New York City restaurants generated 45 billion dollars in sales last year while employing 362,000 workers. Labor shortages affected 68 percent of establishments and health violations averaged 1.2 per location. Figures on revenue, staffing, and costs across 25,000 venues show the pressures shaping the sector.
Key Takeaways
- Health violations averaged 1.2 per NYC restaurant in 2023 inspections
- NYC restaurants employed 362,000 workers in 2023, representing 8.5% of private sector jobs
- In 2023, New York City had approximately 25,000 restaurant establishments, representing about 4% of all US restaurants
- NYC restaurant industry generated $45 billion in sales in 2023
- 42% of millennials dine out weekly in NYC, boosting casual revenue
New York City restaurants are bouncing back as visitor spending grows and staffing stabilizes across the industry.
Related reading
01 · Category
Challenges11 stats
01
Health violations averaged 1.2 per NYC restaurant in 2023 inspections
02
Labor shortage affected 68% of NYC restaurants in 2023
03
Rising rent forced 22% closure rate for independents in 2023 Manhattan
04
Food cost inflation hit 12% for NYC restaurants in 2023
05
Supply chain disruptions impacted 55% of NYC eateries in 2023
06
Minimum wage hike to $16/hr affected 80% of tipped staff wages in 2023
07
45% of NYC restaurants reported energy cost increases over 20% in 2023
08
Insurance premiums rose 18% for NYC restaurants in 2023 liability coverage
09
Rodent violations: 3,200 citations to NYC restaurants in 2023
10
Post-COVID debt burden: $2.5 billion outstanding for NYC restaurants 2023
11
37% of NYC restaurants struggled with tech integration in 2023
Interpretation
Challenges Interpretation
The city’s restaurants, besieged by rising costs, rats, and regulations, are performing a culinary high-wire act where the safety net is made of debt and the only thing falling faster than their violations is their profit margin.
02 · Category
Employment15 stats
01
NYC restaurants employed 362,000 workers in 2023, representing 8.5% of private sector jobs
02
Full-time restaurant employees in NYC: 240,000 in 2023, with average wage $18.50/hour
03
Part-time hospitality workers in restaurants: 122,000 in NYC 2023
04
Servers and waitstaff: 95,000 jobs in NYC restaurants 2023, median pay $35,000/year
05
Kitchen staff (chefs/cooks): 110,000 employed in NYC 2023, turnover rate 75%
06
Bartenders in NYC restaurants: 28,000 in 2023, average tips adding 40% to base pay
07
Delivery drivers affiliated with restaurants: 45,000 in NYC 2023
08
Managers in NYC restaurants: 22,000 positions filled in 2023, salary range $60k-$120k
09
Immigrant workers make up 70% of NYC restaurant staff, totaling 253,000 in 2023
10
Women represent 48% of NYC restaurant workforce, 174,000 employees in 2023
11
Post-pandemic job recovery: 92% of pre-COVID restaurant jobs back by 2023 in NYC
12
Line cooks shortage: 15,000 unfilled positions in NYC restaurants 2023
13
Sommeliers and beverage staff: 5,200 employed in fine dining NYC 2023
14
Busboys/dishwashers: 35,000 jobs in NYC 2023, avg wage $16/hr
15
Hosts/hostesses: 18,000 in NYC restaurants 2023
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
New York's restaurant industry, while a mighty engine employing over a quarter-million souls, runs on a paradoxical fuel of immigrant dedication and chronic instability, where the person recommending your sixty-dollar bottle of wine likely earns more than the line cook whose blistering work and 75% turnover rate made it all possible.
03 · Category
Establishments20 stats
01
In 2023, New York City had approximately 25,000 restaurant establishments, representing about 4% of all US restaurants
02
Manhattan alone hosts over 12,000 restaurants, accounting for nearly half of NYC's total dining venues as of 2022 data
03
From 2019 to 2022, Brooklyn saw a 15% increase in new restaurant openings, reaching 4,500 establishments by end of 2022
04
Queens had 5,200 restaurants in 2023, making it the borough with the highest density of ethnic eateries at 60% of total
05
The Bronx restaurant count grew by 8% year-over-year to 1,800 in 2023, driven by affordable neighborhood spots
06
Staten Island has 1,200 restaurants, with a 12% growth since 2020 due to post-pandemic suburban dining shifts
07
Fine dining establishments in NYC numbered 450 in 2023, down 20% from pre-pandemic levels
08
Fast-casual chains expanded to 3,500 locations citywide in 2023, up 25% since 2019
09
Ghost kitchens in NYC reached 1,200 by mid-2023, facilitating 15% of delivery orders
10
Independent restaurants comprise 85% of NYC's total, totaling 21,250 in 2023
11
Outdoor dining permits issued to 11,000 restaurants in 2023, boosting summer establishments by 30%
12
Vegan/plant-based restaurants grew to 800 in NYC by 2023, a 40% increase from 2019
13
Michelin-starred restaurants in NYC stood at 72 in 2023, with 7 new additions
14
Food trucks licensed as mobile restaurants numbered 3,500 in 2023, up 18% post-COVID
15
Historic restaurants over 100 years old: 50 in operation in NYC 2023
16
Cocktail bars classified as restaurants: 2,100 in 2023, with 25% growth in speakeasies
17
NYC restaurant closures hit 1,200 in 2022 but stabilized to 800 in 2023
18
New restaurant licenses issued: 2,500 in 2023 by DOHMH
19
Brewery-restaurants: 150 in NYC 2023, doubling since 2018 craft beer boom
20
Rooftop dining venues: 350 permitted in 2023 across Manhattan rooftops
Interpretation
Establishments Interpretation
While Manhattan remains the glitzy, overcrowded dining room of New York, the real story is a resilient, borough-wide metamorphosis where ghost kitchens feed our delivery addiction, Brooklyn and Queens become vibrant global food halls, and the city’s enduring appetite ensures that for every fine dining casualty, a dozen new fast-casual, vegan, or speakeasy spots eagerly snatch up its table.
More related reading
04 · Category
Revenue17 stats
01
NYC restaurant industry generated $45 billion in sales in 2023
02
Average annual revenue per NYC restaurant: $1.8 million in 2023
03
Manhattan restaurants contributed $25 billion to NYC economy in 2023, 55% of total
04
Delivery sales for NYC restaurants: $12 billion in 2023, up 300% from 2019
05
Fine dining segment revenue: $8.5 billion in NYC 2023
06
Fast food outlets generated $15 billion in NYC sales 2023
07
Alcohol sales in NYC restaurants: $10 billion in 2023, 22% of total revenue
08
Tourist-driven restaurant spending: $6 billion in 2023 from 62 million visitors
09
Independent restaurants' total revenue: $32 billion in NYC 2023
10
Chains revenue share: 28% or $12.6 billion in NYC 2023
11
Breakfast/brunch segment: $4.2 billion sales in NYC 2023
12
Late-night dining revenue: $3.8 billion in 2023, peaking post-10pm
13
Catering/private events revenue for restaurants: $2.5 billion in NYC 2023
14
Vegan restaurant sales: $1.1 billion in NYC 2023, growth 35%
15
Outdoor dining added $1.8 billion to NYC restaurant revenues in 2023
16
Per-cover average spend: $45in NYC restaurants 2023
17
65% of NYC diners use apps for reservations in 2023, driving 20% revenue uplift
Interpretation
Revenue Interpretation
While the city's fine dining temples may grab the headlines, the real story of New York's $45 billion restaurant scene is a frenetic, round-the-clock hustle of avocado toast, late-night slices, app-driven reservations, and $10 billion worth of liquid courage, proving that the city truly runs on a blend of espresso martinis and sheer will.
05 · Category
Trends14 stats
01
42% of millennials dine out weekly in NYC, boosting casual revenue
02
Delivery orders surged to 40% of sales for NYC restaurants in 2023
03
Sustainable sourcing preferred by 58% of NYC consumers in 2023 surveys
04
Plant-based menu items in 75% of NYC restaurants by 2023
05
Contactless payments used in 92% of transactions in 2023 NYC dining
06
Group dining reservations up 25% post-2022 in NYC via OpenTable
07
Low/no-alcohol drinks ordered by 35% of patrons in 2023
08
Experiential dining (themed) visited by 48% of Gen Z in NYC 2023
09
70% of NYC diners check reviews before visiting in 2023
10
Weekend brunch reservations: 55% increase in 2023 NYC data
11
Fusion cuisine popularity: 62% of new menus in 2023 NYC
12
Loyalty programs adopted by 40% of diners in NYC 2023
13
Off-premise sales (takeout): 35% of revenue in 2023 NYC restaurants
14
52% of NYC consumers prioritize local ingredients in 2023 polls
Interpretation
Trends Interpretation
New York's dining scene is a high-wire act where a vegan burger ordered via contactless payment for Saturday brunch must also be an Instagrammable experience sourced from a local farm, proving that to survive today a restaurant must be everything to everyone, all at once.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Helena Kowalczyk. (2026, February 13). New York City Restaurant Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-york-city-restaurant-industry-statistics
MLA
Helena Kowalczyk. "New York City Restaurant Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/new-york-city-restaurant-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Helena Kowalczyk. 2026. "New York City Restaurant Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-york-city-restaurant-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
49 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level