Photo: Steam Pipe Trunk Distribution Venue · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons (cropped for cover) ( source)
Joe's Pizza
Greenwich VillagePizza, New York slice$
A stand-up counter pizzeria on Carmine Street serving classic New York cheese and pepperoni slices since 1975, folded and eaten on the spot rather than at a table.
Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 10:00-03:00, Fri-Sat 10:00-04:00 (please confirm)
Picked as one of the most-cited original New York slice shops, a Greenwich Village fixture since 1975 that regularly turns up on 'best pizza in NYC' lists.
Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons ( source)
Katz's Delicatessen
Lower East SideJewish deli, pastrami$$
A cafeteria-style deli on the Lower East Side that's been hand-carving pastrami since 1888, famous for the ticket-at-the-door system, the hand-carved sandwiches, and the corner table from When Harry Met Sally.
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 8:00-23:00, Fri 8:00-23:30, Sat-Sun nearly around the clock (please confirm)
Picked as New York's best-known Jewish deli, the pastrami sandwich that regularly tops 'best deli in NYC' round-ups across TripAdvisor, Yelp and local food guides.
A 1917 public market in the Historic Core with dozens of food stalls under one roof, from tacos and ramen to an egg-sandwich counter with a permanent line - come hungry and plan to share a table.
Photo: Gary Minnaert · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons ( source)
Musso & Frank Grill
HollywoodClassic American, steakhouse$$$
A 1919 steakhouse on Hollywood Boulevard known for tableside flambe, an old-school martini and a dining room that hasn't changed much since the studio era.
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 17:00-23:00, Sun 16:00-22:00, closed Mon (please confirm)
Picked as Hollywood's oldest continuously run restaurant, a historic-landmark steakhouse that shows up on nearly every 'classic Los Angeles' dining list.
Photo: Mad Mod Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons ( source) Illustration
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
River NorthChicago deep-dish pizza$$
A River North outpost of Chicago's best-known deep-dish family, a few blocks off the Magnificent Mile, serving the same buttery crust and sauce-on-top formula the Malnatis have run since 1971.
Picked as one of Chicago's most-recommended deep-dish names, a family-run chain that traces back to 1971 and still gets named first on most 'best deep dish' lists.
The only Portillo's inside Chicago city limits, a counter-service institution for char-grilled hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches a few minutes' walk from the Magnificent Mile.
Opening hours: daily 10:00-01:00 (please confirm)
Picked as the Chicago hot dog and Italian beef chain visitors ask about most, founded in 1963 and now a Chicago institution with a cult following on review apps and delivery alike.