NYC’s Longest Restaurant Lines, Ranked

We once waited nearly six hours in the blazing sun for lechón from this Mott Haven trailer. Though people come from all over the Tri-state area for Angel Jimenez’s outstanding roast pork, the line never seems too long. But Jimenez likes to hold people hostage at the point of his machete for endless minutes before bestowing clamshells of delicious food upon them. At times he disappears to reload on pig. Still, it's a top way to spend a summer weekend afternoon in NYC—just take folding chairs and stock up on frosty beverages from a nearby bodega, like everyone else at this impromptu block party.

Would Lucali be as iconic without the line? The question feels sacrilegious—this Carroll Gardens spot is one of the city’s top three pizza places—but at the same time, the line is an essential part of the experience. When you arrive at 2:30pm, just to wait outside until the host starts taking names around 4pm, you’re participating in a formative and slightly masochistic rite of passage. Do it already.

Our highest-rated NYC slice shop has two locations—the original in Williamsburg and a newer one in the West Village—and both have lines. But this is no amateur operation. The kitchen is efficient and well-staffed, so waits rarely stretch past 20 minutes. Don’t hesitate to stop by for an impromptu meal.

Our highest-rated restaurant has a predictable line that’s also semi-sheltered by the Lincoln Center architecture. Just show up at by 4:30pm and you’ll usually get a bar seat, and if it’s cold, a hot beverage while you wait for the doors to open. If you're with a group and get a later table, duck in to the Lobby Bar at David Geffen Hall, drink a glass of wine, and send a few emails (there’s wifi).

Gramercy’s Cafe Panna—which also has a Greenpoint location—winds their line around like a TSA checkpoint. It’s a novel maneuver, and it does make the wait feel shorter. If it’s warm outside, and you want a few scoops topped with Oreo brittle, bring some light reading, and join the crowd. It shouldn’t take longer than 20 minutes.

A highly seasonal line that lengthens with the days (especially on weekends). It’s easy to do a little relay here though, with one person standing in line while others drink beer at a picnic bench. Go in winter if you want to avoid a wait—the barbecue is just as good year round.

After 9am on weekends, the line for earl grey morning buns and tomato croissants at Greenpoint's Radio Bakery can stretch all the way down the block. But even then, the wait is usually less than 30 minutes—they run a tight assembly line inside, ringing up your pastries before you could hope to spell “focaccia” correctly. Expect another rush for lunch sandwiches at 11am.

Bradley Cooper makes a mean cheesesteak. Unfortunately, everyone else in this city agrees, and lines for his collaboration with Philly’s top cheesesteak, Angelo’s Pizzeria, snake through the East Village on weekends. The end product is still worth it, even if you're sandwiched between two loud and proud Eagles fans. Here's a secret though, it's much faster on Fridays.

This line sucks. You cannot call ahead, you cannot put your name in and grab a drink. You will wait on East Houston for a couple of hours of your life, as everyone else walks by, smirking at you for wanting to see a celebrity at this old-school Italian spot. But for their off-menu veal parm, we'd still do it once. For best results, come early on a weekday.

10th Street hasn’t been the same since Apollo Bagels arrived in 2024. If you show up on a weekend after 10am, the athleisure-clad crowd can mean a wait of 45 minutes for a bagel. The line at their West Village location is worse. Go during the week, or to their Williamsburg location—or honestly, to any other great bagel shop.

Dominique Ansel is home to not one but two viral foods—the cookie shot, and the Cronut, which is actually pretty delicious. The lines outside depend on how many tourists are hoping to film a taste test after their visit to Brandy Melville. In other words, the weekends are a nightmare. Swing by on a weekday instead, and try the exemplary plain croissant while you’re at it.

It’s Sunday morning, you’re walking down Hudson Street, and you see a crowd on the horizon. Is it a run club? A sample sale? A meet-and-greet with Taylor Swift’s favorite doorman? No. It’s the line for Bubby’s, a Tribeca staple that’s mobbed at brunch. The line offers quality people watching and leads to great biscuits and gravy, but we can’t sign off on an hour-plus wait.

The line outside of Lafayette in Noho usually depends on the current flavor of Suprême. If it goes viral, there will be a line. If it isn’t particularly notable—or you come on an off hour, like Wednesday at 11am—you should be able to get in and out pretty quickly. Either way, you don't need to come here. If it's a viral croissant spin-off you're looking for, go elsewhere. 

Before it makes your morning, this breakfast-only LA transplant will do its best to ruin it. Show up at 10am on a Saturday, and you’ll find at least 30 people waiting on the sidewalk. The line moves quicker than you expect, but it still feels excessive for a place that excels at just one thing: gooey griddle cakes. Either wait 40 minutes, or come on a weekday.

If you can land a reservation and get on board with the TGI Fridays-plus-clubstaurant formula, The Corner Store is a great time. If, on the other hand, you can’t snag a reservation and decide to walk in, it’s significantly less pleasant. Between the bar and dining room, four to 10 seats are saved for walk-ins every night (during the first seating), and people tend to start lining up for those seats between 3:30pm and 4:30pm. You can always put your name in, but your odds aren't looking great.