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A South Indian restaurant in New York City’s Greenwich Village has topped the The New York Times’ annual list of 100 best restaurants.
Led by Chef Vijay Kumar, Semma is renowned for its bold regional South Indian cuisine. (Instagram/SemmaNYC)
The New York Times recently published its most anticipated list of New York’s 100 best restaurants. With a cosmopolitan environment, the food scene in New York is bustling with new restaurants popping up now and then. Amidst this, a Michelin-starred South Indian restaurant has just been named the best in the city for 2025.
Located in Greenwich Village, Semma – the Michelin-starred South Indian restaurant claimed the top spot on The New York Times’ annual list of New York City’s 100 best restaurants. Marking a format change this year, the publication ranked only the top 10 establishments, with the remaining 90 presented in no particular order. Semma leads the 2025 lineup, followed by Atomix, Le Bernardin, Kabab, Ha’s Snack Bar, King, Penny, Sushi Sho, Szechuan Mountain House, and Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi. Last year, Semma placed seventh and was one of only four Indian restaurants to be featured.
Helmed by Chef Vijay Kumar, Semma is celebrated for its bold, regional South Indian fare. Taking to their Instagram, Semma wrote, “This is unprecedented in so many ways. Semma isn’t just about Indian food, it’s about what happens when a cuisine, any cuisine, speaks in its own voice, untranslated and unafraid. This win isn’t just ours. This is for every cuisine that’s been sidelined. For every chef who’s led with vulnerability instead of validation. And for every diner who’s shown up with an open mind. To be at the top of this list is a milestone for a significant change. For us, for you, and for what’s to come.”
Take a look at the post here.
This year’s list was curated by interim New York Times restaurant critics Priya Krishna and Melissa Clark, alongside editor Brian Gallagher. The trio selected the final 100 from a staggering pool of over 20,000 restaurants across the city. “Of course, New York has more than 100 incredible spots,” they shared, “but these are the ones we’d recommend to our friends – places worth the splurge, or even a one-hour subway ride.”
About Semma
Nestled in Greenwich Village, Semma is a Michelin-starred gem helmed by Chef Vijay Kumar, who hails from Tamil Nadu. The restaurant shines a spotlight on the bold, nuanced, and often underrepresented flavours of South India. Now in its third consecutive year of holding a Michelin star, Semma proudly stands as the only Indian restaurant in New York City with this prestigious distinction.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
- First Published:
