NYC World Cup foods: Paraguayan empanadas to Ivorian plantain puree

Across New York City's boroughs, restaurants bring the 2026 World Cup to the table. Harlem spots show every Ivory Coast match with chicken, fish and sweet plantains, while Lower East Side sake bars serve Japanese dishes and generous pours to keep fans through big fixtures.

The city's blend of cultures, cuisines and soccer communities makes it an ideal place to experience the tournament beyond stadiums. Familiar match-day staples are easy to find — hot dogs, pizza and fries — and YouGov finds French fries are America's most popular food, a fixture at many soccer bars.

You can taste Paraguayan empanadas at I Love Paraguay in Sunnyside, Queens, where Nancy and Carlos Ojeda brought culinary traditions from their restaurant in Paraguay. Old Mates Pub and other Australian venues offer meat pies and sausage rolls, while German bierhauses serve bratwurst with mustard and a cold hefeweizen; Black Forest in Brooklyn is known as a go-to for Germany matches.

United States, New York City

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