Restaurants in New York City

Korean Express’s ensemble of chefs sears traditional eats on hot stones, filling the shop with a piquant bouquet of steam. In the bustling kitchen, fingers fly as they prepare a variety of time-honored dishes such as hot-stone bibimbap and savory seaweed rice rolls that only respond to questions when addressed by their Korean name, kimbap. Proof of the kitchen’s dedication to the region's culinary traditions is evident in the use of established ingredients including sweet-potato noodles, kimchi, and handmade boiled dumplings that don't require a chopsticks-to-fork converter.

Just as the surrounding Theater District transports audiences to faraway places, Brazil Grill's dining room immerses guests in the rich culinary traditions of Brazil. Though it boasts a substantial selection of entrees, the eatery's specialty is radizio, a traditional Brazilian dining style where passadores, or meat servers, present diners with an endless rotation of skewered morsels. Patrons can nosh to their hearts' content on beef, pork, lamb, duck, and the other meats that continually appear tableside during the course of the night. To complement the authentic dishes, servers can also recommend options from the restaurant's selection of wines culled from Chile, Italy, and New Zealand. Most nights, guests eat as they absorb the sounds of live Brazilian music, the play-by-play of Brazilian League soccer matches, or napkins practicing their Portuguese accents.

Strains from live DJs and the happy chatter of busy silverware resound off the exposed-brick walls and looping whorls of the wooden bar at People's Republic of Brooklyn. Red tabletops billet platters of seared, fried, or blackened catfish, and plates of free-range chicken don adventurous garnishes such as avocado or the essence of an air kiss. Comfort-fare sides conjure nostalgia among guests perched at the bar, with options including mac 'n' cheese, deviled eggs, and sautéed arugula serving as foundations for a wide range of cocktails.

The epicurean curators at Cachacaria Boteco cultivate hearty meals of traditional Brazilian fare and drinks served beneath soaring ceilings and a chandelier of exposed bulbs. Servers bear morsels of pao de queijo, or cheese buns, and kibe, or fried meatballs, across the black-and-white checked floor during fast-paced games of human chess. The sugar-cane-rum blend of caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail, flows as freely as the orange curtains that frame potted palms and flat-screen TVs.

In the summer of 2010, chefs at Olympic Pita fried the world's largest falafel ball, a 30-pound behemoth of chickpeas and spices that aimed to put the restaurant in Guinness World Records. Though the chefs' boundless enthusiasm for Middle Eastern fare delighted news crews and fed Upstate's expansive yeti population, it's the day-to-day sizzling of kosher Israeli fare that continues to captivate the taste buds of locals. Foodies at Village Voice called the kebabs "splendid," and marveled at the regular replenishing of steaming pitas. Barkeeps pour imported beers and wines that team up with pitas to ignite appetites for entrees such as the chicken-and-turkey shawarma, which New York magazine praised for its juiciness and knack for accessorizing with eclectic condiments.

On weekend nights, just steps from Grand Central Station, an atavistic beat reverberates from the bodhrán, an ancient drum, as part of a traditional Irish music session that sometimes incorporates fiddles, accordions, and folksy vocals. O'Neill's Irish Pub not only hosts these weekly merry musical melees, but it also embodies their charm, spontaneity, and spirit. O'Neill's welcomes newcomers and regulars with 17 beers on tap, casual pub fare including burgers and wraps, and friendly conversation. For generations, the pub has served as a community center where families can gather to tell stories and spin yarns about high-fiving Uncle Sam during a Fourth of July parade. O'Neill's Irish Bar houses lively crowds on two floors, including a private party room that holds up to 100 celebrants.