Golden Diner

"Some good news for everyone in Lower Manhattan who easily falls prey to nostalgia and good deals, Golden Diner started serving a weekly-changing “Happy Meal.” Each one costs $7, and comes with enough food for a whole meal (so far, they’ve done spicy dan dan noodles and tempura-baked cod with garlic fried rice and broccoli). The Happy Meals are available for pick-up and delivery, and you can call 917-472-7800 or go through Golden Diner’s website here to schedule yours. In case you want other options, Golden Diner’s regular menu is also online for delivery and pick-up." - hannah albertine

"From the egg and cheese on a soft scallion milk bun to the honey butter pancakes, the diner riffs at this tiny spot in Two Bridges make the original versions taste like they’re missing something. Nearly everything on the menu at Golden Diner has Korean, Japanese, Thai, or Chinese influences, and the food tastes especially good when consumed on a swivel stool facing the open kitchen." - bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah

"We find that a reverential hush tends to fall over the table when the honey butter pancakes are served at Golden Diner. They’re absurdly fluffy, with a crisp, caramelized exterior, but our favorite part is the honey maple butter rapidly melting all over them. You can add berry compote for $4, which might sound like a lot—especially on top of the $15 you’re already paying for these two bad boys—but you should do it. Along with the lemon zest that already tops the pancakes (which are, hallelujah, available all day), the tartness of the fruit really makes them sing." - carina finn koeppicus, kenny yang, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah

"Unlike the food at whatever place comes up when you search “diner near me,” the classics at Golden Diner in Chinatown are updated and slightly unexpected. In most cases, they make the original versions seem inadequate. We recommend the honey butter pancakes, breakfast burrito, or breakfast sandwich on a soft milk bun with american cheese, eggs, and a big crunchy hash brown. The cement floors and exposed ducts makes this place feel industrial, but there’s also a long counter with retro chrome stools so you won’t forget that you are indeed in a diner." - neha talreja, will hartman, bryan kim, kenny yang

"“Those honey butter pancakes they do are so out of this world good. There's honestly nothing like them in New York City. They're dense but fluffy. They're just airy pockets of love. I don't know how they do it. The butter and the sauce they put on, it's just beautiful. But that tuna melt is fantastic. If you're still a little kid at heart like me, know that they put potato chips in the sandwich. You’ve got this toasted bread with the tuna salad, and the cheese is perfectly melted, and then with the salt and vinegar chips inside… it's art. I don't wanna have another tuna melt from somewhere else. I know it's not gonna be as good.”" - brennan carley