Lunch and dinner for teens in Manhattan

March 6, 2016 4:54 AM

Taking German foreign exchange student and our two sons to Manhattan today. All are teen boys (13-17). Would appreciate recommendations for relatively affordable lunch and dinner spots with a focus on "American" (burgers, fried chicken, BBQ). Thanks
posted by qldaddy to Travel & Transportation around New York, NY (12 answers total)

Where in Manhattan specifically? Midtown? Will you need to drive/park?
posted by mdonley at 4:57 AM on March 6, 2016

Any of the Westvilles, but depending on how big your group is, you might want to call ahead to see if they can fit you.
posted by greta simone at 5:04 AM on March 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

I'll go with Shake Shack. Locations all over the city, renowned burgers and custards and fries and hot dogs.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 5:08 AM on March 6, 2016 [14 favorites]

Response by poster: Midtown. Taking the train to Penn Station and planning to walk to Grand Central, Bryant Park, Disney Store, Lego Store, etc.
posted by qldaddy at 5:55 AM on March 6, 2016

Cowgirl

Affordable and funky. It's in Greenwich Village/SoHo. Follow up with Big Gay Ice Cream.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:02 AM on March 6, 2016

Hill Country BBQ on 26th Street in Flatiron, while not the absolute best bbq in nyc but it is quiet well done and pretty solid and closeish to your midtown geographic constraints. Have taken international guests there numerous times and gotten great feedback.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:53 AM on March 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

Seconding yes I said yes I will yes on Shake Shack, with plentiful personal experience that kids/teenagers + Shake Shack = yup.
posted by flourpot at 7:31 AM on March 6, 2016

I'd vote for Shake Shack or Hill Country BBQ too. (However, they don't do burgers or fried chicken, it's BBQ-d meats only & sides, they have a separate location on 25th Street called Hill Country Chicken that does fried chicken).

There's also Trailer Park Lounge on 23rd & 8th, if you want to go super kitschy, but may not be as much fun sober.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:35 AM on March 6, 2016

There is literally a Shake Shack inside Grand Central Terminal. Much shorter lines on the weekends at the GCT location as well, compared to some of the other locations.

There is also the Delaney Chicken (fried chicken) food stand inside the Urbanspace Vanderbilt Food Hall right by GCT. This food hall also offers donuts, pretzels, and lobster rolls, in addition to other cuisine options in case everybody wants something different.
posted by kathryn at 8:29 AM on March 6, 2016

Might be a little late, but The Pennsy is also now open right beside Madison Square Garden/Penn Station and have different food stands that offer sandwiches, lobster rolls, etc.
posted by theappleonatree at 2:38 PM on March 6, 2016

FYI Shake Shack has expanded to London, so could be in Germany too - probably worth checking.
posted by Acheman at 3:56 PM on March 6, 2016

Might be a little late, but The Pennsy is also now open right beside Madison Square Garden/Penn Station and have different food stands that offer sandwiches, lobster rolls, etc.

I work right by the Pennsy and I find the stalls that they have to be very limited, unfortunately. Mostly salads, soups, sandwiches. Two meat stands, 1 veggie focused stand, 1 lobster stand, and 1 vegan stand. Only 5 stalls in total. No fried chicken, no BBQ, no burgers.

FYI Shake Shack has expanded to London, so could be in Germany too - probably worth checking.

Outside the USA, they are in Japan, the Middle East, Russia, Turkey, and the UK.
posted by kathryn at 6:48 PM on March 6, 2016