Best Restaurants for Spicy Food in Lower East Side

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AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchIndian

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AstoriaBattery Park CityBedford-StuyvesantBrooklyn HeightsCarroll GardensChelsea

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

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Award-winning

MICHELIN

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503 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

1. San Sabino

4.8

Exceptional(103)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • West Village

Booked 95 times today

San Sabino is a seafood focused restaurant from wife and husband team, chefs Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli, in partnership with Quality Branded. After working in some of NYC’s top Italian restaurants and dreaming of opening their own special neighborhood spot, Angie and Scott opened Don Angie in 2018 to tremendous critical acclaim. They quickly became known for boldly unexpected dishes that challenge your perception of traditional Italian-American cooking.Six years later and just a few doors down from Don Angie, they've now opened their second restaurant, San Sabino. Named after Scott’s grandfather (from Sanza, Italy, where most people are named after the patron saint Sabino), San Sabino offers a playful spin on Italian dishes from Shrimp Parm to Pasta Alle Vongole, with bold twists influenced by coastal American cities where many Italians settled, from New Orleans to the Jersey Shore.

2. Soothr

4.7

Exceptional(329)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Thai • East Village

Booked 203 times today

Soothr, properly pronounced “Sood” is the Thai word meaning “Recipe”. This East Village establishment is the vision of close friends who grew up in different regions of Thailand, hoping to share their experiences and recipes with the rest of the world. Raised in distinctive regional cities, each individual brings their own unique relationship with Thai cuisine, with a specific focus on the generational family recipes that have shaped their childhood and time growing up in Thailand. With a specialty in family noodle recipes from throughout Thailand, Soothr offers a culinary experience that is geared towards the comfort and warmth of dining at home. These traditional recipes have brought great comfort and a sense of home for generations, and Soothr at its core is an invitation to sit at the table and enjoy a classic, Thai family meal.

3. BONDST

4.8

Exceptional(3316)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Japanese • NoHo

Booked 76 times today

BONDST, located in NoHo, is a trendy downtown restaurant with a warm minimalist interior design. The cuisine is new Japanese with European and Asian influences. BONDST is Citysearch's 2007 and 2008 audience award winner for Best Sushi in NYC, as well as the 2008 audience award winner for Best Martini in NYC.

A photo of Gjelina - New York restaurant

4. Gjelina - New York

4.5

Awesome(227)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Farm-to-table • East Village

Booked 76 times today

Gjelina is a restaurant that serves locally-sourced, produce-forward food with menus guided by conversations and long-standing relationships with farmers, local ranchers, fishermen, and co-ops. Our first location Gjelina LA in Venice Beach opened in 2008 becoming a staple in the local community. We are currently open for lunch, brunch, and dinner services.

A photo of Little Ruby's Cafe - West Village restaurant

5. Little Ruby's Cafe - West Village

4.7

Exceptional(406)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Australian • West Village

Booked 118 times today

Since 2003, Little Ruby’s Cafe has brought Australian cafe culture to New York City, offering approachable all-day fare, specialty drinks, and a full coffee program. Open for brekkie, lunch and dinner 7 days a week, Little Ruby’s Cafe’s beloved menu features the signature burgers, pastas, salads and brunch classics, all served in thoughtfully designed spaces.Located on the landmark corner of West 4th St & 7th Avenue, our newest Little Ruby’s Cafe features an airy, multi-level space. A first for Little Ruby’s, West Village offers a full bar with an exclusive cocktail program alongside our classic menu with new dishes unique to the location. With an expansive terrace and sweeping windows, the West Village restaurant invites guests to absorb the energy of the neighborhood as they enjoy their morning brekkie or grab cocktails and dinner with friends. Little Ruby’s West Village is be open 7 days a week for brekkie, lunch and dinner.

A photo of Beauty & Essex- New York restaurant

6. Beauty & Essex- New York

4.7

Exceptional(10114)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Unspecified • Lower East Side

Booked 54 times today

Beauty & Essex has an innovative design that starts in the restaurant’s entrance, a well-curated modern-day pawn shop replete with a saxophone, boombox, quirky artifacts, vintage treasures, and an eclectic array of “one-off” pieces of jewelry. Continuing past the pawnshop, guests encounter a grand, circular staircase wrapped around a two-story custom chandelier, but only the adventurous will discover all that Beauty & Essex has to offer. With four distinct dining rooms (one private), two bars, a lounge, and a women’s bathroom complete with a salon including a luxurious sofa, and antique perfume bottles. The cuisine, much like the design, is intended to set a new course. Chef Chris Santos was one of the pioneers of the small, share plate dining trend that has swept the nation, and with the Beauty & Essex menu, he once again has created waves on the food scene.

A photo of Nami Nori West Village restaurant

7. Nami Nori West Village

4.8

Exceptional(206)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Japanese • Greenwich Village

Booked 79 times today

Nami Nori is a casual, Japanese restaurant specializing in open-style temaki hand rolls, in the West Village. The menu features signature hand rolls, including crunchy varieties, as well as classic versions, and a special vegan section. Japanese-inspired snacks and desserts are also on offer. Beer, sake and wine are available both on tap and by the bottle.

A photo of Wabi Nori Hand Roll Bar restaurant

8. Wabi Nori Hand Roll Bar

5.0

Exceptional(1005)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Sushi • Lower East Side

Booked 23 times today

A Sophisticated Interpretation Of Traditional Japanese CuisineA distinctive, well-preserved and comfortable space, high-quality products, authentic cuisine, food and drinks are done flawlessly.We continue to be one of the top Japanese restaurants in America, attracting countless food lovers from all over the world. Our one-of-a-kind menu includes authentic tapas-style Japanese dishes and homemade desserts.**As a small establishment, we can’t always guarantee a table, but we’re happy to ensure you have a wonderful experience at our bar dining area as well. For parties of 5 or more, we encourage you to give us a call to check on availability. We look forward to hosting you soon!**

9. Hawksmoor NYC

4.6

Exceptional(3064)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• American • Gramercy Park

Booked 96 times today

Located in the heart of Gramercy in the restored Assembly Hall of the landmarked United Charities Building, Hawksmoor is a steak restaurant that celebrates all-natural, pasture-reared, and traditionally dry-aged beef. Our beef is seasoned simply with sea salt and cooked over live-fire charcoal. Our seafood is locally and sustainably sourced from northeastern waters and we use small-farm produce whenever possible. On Sunday afternoons Hawksmoor keeps with the tried-and-true British tradition and features a Sunday Roast. Completing our offerings are award-winning cocktails, including New York City's coldest martini, and a carefully curated wine selection. The restaurant houses 150 in the dining room and 35 in the bar area. There are also two private dining rooms that can hold 12 people and serve exclusive, family-style menus.

10. Potluck Club

4.8

Exceptional(85)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Chinese • Chinatown

Booked 40 times today

Potluck Club is a Cantonese-American restaurant located in the bustling cross-section of Chinatown, the Lower East Side and Nolita. The menu and restaurant design draw inspiration from the experience of growing up in Chinatown.Need to Know: Reservations are highly recommended, walk-ins are welcomed. We have a 10 minute grace period for all reservations. If we are able to accommodate you in the event that you arrive beyond the grace period, we will happily do so, however this is at the discretion of the host. If you are running late, please reply to your confirmation text to let us know.75min dining time for parties of 1-3 guests90min dining time for parties of 4-5 guests2hr dining time for parties of 6+ guestsFor parties 8 guests or larger, we require a Prix Fixe menu. Please e-mail us events@potluckclubny.com to book your reservation.Reservations cancelled less than 24 hours in advance will be charged a cancellation fee of $10 per guest.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

A
AlexVIP
New York City •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
The staff is incredible attentive and welcoming. Food is delicious. Overall amazing restaurant.
More info
KabawaPrice: Very Expensive• Caribbean• East Village
•
4.8
K
Kirstie
New York City •4 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jun 26, 2025
We had a lovely time celebrating my friend's birthday! Service was great, food exquisite and the ambiance was lively.
More info
SAPPEPrice: Expensive• Thai• Greenwich Village
•
4.7
J
JohnVIP
New York City •59 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jun 8, 2025
Always good to have a meal at The Library. My friend who was visiting from LA absolutely loved coming with me to the Library. Our servers was quite helpful describing the entrees (plus, she provided extra plates so we could share our salad, an appetizer, and our entree. There was background music that we thought was a tad too loud, so how good it was that she accommodated our request to lower the volume (hooray! I personally detest having music in the background, but thankfully, the volume was lowered within less than a minute). The food was delicious — and prepared as we requested. I attend performances frequently at the Public Theater and always want to have a meal before the show. No stress, no worries about timing, what a pleasant place to dine.
More info
The Library at The PublicPrice: Moderate• American• NoHo
•
3.9
E
Eumir
New York City •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on Mar 28, 2025
Loved the food. The flaming drinks were a wondering surprise.
More info
11 TigersPrice: Expensive• Japanese• East Village
•
4.7

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