Sometimes we’re forced to make some pretty tough decisions. You know, like should you devour a delicious cheesy pizza for lunch or stuff your face with sushi.
We know, life can be so hard sometimes.
If you’re tired of having to choose between your favorite foods for every meal, we have the perfect solution for you: New York City’s food halls.
These sprawling food halls aren’t your average shopping mall food courts filled with a selection of questionable chain restaurants, either.
Instead, these fast-casual eateries feature a wide array of gourmet food stalls that are known for cranking out some of the most delicious eats this city has to offer.
With so many options to choose from, navigating your way through these food halls can be a bit overwhelming. So we set out to find the foods that can’t be missed at some of the best food halls in the Big Apple.
1. Turnstyle Underground Market (Columbus Circle)
If you’re looking to grab a tasty snack before hopping on the subway, make your way over to Turnstyle Underground Market, located at 1000 South 8th Avenue. Connected to the Columbus Circle Subway Station, this underground market, open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., offers delicious fare from vendors such as Doughnuttery, Pressed Juicery, Casa Toscana, and MeltKraft.
Be sure to swing by Bolivian Llama Party and snag a chicken salteña, an Andean pastry similar to an empanada that’s filled with stewed meat and topped with a spicy green sauce. Trust us, it will be worth missing your train for one of these bad boys.
2. Union Fare Gastrohall (Union Square)
Inside Union Fare Gastrohall you’ll find a gigantic concept market that features inviting communal tables surrounded by nine grab-and-go counters that are separated into categories such as Salad, Street Food, Italian/Pizza, Charcuterie, Raw Bar, Roasts/Soups, Cafe/Wine Bar, Bakery, and Poke.
For a truly Instagrammable snack, make your way over to the bakery counter and pick up a coveted birthday cake croissant that’s stuffed with rainbow sprinkle cream and dusted with pink sugar. Union Fare is located at 5 East 17th Street and hours vary depending on the day of the week.
3. Dekalb Market Hall (Downtown Brooklyn)
Dekalb Market Hall is a 60,000 square-foot market housing 40 food stalls that serve up a diverse range of eats. Noteworthy vendors include Katz’s Deli, Arepa Lady, Ample Hills, Bunsmith, Jianbing Company, Palella Shack, Two Tablespoons, Hard Times Sundaes and so much more.
For a meal that won’t disappoint, grab a bowl of handmade potato-filled dumplings topped with sour cream and bacon from Pierogi Boys. Dekalb Market Hall is located at 445 Albee Square West in Brooklyn and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
4. The Bowery Market (Noho)
For an outdoor spin on the food hall, head over to The Bowery Market located at 348 Bowery. This year-round market, which is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., boasts tacos from Oaxaca Comida Calle, specialty Italian sandwiches from Alidor and flatbreads from Parantha Alley.
Don’t leave this place without making a pit stop at Sushi on Jones, the city’s first outdoor sushi bar, and ordering the Omakase tasting menu.
5. Hudson Eats at Brookfield Place (Battery Park)
Whether you’re in the mood for burgers, sushi, sandwiches or burritos, Hudson Eats has it all. Open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., this sprawling food court located inside Brookfield Place at 200 Vesey Street is home to an impressive line up of noteworthy vendors including Parm, Mighty Quinn’s, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Num Pang, Dos Toros Taqueria, and Black Seed Bagel.
For an unforgettable meal, hit up Umami Burgers and order the Manly Burger which consists of a juicy beef patty that’s smothered in beer-cheddar cheese, bacon lardons, smoked-salt onions rings, Umami ketchup and mustard.
6. Berg'n Beer Hall (Crown Heights)
Created by the founders of Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasborg, this industrial-chic food hall is the perfect place to grab a microbrew and a bite to eat. Inside Berg'n Beer Hall you’ll find communal tables and a gigantic bar, as well as tasty cuisine from the hall’s rotating selection of vendors including barbeque food from Mighty Quinn's, Filipino-inspired fare from Lumpia Shack, and mouthwatering sandwiches from Landhaus.
If you’re in the mood for comfort food, you can’t go wrong with a pulled pork sandwich smothered in barbeque sauce and slaw from Mighty Quinn’s. Berg'n Beer Hall is located at 899 Bergen Street in Brooklyn and is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. most days of the week.
7. Plaza Food Hall (Midtown)
Descend to the basement of the infamous Plaza Hotel at 1 West 59th Street in Midtown and you’ll find the Plaza Food Hall, a posh European-inspired food court that’s a true hidden gem. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., this huge subterranean space offers a diverse selection of eats from vendors such as Lady M, Tartinery, Luke's Lobster, No. 7 Sub, Pain D'Avignon, Piada and Vive la Crepe.
If you’re feeling fancy, stop by the french bistro Vin Sur Vingt for a glass of vino accompanied by some charcuterie and a croque monsieur.
8. Industry City Food Hall (Sunset Park)
Situated along the waterfront in Sunset Park, the Industry City Food Hall hosts a wide array of excellent eats from vendors like Avocaderia, Ends Meat, Kotti Berliner Döner Kebab, One Girl Cookies, Taco Mix, Bangkok Bar and more.
Make sure you stop by Boil Boil Ramen and slurp your way through a bowl of their Signature Tonkotsu Ramen featuring wavy noodles in a house-made pork broth, charsiu, soft yolk egg, hijiki salad, fish cake and scallions.
Industry City Food Hall is located at 274 36th Street in Brooklyn and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
[via Gothamist]