Houston Street Pronunciation
The Manhattan street pronounced HOW-stun, not like the Texas city, and the fastest way locals spot a tourist.
Example
Ask a driver for HYOO-stun Street and you get a pause. Say HOW-stun and you get the corner of Ludlow where Katz's sits.
Related terms
Bagels and delis
Katz's Delicatessen
The 1888 Lower East Side deli famous for hand-carved pastrami on rye and the ticket system every visitor fumbles.
Bagels and delis
Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery
The Houston Street bakery selling old-world knishes since 1910, one of the last of its kind in America.
Neighborhoods
SoHo
The cast-iron district south of Houston Street, where 19th-century lofts became art studios and then a shopping mecca.
NYC slang
Bodega
A corner convenience store found on nearly every NYC block, selling snacks, coffee, sandwiches and household basics...
Frequently asked questions
Why does the pronunciation matter to locals?
It is a shibboleth. Getting it right signals you did minimal homework, and cab drivers will understand you faster.
What is worth seeing on Houston Street itself?
Katz's Delicatessen at the Ludlow corner, Yonah Schimmel knishes and the entrances to both SoHo and the Lower East Side.
Where does Houston Street sit on the map?
It runs across lower Manhattan, dividing SoHo from Greenwich Village on the west and marking the top of the Lower East Side on the east side of the island.
