The Lower East Side of Manhattan has long been a landing pad for immigrants, misfits, and creatives, forging a culinary landscape that is as gritty as it is diverse. In the final season of Parts Unknown (filmed in 2018), Anthony Bourdain returned to the stomping grounds of his youth, not to chase the latest trendy tasting menu, but to honor the institutions that have weathered decades of gentrification. This episode was a deeply personal love letter to a disappearing New York, highlighting the Jewish, Ukrainian, Italian, and Puerto Rican flavors that built the neighborhood. Bourdain’s journey through the LES wasn’t just about food; it was a meditation on the cultural fabric of a city constantly in flux. He sought out the unpretentious diners, the late-night bodegas, and the legacy restaurants that still serve up a taste of the raw, unfiltered New York he knew and loved. The stops he made reflect a deep appreciation for the working-class roots of the area, proving that sometimes the best meal in the city is a simple pierogi or a perfectly crafted egg cream. Here are the iconic spots he visited to capture the soul of the Lower East Side.
The great Anthony Bourdain left his mark everywhere he went. When his death was announced to the world in June 2018, media throughout the globe chimed in and listed all the great things he had done for their respective city, town, province, country. Whereas before, tourists would shy away from exotic foods, thanks to him, travellers now go the extra mile to find and try local bites. With this in mind, here are all the restaurants Bourdain visited and the dishes he tasted when he shot Anthony Bourdain Lower East Side in New York City for his show, Parts Unknown Season 12 Episode 7 (originally aired November 11,2018):
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DISH – Chocolate Egg Cream
WHAT IS IT?
A beverage of cold milk, carbonated water and chocolate syrup.
WHERE IS IT?
Ray’s Candy Store
113 Avenue A
New York, NY, United States
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ANTHONY BOURDAIN LOWER EAST SIDE NOTES
24-hour ice cream hub operating since 1974. It also offers egg creams, hotdogs and fries.
DISH – Pierogi
WHAT IS IT?
Filled dumplings that originated from the Eastern and Central parts of Europe.
WHERE IS IT?
Veselka
144 2nd Ave
New York, NY, United States
ANTHONY BOURDAIN LOWER EAST SIDE NOTES
Diner that offers dishes originating from Central and Eastern Europe.
DISH – Pesto with Spaghetti
WHAT IS IT?
Spaghetti with pesto sauce. Pesto is a sauce made of garlic, pine nuts, basil leaves, salt, cheese and olive oil.
WHERE IS IT?
John’s of 12th Street
302 E 12th St
New York, NY, United States
ANTHONY BOURDAIN LOWER EAST SIDE NOTES
Old school Italian eatery offering red sauce specialties since 1908. They also offer vegan options.
DISH – Arroz Amarillo, Chuletas and Pernil – Parts Unknown Lower East Side
WHAT IS IT?
Arroz Amarillo – white rice tinted yellow turmeric; Chuletas – meat chops; Pernil – marinated and slow-roasted pork.
WHERE IS IT?
El Castillo de Jagua
113 Rivington St
New York, NY, United States
ANTHONY BOURDAIN LOWER EAST SIDE NOTES
Caribbean diner offering breakfast options, sandwiches, entrée plates and shakes.
DISH – Grilled Fish – Parts Unknown Lower East Side
WHAT IS IT?
Grilled slab of fish meat.
WHERE IS IT?
Public Kitchen
215 Chrystie St
New York, NY, United States
Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.
NOTES
Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s restaurant at the Public Hotel that offers New American dishes, which are organic and sustainable.
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This episode stands as a poignant final chapter in Bourdain’s exploration of his hometown, airing posthumously and capturing a profound sense of nostalgia. The Lower East Side episode wasn’t just a food tour; it was a deeply personal reflection on the passage of time and the vanishing enclaves that shaped his early life and career. It serves as a stark reminder of the rapid gentrification erasing the city’s historic character, making the surviving institutions he highlighted all the more precious. His focus on these unpretentious, legacy eateries over high-end dining reinforces his enduring belief that the true heart of a city lies in its everyday food and the people who make it. The next time you find yourself in Manhattan, skip the trendy new spots and take a walk down Avenue A to experience the real, enduring flavor of the LES.
