greek-diverse-foodie
Historically Greek, now the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in America — some of the best, cheapest food in the city.
Astoria sits in western Queens, a 15-minute N train ride from Times Square, and contains an astonishing cross-section of the world. Historically Greek (still home to the largest Greek diaspora outside Greece), it's also now Egyptian, Moroccan, Brazilian, Bangladeshi, Mexican, and Italian, with each community running its own restaurants, bakeries, and grocers. The result: you can eat around the world in ten blocks for $50 total.
**Walk:** Take the N/W train to 30th Avenue-Steinway Street. Walk Steinway Street north through Little Egypt (hookah cafes, koshari, Egyptian sweet shops). Come back south to 30th Ave and walk east into Astoria's Greek core — tavernas on every corner. Astoria Park on the waterfront has the best view of the Hell Gate Bridge and Manhattan's Upper East Side.
**What makes it special:** The price-to-quality ratio on food is the best in the city, and the cultural diversity is rare even for NYC.
**Eat & drink:** Taverna Kyclades (Greek seafood, phenomenal grilled octopus), Zenon Taverna, Kebab Café on Steinway (hole-in-the-wall Egyptian, James Beard winner), SugarFreak, Museum of the Moving Image café.