"Cash only" in 2026 has become a personality trait—and not a good one. You see it in the legacy spots along Arthur Avenue or deep in Chinatown, where the food is often worth the headache of a sketchy ATM trip. But when a nineteen-dollar sandwich shop in Williamsburg pulls that move while the bathroom "is currently out of order," they are not being quirky. They are being shady. If a business cannot survive card fees, they are either hiding their revenue from the city or they are too lazy to modernize.
Are we actually supporting an "underground" institution, or are we just funding a landlord’s tax evasion?
There is a fine line between "old school" and "obstinate." We tolerate it for the legends because the recipe hasn't changed since the Carter administration. But for the new wave of "curated" spots to demand physical tender in a digital world is nothing short of an ego trip. It is a power move designed to make the customer feel lucky to be there. In reality, it is just a way to avoid the paper trail. If you are going to make us jump through hoops, the food better be life-changing.
If you are going to carry a roll of twenties, make sure you are spending them at the places where the "cash only" sign is a badge of survival, not a gimmick. These five spots are the only ones worth the ATM fee.
Lucali (Carroll Gardens): The ultimate "worth it" experience. Yes, it is cash only. Yes, you have to stand on the sidewalk at 4 p.m. to get a table. But the pizza is a religious experience that justifies every single hurdle.
Kopitiam (Lower East Side): They have stayed true to their roots in every sense. The Malaysian fare is cheap, fast, and authentic. It is one of the few places where the cash-only policy feels like a genuine piece of the heritage rather than a stunt.
Peter Luger Steak House (Williamsburg): The granddaddy of cash-only stubbornness. They famously do not take credit cards (unless it is their own). It is an aggressive business model, but the porterhouse and the history keep the rooms full.
Corner Bistro (West Village): A relic of a different New York. It is dark, it is wood-paneled, and the burgers are legendary. In a neighborhood that has become a luxury mall, their refusal to change is almost admirable.
Joe’s Steam Rice Roll (Flushing/Manhattan): While they have expanded, their heart is still in the cash-heavy stalls of Flushing. The silkiness of the rice rolls is proof that some of the best textures in the city are found in the places that do not care about your Apple Wallet.
Stop rewarding the "lifestyle" brands for being inconvenient. If they want your money, they should make it easy for you to give it to them.
Like this? Explore more from:
