A silver bowl of curry sits on a metal tray, along with a napkin. — Courtesy of Jalsa Grill and Gravy

16 NYC Favorites to Support With Commission-Free Takeout

From ramen to curry to perfect diner food, here’s what to order (without all the extra fees).

By Vox Creative Updated May 21, 2021, 11:08am EDT

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Courtesy of Jalsa Grill and Gravy

By Vox Creative Updated May 21, 2021, 11:08am EDT

This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our sponsor, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.

Takeout should be a great way to support local restaurants from home — not a guilty should-I-or-shouldn’t-I situation. New Yorkers are used to considering a world of options for dinner every evening, but commissions charged by some delivery apps cut into restaurant margins...and also hike up the bill. Overcharging might keep would-be diners from ordering from their favorites on nights when the couch is calling their name.

ChowNow gives restaurants the ability to take online orders, without commissions — and plans are fairly priced for participating businesses, who keep 100 percent of their proceeds. For customers, there are no hidden fees, meaning that prices don’t spiral out of control with hidden “convenience” charges, which might never even make it to restaurants anyway.

Up your takeout game with these ChowNow partners across the city, and support a new spot or an old favorite with every order. You’ll put more money back in restaurants’ registers, without emptying your own bank account in the process.

NYC restaurants are currently operating with limited indoor and outdoor dining, though delivery is an option at the spaces featured here. This should not be taken as an endorsement for dining out, as there are still safety concerns: for updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the NYC Health Department’s website. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.

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If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Malatesta Trattoria

The trattoria experience will never go out of style. Comforting Italian dishes like creamy spinach gnocchi, tender meatballs, and fresh-cut pasta with ragù from this West Village kitchen are an instant pick-me-up, especially when paired with a bottle of Sangiovese.

Open in Google Maps

649 Washington St, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Where to Get Takeout in Greenwich Village and the West Village

Corner Bistro

Unfortunately Corner Bistro can’t deliver the bohemian ambiance of its West Village location to your home. However, you can order one of the restaurant’s famous burgers for delivery before noon, for a different (but equally indulgent) ambiance at home.

331 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

Also featured in:

DOMODOMO New York

DOMODOMO is known for serving crisp handrolls and nigiri in Greenwich Village, but the menu extends far beyond sushi. Among the selections are Korean fried chicken, uni pasta, and even scallop risotto. Build your own surf-and-turf by pairing the smoked pork belly or New York strip with fried oysters and rock shrimp tempura.

Open in Google Maps

140 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012

Visit Website

A variety of sushi on trays, atop a wooden table, from DOMODOMO New York restaurant. — Courtesy of DOMODOMO New York

Cocoron

Steamy comforts are the specialty at Cocoron, where you can’t go wrong with ramen noodles in lip-smacking sesame broth, flanked with steamed bok choy and chicken. While you’re ordering lunch, you can add on frozen soba noodles and extra broth for later.

Open in Google Maps

37 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012

Visit Website

Two dishes (a curry dish and a rice dish) from Cocoron restaurant. The food sits on top of a red and black serving tray on a wooden table. — Courtesy of Cocoron

Also featured in:

Fish Cheeks

This Thai kitchen, run by two brothers, is known for dazzling seafood dishes like crab fried rice and prawn karee. But the salads and veggie sides, like the Pak Boong Fai Dang (morning glory with chilli) and sauteed cabbage with garlic and fish sauce, are just as stunning.

55 Bond St, New York, NY 10012

Visit Website

A dish from Fish Cheeks restaurant in a white bowl on a wooden table. — Courtesy of Fish Cheeks

Also featured in:

Dirt Candy

Dirt Candy has always made vegetarian food fun, but never at the expense of exceptional flavor. The menu changes by the week with original, vegetable-forward dishes that aren’t pretending to be “meat” — like the beet reuben, squash salad, and Korean fried broccoli. Here, vegetables even extend to the dessert course, with options like the green goddess cake.

86 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

A variety of Dirt Candy’s vegetarian items, in glass dishes atop a wooden tray. — Courtesy of Dirt Candy

Also featured in:

Turkuaz حلال Turkish Mediterrenean

When you’re ordering in but want to dine like royalty, there’s nothing quite like a huge Mediterranean spread. For two decades, Turkuaz, currently located in Hell’s Kitchen, has churned out savory cheese pastries, chopped vegetable salads, and baba ghanoush galore to accompany countless kebabs, grilled fish, and lamb chops cooked to perfection. Finish off on a sweet note with pistachio pudding or baklava for dessert.

Open in Google Maps

310 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

Visit Website

Grilled vegetables, such as zucchini and peppers, sit on top of a blue platter. — Courtesy of Turkuaz

Ivan Ramen

Really good ramen is best left to the professionals, like Ivan Ramen owner Ivan Orkan, who can devote half a day to simmer collagen-rich broths and set eggs to a perfectly creamy texture. Let him do the work so you can slurp chewy noodles and broth within the hour.

25 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

Spicy ramen in a bowl at Ivan Ramen in New York City. — Courtesy of Ivan Ramen

Also featured in:

Veeray da Dhaba

The East Village’s Veeray Da Dhaba serves Punjabi food cooked by a Michelin-starred chef, but there’s no need to break out the silverware for your order. They focus on roadside cuisine like fritters, and a recognizable cast of pulses, paneer, curries, and breads. Try the jackfruit biryani, which is meaty in character but totally vegetarian.

Open in Google Maps

222 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10009

Visit Website

A variety of curries and other dishes from Veeray da Dhaba in NYC. The dishes are on glass plates or in glass bowls, on a wooden table. — Courtesy of Veeray da Dhaba

Also featured in:

Handsome Rice

This Murray Hill restaurant does dosirak: Korean lunch boxes that garnish meaty mains like grilled eel, barbecue pork, and short ribs with seasonal pickles and rice or salad. Beyond lunch hour, the menu includes treats like broccoli and shrimp dumplings, steamed buns, japchae, bibimbap, and a famous banana pudding for dessert.

Open in Google Maps

133 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016

Visit Website

A variety of dishes from Handsome Rice restaurant on plates on a wooden table. Two hands reach for food with chopsticks. — Courtesy of Handsome Rice

Jalsa - Grill & Gravy

On a busy stretch of Coney Island Avenue between Ditmas Park and Kensington lies this spot, which offers a mix of Indian, Pakistani, and Bengali dishes. The menu has sections devoted to crunchy fried vegetable chaats and dosas, all vegan or vegetarian, while carnivores can revel in chicken, lamb, and fish tikka. An extensive list of curries and royal rice dishes guarantee there’s something for everyone.

Open in Google Maps

964 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11230

A silver bowl of curry sits on a metal tray, along with a napkin. — Courtesy of Jalsa - Grill & Gravy

Also featured in:

Buka

Spicy tomato-based stews, fufu, and umami-rich sauces seasoned with smoky dried fish are among the specialties at Buka, a Nigerian restaurant in Bed-Stuy that prides itself on authentic, comforting cuisine. For a complete experience, start with the pepper soup, followed by a rich goat stew served with fried or jollof rice. No matter what, the flavors are bold, so don’t forget to add a fresh ginger juice or cold lager to your order.

Open in Google Maps

946 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Visit Website

A meal from Buka restaurant in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. — Courtesy of Buka

Also featured in:

19 Extraordinary West African Restaurants in New York City

Chavela's

In more “normal” times, there’d rarely be any free space at Chavela’s, a bustling Crown Heights Mexican restaurant. But now, why not grab some delivery? At midday the lunch specials reign supreme, with a selection of tortas on house-baked bread, eggs with salsa, and grilled meats. Other times, the restaurant’s drinks menu might look especially appealing, with an extensive cocktail menu ready for delivery — and even a selection of mezcal and margaritas bottles, too.

Open in Google Maps

736 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Visit Website

Churros with chocolate dipping sauce from Chavela’s in Brooklyn. The food sits atop a wooden table with plates and silverware. — Courtesy of Chavela’s

Also featured in:

Sylvia's

Sylvia’s Restaurant needs little introduction. The Harlem spot has lured neighbors, celebrities, and national politicians alike since opening in 1962. And now you can order the same famous chicken and waffles, and yams and greens, for a little bit of history at your own table.

Open in Google Maps

328 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10027

Visit Website

A meal of chicken, vegetables, and cornbread with butter on a table at Sylvia’s restaurant. — Courtesy of Sylvia’s

Also featured in:

Adda Indian Canteen

Although you’ll want to focus on the spicy curries served with perfect basmati rice here, don’t ignore the snacks at the top of the menu, like fingerling tots with chutney or crunchy kale pakoda — great for a home-cocktail moment before you dig in to the saucy entrees.

31-31 Thomson Ave, Queens, NY 11101

Visit Website

A metal dish of snacks from Adda Indian Canteen in Queens, New York. — Courtesy of Adda Indian Canteen

Also featured in:

Little Mo

Summer rolls, steamed bao, and fish sauce wings are the perfect prelude to the refreshing vermicelli bowls and fragrant pho at Little Mo in Bushwick. They also have six varieties of banh mi sandwiches, including the bulgogi cheesesteak, topped with kimchi, provolone, and scallions.

Open in Google Maps

1158 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221

Visit Website

A variety of dishes from Little Mo restaurant in Brooklyn. Sandwiches, buns, and more items sit in bowls or on paper, atop a gray table. — Courtesy of Little Mo

This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our sponsor, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.

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Malatesta Trattoria

649 Washington St, New York, NY 10014

The trattoria experience will never go out of style. Comforting Italian dishes like creamy spinach gnocchi, tender meatballs, and fresh-cut pasta with ragù from this West Village kitchen are an instant pick-me-up, especially when paired with a bottle of Sangiovese.

Open in Google Maps

649 Washington St, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

Corner Bistro

331 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014

Unfortunately Corner Bistro can’t deliver the bohemian ambiance of its West Village location to your home. However, you can order one of the restaurant’s famous burgers for delivery before noon, for a different (but equally indulgent) ambiance at home.

331 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014

Visit Website

DOMODOMO New York

140 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012

DOMODOMO is known for serving crisp handrolls and nigiri in Greenwich Village, but the menu extends far beyond sushi. Among the selections are Korean fried chicken, uni pasta, and even scallop risotto. Build your own surf-and-turf by pairing the smoked pork belly or New York strip with fried oysters and rock shrimp tempura.

Open in Google Maps

140 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012

Visit Website

A variety of sushi on trays, atop a wooden table, from DOMODOMO New York restaurant. — Courtesy of DOMODOMO New York

Cocoron

37 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012

Steamy comforts are the specialty at Cocoron, where you can’t go wrong with ramen noodles in lip-smacking sesame broth, flanked with steamed bok choy and chicken. While you’re ordering lunch, you can add on frozen soba noodles and extra broth for later.

Open in Google Maps

37 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012

Visit Website

Two dishes (a curry dish and a rice dish) from Cocoron restaurant. The food sits on top of a red and black serving tray on a wooden table. — Courtesy of Cocoron

Fish Cheeks

55 Bond St, New York, NY 10012

This Thai kitchen, run by two brothers, is known for dazzling seafood dishes like crab fried rice and prawn karee. But the salads and veggie sides, like the Pak Boong Fai Dang (morning glory with chilli) and sauteed cabbage with garlic and fish sauce, are just as stunning.

55 Bond St, New York, NY 10012

Visit Website

A dish from Fish Cheeks restaurant in a white bowl on a wooden table. — Courtesy of Fish Cheeks

Dirt Candy

86 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

Dirt Candy has always made vegetarian food fun, but never at the expense of exceptional flavor. The menu changes by the week with original, vegetable-forward dishes that aren’t pretending to be “meat” — like the beet reuben, squash salad, and Korean fried broccoli. Here, vegetables even extend to the dessert course, with options like the green goddess cake.

86 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

A variety of Dirt Candy’s vegetarian items, in glass dishes atop a wooden tray. — Courtesy of Dirt Candy

Turkuaz حلال Turkish Mediterrenean

310 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

When you’re ordering in but want to dine like royalty, there’s nothing quite like a huge Mediterranean spread. For two decades, Turkuaz, currently located in Hell’s Kitchen, has churned out savory cheese pastries, chopped vegetable salads, and baba ghanoush galore to accompany countless kebabs, grilled fish, and lamb chops cooked to perfection. Finish off on a sweet note with pistachio pudding or baklava for dessert.

Open in Google Maps

310 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

Visit Website

Grilled vegetables, such as zucchini and peppers, sit on top of a blue platter. — Courtesy of Turkuaz

Ivan Ramen

25 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002

Really good ramen is best left to the professionals, like Ivan Ramen owner Ivan Orkan, who can devote half a day to simmer collagen-rich broths and set eggs to a perfectly creamy texture. Let him do the work so you can slurp chewy noodles and broth within the hour.

25 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002

Visit Website

Spicy ramen in a bowl at Ivan Ramen in New York City. — Courtesy of Ivan Ramen

Veeray da Dhaba

222 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10009

The East Village’s Veeray Da Dhaba serves Punjabi food cooked by a Michelin-starred chef, but there’s no need to break out the silverware for your order. They focus on roadside cuisine like fritters, and a recognizable cast of pulses, paneer, curries, and breads. Try the jackfruit biryani, which is meaty in character but totally vegetarian.

Open in Google Maps

222 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10009

Visit Website

A variety of curries and other dishes from Veeray da Dhaba in NYC. The dishes are on glass plates or in glass bowls, on a wooden table. — Courtesy of Veeray da Dhaba

Handsome Rice

133 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016

This Murray Hill restaurant does dosirak: Korean lunch boxes that garnish meaty mains like grilled eel, barbecue pork, and short ribs with seasonal pickles and rice or salad. Beyond lunch hour, the menu includes treats like broccoli and shrimp dumplings, steamed buns, japchae, bibimbap, and a famous banana pudding for dessert.

Open in Google Maps

133 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016

Visit Website

A variety of dishes from Handsome Rice restaurant on plates on a wooden table. Two hands reach for food with chopsticks. — Courtesy of Handsome Rice

Jalsa - Grill & Gravy

964 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11230

On a busy stretch of Coney Island Avenue between Ditmas Park and Kensington lies this spot, which offers a mix of Indian, Pakistani, and Bengali dishes. The menu has sections devoted to crunchy fried vegetable chaats and dosas, all vegan or vegetarian, while carnivores can revel in chicken, lamb, and fish tikka. An extensive list of curries and royal rice dishes guarantee there’s something for everyone.

Open in Google Maps

964 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11230

A silver bowl of curry sits on a metal tray, along with a napkin. — Courtesy of Jalsa - Grill & Gravy

Buka

946 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Spicy tomato-based stews, fufu, and umami-rich sauces seasoned with smoky dried fish are among the specialties at Buka, a Nigerian restaurant in Bed-Stuy that prides itself on authentic, comforting cuisine. For a complete experience, start with the pepper soup, followed by a rich goat stew served with fried or jollof rice. No matter what, the flavors are bold, so don’t forget to add a fresh ginger juice or cold lager to your order.

Open in Google Maps

946 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Visit Website

A meal from Buka restaurant in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. — Courtesy of Buka

Chavela's

736 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

In more “normal” times, there’d rarely be any free space at Chavela’s, a bustling Crown Heights Mexican restaurant. But now, why not grab some delivery? At midday the lunch specials reign supreme, with a selection of tortas on house-baked bread, eggs with salsa, and grilled meats. Other times, the restaurant’s drinks menu might look especially appealing, with an extensive cocktail menu ready for delivery — and even a selection of mezcal and margaritas bottles, too.

Open in Google Maps

736 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Visit Website

Churros with chocolate dipping sauce from Chavela’s in Brooklyn. The food sits atop a wooden table with plates and silverware. — Courtesy of Chavela’s

Sylvia's

328 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10027

Sylvia’s Restaurant needs little introduction. The Harlem spot has lured neighbors, celebrities, and national politicians alike since opening in 1962. And now you can order the same famous chicken and waffles, and yams and greens, for a little bit of history at your own table.

Open in Google Maps

328 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10027

Visit Website

A meal of chicken, vegetables, and cornbread with butter on a table at Sylvia’s restaurant. — Courtesy of Sylvia’s

Adda Indian Canteen

31-31 Thomson Ave, Queens, NY 11101

Although you’ll want to focus on the spicy curries served with perfect basmati rice here, don’t ignore the snacks at the top of the menu, like fingerling tots with chutney or crunchy kale pakoda — great for a home-cocktail moment before you dig in to the saucy entrees.

31-31 Thomson Ave, Queens, NY 11101

Visit Website

A metal dish of snacks from Adda Indian Canteen in Queens, New York. — Courtesy of Adda Indian Canteen

Little Mo

1158 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221

Summer rolls, steamed bao, and fish sauce wings are the perfect prelude to the refreshing vermicelli bowls and fragrant pho at Little Mo in Bushwick. They also have six varieties of banh mi sandwiches, including the bulgogi cheesesteak, topped with kimchi, provolone, and scallions.

Open in Google Maps

1158 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221

Visit Website

A variety of dishes from Little Mo restaurant in Brooklyn. Sandwiches, buns, and more items sit in bowls or on paper, atop a gray table. — Courtesy of Little Mo