This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at St. John's chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
By: Amelia-Rose Williams
Who doesn’t love good food? I’m a HUGE foodie; traveling back and forth between New York City and New Jersey my entire life, I’ve had the opportunity to try some amazing food over the years. Most recently, since I’ve been living in NYC full-time for college, I’ve been given the chance to expand my flavor palette and have gone to some amazing places with my friends!
- Nikko Hibachi  (Freshmeadows, Queens) – To begin our flavor journey, I’m starting with somewhere close to St. John’s, Nikko Hibachi. I fell in love with Nikko’s from the moment my taste buds landed on the Golden Passion, which is featured on the “Nikko’s Special Rolls” section on their menu. A favorite appetizer of mine from their menu is the Rocky Shrimp. Finally, to top it off, I recommend pairing this meal with an ice-cold ginger ale to wash it down.
- Bon Bon (Soho, Manhattan) – A close friend of mine introduced me to the world of Swedish delights when they took me to Bon Bon for the first time. Upon my first trip, I wasn’t entirely sure what the hype was all about. However, not being afraid to experiment, I decided to revisit and try it out for myself. Upon entering, I just picked up a scoop and chose blindly. I was pleasantly surprised with my selection, and my taste buds were quite tickled. My recommendations are: Crocodile Gummies, Sour People, Fizzy Bubblegum Rings, Raspberry Lips, Strawberry marshmallows, & so much more!Â
- TeaMakers NYC (K-Town, Manhattan) – If you enjoy seeing the things you consume in cute shapes, then you will love TeaMakers NYC. I love boba, which is their specialty; my username on Roblox literally includes the word ‘boba.’ You know what else I like? Bears! TeaMakers will put any tea of your choice from their vast menu into a bear cup. Full disclosure, you do have to pay a bit more for it, but the fee isn’t expensive at all. From their menu, you can choose a variety of teas, tapioca pearls, and jellies, and even adjust your sugar and ice levels to customize your drink perfectly to satisfy your taste buds. My recommendation is the taro with tapioca pearls or occasionally a passion fruit tea with lychee jelly. Â
- Blaze Pizza (Fresh Meadows, Queens) – I discovered Blaze Pizza on my own last year when I was craving pizza severely. Upon first glance, I was enticed by the images and was starving. Blaze Pizza specializes in personalized oven-baked pizzas, allowing you to choose from a variety of toppings. If you have any allergies or are concerned about additional sanitization hazards, you can request glove changes. Also, don’t worry about figuring out the right temperature to reheat your pizza because they give you instructions on how to reheat your leftovers at home! I would recommend a plain cheese pizza topped with arugula, oregano, buttermilk ranch drizzle, and pesto drizzle.Â
- Playa Bowls (Broadway, Manhattan) – The interesting thing about my discovery of Playa Bowls is the fact that I didn’t discover this in NYC. I actually discovered this near my house in NJ. I’ve tried a variety of açaĂ bowls in the past, most of them being watered down and just nasty. Playa Bowls completely changed the game for me. If you ask anyone close to me, they will tell you that I hate coconut, but for some reason, unbeknownst to me, I’m addicted to the Nutelloco, from Playa Bowls. With a coconut base, decorated with blueberry flax granola, bananas, strawberries, coconut flakes, and cacao nibs, topped with a drizzle of Nutella. I’ve fallen in love with coconuts and Playa Bowls.
- Hitit Burger (Bayside, Queens) – My biggest pet peeve is scrolling on social media and stumbling upon restaurants with food that looks amazing; clicking on the link and seeing that it’s thirteen hours away. That’s how I feel about In-N-Out only being available on the West Coast. One evening, while I was craving In-N-Out, desperate to find something that might come close to it. I came across Hitit Burger, starving and ready to risk it all, I ordered one of their classic smash burgers, with a chicken smash burger, paired with their classic sauce. When it arrived and I bit into it, the flavors instantly melted into my tongue, and I fell in love. Since then, Hitit Burger is the ONLY place I will ever order smash burgers from in NYC.Â
- Bonchon Chicken (Flushing, Queens) – One thing about me, I love chicken. Chicken is versatile; you can eat it with almost anything, and season it with almost everything. From savory to sweet, chicken is one of the best meats to eat! My boyfriend introduced me to Bonchon; unaware of their chicken game, my expectations remained neutral. However, I was taken aback completely when he ordered a pack of wings for us to share. As soon as I picked up a wing, I picked up another one immediately after. I just kept on chewing over and over, barely coming up for air. Before I knew it, a pile of bones was sitting in front of me, and I was hungry for more. For sauces, I recommend the Soy Garlic and Yangnyeom.
- Tokuymatcha & Onigirazu Bar (Union Square Park, Manhattan) – Tokuymatcha & Onigirazu Bar was a place I had been seeing pop up on my For You Page (FYP) for the longest time. I had been to Manhattan multiple times to run errands, just to put time aside to go and try this place. Never was the right time, until finally, I went for a shopping spree and decided to try it out. The wait was long, but as soon as the sandwich landed in my hand, hot, fresh, and looking ready to be devoured, I consumed it within seconds. The Onigiri I chose contained: spam, egg, and lettuce; paired with hot sauce, which was all seasoned perfectly.
- Sunny & Fine’s Breakfast Burritos (Jamaica, Queens) – I know breakfast burritos aren’t at the top of the list for breakfast cravings. Once in a while, I will indulge in making myself one. Although, recently having perfected my recipe, I wanted to taste the delicacy from another person’s perspective. With an array of toppings, I kept my order for Sunny’s quite simple: American cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream, and hot sauce. Only being a mere few blocks away, it came hot and ready, and I was satisfied with the flavor combination.Â
10. Pokeworks(Fresh Meadows Park, Queens) – Last but not least, originating in Hawaii, Poke is a dish that will take you to a flavor town guaranteed. I had been dying to try it out ever since I saw many Hawaiian residents talk about it. I took an opportunity and decided to order from Pokeworks, and discovered I indeed really like the dish. My toppings were: Ahi tuna, spicy tuna, spicy salmon, sriracha aioli (spicy), cucumber, sliced onion, edamame, mango, pineapple, cilantro, and Hijiki seaweed. The flavors combined transcended me, and I had eaten so fast that I needed to take a break. So, if you are ever in need to try something new, check these places out, I’m certain they won’t disappoint!