Kyle Green
Bushwick, Brooklyn is a bustling and innovative area of the borough. Characterized by stunning street art, old converted warehouses, you’ll find some unique places in this neighborhood.
Whether you’re planning to visit Bushwick next time you’re in the city, staying in the neighborhood for the weekend, or moving to the area, knowing where all the best places to eat are essential.
To save yourself time wandering around looking for a place to eat, check out the best restaurants in Bushwick Brooklyn.
Faro
436 Jefferson St, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Phone: 718-381-8201
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On the edge of Bushwick on Jefferson Street is Faro. Faro has become a staple in the neighborhood since its opening in 2015. The inside of the restaurant is industrial with metal accents, wood floors, and white brick walls. It fits the neighborhood’s hipster aesthetic perfectly.
Faro focuses on making homemade pasta from locally sourced ingredients. You’ll notice that they use their wood-burning oven for everything they possibly can here. To start my meal, I chose the sourdough sesame focaccia that comes with garlic olive oil. I couldn’t decide on my entree, so the server suggested their squid ink scarpinocc. It was fabulous.
Ops
346 Himrod St, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Phone: 718-386-4009
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You’ll find Ops less than half a mile from Maria Hernandez Park on Himrod Street. Walking into Ops, I immediately felt comfortable. This cozy pizzeria features black and white tile, brick walls, and polaroid pictures of staff and customers lining the bar. I loved that the atmosphere was welcoming, even though I’d never been there before.
Ops is known in the neighborhood for serving wood fire pizzas with a delicious sourdough crust. I visited with a friend, and we knew we couldn’t order just one pie since they all looked amazing. We went with their Juno pie which had broccoli rabe, potatoes, provolone cheese, and ricotta. We also ordered a classic margarita pie. Oh, and we couldn’t forget the wine to go with it.
Bunna Cafe
1084 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Phone: 347-295-2227
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If you’re looking for delicious Ethiopian food, Bunna Cafe is the place to be. You’ll find Bunna Cafe right on Flushing Avenue, next to the Flushing Avenue bus stop. The atmosphere at Bunna Cafe is very warm. The dim lighting creates a space where gathering with friends is easy and conversation flows.
Bunna Cafe specializes in authentic Ethiopian cuisine, but they’re almost entirely plant-based! So not only is it the best place for Ethiopian food, it’s one of the best for vegan people. I can’t recommend their dish, Shiro, enough. It’s ground chickpeas that are simmered with ginger, garlic, and the perfect blend of Ethiopian spices.
Roberta’s
261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Phone: 718-417-1118
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You’ll find Roberta’s about three minutes from Green Central Knoll. Roberta’s is an eclectic little spot that locals and visitors alike love to stop at. You’ll know you made it to the restaurant when you see this bright red metal opening with graffiti all over it. From there, you walk into a cozy restaurant with wooden picnic tables and a tiki bar.
Roberta’s is known for serving some fantastic Italian cuisine to Bushwick. They have salads, a pasta dish, and of course, pizza. Their cacio e Pepe was one of the best I’ve had. I also loved their bee sting pizza that was topped with local honey. And what is Italian food without wine? Be sure to check out their wine list and cocktails.
Maite
159 Central Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221
Phone: 718-366-3090
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On Central Avenue in Brooklyn, you’ll find this delicious Columbian and European restaurant, Maite. When you arrive at Maite, the outside is pretty unassuming. The second you walk through the doors, you’ll see a beautifully decorated restaurant with brick walls and plants throughout.
The cuisine at Maite is a blend of Columbian and European. One thing to know about this restaurant is that its menu changes frequently. While they stick to some staples, most of their menu changes are based on the availability of fresh ingredients. I chose to try their half rack of lamb and the yucca fries. You’ll want to check out their selection of Columbian beer and cider to pair with your meal.
Sally Roots
195 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Phone: 347-425-0888
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Less than half a mile from Maria Hernandez Park is Sally Roots. This Wyckoff Avenue restaurant has bright white walls, a white bar, and plenty of colorful accents. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming. It’s a great neighborhood bar and restaurant that locals and visitors alike love to dine at.
Sally Roots serves authentic Caribbean cuisine, rum cocktails, and other frozen cocktails. Everything on the menu at Sally Roots looked amazing. I had to go with their house special, a chicken curry tamale. They also had an oxtail French onion soup that hit the spot. Since they’re known for their rum cocktails, I couldn’t leave without trying their hot buttered rum.
Momo Sushi Shack
43 Bogart St, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Phone: 718-418-6666
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Steps away from the Morgan Avenue subway station is Momo Sushi Shack. Like many Bushwick restaurants, Momo Sushi Shack is housed in a converted warehouse. The inside still has industrial floors, wood picnic beach tables, and exposed brick walls. The picnic tables help create a sense of community here since you’ll be sitting next to potential strangers.
While sushi is a popular order at Momo, they also have a handful of classic Japanese dishes on the menu. Their five-piece bluefin tuna sashimi was incredibly fresh. Besides that, I went with the spicy miso ramen. It was the perfect level of spiciness, and I even had enough left to take home for leftovers.
Arepera Guacuco
44 Irving Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Phone: 347-305-3300
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One block away from Maria Hernandez Park on Irving Avenue is Arepera Guacucu. This is a family-owned and operated Venezuelan restaurant that’s beloved in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
It’s named as one of the best Venezuelan restaurants in the village, and I have to agree. From the minute you walk in, you can feel how passionate the family is that runs the place.
They serve everything from arepas, empanadas, classic dishes, and salads. Their cheese arepa was the perfect starter for me. For my entree, I went with the Pabellon Criollo. It’s a national dish in Venezuela and consists of shredded beef, white rice, beans, fried sweet plantains, and topped with Venezuelan cheese.
Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos
271 Starr St, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Phone: 718-456-3422
If you’re looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant in Bushwick, look no further than Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos. You’ll find it on Starr Street, and it’s more than just a restaurant. It’s a tortilla factory. The restaurant’s interior is bright and colorful, representing how vibrant Mexican culture and cuisine are.
Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos has everything you could ever want in a Mexican restaurant. They have tacos, taquitos, quesadillas, and more. I asked the staff what their favorite menu items were since I couldn’t decide. They told me that I couldn’t go wrong with pork quesadilla, chicken taquitos, or chorizo tacos.
Le Garage
157 Suydam St, Brooklyn, NY 11221
Phone: 347-295-1700
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On the south side of Bushwick is Le Garage. This French restaurant serves authentic and upscale dishes but in a modern and casual environment. If the weather is nice, you have to sit outside. They’ve built a wood structure to the house outside seating that adds to the restaurant’s curb appeal. The tiny vases with flowers on the tables were an elegant touch.
Chefs at Le Garage use the freshest ingredients, and the menu will reflect that. Sometimes they’ll add or remove things based on the season. I went with the potato gnocchi, but if you’re eating with friends or on a date, the chicken for two is a great idea. Be sure to check out their artisanal cocktail list.
Otis
18 Harrison Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Phone: 646-886-0601
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Otis is on Harrison Place next to the Friends N.Y.C. Gift Shop. What’s now a favorite local restaurant used to be a tailor shop back in 1914.
The restaurant boasts very dim lighting, making the atmosphere warm, cozy, and perfect for treating yourself to a nice meal. They have a garden area that’s perfect, regardless of the season, since it’s heated.
The menu is relatively limited, but sometimes quality is better than quantity. I’m a massive fan of soups, and they have a rotating menu of soups. You’ll need to ask your server what it is when you visit. The P.E.I. mussels came highly recommended, as did the lamb shank. I loved the espresso martini, but they have plenty of other delicious cocktails too.
Santa Panza
1079 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11221
Phone: 347-413-9695
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If you’re looking for delicious Italian cuisine and pizza, Santa Panza is a must-try. Located on Broadway in Brooklyn, this restaurant is a cozy spot with plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy the fresh air while you eat and drink. The interior is modern with black, white, and wood fixtures throughout, suiting the Brooklyn vibe.
Their pizza recipes are the star for the show at Santa Panza. They have several recipes ranging from classic cheese to more artisanal ones. The prosciutto and funghi pie was one of the best I’ve ever had. If you don’t fill yourself up on melty pizza, the buttermilk panna cotta with roasted pears is the perfect way to end your meal.
Tong
321 Starr St, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Phone: 718-366-0586
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Tong is about two minutes from the Grover Cleveland Athletic Field on Starr Street. It’s a beautiful white brick building with the restaurant’s name painted in large black letters and several little tables for patrons to sit at. The inside of the restaurant is filled with plants on the floor and hanging from the ceiling.
If you’re looking for Thai food in Bushwick, Tong is the place to be. They have soups, salads, small and large plates. The tom yum Goong soup was fabulous, as was the khao soi. That’s a traditional, northern Thai curry dish with egg noodles and other fixings. They have a full bar, too, if you’re interested in a cocktail or beer with your meal.
Union Pizza Works
423 Troutman St, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Phone: 718-628-1927
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Union Pizza Works is in the heart of the Bushwick neighborhood on Troutman Street. The building it’s in now used to be a truck repair shop. The owners opened this pizza joint in 2013, and it’s since become a favorite amongst people in Brooklyn. The interior is still industrial with concrete floors and walls.
Here, the cuisine is wood-fired pizza, pasta dishes, and other Italian appetizers and desserts. Their squid ink pasta is very popular, as are all their pizza recipes. The Bushwick collective pie was a popular choice amongst other patrons, so I had to try it. It’s tomato, mozzarella, sausage, broccoli rabe, and Parmigiano cheese.
Falansai
112 Harrison Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Phone: 718-381-0980
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Falansai is situated on the corner of Harrison Place and Porter Avenue. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see a powder blue building. The building is relatively modern, and you can feel a sense of community when you walk in and sit down at your table. Everyone’s incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the cuisine.
This is a unique restaurant in the sense that it blends the cuisine of two cultures: Vietnamese and French. My friend and I decided to share a few menu items so we could sample as much as our stomachs could handle. We tried the pickle plate, the pork egg rolls, the spicy green curry, and the coconut pudding for dessert.
Taqueria Al Pastor
128 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Phone: 718-269-7538
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You’ll find Taqueria Al Pastor steps away from the Wyckoff Avenue bus stop. While the building is characteristic of Brooklyn, when you walk inside, you’ll see beautiful Mexican tile work throughout, making you feel like you’re not in Brooklyn anymore.
The menu is filled with classic tacos, quesadillas, rice plates, and even more. Their rice plates came highly recommended, so I went with their carne asada rice plate. I paired that with a side of chips and guacamole. Their al pastor quesadilla was also a great choice. You can’t go wrong with a meal there.
Brooklyn and all its neighborhoods are known for their eclectic style and strong sense of community. The blending of cultures is what makes this place so enjoyable to visit and live in. Next time you’re in the Bushwick neighborhood, you have to try any of these spots.
Whether you’re in the mood for French, Thai, or Mexican cuisine, you’ll find it in Bushwick. Check out the best brunch spots in Bushwick if you’re looking for a great place to sip on mimosas and eat breakfast food before you leave town.
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!
