September 10, 2025
7 Common Travel Mistakes That Cost Travelers More Moneyby admin / May 21, 202610 Best Restaurants in Times Square, New York (2026 Local Food Guide)
Introduction
Times Square is famous all over the world for its Broadway theaters and giant digital billboards. But beyond tourism, this area has become a serious dining destination in New York City.
Yes, there are tourist traps, but there are also tons of really good restaurants serving amazing food throughout the district. This 2026 guide shows you the best restaurants in Times Square based on real reviews, industry standards and current dining data.
Every restaurant on this list includes what to order, how much it costs, when to go, where it is, and what you should know before you visit.
1. Gallaghers Steakhouse
What to order: Dry-aged New York strip steak, prime rib and fresh oysters from their famous seafood display at the front
How much to expect: $$$ ($50 to $100 per person)
Best for: Special occasions, business dinners or when you want that classic New York steakhouse experience
Where it is: 2 blocks from Times Square, near Rockefeller Center
What to do: Ask for a window table if you can. Get there early to see the famous ice sculpture at the entrance
When to book: Make your reservation 2 to 3 weeks ahead. Weekend dinners fill up fast. Use OpenTable
2026 update: Still has a 4.8-star rating with over 2,800 reviews. They added weekday happy hour from 4 PM to 6 PM with half-price oysters
Gallaghers is a classic New York steakhouse. Big portions, good service, consistent quality. It’s a top choice for formal dinners.
2. Din Tai Fung
What to order: Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings), especially the pork version with delicate wrappers and hot broth inside
How much to expect: $$ ($20 to $50 per person)
Best for: Lunch, food lovers or anyone who loves dumplings
Where it is: 1501 Broadway, right in Times Square near the subway
What to do: Get the crab and pork xiao long bao. The fried rice is really good too
When to book: No reservations. Get there 30 minutes before 11:30 AM opening or you’ll wait 1 to 2 hours
2026 update: Still has its Michelin star. Added truffle xiao long bao in January for $18
This Michelin-starred Taiwanese place is super precise. Every dumpling looks the same. Every bite has perfect broth. It’s special.
3. Don Antonio
What to order: Wood-fired Sicilian pizza, especially the Don Antonio pie with prosciutto, arugula and fresh mozzarella
How much to expect: $$ ($20 to $50 per person)
Best for: Group dinners, casual dates, Italian food lovers
Where it is: 309 W 50th Street, 3 blocks from Times Square in Hell’s Kitchen
What to do: Order the antipasto platter to share. Ask about wine pairings
When to book: Book on OpenTable 1 week ahead. Walk-ins can sit at the bar
2026 update: Won Best Pizza in Hell’s Kitchen at the 2026 NYC Food Awards. Added spring menu with seasonal vegetables and truffle oil in March
The wood-fired oven makes a crust that’s crispy outside but chewy inside. This is real Sicilian pizza, not your typical slice.
4. Chalong
What to order: Authentic Thai curries, pad Thai and mango sticky rice for dessert
How much to expect: $$ ($30 to $70 per person)
Best for: Date night, if you like spicy food, Thai food lovers
Where it is: Hell’s Kitchen, walking distance from Times Square
What to do: Order medium spice. The green papaya salad is a must as a starter
When to book: Dinner reservations work. Book 3 to 5 days ahead. Lunch is fine for walk-ins
2026 update: 4.7-star rating with over 1,200 reviews. Added Thai cocktails in February including Lemongrass Mojito
The Thai food here is authentic. Portions are huge so come hungry or plan to take leftovers home.
5. See No Evil Pizza
What to order: Neapolitan pizza, especially the Margherita with fresh basil, mozzarella, and tomato
How much to expect: $ ($15 to $30 per person)
Best for: Quick lunch, casual dinner, affordable Italian
Where it is: 216 W 44th Street, right in Times Square
What to do: Get the house-made sangria and focaccia while you wait
When to book: No reservations. First come, first served. Arrive before 6 PM or wait 30+ minutes
2026 update: 4.6-star rating with almost 2,400 reviews. Added vegan mozzarella to all pizzas in April
This family-owned place proves you can get real Neapolitan pizza in Times Square. Wood-fired oven, cozy atmosphere, consistent quality.
6. Hainan Jones
What to order: Hainanese chicken rice with tender chicken, fragrant rice, and spicy ginger sauce
How much to expect: $$ ($20 to $40 per person)
Best for: Healthy lunch, Southeast Asian food lovers, light but filling meals
Where it is: Midtown West, 5 to 10 minutes from Times Square
What to do: Order the chicken combo with soup and pickled vegetables
When to book: Walk-ins are fine. Reservations for groups of 6 or more
2026 update: 4.7-star rating with over 3,200 reviews. Added contactless ordering through their app
Singaporean street food without the hassle. Simple, clean and really good.
7. Salinas Restaurant
What to order: Pulpo Con Cenizas (octopus with ash), Pork Belly Croquettes, and Papas Bravas
How much to expect: $$$ ($50 to $100 per person)
Best for: Romantic dinners, seafood lovers, wine people
Where it is: 136 9th Avenue, Chelsea, 15 minutes from Times Square
What to do: Ask for the glass-roofed garden section. Try the Arroz Vasco (Spanish rice)
When to book: Reservations required. Book 2 to 4 weeks ahead. Dinner fills first
2026 update: 4.8-star rating with 2,837 reviews. Launched Spanish wine pairing menu in January with 12 selections
Salinas feels like a secret. Spanish music, nice lighting, food like it came from Spain. Worth the trip.
8. Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar
What to order: Magret De Pato (duck breast), grilled octopus and Chilean Seabass Ceviche
How much to expect: $$$ ($50 to $100 per person)
Best for: Weekend brunch, Latin food lovers, cocktail people
Where it is: 536 9th Avenue, Hell’s Kitchen, 10 minutes from Times Square
What to do: Try the Virgin Guava Margarita. Get the Gallego Toast for brunch
When to book: Reservations for brunch and dinner. Book 1 week ahead. Saturday brunch fills fast
2026 update: 4.7-star rating with 1,446 reviews. Brunch starts at 11 AM on weekdays now
Exposed brick, Latin flavors, trendy Midtown vibe. Cocktails are good without being pretentious.
9. Anytime Kitchen
What to order: Korean-American fusion like Popcorn Chicken, Corn Cheese and Truffle Jjajang Ramyun
How much to expect: $$ ($20 to $50 per person)
Best for: Late-night after a show, adventurous eaters, groups who share
Where it is: 23 W 32nd Street, Herald Square, 15 minutes from Times Square
What to do: Order Charm Soju and share multiple small plates. Open until 5 AM on weekends
When to book: No reservations for small groups. Bar seating for walk-ins
2026 update: 4.6-star rating with 2,412 reviews. Added weekend brunch at 11:30 AM in February
Dim lighting, cool mood, food that’s great late at night. The fusion actually works here.
10. The Landing (Pennsylvania Plaza)
What to order: Lobster Roll, Steak Frites, Rotisserie Chicken Piri Piri, and Tuna and Hamachi Poke
How much to expect: $$ ($20 to $30 per person)
Best for: Breakfast before Broadway, quick lunch, casual group dining
Where it is: 1 Pennsylvania Plaza, connected to Penn Station, 5 minutes from Times Square
What to do: Happy hour oysters are a good deal. Caesar Salad with Salmon is really good
When to book: Reservations ok but not needed. Walk-ins seated in about 15 minutes
2026 update: 4.6-star rating with 272 reviews. Added breakfast menu at 8 AM daily in April
Reliable American comfort food, good service, family-friendly. No drama.
Quick Comparison: Best Restaurants Near Times Square
| Restaurant | Must-Try Dish | Price | Best For | Distance |
| Gallaghers | Dry-aged steak | $$$ | Special occasions | 2 blocks |
| Din Tai Fung | Soup dumplings | $$ | Food lovers | 1 block |
| Don Antonio | Sicilian pizza | $$ | Groups | 3 blocks |
| See No Evil | Neapolitan pizza | $ | Quick meal | In Times Square |
| Salinas | Octopus, croquettes | $$$ | Date night | 15 min walk |
Places to Eat in Times Square: My Recommendations
On a budget: See No Evil Pizza, Din Tai Fung and Hainan Jones give you great food without breaking the bank
Want to splurge: Gallaghers and Salinas are worth it for special moments
In a rush: The Landing and See No Evil Pizza serve good food fast
With kids: Buena Vista and The Landing are family-friendly with kids’ menus
Booking tip: For Gallaghers, Salinas, and Don Antonio, book 2 to 4 weeks ahead. For casual places, arrive before 6 PM or grab bar seating
2026 trends: Times Square restaurants are adding contactless ordering, more vegan options and longer happy hours. Over 687 restaurants serve the area now
Times Square food has gotten way better. These 10 spots prove you don’t need to leave Midtown for great meals whether you’re spending $20 or $100.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Times Square restaurants are good for families with kids?
Buena Vista and The Landing are your best bets. Both have kids’ menus, high chairs and are chill about kids. Buena Vista’s Latin food and The Landing’s American classics work well for picky eaters.
2. Where can I eat good food near Times Square for under $30?
See No Evil Pizza ($15 to $30) serves real Neapolitan pizza in Times Square. Din Tai Fung ($20 to $50) has amazing soup dumplings. Hainan Jones ($20 to $40) gives you filling chicken rice at good prices.
3. Do I need reservations or can I just show up?
It depends. Salinas needs reservations 2 to 4 weeks ahead, no exceptions. Gallaghers and Don Antonio, book 1 to 3 weeks ahead. Din Tai Fung doesn’t take reservations. See No Evil Pizza is first-come, first-served.
4. When’s the best time to eat to avoid waiting?
Early dinner before 5:30 PM or late dinner after 8:30 PM avoids crowds. For Din Tai Fung, be there at 11:30 AM when they open. Weekdays are less busy. For Buena Vista brunch, show up at 11 AM.
5. Are there Michelin-starred or highly-rated restaurants here?
Yes. Din Tai Fung has a Michelin star. Gallaghers has 4.8 stars with thousands of reviews. Salinas also has 4.8 stars and amazing reviews. These are the top-rated spots in 2026.
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SpaceX’s Starship: The Mars-Bound Rocket Changing Space Travel
SpaceX’s starship exploration has always been a captivating endeavor, from the first moon landing to the discovery of distant exoplanets. Yet, the dream of reaching Mars has remained a far-off ambition—until now. Spacex, under the visionary leadership of Elon Musk, has developed a rocket that promises to change the future of space travel: the SpaceX’s starship. This revolutionary spacecraft aims to not only transform how we think about space exploration but also to bring us one step closer to making life multiplanetary.
What is SpaceX’s Starship?
SpaceX’s starship is a fully reusable spacecraft designed for deep space missions, including trips to Mars, the Moon, and beyond. Unlike its predecessors, which were typically limited to low-Earth orbit (LEO), Starship is built to carry cargo, crew, and even people to other planets in our solar system.
The spacecraft consists of two main components:
- Super Heavy Booster (First Stage): This is the massive booster that provides the initial thrust required to lift the Starship into space. The Super Heavy is designed to be reusable, with a goal to land back on Earth after each mission for refurbishment.
- Starship (Second Stage): This is the actual spacecraft that will carry astronauts and cargo. It’s built to be fully reusable and can function both as a spacecraft and as a potential space station in orbit.
The ultimate goal for SpaceX’s starship is to create a fully integrated and sustainable system capable of transporting large numbers of people and materials to Mars, significantly reducing the cost of space travel and paving the way for future colonization of other planets.
Why is Starship So Important?
1. Pioneering Human Space Exploration
SpaceX’s starship represents a new frontier in human space exploration. Elon Musk’s long-term vision is to establish a self-sustaining colony on Mars, which he believes is crucial for the survival of humanity in the event of a global catastrophe. SpaceX’s starship approach involves drastically reducing the cost of space travel by making rockets reusable, something that was never before achieved at this scale.
The reusability of SpaceX’s starship is groundbreaking. Traditional rockets are typically used once, after which they are discarded. Starship’s reusability significantly reduces the cost of missions, making it more affordable for governments, private companies, and space agencies to invest in deep-space exploration. Musk envisions launching 100 missions per year, transporting astronauts and settlers to Mars with the goal of creating a robust, self-sustaining colony by the 2050s.
2. Technology for the Moon, Mars, and Beyond
While Mars is the ultimate goal, SpaceX’s starship is also being designed for missions closer to home, such as NASA’s Artemis program. Artemis aims to land the next humans on the Moon and establish a long-term presence. Starship is one of the candidates for the lunar lander, capable of ferrying astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back.
SpaceX’s starship ability to carry large payloads and crew to the Moon and Mars is pivotal for the future of space exploration. Its capabilities go beyond transportation—it can act as a mobile base for astronauts on Mars or even serve as a platform for future interplanetary missions.
3. Reducing the Cost of Space Travel
One of the most significant hurdles to space exploration has always been the cost. Traditional space travel involves enormous financial investments due to the high cost of launching rockets and maintaining spacecraft. The development of a fully reusable rocket system like SpaceX’s starship could drastically lower the cost per launch, potentially making space travel a more accessible endeavor.
SpaceX’s starship has already demonstrated the feasibility of reusable rockets with the Falcon 9. With Starship, the company aims to take this a step further by making both the booster and the spacecraft fully reusable, further pushing the envelope in terms of what’s possible in space travel.
The Mars Mission: A Step Toward Interplanetary Travel
While the Moon and orbital missions are important milestones, Mars is the true test of humanity’s ability to explore and colonize another planet. SpaceX’s starship has made it clear that the primary focus of Starship is to carry humans to Mars and help establish a permanent human presence on the red planet.
The challenges of sending humans to Mars are immense. The journey will take several months, requiring advanced life support systems, radiation protection, and the ability to grow food and recycle water. These challenges make it necessary for Starship to be designed with the utmost efficiency in mind. SpaceX’s starship plans to leverage in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) techniques, such as using local resources on Mars to create fuel and other necessities, to make the journey more sustainable.
Starship’s autonomous capabilities will also be tested, as humans may need to live and work on Mars without constant communication with Earth. SpaceX has already developed autonomous systems for its spacecraft, and these will be vital for long-term space missions where communication delays can last up to 24 minutes.
Challenges Ahead for Starship
Despite its promise, Starship’s development has not been without its challenges. Test flights have faced numerous setbacks, including explosions and delays. The scale and complexity of the Starship program have led some to question whether SpaceX will be able to meet its ambitious timeline.
However, SpaceX’s track record with the Falcon 9 and the rapid pace of Starship’s development give hope that these challenges will eventually be overcome. The company’s philosophy of testing, failing, and improving quickly is part of its DNA, and it continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in space technology.
The Future of Space Travel with Starship
SpaceX’s Starship has the potential to revolutionize space travel and exploration in ways we have never seen before. With its goal of reducing the cost of space travel, enabling human missions to Mars, and pushing the limits of technological innovation, Starship represents a giant leap forward in humanity’s quest to become a multiplanetary species.
While it will take time to perfect the technology, SpaceX’s commitment to making Starship a reality could mark the beginning of a new era in space exploration. As humanity sets its sights on Mars and beyond, SpaceX’s Starship will undoubtedly be at the forefront, changing the way we think about space travel and the future of our species.
In the coming years, we could see regular flights to Mars, with Starship paving the way for new opportunities in space exploration, resource extraction, and even interplanetary tourism. With the continuous advancements in space technology, the dream of becoming a multiplanetary civilization is no longer a distant fantasy—it is fast becoming a reality.
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Are Travel Agents Worth It?
Benefits of Using Travel Agents
Whether to opt for a travel agent or not is purely based on the type of vacation you have planned. If you are going on a solo trip then probably you can find cost-effective solutions all by yourself without opting for a travel agent. But if you are traveling as a large group to somewhere exotic then you may need a travel agent.
Travel agents are said to be far more valuable by providing you guidance and booking the right vacation. Time-consuming tasks like booking low-cost flights, rental cars, hotel stay, and receiving up-to-date information about traveling will be entirely taken care of by your travel agent. Believe it or not, travel agents have access to information that may be unavailable to you. They have access to daily deals that may not be found on the internet.
Let us look at the benefits of using a travel agent 2021 for your vacation:
1. Now let us discuss ‘how much do travel agents cost’. The cost of having a travel agent is usually marginal, and most of the time they don’t charge you at all. They get paid by wholesalers and hotels they do business with.
They get a percentage of the amount from the vendors that we end up booking with. So if they provide you with a super vacation then you may come back to them again when you plan for a vacation. You can be assured that they will get you the best deals to meet your travel needs.
2. Many times you may miss a discount while booking a flight or hotel. Travel agents play a vital role in areas like this. They listen to you first; they take time to know your travel desires, your preferences and understand the type of trip that you are looking for. If a location chosen by you has health concerns or risks of any natural calamities then they will come up with an alternative that may best fit your travel group.
3. It feels comfortable when you have a person who communicates everything for you. They constantly keep checking and maintain everything on track to meet your standards & fit your budget. When you have a person to talk to throughout your journey, it simply makes you feel more confident & clear.
4. You book a vacation for pleasure while agents purely do it for their living. Travel agents keep constantly improving their skills in following trends, best communication methods, and researching. One of the best things about choosing a travel agent is their expertise and knowledge regarding your vacation spot.
They know the in and out of everything – be it renting a car, public transport, or any other alternatives. They can tell you about the nearby attractions that will be worth your time and what you can skip. They can also advise you on the best restaurants and fun activities based on the interest of your group.
5. Do you know that some of the best deals are not available to the public? They may not be available on search engines or booking websites. Notwithstanding, through memberships or organizations, travel planners gain admittance to such arrangements, regardless of whether they are low rates, redesigns, or comprehensive bundle costs. Well, you may also be treated like a VIP when you book a hotel through your travel agent.
6. It is normal to overlook something when you are planning your vacation. Travel agents will think about the things that you may miss. Your travel agent will simply know to put together the missing pieces to make your trip complete.
Having discussed the pros of having a travel agent, let us now look at the cons of choosing a travel agent. The disadvantages of using a travel agent are listed below:
- There are chances that your travel agent may charge you a fee while booking your flights, hotels, etc
- If you are an experienced traveler, you can do it all by yourself and save the time & effort of interacting with a travel agent
- You may be referred to services with which your travel agent has a tie-up with
- You have to follow your agent’s schedule
- If you don’t choose the right travel agent then it can be a mess
- You cannot make sudden changes or cancellations. You have to go by the plan of your agent
So next time when you plan for a trip, and you are confused between ‘travel agent vs do it’, you can do some basic research before you connect with a travel agent. If you think that opting for a travel agent can benefit you then you can go for it!
FAQs
1. Is it worth it to work with a travel agent?
If you are going on a group tour then it is worth working with a travel agent.
2. Are travel agents worth it in 2021?
Yes, it is worth it as they will know every detail of the location that you choose.
3. What are the benefits of using a travel agent?
The main benefit of choosing a travel agent is that you can save both your time & money on your vacation.
4. Why use a travel agent instead of booking online?
You can simply avoid the stress of planning and you easily avail everything into your frame of budget and interest.
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