredded chicken with sofrito sauce and red peppers to Greek sausage pie to rice and beans to hot dog and cheddar cheese. To wash it all down, try the house-made salpicón and a fig and caramel empanada.

Where: Hell’s Kitchen and LES, Manhattan

Veselka

Because veggie pierogies and veggie stuffed cabbage is life.. Even when bae disagrees.. 😏🙌🏼💕 #newyork #nyc #pierogies #polish #vegetarian #veselka #nyceats #EEEEEATS #nycfat

A photo posted by Shalindra (Sha) • 29 🎂🎉 (@theoatlady) on Jan 3, 2016 at 9:46am PST

Veselka has been an institution in the East Village since 1954, serving traditional diner fare and Eastern European specialties. Veselka has long been a popular stop on the post-bar circuit, drawing crowds with its sweet-and-savory dumplings topped with sour cream as well as applesauce-slathered potato pancakes, bowls of goulash and bigos, a sausage-packed Ukrainian stew.

Where: East Village

Cafeteria

Comfort food at its finest with our Mac Attack! #youareyoueat #macattack #macandcheese #mouthgasm #foodporn #feedyoursoull #dinner #iconic #foodchasers #nomnomnom #cafeterianyc #cheesy #truffle #bacon #trio

A photo posted by Cafeteria (@cafeterianyc) on Jan 26, 2016 at 3:07pm PST

Cafeteria is the place you go if you are looking fly and not quite ready to call it a night. The post-party crowd is just as good looking as the food. The three versions of mac ‘n’ cheese and homemade sausage rolls with ketchup are worth the calories and the tiny basement bar is a great hideout if you want to extend the evening.

Where: Chelsea

Coppelia

Tacos on tacos🌮🌮🌮 Happy Tuesday! #tacotuesday #besttacos #fishtacos #flounder #tacosandtecate #tacolover #ilovetacos #nomnom #forkyeah #nyceats #eatupnewyork #foodisfuel #foodiegram #foodbeast #nycfoodie #foodlove #foodism #eatout #onthetable #eatingnyc #foodforfoodie #comidalatina

A photo posted by Coppelianyc (@coppelianyc) on Nov 3, 2015 at 12:30pm PST

We are talking 24-hour Latin-American comfort food at Coppelia. With a sprawling menu of tortas, nachos heaped with short ribs, lomo saltado topped with fries, tomato and onion this venue is a perfect balance of well-crafted Latino cuisine and affordable, relaxed-style dining.

Where: West Village

Katzs Delicatessen

☂Walking down the lane with lox and bagels just singin’ in the rain. #breakfastfordinner #foodporn #food #foodie #insyafood #lox #smoked #salmon #smokedsalmon #pastrami #sandwich #pastramisandwich #pickles #pickle #bagel #bagels #yum #rainy #rain #rainyday #les #lowereastside #nyc #deli #katz #katzs #katzdeli #katzsdeli #singingintherain

A photo posted by 🌭Katz’s Delicatessen🌭 (@katzsdeli) on Feb 3, 2016 at 1:33pm PST

Katz’s is so intrinsic to NYC that its inclusion on this list almost needs no explanation. But in case you’re a first-timer to the city, Katz’s fame comes largely from their thick-cut pastrami stacked high between slices of rye. It is the stuff of drunken dreams. It will set you back $20, but it’s worth every cent.

Where: Lower East Side

Great Burrito

1:00AM tacos with my fave Paris boys! 💥💥💥

A photo posted by Mary Kang (@marykangarooo) on Sep 18, 2015 at 10:17pm PDT

You’ll more than likely walk straight by this venue. But please don’t let the aged fast food shop front fool you. By-pass the display cabinet of soggy, lifeless pizzas and deep-fried empanadas and head to the back counter. There you can order a piping al pastor tacos straight from the griddle. Don’t hold back on the homemade hot sauce.

Where: Flatiron District

Bowery Diner

Join us for Superbowl 2014 @bowerydiner. TV, beer and house smoked pastrami on rye with Russian dressing, mustard, sauerkraut and gruyere. #bowerydiner #superbowl2014

A photo posted by @bowerydiner on Jan 29, 2014 at 11:07am PST

Technically, Bowery Diner is only open 24-hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but let’s be honest, those are the days you’ll be craving a Reuben made with house-smoked corned beef and dripping with melted Swiss and tangy kraut and a Pina Colada with jalapeno at 5 am. It’s simple and well-crafted food and cocktail menu pulls away from your typical diner-style experience, but it is very well executed.

Where: Lower East Side

B.A.D. Burger

The Goodfella #mozzerella #tomato #pesto #vegan #glutenfree

A photo posted by B.A.D. Burger (@badburger) on Oct 5, 2015 at 10:24am PDT

B.A.D. Burger (Breakfast All Day), is a late-night right of passage for all who move to Williamsburg or anyone bar hopping between the Williamsburg and Manhattan. The hours have been cut to 11 am to 5 am on weekends, but that’s still pretty impressive. Try the fried macaroni-and-cheese balls or nachos coated with guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, black beans, and bacon, or “facon” substitute as the entire menu has vegan variations.

Where: Williamsburg and East Village.