New York City's restaurants generated over fifty-two billion dollars in annual revenue last year. This growth occurs against a backdrop of increasing costs and a 78% annual staff turnover rate. The following data outlines the current state of the industry.
Key Takeaways
- 41% of NYC restaurants faced labor shortages in 2023.
- In 2023, NYC employed 362,450 workers in the restaurant industry, representing 8.5% of the city's workforce.
- In 2023, New York City hosted approximately 28,342 restaurant establishments, including full-service and limited-service eateries, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022.
- In 2023, NYC restaurants generated $52.4 billion in annual revenue.
- 67% of NYC diners use apps for reservations weekly in 2023.
New York City restaurants served more customers despite rising costs, showing strong demand across the industry.
Related reading
01 · Category
Challenges16 stats
01
41% of NYC restaurants faced labor shortages in 2023.
02
Food costs rose 22% for NYC eateries in 2023.
03
Average rent for restaurant space in Manhattan: $120/sq ft in 2023.
04
28% of NYC restaurants cited inflation as top challenge in 2023 survey.
05
Health inspection violations: 15,420 issued to NYC restaurants in 2023.
06
Energy costs up 18% for NYC restaurants, totaling $1.2B extra in 2023.
07
Supply chain delays affected 56% of NYC eateries in 2023.
08
19% closure rate among new NYC restaurants within first year, 2023 data.
09
Insurance premiums rose 14% for NYC restaurants in 2023.
10
Regulatory compliance costs averaged $45,000per NYC restaurant in 2023.
11
Theft and waste accounted for 4.8% of revenue loss in 2023.
12
2023 saw 2,340 complaints against NYC restaurants for health violations.
13
Labor disputes led to 1,200 work stoppages in NYC restaurants, 2023.
14
33% of NYC restaurants reported rodent issues in 2023 inspections.
15
Minimum wage hikes added $1.2B to NYC restaurant payrolls in 2023.
16
62% of owners cited staffing as biggest operational challenge, 2023.
Interpretation
Challenges Interpretation
The New York City restaurant scene is a high-stakes drama where owners must simultaneously perform a culinary ballet, solve a complex math problem, and pass a surprise biology exam, all while the stage itself is on fire and half the dancers have quit.
02 · Category
Employment15 stats
01
In 2023, NYC employed 362,450 workers in the restaurant industry, representing 8.5% of the city's workforce.
02
Servers and waitstaff numbered 89,230 in NYC restaurants as of May 2023: June 2026.
03
Cooks and food prep workers totaled 112,450 in NYC's restaurant sector in 2023.
04
Bartenders employed in NYC restaurants reached 24,670 in 2023.
05
Managers and supervisors in restaurants: 28,910 across NYC in 2023.
06
Dishwashers and bussers: 19,840 positions filled in NYC eateries, 2023 data.
07
NYC restaurant industry added 12,500 jobs in 2023 post-recovery.
08
62% of NYC restaurant workers are immigrants, totaling about 224,719 individuals in 2023.
09
Female workers comprise 48% of NYC restaurant staff, or 174,336 in 2023.
10
Average hourly wage for NYC restaurant servers: $18.45in 2023.
11
Turnover rate in NYC restaurants averaged 78% in 2023.
12
15,200 NYC restaurant jobs were tipped positions paying below minimum wage in 2023.
13
Hosts and hostesses: 8,450 employed in NYC restaurants, 2023.
14
Delivery drivers for NYC restaurants: 42,300 full-time equivalents in 2023.
15
NYC restaurant industry workforce aged 25-34: 142,000 workers in 2023.
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
If you’re wondering why your favorite New York City restaurant is both perpetually hiring and a marvel of organized chaos, it’s because 362,450 people — over half of them immigrants, nearly half of them women, and a staggering 78% of them likely to leave their jobs each year — are simultaneously cooking your meal, mixing your drink, serving your table, washing your plate, delivering your order, and managing it all for an average server's wage of $18.45 an hour.
03 · Category
Establishments15 stats
01
In 2023, New York City hosted approximately 28,342 restaurant establishments, including full-service and limited-service eateries, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022.
02
As of 2024, Manhattan alone accounts for 42% of all NYC restaurants, totaling 11,904 venues.
03
Brooklyn saw a 7.8% growth in new restaurant openings in 2023, adding 512 new spots.
04
Queens had 6,215 restaurants in 2023, representing 22% of the city's total.
05
The Bronx restaurant count reached 1,842 in 2024, up 3.1% year-over-year.
06
Staten Island's 892 restaurants make up 3.1% of NYC's total eateries as of 2023.
07
Fast-casual restaurants grew by 12% in NYC from 2021 to 2023, reaching 4,200 outlets.
08
Fine dining establishments in NYC numbered 1,456 in 2023, down 2% from pre-pandemic levels.
09
Ethnic restaurants constitute 68% of NYC's total, with 19,273 venues in 2023.
10
New restaurant licenses issued in NYC totaled 2,847 in 2023, a 15% rise from 2022.
11
Closures hit 1,234 NYC restaurants in 2023, primarily due to rising costs.
12
Midtown Manhattan has 3,214 restaurants, the highest density at 45 per square mile.
13
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, added 189 new restaurants in 2023.
14
NYC's food trucks, counted as mobile restaurants, numbered 4,112 in 2023.
15
Ghost kitchens in NYC surged to 567 in 2023, up 28%.
Interpretation
Establishments Interpretation
Manhattan still gorges on nearly half the city's restaurant pie, but Brooklyn is the hungry upstart chomping through growth, even as rising costs force a sobering number of establishments to the city's ever-revolving exit door.
More related reading
04 · Category
Revenue24 stats
01
In 2023, NYC restaurants generated $52.4 billion in annual revenue.
02
Sales tax from NYC restaurants totaled $2.8 billion in fiscal 2023.
03
Average annual revenue per NYC restaurant: $1.85 million in 2023.
04
Fine dining segment revenue: $12.6 billion in NYC, 2023.
05
Fast food outlets generated $18.2 billion in NYC sales, 2023.
06
Delivery and takeout accounted for 28% of total restaurant revenue, or $14.7 billion in 2023.
07
Midtown restaurants contributed $15.4 billion to NYC's restaurant revenue in 2023.
08
Brooklyn eateries' combined revenue: $11.2 billion annually in 2023.
09
Profit margins for NYC independent restaurants averaged 4.2% in 2023.
10
Chain restaurants in NYC generated $22.7 billion, 43% of total, in 2023.
11
Alcohol sales from NYC restaurants: $9.8 billion in 2023.
12
Per capita restaurant spending in NYC: $6,280annually in 2023.
13
2023 tourism-driven restaurant revenue: $8.5 billion from 62 million visitors.
14
NYC restaurant industry paid $12.3 billion in wages in 2023.
15
Food costs as percentage of revenue: 32.4% for NYC restaurants in 2023.
16
Labor costs represented 34.1% of total revenue for NYC eateries in 2023.
17
Rent expenses averaged 8.7% of revenue, or $4.56 billion citywide in 2023.
18
In 2023, NYC restaurants contributed $7.2 billion to city tax revenue.
19
Queens restaurants generated $9.1 billion in sales in 2023.
20
The Bronx eatery revenue totaled $2.8 billion annually in 2023.
21
Staten Island restaurants' revenue: $1.6 billion in 2023.
22
NYC casual dining revenue: $21.5 billion, 41% of total in 2023.
23
Tips collected by NYC restaurant workers: $4.9 billion in 2023.
24
Delivery commissions averaged 28% of sales for NYC spots in 2023.
Interpretation
Revenue Interpretation
Despite collectively generating over fifty-two billion dollars, New York City's restaurants operate on a razor-thin margin of passion, where the city's insatiable appetite for a slice, a sip, or a tasting menu fuels a colossal economic engine that runs on grit, tips, and the hope that the rent check clears.
05 · Category
Trends22 stats
01
67% of NYC diners use apps for reservations weekly in 2023.
02
Plant-based menu items increased by 45% in NYC restaurants from 2021-2023.
03
Average check size at NYC restaurants rose 11% to $48.20 in 2023.
04
52% of millennials dine out 4+ times weekly in NYC, 2023 survey.
05
Outdoor dining usage dropped to 22% of meals post-2023 summer.
06
Sustainable sourcing adopted by 61% of NYC restaurants in 2023.
07
Contactless payments used in 89% of transactions at NYC eateries, 2023.
08
Fusion cuisine menus grew 33% in NYC from 2022-2023.
09
Late-night dining (after 10pm) accounted for 18% of visits in 2023.
10
74% of NYC consumers prioritize local ingredients, 2023 poll.
11
Group dining reservations up 25% year-over-year in 2023.
12
Alcohol-free menu options increased 52% in NYC bars/restos 2023.
13
Online ordering frequency: 41% of NYC diners weekly in 2023.
14
76% of Gen Z in NYC prefer quick-service restaurants weekly, 2023.
15
Seafood consumption at NYC restaurants up 19% in 2023.
16
55% of diners seek Michelin-starred experiences yearly in NYC, 2023.
17
Vegetarian options on 82% of NYC menus in 2023.
18
Peak dining hour shifted to 7-8pm for 64% of reservations, 2023.
19
Craft cocktail sales grew 31% in NYC restaurants, 2023.
20
Family dining out frequency: 3.2 times/month per NYC household, 2023.
21
48% increase in brunch reservations post-pandemic in NYC, 2023.
22
Tech integration like POS systems in 92% of NYC restaurants, 2023.
Interpretation
Trends Interpretation
The city's appetite is now a high-tech, high-stakes algorithm, where the majority tap their way to tables, pay without touching, and chase ever-pricier plates of plant-based fusion fare, all while soberly reconsidering the merits of both cocktails and cauliflower.
Reference
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APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Nyc Restaurant Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nyc-restaurant-industry-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Nyc Restaurant Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nyc-restaurant-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Nyc Restaurant Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nyc-restaurant-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
61 datasets cited across this report