Hi! For my first blog post, I thought I would share a detailed review of my NYC chocolate chip cookie crawl.
To set the scene…I tried 8 cookies, all chocolate chip, some with additives (tahini, walnuts, sea salt). How did I choose the places? Deep research (TikTok) from highly renowned scientists (TikTokkers: Delaney Garr – @dishinwithdelaney, Nick Ryan – @nick.ryn, and the carboholic), but also convenience based on where I was and what was open early. I do have to say I missed 3 cookies that looked fantastic: the pastry box, culture espresso, and radio bakery…ugh, I guess that means I just have to go to New York again (if you can’t tell this is sarcasm). Also, most of these spots were in the East & West village and Soho area, so…Lower Manhattan.
What about my ideal cookie if you are so kind as to ask? GOOEY CENTER CRISPY EDGES. oh and slightly on the thinner side.
Let’s dive right in, shall we:
#8 – L’appartment 4F
So this one’s a Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie. And don’t get me wrong, I do love sesame and all things nutty butttt i think I prefer tahini in a more savory context (I love tahini in pita wraps omg). The taste was really interesting: a bitter and semisweet cookie with a sort of acquired, nut-like taste. It was also quite small and not as crispy-edged as I would like, and I prefer the use of dark-brown sugar for a deeper flavor (and color). I do see how this is a popular one; however, it is not my cup of tahini (tea).
Rating: 6.4/10
#7 – From Lucie
Just by looking at this cookie, she looks simply stunning. Love it when a bakery uses dark chocolate disks and not chips. For overall looks, size, texture, and chocolate distribution, this cookie hit it all – except I personally would have wanted slightly crispier edges. But taste? I really did not mess with the taste of this cookie. Lowkey tasted like minty toothpaste, and I don’t know how, but I could not eat it. Maybe I got a bad batch because I’ve seen so many positive reviews of their cookie. However, they are really known for their cakes, and they were so cute and aesthetic, and not to mention the storefront was petite and very paris-esque. Cute place, but maybe stray away from the cookies and gobble them cakes instead.
Rating: 6.7/10
#6 – Funny Face
okay now i usually don’t go for a thick cookie but if i were to this (and levain) would be my weakness. I lowkey love things borderline burnt so the crispy edges were actually insane like need a mic for asmr. The inside was gooey but it was really really sweet. If it had just a touch less sugar and richer dough flavor it would easily beat levain but alas no. Texture wise it is an absolute delight and I really really wish i tried their smore’s cookie because I’ve heard it is one of the best cookies in the city.
Rating: 8.5/10
#5 – Levain
I know I know “levain is overhyped”. Well no, it’s actually not. There’s a reason you’ve heard the name so much and I think people say this because they want to be different. But guess what? I’m not trying too cookie clout chase by spitting lies. Nah I speak facts. Especially in the name of science (cookies). Okay back to the topic at hand, the flavor of the cookie dough was what set it a hair higher than funny face. Such a solid, rich, borderline nutty brown sugar cookie dough with the walnut pieces was fantastic. Also i did get a nice, crisp, cookie so I am not complaining. This is their chocolate chip walnut (the most popular), and I can tell why basically everyone who comes here orders this. I also got to try the peanut butter chocolate one and that was like a reese’s brownie. But overall you should give levain a try. I would say it is aptly hyped and a lot of the other cookies are underhyped.
Rating: 8.6/10
#4 – Redgate Bakery
Alright so now we get down to the hard hard decisions my indecisive brain had to make. Now this is a toffee choc chip cookie that was honestly like perfect texture and taste was actually insane. My one small critique is that since the toffee bumped up the sweetness, a nice 72% dark chocolate would have been perfection instead of sweeter chocolate. As you can see in the picture, it’s got such a nice spread and crinkly edges that I adore. A really good chew thanks to good ingredients and delicious homemade toffee. As a bakery all around tho, this place is so good. I tried their homemade oreos and blondie and o.m.g it was all so good. There is plenty more I want to try here but I highly highly reccommend for this cookie and everything else on the menu (granted they don’t sellout…)
Rating: 9.5/10
#3 – La Mercerie
To be quite honest, I did not expect this cookie to make it this high up. Judging purely based on texture, size, and chocolate distribution…..this was a thicker cookie than i liked and it didn’t look like there was a solid amount of chocolate in this cookie (boy was I wrong tho). This cookie was FIRE. It was chewy, the dough had a lovely, nutty taste thanks to the use of hazelnut flour and the center had a surprisingly lovely praline butter that complemented the dough and bitter chocolate. And i know basically all of the cookies have flaky sea salt on the top but the salt made this cookie so close to perfect. The only thing I just can’t with this cookie is the price. 9$ for a small cookie is absurd. Like it is so good but you can find better/ as good of cookies for half the price. This cookie is off-menu at la mercerie in this fancy restaraunt called “The Guild” that doesn’t take walk-ins so if that doesn’t allude to the hefty cost, just be prepared. It’s definitley something you try once but unless you save all your food budget for cookies, prob not going to be a go-to.
Rating: 9.6/10
#2 – Hani’s
This cookie inspired my cookie quest. I first went to NYC in March of 2025 and in doing research for where to eat for that trip, every food influencer said i had to try hani’s bakery. And because I’m just so easily influenced I had to go. I had seen tiktoks that the line was just so long so i literally went right when it opened and told the guy working I came to new york just for this and he called me a legend so i really appreciated that. Okay back to the cookie review. Just by looking at the cookie it is like the definition of my perfect cookie. Like let me swim in that big pool of chocolate. Speaking of chocolate, this cookie has 3 types of chocolate. And not just a little smattering but big chunks and disks that are perfectly bitter with the not too sweet dough. Texture wise this was a culinary delight in my books. My only one tiny miniscule critique was that I would have liked a dabble more of flaky sea salt to round the cookie out but honestly no complaints regardles. I need to go back to try their malted cinnamon roll and other cakes because my god do they look delicious. Anyways, this cookie isn’t for the chocolate faint of hearts, definition of go big or go home and I’m sat.
Rating: 9.9/10
#1 – Winson Bakery
BEST. COOKIE. EVER. To say this was amazing is an understatement. This is what dreams are made of….well if your dream is a toffee chocolate chip cookie made with bittersweet (and semisweet i think) chocolate, divine homemade chewy toffee, and a generous sprinkle of flaky sea salt. All of the componenets came together beautifully, effortlessy, and eloquently for a perfectly (so many adverbs sorry) salty x sweet cookie combo. The decadent, gooey center and super crispy outside was a textural delight and honestly im speechless. They are a taiwanese-american bakery and their pine-nut sun cookie made the NY Times’ essential pastry list…so I will DEF be back in the future to indulge in this cookie and try other treats once more. Just one more round of applause for this cookie. pls and thank you.
Rating: 9.97/10 (i can’t give anything a 10/10 sorry.)
If you made it this far, thank you and I owe you a chocolate chip cookie. I hope this was informative and you choose to embark on a chocolate chip cookie quest in nyc. Let me know any places I missed and excited for more food quests. bye!!
Bread & Bevs 