INSIDE: Epic guide to best food souvenirs from New York that will delight tastebuds. Updated 2024.
You can’t go wrong buying someone a gift of food from New York, especially if it’s candy, chocolate, American snacks, or condiments!
This guide includes the best candy stores in NYC below, as well as the best chocolate shops in New York, plus so much more.
Check them out below.
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BEST FOOD SOUVENIRS FROM NEW YORK
No.1: Best American Snacks at Made in New York
These are a few more options when it comes to food souvenirs to bring back from New York.
These are perfect gifts if you are wondering what to buy in New York for foodie friends and family.
- Peanut Butter & Co peanut butter
- HIP Artisan brand of jams, jellies, and marmalades
- Mini black and white cookies from William Greensberg desserts
- Mama Lam’s hot sauce and curry pastes
- Maya’s Syrups and Jams
- Cookies from the Brooklyn Cookie company
- Squish marshmallows ( you know you want to!)
- Sweet Muse brownies
- Sustainable snacks (plant based bites)
- Momo dressing – hand crafted Japanese salad dressings
- Brittle and Beyond candy
Check out all the Made in New York items here.
RELATED: HUGE Guide to the best UNIQUE NEW YORK SOUVENIRS
Image credit: Grand Central Market
No.2: Grand Central Market at Grand Central Terminal New York
13 local vendors sell all kinds of commuter-friendly food and drink.
It’s a great place to go for New York gift boxes for foodies.
You can buy Li-Lac chocolate, and pick up coffee or spices.
Look for fun food-themed gifts from taco socks to practical kitchen gadgets at the E.A.T. pop-up.
Find it at the Grand Central Station, between the Graybar Building and the 4/5/6 Subway lines on Lexington Avenue
RELATED: Where to Shop in New York – Best Shops Guide
Image credit: Cory Doctorow via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
THE BEST NEW YORK CANDY STORES
No.1: Economy Candy New York souvenirs
This shop is floor to ceiling candy and is one of New York’s iconic candy stores since 1937.
Their best sellers include:
- chocolate covered graham crackers (with and without jelly)
- chocolate covered pretzels
- jelly rings
- gummies and
- penny candy.
Look out for their decade mixes, a tub of the best American candy from the 1950s, the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990’s.
Find Economy Candy at 108 Rivington St, New York.
No.2: Dylan’s Candy Bar Flagship Store
One of our favorite candy shops in New York is Dylan Candy Bar.
It’s NOT cheap, but it’s the place to find unusual and unique candy in New York.
Fill a jar, or a tin with all your fave penny candy, some of which are exclusive to Dylans Candy shop.
Book a table at the cafe upstairs for a real sugar rush!
Visit the Flagship Dylans Candy Store and Restaurant at 1011 Third Ave, New York, near Central Park.
Image credit: Sean Farrelly
No.3: The Sweet Shop NYC treats
Pop in for a visit to the Sweet Shop NYC, the nostalgic candy store in New York.
They specialize in retro candy and sweets that take you back to your childhood, plus:
- handmade chocolates
- handmade fudge
- licorice
- gelato and
- desserts.
Do not visit if you are watching your waistline.
The artisan ice cream is too much temptation!
Visit at 404 East 73rd Street, between 1st and York Avenues, New York
Image credit: Alex Liivet via Flickr CC BY-2.0
No.4: M&M’s World New York gifts
Buy your favorite M&M’s candy from this shop, a bright explosion of color and interactive games, exhibitions and merchandise.
This shop is an experience, not just a place to buy junk food.
Look out for the pick’n’mix Color Your World wall, an ode to M&M’s in every color choice available.
Find M&M world New York at at 1600 Broadway, New York.
Image credit: Alex Liivet via Flickr CC BY-2.0
THE BEST NEW YORK CHOCOLATE SHOPS
The best New York chocolate can be found at any one of these New York chocolate shops.
No.1: Hershey’s Chocolate World Times Square
Yes, this is a tourist trap but gosh it’s fun to visit Hersheys Chocolate World in Times Square to buy up a few big bags of the iconic Hershey’s Kisses, wrapped in silver foil.
You can personalize your own HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bar wrapper, or surprise your loved one with an in-store message on the display board!
Try a signature Hershey’s dessert from the Hershey’s Kitchen Bakery while you are here, but most importantly, don’t leave till you’ve tried the HERSHEY’S Double Chocolate S’mores made instore!
Find these NY souvenirs at 20 Times Square building, at 701 7th Ave, New York.
Image credit: Myzel’s Chocolate
No.2: Myzel’s Chocolate Gifts
Myzel’s is a boutique European-style chocolate shop featuring:
- handmade truffles
- cookies &
- over 100 flavors of licorice.
Their ultimate chocolate cookie is the reason to visit. You will not find another cookie like it in Manhattan.
Buy a gift box.
Find the best NYC souvenirs for chocoholics at 140 W 55th St # 1, New York.
Image credit: Raaka Chocolate Co.
No.3: Raaka Chocolate Brooklyn
Raaka choocolate shop makes their chocolate from scratch, bean-to-bar, in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Join a tour of the New York chocolate shop, or take a chocolate making class.
They run several times a week.
Visit at 64 Seabring Street Brooklyn, NY 11231
Image credit: Louise McLaren via Flickr CC BY-2.0
FAMOUS NEW YORK FOOD TO EAT ON THE GO!
You can also taste test the following iconic New York food as you wander under the New York city skyline!
- Burger from Shake Shack
- Lox and cream cheese bagel from Zucker’s Bagels
- Juniors cheesecake – New York’s most famous cheesecake
- Red Velvet cake from Piece of Velvet in Brooklyn
- Hot dogs from Nathan’s Famous
- New York pizza by the slice
- Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery, or a cupcake (made famous by Sex and the City)
- A Pastrami sandwich or a Reuben sandwich with corned beef from Katz Deli
- Zola Bakes instagram famous rainbow cookies
- Rainbow Bagels from The Bagel Store
- Cookie dough from Cookie DŌ
- Chocolate dipped pretzels from Fatty Sundays
- Cronut from Dominique Ansel bakery
- Frozen Hot Chocolate from Serendipity 31
- Meatballs from the Meatball Shop
If you are still hungry, check out the Food Trucks near Radio City Music Hall.
