Hell’s Kitchen Local

This Korean Vegan restaurant and cafe is my go-to for yummy vegan breakfast, delectable matcha and cocktails with special ingredients like homemade candied ginger, my favorite. Mi-Young Yu, the owner, is an incredibly inspiring woman and entrepreneur who is also quite funny. She makes you feel like you’re a guest in her home and it’s very comfy, yummy and fun.

They make the most delicious lentil soup! Their falafels are fantastic, too.

Hells Kitchen Pilates makes me happy because it’s more than just a place to train — it’s where I’m building a new pilates community. I’m meeting friends who are also my neighbors, and I’ve found the perfect space to focus on my body and practice what I love. I actually discovered it by chance one day while walking through the neighborhood. I decided to take a different street than usual and saw Nadya, one of the owners, with her beautiful dog Lucky, cleaning a new space that said “Pilates.” I asked her about it and told her I would love to work there — and now I get to be part of this amazing community every day.

This late night restaurant and bar makes specialty cocktails, has yummy bottomless brunch (if you choose) and lots of space for throwing parties — which I’ve done a few times.

For over 100 years the women in my family came together to make a recipe which required suet (yes — raw beef fat). As the years passed, Esposito became one of the only places in the city to get it. Thankfully, we have moved on to the vegetarian version of the same dish!

A wonderful little bar with incredible cocktails after a show.

OMG! It’s culinary history — from the push cart to the vast array of foods from all regions. I’m currently reading a book about the history of Zabar’s by the late Lori Zabar. I also heard three generations of Zabar’s speak; they were real, raw, authentic and wickedly funny. When I’m traveling, sometimes I’ll have my white shopping bag, and people will say, “OMG, I’ve been to Zabar’s,” and we bond immediately. They show up in movies, plays, and are part of the NYC tapestry.

If you’re lucky enough to catch a show here, you’re guaranteed a great time. The 52nd Street Project does so much for children and our community. The mentorship they provide—connecting kids with professional theater artists and helping them develop their creative voices—is truly remarkable. I would absolutely recommend seeing a performance there.

My late father loved Joe Allen and we often went there before or after theater. It’s a tradition I continue with my friends and my family today. If you know me, you know I love hamburgers, and Joe Allen has a stellar burger. The whole vibe is just old-school New York, and I love it.

Small businesses keep Hell’s Kitchen and our city great. The Little Pie Company boasts incredible pies, made from scratch with fantastic ingredients! What’s not to love?!