11 NYC Spots for Comforting Soups From Around the World - Thrillist

Winter is coming, so let’s talk soup. As one of the world’s oldest dishes, pretty much every culture around the world claims a staple soup. Whether it’s Thai tom yum, Mexican pozole, or good old chicken noodle, each one begins with a base of water, aromatics and often animal protein to which the cook adds anything and everything from vegetables to spices to seafood.

Not only do hot soups feel nourishing for the soul, but hours-long cooking ensures that vital nutrients extracted from bones seep into the broth, yielding a bowl ready to kick seasonal maladies––and certainly, a comfort to consider in helping us feel healthy and warm in the upcoming winter months.

For Thai Diner co-owner and chef Anne Redding, soups are more than just a meal: “My Thai mother made me tom yum soup as a child whenever I got sick,” recalls Redding. “She called it ‘medicine’—that it would make me feel better.” Similarly, Little Alley chef Yuchun Cheung notes that Chinese custom dictates soup to be served as an appetizer because “the nutrition in the soup is better absorbed on an empty stomach.” He adds that “winter is all about getting and preserving nutrients,” so soup is a requisite order. 

Thanks to NYC’s vast array of cuisines, there’s no shortage of satisfying soups from around the world to help us get through the winter. Below, our 11 favorite picks.