Latest Best of NY

NYC’s 9 Best Soup Restaurants

April 24, 2012 6:00 AM

Delicious soup is a balancing act akin to a baseball game—a tasty, solid base needs its major players and supporting roles. On their own, the details may pale in importance, but when they intermix, the overall effect should multiply and delight. The list below shares the best soup houses in NYC. By Anna Van Lenten

B&H Dairy

127 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10003
(212) 505-8065

A humble, tiny temple of a diner and a coveted East Village secret, B&H also puts out great soup. If you like your salt, grab a shaker, because these are mild. Both borschts—hot and cold—are fantastic. The vegetarian chili sticks to veggies, avoids fake meat and comes out chilicious. Praises go to the accompanying hunk of buttered challah, a super satisfying sideline.

Café Doppio

(credit: Cafe Doppio/Facebook)

55 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
(212) 785-7595
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The staff at family-run Doppio will let you sample the soups, so go on: exceptional paella is stuffed with seafood, the jambalaya packed with sausage and chicken, the Italian wedding is a promise delivered. They’re not overly salted, they change daily, and the best ones sell out early. It’s worth hitting them up several times a week.

Cozy Soup ‘n Burger

(credit: cozysoupnburger.com)

739 Broadway
New York, NY 10079
(212) 477-5566
CozySoupBurgerNYC.com
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Cozy is a 24-hour diner in Noho whose soup section is comically small compared to the rest of the menu. However, people come for miles for their pea soup, which heals as you eat—rich savory croutons on top make it delectable. The extra good French Onion has a strong, tasty broth, lots of sweet onions and crunchy baguette dice.

Daily Soup

(AP Photo/Larry Crowe)

241 W 54th Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 765-7687
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You’d be hard pressed to make your own soup with the regularity and deliciousness given over at this shiny, clean Midtown efficiency. As well as the very good standards, the Thai, the white bean and escarole, and the chicken curry are all stellar. Chili comes with unlimited toppings, including scallions, jalapeno, and cilantro.

Hale and Hearty Soups

(credit: Hale & Hearty/Facebook)

23 locations
haleandhearty.com
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With 23 locations throughout NYC, skeptics might label Hale as just another formula craze. But its repertoire of 100+ soups deliver daily excellence. The chicken potpie, chicken and vegetable, and coconut chicken are winners. Beef stew contains chunky pieces of tender meat and vegetables, and the sweet corn chowder is lush. Crackers or seven grain bread come with.

Ippudo

(credit: Ippudo/Facebook)

65 4th Avenue
New York, NY 10003
(212) 388-0088
ippudony.com
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Ippudo’s calls itself a Japanese Ramen Noodle Brasserie, and while all the ramens are delicious, one—Akamaru Modern—is transcendental. A strongly recommended topping choice is the braised pork belly. The whole package includes Ippudo’s special sauce, red miso paste, aromatic garlic oil, cabbage, onions, kikurage and scallions. You won’t believe your mouth.

La Bonne Soupe

(credit: La Bonne Soupe)

48 W 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 586-7650
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La Bonne makes four soups. Its most popular is an exceptional French Onion, whose beefy broth carries great depth and flavor. However, the lamb and barley, and the creamy tomato (Creme Andalouse) deserve a turn as well, and will elicit many an enthusiastic exclamation from the wanderer who happened upon this narrow, midtown bistro.

Original Soup Man

(credit: Original Soup Man/Facebook)

259A W 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 757-7730
originalsoupman.com
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Jambalaya, Lobster Bisque, and Mulligatawny are but a few of the authentic, inventive greats here. And though he makes soup the cherished centerpiece of the meal, Soup Man doesn’t skimp on the accoutrements either. Each order comes with a piece of fruit, a Lindt truffle, and a hunk of bread to sop up the goodness.

Soup Spot

(credit: Soup Spot)

220 W 31st Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 643-8623
cafe31nyc.com/soupspot.html

Every day, Soup Spot cooks up 17 different soups from scratch and sells them until they’re gone. They run the gamut from seriously inventive—cheeseburger chowder, asparagus and brie—to gourmet lovelies—lobster, shrimp and salmon bisque, and cold carrot ginger—to all manner of first-rate chicken standards.

Anna Van Lenten is from Brooklyn, N.Y.

bridget

where is the lentil soup recipe
Barbara

Where do I find Tony Tantillo’s Tortellini Soup recipe?

ernie

Why is it so difficult to locate the receipe for lentil soup. Tony makes it sound so simple, 40 minutes later I’m stll looking for it. Would appreicate receipes shown by date on Tony’s Place , thank you.