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Ramen
Have we reached peak ramen time in NYC? As long as places keep turning out delicious steaming bowls of milky tonkotsu, soy-based shoyu, spicy miso and whatever else, we’ll keep lining up. Try it here: Ivan Ramen (pictured), Ippudo, Ganso
Lobster Bisque
A buttery, silky, sherry-laced base—studded with chunks of New England lobster—makes for a deceptively filling dish (grilled lobster-and-gruyère sandwich optional). Try it here: Luke’s Lobster (pictured), Randazzo’s Clam Bar, Ed’s Lobster Bar
Pozole
Red or green, this piquant Mexican hominy stew is a frequent star for holidays and special occasions. But we see no reason to stand on ceremony before digging in. Try it here: El Centro (pictured), Tortilleria Nixtamal, Casa Enrique
Pho
A bone-broth base, springy noodles and fresh elements—basil, jalapeños, bean sprouts and a squirt of lime—make this Vietnamese staple a spicy, tangy soup for any time of year. Try it here: Bunker (pictured), Hanoi House, Nha Trang
New England Clam Chowder
Why not Manhattan style? For one, the use of tomato in seafood chowder likely came from Rhode Island, not New York (at nycgo.com, we’re in the myth-busting business). Also, cream just makes a superior pool for tender clams, potatoes and bacon to swim in. Try it here: Cull & Pistol (pictured), Grand Central Oyster Bar
Matzo Ball Soup
It’s a cold-weather classic guaranteed to cure what ails you: a fluffy matzo ball lolling around in dill-flecked, honey-colored chicken broth. Try it here: 2nd Avenue Deli (pictured), Russ & Daughters Café, Liebman’s
Gumbo
There are some righteous Louisiana-style spots in NYC these days. A common thread: rich, spicy gumbo, built from the roux up, employing the “holy trinity” of Cajun cooking (onions, bell peppers, celery) and brimming with chicken and sausage. Try it here: Sugar Freak (pictured), The Gumbo Bros, Great Jones Cafe
Soup Dumplings
“Wait,” you protest, “that’s not actually soup!” What broth these do have resides, in an ingenious inversion, within the dumpling wrappers; in any event, we couldn’t bear to leave these flavor packets out. Try them here: Joe’s Shanghai (pictured), 456 Shanghai Cuisine, Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen
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More In Restaurants
Soup Dreams
It’s wintertime. Hungry for soup? NYC is the place. Not only are we home to one Seinfeld-famous soup stickler, we also have countless varieties of the stuff—whether noodle dishes popularized by Northern Vietnamese street vendors or winter warmers first cooked up by Ukrainian Cossacks. In the slides that follow, find nine paragons of soup virtue to fill your hearts and stomachs.