Lisa E. (Peachy in Georgia)

THE OG. So, I am 46 years old and had never eaten a knish before. I knew on our trip to New York I had to sample some of these delightful treats. Did some research and determined Yonah Schimmel’s was THE place to go for awesome knishes. The shop is something from another era, and I want to protect it at all costs! Love the little storefront, the tin ceiling tiles, love the classic NYC guy who works behind the counter - what a character! The whole thing was a knish EXPERIENCE and on top of that, the food was truly amazing. We grabbed our food in a paper sack and walked right around the corner to a charming little park to sample their wares. The sweet knish was my favorite, tangy blueberry and sweet cream cheese filling, the potato dough it was ensconced in was a pillowy sweet delight, just sweet, smooth pastry. The apple streudel was no slouch either. Writing about it right now from my couch in Georgia, my mouth is watering and I wish I could have another one immediately. The savory knishes are also delicious, warm, fragrant and so filling, like a delicious hug from the inside of your belly! My daughter, who LOVES mashed potatoes, thought her knish one of the best things she’d ever eaten. Not that I have anything to compare them to, but I feel like if you like a knish, you are going to love this place. And if you are like me, a knish virgin, Yonah Schimmel should definitely be your first.

+5

Ivan Sere

Small place, takeout only, staff was nice and the knish was pretty nice for $5

Dnrothx

I know us tourists have descended upon this place, so it's a little critic proof. I did enjoy the large knishes. I could only get through one-and-a-half of them. The potato knish is indeed like just eating a big potato wrapped up. Dessert knishes are mostly cream cheese with a little fruit in them. So, their size is commendable and the service efficient -- throwing knishes in a microwave to heat them up. It's just one of those places that has been discovered and makes you wonder that it's likely that even better knishes are to be had elsewhere in NYC.

XY Yuan

Simple, but tastes good and very filling. Would recommend starting with the more traditional flavors at ~$5 because the special didn’t feel like it’s worth the $3 add-on.

Wilson Tsang

TLDR: sweet or savory, there’s a knish for everyone! I got a spinach knish and a blueberry cheese knish. The spinach was just ok but the blueberry cheese knish was awesome! I really enjoyed the sweet knish way more than I thought I would and I’m glad I tried it because it turned out to be the favorite of the two

Genie

Ok admittedly I know nothing about knishes but this was really good?!! Got the cherry cheese one and every bite was a gooey and sweet cheese overload. I can’t describe it man, you gotta try. I’m eyeing the potato one—I’m coming back for ya Yonah Schimmel, mark my words.

Jen

My first time ever trying a knish, and I’m so glad it was here! They offer a wide variety of options, making it hard to choose, but everything looked incredible. The waiter/hostess was an absolute doll, providing warm and attentive service that made the experience even better. I recommend stopping by if you’re in the area!”

+1

Niki

Made a visit to this historic gem and decided to indulge in the renowned knish, both in its savory and sweet renditions. For my culinary voyage, I opted for the blueberry cheese and the daily special: pizza flavor. Let's talk about the savory contender first, the pizza-flavored knish. It was tasty, no doubt, but it paled in comparison to the decadent blueberry cheese counterpart. This blueberry cheese knish was an absolute revelation. Imagine a generous filling of sweet cheese custard, boasting a luxurious consistency that falls somewhere between whipped cream and cream cheese, all elegantly crowned with a dollop of fresh blueberry jam. Every bite was a harmonious symphony of flavors, and trust me, I couldn't stop myself from savoring every morsel. It was that good. Now, the pizza knish had its merits too. It was like a doughy embrace, hugging a flavorful mashup of mashed potato, pizza sauce, and a slice of cheese on top. While it was undeniably delicious, it didn't quite reach the lofty heights of the blueberry cheese sensation. As for the price, it tallied up to $14 for both knishes, which might raise an eyebrow or two. But hey, considering the historical significance of this place, it feels somewhat justified, especially in the context of today's rather disheartening inflation rates Lol.

+2

RG Mr News

I was so disappointed. Yonah is reduced to take out only at this time. The drink selection was very limited. The Knish' were big, and moist. The birds enjoyed some too.

+3

Mister Morelight

First time trying a knish. I love the history related to the immigration story, the store itself is an awesome collection of vintage imagery and funny play on words with “knish”. As for the taste, we had broccoli, it’s OK, nothing more, nothing less. Mashed potatoes, a little bit of broccoli taste, thought it could have been saltier. Overall, worth a try if you are in the area for the history of the place, but not a show stopper either. Average experience.

+2