Feature Photo by Brian Kachejian
Right in the middle of the bright lights and constant energy of Times Square sits one of New York City’s most famous restaurants, Junior’s Restaurant at 1515 Broadway and West 45th Street. Known around the world for its legendary cheesecake, Junior’s has also built a reputation as one of the most reliable places in Midtown Manhattan to grab a full meal before heading to a Broadway show. My wife and I recently spent an evening there trying several items from the menu to see how this long-standing New York institution holds up today.
Junior’s Restaurant is one of the most famous places to eat in Times Square and a longtime favorite for visitors looking for a classic New York dining experience. Junior’s Times Square has become a go-to stop for tourists and theatergoers who want classic diner comfort food along with the restaurant’s world-famous cheesecake. The restaurant’s original Brooklyn location first opened in 1950, and over the decades, Junior’s cheesecake has become one of the most recognizable desserts associated with New York City. For many visitors searching for the best cheesecake in Times Square or even the best New York cheesecake experience, Junior’s is often the first place that comes to mind.
For anyone planning a night at the theater, Junior’s Restaurant is also one of the most convenient places to eat before a Broadway show. Located right in the center of Times Square at 1515 Broadway and West 45th Street, the restaurant sits just steps from many of the major Broadway theaters. That makes it an easy pre-theater dinner option for visitors who want a relaxed meal without worrying about rushing across Midtown to make curtain time.
If you are visiting New York City from another state, another country, or even if you are a New Yorker heading into the city to catch a Broadway show and looking for a place to eat before the performance, my first piece of advice is to get to Junior’s early, around 4:00 or 4:30 in the afternoon. Otherwise, there is a good chance you may not get in. There are tons of restaurants in Times Square, and many of them are extremely expensive. One of the reasons Junior’s fills up so quickly is that the prices are surprisingly fair. In many ways, they are still charging classic diner-style prices, which makes it a much more affordable option than many of the tourist-heavy restaurants surrounding it.
We started our experience at Junior’s with a couple of milkshakes. That is the proper way to begin a dinner meal. These were extraordinary milkshakes, thick and rich, topped with a scoop of ice cream and a cherry. From there, we moved on to soup. When I am in New York, I usually go straight for Manhattan clam chowder, which is usually my go-to diner choice. However, I noticed something interesting on the menu called baked onion soup. I immediately wondered why they did not simply call it French onion soup, so I decided to give it a try. I am glad I did. This was a rich and hearty soup loaded with onions, bread, and melted cheese, almost a meal all by itself. It was so filling that I only finished half of it because I did not want to ruin my appetite for the main course.
Cheeseburger Platter
Is there any better place to order a cheeseburger than a New York diner? I do not think so. Yes, there are plenty of trendy burger joints popping up everywhere these days, but for someone like me, an old school New Yorker born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx, ordering a cheeseburger in a diner just feels right. Junior’s did not disappoint. The burger patty was large, almost a half pound of meat, it seemed. The cheese was perfectly melted, and the bun was fresh and even slightly warm. The platter came with fries, onion rings, lettuce, and tomato. They also brought out a dish of pickles, coleslaw, and pickled beets, which was a nice surprise since most places no longer include extras like that. Everything about this dish was done right, and the price was not unreasonable either. I believe it was around twenty-one dollars.
Fish and Chips
My wife ordered the fish and chips. Junior’s served her a large plate of perfectly battered, crispy, and fresh fried fish. It was extremely tasty. However, the real surprise for me was the tartar sauce. This was not your typical tartar sauce. There was something about it that was so flavorful that I kept dipping the fish into it again and again. Whatever they are doing with that tartar sauce, it works. This is another dish you cannot go wrong with if you decide to visit Junior’s.
Desserts
Strawberry Shortcake
Junior’s Strawberry Shortcake: Photo by Brian Kachejian
There was no way my wife and I were going to order the same dessert. Sharing two identical desserts just makes no sense. So I went with the strawberry shortcake while she ordered the strawberry cheesecake. The waiter told me the strawberry shortcake was probably the most popular dessert on the menu. It also came with a side of fresh strawberries covered in a sweet strawberry sauce. The cake itself was incredibly moist, fresh, and perfectly sweet. It was a magnificent version of the classic strawberry shortcake. This was easily a ten out of ten. My wife took one forkful and immediately tried to claim the whole thing for herself. I had to fight to get my dessert back. You can see her reaction in the video.
Cheesecake
Junior’s Cheesecake Photo by Brian Kachejian
Of course, we had to order Junior’s legendary cheesecake. This is the cheesecake that is shipped all over the world and has become the restaurant’s signature dessert. It absolutely lived up to the reputation. It is the classic New York-style cheesecake done exactly the way it should be, rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced. If you are searching for the best cheesecake in Times Square or one of the most famous cheesecakes in New York City, this is the dessert that built Junior’s reputation.
Junior’s Restaurant Times Square Location and Hours
Junior’s Restaurant Times Square New York City is located at 1515 Broadway at West 45th Street in the Theater District, right in the heart of Times Square. The restaurant sits within walking distance of many Broadway theaters, making it one of the easiest places to grab dinner before or after a show.
Junior’s Times Square typically serves guests from early morning until late at night, often opening around 7:00 AM and continuing service until close to midnight, though hours can vary slightly by day and theater traffic.
If you are visiting New York City, I highly recommend stopping by Junior’s Restaurant at 1515 Broadway and West 45th Street in Times Square. It is one of the best dining values in the area, especially if you are traveling with a family. The atmosphere is comfortable, the staff is extremely friendly, and the dining room is spacious compared to many other Times Square restaurants. The only thing you should expect is a little noise. When a restaurant is full of people enjoying themselves, it gets lively. In a way, it almost feels like a bustling high school cafeteria, and honestly, that energy is part of what makes the place so much fun.
For visitors exploring the Theater District, Junior’s is also frequently mentioned among the best Times Square restaurants for casual dining before a Broadway show. Between the classic diner menu, the fair prices, and the restaurant’s legendary cheesecake, it is easy to understand why this place continues to draw crowds year after year.
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Sometimes the best way to judge a restaurant is to see the experience unfold in real time. During our visit to Junior’s Restaurant in Times Square, I filmed the entire meal so you can see exactly what the food looked like, how the dishes were served, and my honest reactions as we tried everything from the milkshakes to the famous cheesecake. If you want to get a real feel for the atmosphere and the food at Junior’s Times Square, take a look at the video review below.
As you can see in the video above, our visit to Junior’s Restaurant in Times Square gave us the chance to try several of the diner classics that have helped make this New York institution famous, including the legendary New York cheesecake that visitors from around the world come here to experience.
