Restaurants I've Run to While Training for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon (Part 1)
David (center) with friends at Red Hook Lobster Pound
(Photos taken by David.)
David Paradela is on the internal communications team at NYRR. Prior to working at NYRR, he worked at Wine & Spirits Magazine.
While training for the Berlin Marathon last year, I motivated myself by running to restaurants so I could look forward to a delicious meal at the end of my runs. This year, I’m training for the TCS New York City Marathon with the help of NYRR x Runna and sharing all the great places I've found to refuel. From world class pastries in Long Island City to Chino Latino fare on the Upper West Side, there’s no city in the world that eats (and runs) like New York.
Week 1—Somedays Bakery (Long Island City)
June 29, 2025
Distance run: 5.7 miles
Black Sesame Tahini Pain au Chocolate from Somedays Bakery
For my first long run, NYRR x Runna scheduled five miles on hilly terrain. Some of the city’s steepest and longest inclines are on its bridges, and since the Queensboro Bridge is about 2.5 miles from my residence in East Harlem, I felt it would be a great location to train. I had recently discovered one of the city’s most underrated skyline views in Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island City, close to a recently opened location of Somedays Bakery. I had previously been to Somedays’ original location further north in Astoria, and after being impressed with their savory pastries—in particular their Smoked Salmon and Egg and Cheese Croissants—I looked forward to trying their sweeter offerings.
When I arrived at Somedays, two items caught my eye: the Black Sesame Tahini Pain Au Chocolat and the Blueberry Sweet Cardamom Bun. I’m a sucker for anything caramelized, so the earthy, nutty sweetness of the pain au chocolate’s black sesame brittle was exactly the kind of treat I wanted after completing something difficult. The sweet bun was balanced and refreshing, the acidity of the blueberry jam zesting up the rich cream cheese spread on its top.
Week 2—Hen House NYC (East Village)
July 12, 2025
Distance run: 6 miles
My favorite neighborhood to eat out in is the East Village. Businesses there often combine a rich cultural history and diversity of cuisine with an innovative approach to stand out in Manhattan’s competitive dining scene. With my training plan instructing me to run six miles, I knew I could finish somewhere in that neighborhood and eat something exceptional. I aimed to finish at Hen House NYC, a small Lebanese counter spot I had encountered before at Smorgasburg in Prospect Park.
I ran along the East River pathway to Carl Schurz Park and weaved my way through a group dressed in traditional Japanese dress celebrating a cultural festival, a reminder of how unpredictable any given run can be in this city. I cut my way west onto First Avenue to Hen House, passing the UN building and dodging pedestrians on a busy Saturday evening.
When I arrived at the restaurant, I was faced with the choice of a piri piri fried chicken sandwich, a Lebanese version of the Crunchwrap Supreme, and a lamb birria shawarma. I ordered the birria on the staff’s suggestion and proceeded to have one of the most garlicky meals of my life. If you consider yourself a garlic superfan (which I do), ripping apart a crispy griddled pita stuffed with tender lamb and garlic-saturated cheese then dipping it in a rich consommé broth might just be the meal you’ve been waiting for.
Week 3—Red Hook Lobster Pound and Strong Rope Brewery (Red Hook)
July 19, 2025
Distance run: 4.5 miles
BLT lobster roll with fries at the Red Hook Lobster Pound.
One thing I’ve learned on my running journey is that running with others is almost always more enjoyable than running alone. So, when a friend of mine suggested running over the Manhattan Bridge to Red Hook to eat at a brewery, I knew I was in for a good time. Our group started off on Hester Street in Chinatown and ran over the bridge into Downtown Brooklyn. I was astonished at how much easier running feels when you’re making conversation with others—I had run a mile and a half and was barely breaking a sweat. We cut west through Brooklyn Heights into Brooklyn Bridge Park then ran south down Columbia Street before arriving at Red Hook Lobster Pound.
My training plan had scheduled me to run 3.75 miles that day, but I didn’t mind completing the four and a half mile run to the lobster pound chatting with friends. We took our food to nearby Strong Rope Brewery, which has a beautiful view of Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty and had a great summer ale on tap. As a New Englander, I have high expectations for lobster, but I was impressed with the quality of the meat and the uniqueness of the toppings on my BLT lobster roll, which was infused with chipotle mayo and topped with bacon, paprika, and scallions.
Week 4—Juici Patties (South Bronx)
July 26, 2025
Distance run: 6.5 miles
Jamaican patty from Juici Patties
Knowing I probably wouldn’t have time to complete my long run during a busy weekend, I decided to do it in the afternoon on a Summer Friday. I wanted to go somewhere close to my apartment, so I took a loop of the Central Park reservoir before heading uptown to Boogie Down Food Hall in the Bronx Terminal Market, where a Jamaican patty chain called Juici Patties recently opened.
The run reminded me why I started picking destinations in the first place. It was on one of the hottest days of the summer, and by the time I got to First Avenue in East Harlem, the only thing keeping me going was the thought of a cold drink and warm beef patty. When I arrived at the food hall, I was surprised at the number of dining options featuring Korean fusion, teriyaki bowls, empanadas, and more, but I decided to stick to my original plan.
These patties were some of the best I’ve ever had. Their exterior was soft, flaky, and packed with a generous filling of ground beef imbued with the distinct fruitiness of scotch bonnet peppers. I washed them down with an organic mango fruit juice that tempered the patties’ spice.
Week 5—Mariscos El Submarino (Jackson Heights)
August 2, 2025
Distance run: 7 miles
Mango habanero aguachile from Mariscos El Submarino
A friend was in town and was gracious enough to accompany me on my long run to (in my opinion) one of the best seafood restaurants in all of New York City, Mariscos El Submarino. We crossed into Randall’s Island via the Ward’s Island Bridge then into Astoria over the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge with beautiful views of the skyline. We traversed Astoria Boulevard close to LaGuardia Airport before cutting south onto 88th Street, the quiet and shady residential areas of Jackson Heights provided a welcome respite from the beaming sun and energized me for the last two miles.
An influencer had recently recommended the grilled prawns at Mariscos, where I had previously only tried one of their signature aguachiles, a dish similar to ceviche but with a shorter marination time and the inclusion of various chilis. Although my friend was hesitant to try the mango habanero aguachile, we both handled the heat well, topping our tostadas with the piquant yet fruity mixture of shrimp, octopus, and fish. The prawns were fresh and succulent, marked with a smoky flavor from the grill and dipped in a special house sauce.
Week 6—Juju Café and Deli (Cobble Hill)
August 11, 2025
Distance run: 8.5 miles
Taro Milk Tea from Juju Café and Deli
When training for a marathon, you fit your runs in where you can, and since I didn’t have time that weekend, I completed my 8.5 miles on a Monday evening. The plan was to meet some friends at the Cobble Hill Cinema to catch a screening of Superman, but I realized as I approached the Lower East Side along the East River Esplanade, I was nowhere close to Cobble Hill despite Apple Maps’ estimates. Sometimes technology just isn’t on your side. Rather than run over the Manhattan Bridge, I took an Uber to Juju Café and Deli from Chinatown.
At Juju, hard-to-find Japanese drinks and snacks are lined up in fridges and along the walls next to Hello Kitty tote bags and claw machines filled with stuffed toys. I ordered a Shrimp Tempura Rice Rito, a giant sushi roll filled with fried shrimp, crab sticks, cucumber, avocado, spicy mayo, and masago. Feeling a bit dehydrated from my run, I bought a sports drink called Pocari Sweat, a taro milk tea, and a vanilla soda with the Dragonball Z character Vegeta on it. It was a satisfying meal in a quirky spot, tucked into one of New York’s most charming neighborhoods.
Week 7—La Caridad 72 (Upper West Side)
August 18, 2025
Distance run: 9.5 miles
Rather than selecting a specific food destination, I decided to run a loop of Central Park and see where I’d end up. It’s exciting to explore the city’s various neighborhoods, but running around the park is a timeless tradition in people watching and its predictable course lends itself to a more relaxed and meditative state of mind. Looking on my map, I found a Chino Cubano spot I had my eye on called La Caridad 72.
New York has a long history of welcoming Chino Latinos, Chinese immigrants to Latin America who then came to the United States. The owners of La Caridad 72 immigrated from Cuba, so their menu includes Chinese staples such as egg foo young and General Tso’s chicken along with Cuban dishes like oxtail stew and picadillo a la criolla (Cuban-style chopped beef). I opted for the picadillo, a simple but hearty stew of ground beef served with yellow rice and black beans, which was served to me by the exceptionally kind and attentive staff.
Stay tuned for Part 2 for my recommendations of restaurants near the TCS New York City Marathon course.
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