New York City Coney Island And Brighton Beach

You can get your carnival and beach food—cotton candy, ice cream, burgers, hot dogs, and all things fried—along the crowded Riegelmann Boardwalk. But for the real goods, explore “Little Odessa,” the Russian-Ukrainian community in Brighton Beach, where much Eastern European scrumptiousness awaits.

Cafe Glechik, 3189 Coney Island Ave. (www.glechik.com), It's easy to miss, but this small Russian-Ukrainian cafe delivers the goods for cheap. In a plain interior, filled with locals who know what they're eating, heaps of delicious Ukrainian vareniki and Russian pelmeni, two delicious variants in the proud Eastern European dumpling tradition, are served for only a few dollars. You can also go with meat dishes including kebab and seafood, or try some rabbit or chicken-gizzard stew. Dumplings (25 per order) $5-8. Meat dishes $9.50-15. Stews $11.50-19.50. Open daily 9am-10pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
Primorski, 282 Brighton Beach Ave. (www.primorski.net), Your one-stop source for all foods Russian and Georgian: reliable pilmeni and blini, a kind of Russian crepe, borscht, racks of lamb, shish kebab, and chicken schnitzel. The dark interior dotted with Christmas lights, is classier than most of the plain establishments along Brighton Beach Ave., but the food is affordable—especially if you're here for the cheap lunch specials, which include salad, soup, a lunch entree, and a side order. At night the restaurant turns into one of the main nightlife spots in the neighborhood, with live entertainment and a huge dance floor. Appetizers $3-10. Entrees $9-19. Lunch entrees $6. Open M-Th 11am-midnight, F 11am-2am, Sa 11am-3am, Su 11am-1am. Live entertainment starts M-Th 8pm, F-Su 9pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Nathan's Famous, 1310 Surf Ave. (at Stillwell Ave.) (www.nathansfamous.com), Nathan Handwerker made his local fame by charging five cents per hotdog when competitors were charging 10. Nearly a century later, Nathan's hot dogs have become landmarks of American cuisine. Since the food stand's beginnings in 1916, many branches have opened throughout the country. But the Coney Island original still draws the crowds, many of them tourists who make Nathan's their first stop upon arrival. The ESPN-broadcast and quite disgusting hot dog eating contest has taken place here since 1916. If you've had enough of hot dogs, you can also try their burgers and seafood items. Hot dogs $3-4. Burger meals $5-11. Seafood $4-15. Open daily 8am-1am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.