Au Cheval

Au Cheval is the New York branch of the Chicago diner-bar from Hogsalt whose cheeseburger is regularly cited as one of the best in the country. It opened in March 2019, hidden down Cortlandt Alley, a narrow, atmospheric alley in Lower Manhattan, between Canal and White streets on the Tribeca edge of Chinatown. Inside, it is dark, clubby and loud in the best way, with a counter facing the griddle and a bar pouring strong classic cocktails, a global wine list and plenty of draft beer. The kitchen reimagines traditional diner fare, from roasted bone marrow and salads to seafood and prime steaks.

The cheeseburger is the reason most people come: griddled patties with American cheese, Dijonnaise and pickles on a toasted bun, where the single comes with two patties and the double with three. Share an order of fries, and come hungry: this is a rich, serious burger. The roasted bone marrow is the other house classic. Au Cheval was featured by the YouTuber New York Turk in 2025, in a short about the city's most celebrated cheeseburger. The restaurant now accepts reservations, but much of the room has traditionally been held for walk-ins, so arriving early on a weeknight or sliding into a counter seat is the easiest way in.