10 Essential Restaurants in Buffalo, New York

“Are you going to eat some wings?”

I’m usually a pretty patient person, but even I grew tired of hearing this question repeatedly before a recent trip to Buffalo, New York (I can’t imagine how locals must feel!).

Yes, of course I was planning on eating some wings in Buffalo, but my food itinerary (the most important itinerary) was so much richer and more exciting than that. Buffalo is an incredibly diverse city with a dining scene that reflects its nature, and my tastebuds were ready to explore the world within a city’s boundaries.

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The restaurants on this list were hand-selected after enjoying a great meal; this post is not produced in sponsorship with any of the places listed below.

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After a ton of research and a weekend of delicious meals, I’m happy to bring you my Buffalo restaurant guide today. Whether you’re a local looking to switch up their weekly dinner routine or a visitor trying to gain a little insight into the city’s modern personality, I hope this list helps you find something delicious to eat.

Let’s dig in:

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10 RESTAURANTS TO ADD TO YOUR BUFFALO MENU

Las Puertas

Any time I see an opportunity to enjoy elevated Mexican food, I take it. This cuisine is one that many aren’t used to seeing “dignified” by fine dining status, and that’s such a shame because the ingredients and flavors have so much potential. Las Puertas, which opened in 2017, does just that by touring Mexico’s regions through the lens of food.

This compact restaurant on the West Side is primarily a reservations-only, tasting menu kind of place that is perfect for celebration meals or memorable date nights. However, those in the know will tell you that you can slide onto any available bar stool for an à la carte experience, thanks to an excellent board of tempting small plates. Michael and I did just that for a light meal one evening in Buffalo, lucking into a pair of free stools.

We chatted with chef Victor Parra Gonzalez while sipping excellent tequila and mezcal cocktails, and eventually, a pair of incredible tacos and a quesadilla landed in front of us. The pork of the al pastor tacos was just as juicy and tender as the accompanying slices of pineapple, and the bitter greens of the quesadilla were beautifully brightened by a housemade salsa and salty queso. For dessert, a sliver of flan with punchy rhubarb and strawberries served as the sweetest ending to the meal.

You’ll want to order more plates than we did if you’re particularly hungry, or perhaps go all out and make a reservation for the tasting menu (I’d love to make time for that on my next visit!). If you do, be sure to leave a comment and share how you enjoyed your meal.

→Las Puertas // 385 Rhode Island St, Buffalo, NY 14213

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Moneybags Dumplings

“Well, we have to go there,” Michael declared when I pulled up the Moneybags Dumplings menu. The phrase hidden gem is overused these days (my apologies for contributing on occasion), but this tucked-away spot feels like a food speakeasy. If you didn’t know it, you might even think the building housed a bakery instead of a freshly made dumplings dealer.

But if you arrive at the building that reads “Quaker Bonnet Bakery” and proceed through the covered awning, you’ll be rewarded with a plethora of handmade dumplings to choose from. Choose from mix-and-match orders of six or twelve fried or steamed dumplings with a variety of meat and vegetable fillings. With much more eating ahead, an order of twelve divided into three dumpling types was just the ticket (though it was tempting to add a tangle of chilli garlic noodles; I mean, just look at this photo).

If my memory serves me correctly, they’re in the process of obtaining seating, but in the meantime, you’ll want to take these dumplings to go. To make things easier, each dumpling in your box is tinted a different color to make it easier to distinguish (for example, the black pepper beef is dyed “black like my soul”) before popping into your mouth.

→Moneybags Dumplings // 69 Chenango St, Buffalo, NY 14213

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Extra Extra Pizza

Extra Extra Pizza extra extra deserves to be on your list. This hip walk-in-only spot in the Five Points Neighborhood slings all sorts of carby goodness (mostly pizza) alongside natural wines and inventive cocktails.

Popping in for a late-night bite is an excellent idea. I saw plenty of diners sharing a whole pie, but my heart was thrilled to find that they offer a few varieties by the slice as well (a great excuse to try a few!). Michael and I shared a slab of their current Sicilian-style slice, and it was pure ooey, gooey, chewy heaven. The wine and spirits list feels a little daunting for the uninitiated, but a super helpful bartender was glad to guide us through for the perfect nightcap.

Shall we chat about the other kind of dough? While you may consider the prices to be higher than the pizza mainstays of your college days (especially if you graduated more than a decade ago *melts into the earth*), as a worker cooperative, the staff at Extra Extra Pizza are receiving a fair wage and benefits. Gotta love seeing people taking care of their people! Furthermore, the restaurant is tipless, meaning the price you see is the price you pay.

→Extra Extra Pizza // 549 W Utica St, Buffalo, NY 14213

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Anchor Bar

If you were wondering if Anchor Bar would make the list, well, wonder no more.

While admittedly not my favorite of the three Buffalo wing joints in this guide, Anchor Bar is undeniably an important part of the Buffalo visitor experience. As the creator of the city’s namesake chicken dish, a stop at the original Anchor Bar is simply one of those “when in Rome” affairs.

The Buffalo wing’s origin story has been told many times before, but the short version is this: in 1964, Dominic Bellissimo was tending to the bar late one evening when his friends popped in, hungry and, I presume, a little tipsy. Dominic asked his mother Teressa to whip up something for his friends, to which I would have replied, “Do it yourself.” But instead, she tossed some leftover wings for stock into the fryer and doused them in a sauce and the rest is history.

The original Main Street location is easy to reach for folks staying in town, and soon you can taste a ten-piece of history. The sauce is indeed quite delicious, clinging just right to the drums and flats. With lightning-fast service, you can pop in for a quick afternoon snack and be back on your merry way.

→Anchor Bar // Multiple Locations

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BreadHive Bakery & Cafe

I’m pretty sure it’s a guarantee: you’ll always wake up on the right side of the bed on any morning that contains a stop at BreadHive Bakery & Cafe. Bagels and pretzels hit the pegboard display right upon opening, so early risers are always greeted with a yummy breakfast.

As for the late risers? Well, you’re also sure to have a yummy breakfast coupled with a wait, especially on the weekends. But that’s okay because each order is crafted with care. Michael and I shared The Aaliyah, a breakfast sandwich with house-made pork sausage, scrambled eggs, cheddar, butter, and maple syrup. He’s not usually one for a sweet and savory mix, but even he agreed this sandwich is a hit.

Of course, picky eaters can always build their own. Simply choose your bread (a bagel, pretzel, or toast), spread, protein, and veg. I just have one suggestion for the very hungry weekender: add a little sweet treat from the case to your order to nibble on while you wait.

→BreadHive Bakery & Cafe // 402 Connecticut St, Buffalo, NY 14213

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Southern Junction

Is this Texas or New York? you may wonder to yourself as you arrive at Southern Junction because the line is undoubtedly out the door, just like at all the best barbecue places in Texas. Except the menu at Southern Junction is given a South Asian twist, bringing in flavors like coconut, curry leaves, and cardamom where you might not expect them. Even though the flavors are worlds apart, everything combines beautifully in dishes like Brisket Biriyani, Barbacurry, and Chammandhi Slaw.

Once you’ve finally worked your way through the line to the counter, do yourself a solid and order a platter. Brisket is always rightfully the star of any Texas-inspired barbecue joint worth its salt, so if it’s still available by the time you order, you’d be wise to ask for an achingly tender cut (you’ll know by the dreaded Sold Out sign if it’s all gone). If you’re hungrier than we were, go all-in with a two-meat platter or Texas Trinity.

Brisket Biriyani and White Cheddar Mac (a surprisingly contentious side for a barbecue restaurant) were perfect pairings, but the Cardamom Cornbread stole the side show. Warm and buttered, it’s the perfect sweet ending to a great meal.

→Southern Junction // 365 Connecticut St, Buffalo, NY 14213

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Duff’s Famous Wings

Who’s ready for another order of wings? This time we’re visiting Duff’s Famous Wings, the longtime competitor of Anchor Bar (searching “duffs vs anchor bar” on Google yields more than 60,000 results).

You have to go to the original, of course, so swing by the Sheridan Drive location on your way to or from the airport. This box of a building on the corner maintains that classic tavern feel inside, and it already feels familiar even if it’s your first time in.

Michael and I made a pact that we would only share an order of ten wings (no more) during the trip to help keep costs down and to save room for the rest of our planned meals. Starving at 3 p.m., we bumped our order to the lunch special for a couple extra dollars more, with a salad and fries to tide us over until the wings arrived.

But once they did, we immediately regretted that decision. At most restaurants, wings generally aren’t very large—three bites and that’s it. The wings at Duff’s were shockingly substantial, to the point where I started questioning if the drums were actually drumsticks from tiny chickens. In any case, my Frankenchicken fears subsided once I bit into my first wing. It didn’t have that, shall we say, cheap grocery store flavor to it (do you know what I mean by that? I’ve had to stop buying chickens from one grocery store in town because they just taste off).

The chicken was ultra-fresh, and coated in a zingy sauce. We were warned that the Medium was hot, and while it was the hottest Medium of the bunch, we weren’t breaking out in a sweat. The bleu cheese was also worthy of mention, offering a nice contrast to the tangy, peppery wings. I rarely rank restaurants because taste is so subjective and people on the internet tend to get a little heated when someone’s opinion differs from theirs, but the sauce at Duff’s rivaled Anchor Bar in terms of flavor and the chicken itself was superior.

→Duff's Famous Wings // Multiple Locations

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Butter Block

Is a bakery a restaurant? When it’s as good as Butter Block, does it even matter?

This woman-owned French-style bakery in the Five Points neighborhood has been rolling, folding, cutting, filling, and baking their laminated pastries for Buffalonians for more than a decade, and it’s easy to see why locals are so keen to return. Heck, after just one glance at the case, I felt compelled to pack up my Charlotte home to move to Buffalo.

Instead, I sighed and did what any rational person would do: order three pastries from the case in a panic because the line moves fast and there isn’t enough room to see what’s available. Even with more time to decide, I don’t know if I would have changed a thing about my order: a chocolate hazelnut croissant, ham and cheese pretzel croissant, and a homemade pop tart.

Each bite was buttery, flaky perfection (my clothes, which bore the brunt of the flakiness, can attest), and I only regret not having time to go back for more. Have an extra pastry for me, okay?

→Butter Block // 426 Rhode Island St, Buffalo, NY 14213

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Mister Sizzle’s

Mister Sizzle’s caught my eye when poking around Google Maps one night a few weeks before our visit to Buffalo (this, by the way, is one of my favorite ways to stumble upon great restaurants). “Huh, that’s a fun name,” I thought, “I wonder what kind of food they have.”

The answer came with a quick click on their website: ridiculously good-looking burgers and chicken sandwiches. With a fiancé who is always going to choose a burger over just about anything else on the menu, I knew it was a sign. We had to visit. Luckily for us, Mister Sizzle’s is open every day until 11 p.m., and better still, it was just a short walk from our Airbnb.

You can order at the counter and sit in the dining room if you like, but we choose to sit at the bar for service instead. It didn’t take much convincing to order a cocktail (the Hot Hot Heat, with a little kick) and a beer in addition to a perfectly executed classic burger and fries. When ordering, it’s easy to spend more than you expect, and add-ons add up. My advice? Stick with the classics; they’re done right and you’ll save enough to treat yourself to a milkshake for the road.

→Mister Sizzle's // 346 Connecticut St, Buffalo, NY 14213

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Gabriel’s Gate

Gabriel’s Gate was a last-minute addition to our itinerary thanks to a local’s recommendation, and it was so worth the stop for a bonus meal on the way to the airport. The traditional public house is one bar and restaurant concept that has fallen by the wayside over the years, but this eclectic spot keeps the spirit alive.

We bypassed the menu’s sandwiches, burgers, steaks, and pastas in favor of one final order of wings before returning to Charlotte. While I preferred the taste of the sauce at Duff’s and the texture of the coating at Anchor Bar, the cooking method of the chicken at Gabriel’s Gate was far superior (however, this was Michael’s all-around top choice). Despite being soaked in a vinegary sauce, the chicken remained crisp, shattering beautifully with each bite.

A great down-to-earth meal in an equally down-to-earth restaurant was a fitting way to end our culinary adventures in Buffalo. It’s clear to see why this spot has become a favorite of many Buffalonians.

→Gabriel's Gate // 145 Allen St, Buffalo, NY 14201

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MORE BUFFALO EATS

Tried as I might to eat at all of the restaurants on my Buffalo list, it just wasn’t humanly possible over the course of a few days. But you know what? I have the perfect starting point for my next visit, and now so do you:

More Buffalo Restaurants to Try:

• Lovejoy Pizzeria for a new-to-me style of pizza (i.e., Buffalo-style pizza)
• Remedy House for a tasty-looking brekkie
• Daniela for Pinsa, a rustic slab of dough with fresh toppings
• The Dapper Goose for elegant small plates
• Billy Club for scratch-made American fare
• Allen Burger Venture to satisfy intense burger cravings
• Marble + Rye for Detroit-style pizza and international plates
• SZND for a decadent menu
• Strong Hearts for all your favorite dishes made vegan
• Graylynn for brunch, obviously
• Kelly’s Korner for a beef on weck
• Kdara for essential noods
• West Side Bazaar for when you need a little bit of everything

As always, if you get the chance to visit any of these before I do, be sure to leave a comment to share your thoughts. Is it worth a visit? Not worth it? Let us know!

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FINAL THOUGHTS ON BUFFALO’S RESTAURANT SCENE

Buffalo’s culinary landscape is as sprawling as its city limits, with miles and miles of eclectic dining experiences. From humble holes-in-the-wall to fine dining destinations, there’s a little bit of everything to be found here if you’re willing to embark on the adventure.

It is my hope that this guide is a helpful starting point for your next food quest—as well as the first of many Buffalo restaurant adventures of my own.

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Questions for you

How spicy is your go-to order of wings?

Which of these classic Buffalo foods do you feel is most iconic: Beef on Weck, sponge candy, Buffalo wings, or Buffalo-style pizza?

Are you a Buffalo local? What other restaurants would you add to this list?

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