These NYC Eateries Are Among 'America's Essential Restaurants'

EAST VILLAGE, NY — Four New York City restaurants have landed on Eater's "America's Essential Restaurants" list.

The annual guide was compiled by food critic Bill Addison after 34 weeks of travel and nearly 600 meals in 36 cities.

Its purpose differs from the typical array of guides that catalogue the nation's hot, up-and-coming restaurants by focusing on those that have become indispensable fixtures in their neighborhoods.

Among the 38 which snagged a spot on the coveted list are three located in the East Village: the asian accented-American eats of Momofuku Ko, all-vegetarian fast food spot Superiority Burger and Chinese staple Xi'an Famous Foods, which has grown from a Flushing, Queens basement into a chain with over a dozen outposts, including in the East Village.

Italian bistro Via Carota in the West Village also landed on this year's list. Addison describes the cozy eatery as his "favorite place to eat in New York," which is high praise considering this man has eaten his way across the city and country five times for this guide.

Check out the full guide here.

Photo courtesy of Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images