When it comes to New York food markets, Smorgasburg is King. Thousands of people travel to Brooklyn every warm weather weekend to sample food from close to 100 vendors. Saturdays you’ll find it at East River State Park in Williamsburg while Sundays they now move to Prospect Park. Both locales offer a feast for both the stomach and eyes with stunning views of the East River and Manhattan skyline in Williamsburg and a lakeside setting in the park. It’s hard to imagine a better place to stuff your face with any type of cuisine imaginable. Seriously, there’s everything from Indian Tacos to Bolivian Sandwiches to Vegan Burgers. Getting a chance to sell your grub here is a highly competitive process which means while some things are better than others, everything is at least pretty good. So gather a bunch of friends and try as much as you can.
Fortunately I live a short walk from the Williamsburg location which means pretty much every Saturday you’ll find me food-in-hand strolling the stalls, looking for my next bite. So yeah, I’ve eaten a lot of things there. And I will now categorize and rank them for your reading pleasure.
Note: As I continue going I’ll keep this list up to date. So you’ll want to bookmark this page. Not that you wouldn’t anyway.
Jump to Section:
- New for 2018
- Meat
- Seafood
- Sweets
- Fusion Frenzy
- Asian
- Latin American
- European / American
- Vegetarian / Vegan
New For 2018
Lamb Sandwich @ D’Abruzzo If you’re a lamb lover this sandwich should be your first stop. Covered with fig jam and arugula on focaccia it’s one of the best bites Smorgas has to offer.
Pork Shawarma Taco @ Boutros Fusing two great foods into one works better sometimes than others (sorry smoked salmon pizza). This is one that works. Crispy, juicy pork topped with pickled beets & turnips and Zhug sauce, which is basically a Middle Eastern chimmichurri to begin with. If any of those things appeal to you, make this one of your first stops at Smorgas in 2018.
Baleada @ 504 HN Market I first sampled a Baleada while visiting Honduras in 2012 and for six long years I waited for this Honduran snack to make its way to NYC. Finally it’s in my backyard of Williamsburg. A semi-thick tortilla is topped with refried beans, avocado, cheese, crema and optional egg or chorizo. Try it and thank me later.
Strawberry & Whipped Cream Kakigori @ Bonsai Kakigori Kakigori is the Japanese shaved ice that’s been taking New York by storm this year. I’ve found it has more flavor than the Taiwanese and Korean shaved ices but is still much lighter than ice cream. The strawberry flavor was my favorite while I found the matcha a little too bitter.
Fresh Fruit Juice @ John’s Juice There aren’t many things at Smorgasburg you can classify as “healthy.” Which might explain why John’s Juice consistently has one of the longest lines. But let’s be honest it’s probably because the juice is instagrammably served in its own shell.
Fried Chicken Sandwich @ Dashi Fried Chicken Kaarage (Japanese fried chicken) is one of my favorite snacks. The dashi (a broth used in miso soup) gives it a nice taste although I found it also saps some of the crispiness. Still, it’s a pretty tasty sandwich.
Lobster Nest @ Lobsterdamus Remember when I said earlier that combining great foods works better sometimes than other. This is the other. I have nothing against either the noodles or lobster here – they’re actually both pretty good. They just don’t add anything to each other. You’re basically dropping $28 for a photo.
Meats
BBQ Pulled Pork Slider & Brisket Sandwich @ Mighty Quinn’s* A Smogasburg legend that’s led to several brick-and-mortar locations but graciously continues serving here. You can also expect a long wait for this one if you’re not there early. The pulled pork is tender and well spiced with a great sweet tangy BBQ sauce pickles and chilis. It’s just a very well done BBQ sandwich. The brisket has a great spice rub, but can be a little salty if there’s too much end in it, hence the deduction.
BLT @ Landhaus Landhaus has discovered the secret to the BLT. Replace the flimsy slabs of bacon with a big fat juicy slice of pork belly. Winner.
Short Rib @ Carnal You’ll likely notice people walking around with this massive hunk of beef rib topped with tomato and wonder how to get your hands on it. Find them being smoked before your eyes in the far back corner by the beach. And prepare for the meat sweats.
Cheeseburger @ Burger Supreme This is about as close as it gets to a burger off the grill in your backyard. Maybe because Smorgasburg is kind of Williamsburg’s backyard. It’s a Flesicher’s beef patty covered with American Cheese and Mustard on a Martin’s Potato Roll. So classic and so delicious.
The Original Ramen Burger @ Ramen Burger* 2011’s hottest burger still draws some of the longest lines at Smorgasburg. The original is an angus beef patty covered with arugula, scallions and secret shoyu sauce on a bun constructed of ramen noodles. Itโs a really good burger, but novelty more than taste has elevated it to legendary status. Click the name above for my full review.
Brisket Slider @ Lone Star Empire Moist, meaty and well spiced. It’s a strong alternative if you want barbecue but don’t want to wait in the Mighty Quinn’s line.
Beef Sandwich @ 2nd City Beef Very juicy meat on a soft Italian roll. The beef could have had a little more flavor so top yours with two things you should never say no to: cheese and hot peppers.
Season Sandwich @ Duck Season Duck confit topped with pickled cabbage, XO sauce and spicy chickpea spread on a brioche sounds like a recipe for an incredible sandwich. It’s good, but unfortunately was also a little dried out. The perils of mass production.
Seafood
Maine Style Lobster Roll & Connecticut Style Lobster Roll @ Red Hook Lobster Pound* Some of NYC’s best lobster rolls, which has a lot to do with their fresh crustacean and lack of mayo. The Maine Style comes on a buttery bun with just a touch of the ‘naise while the Connecticut is served warm with lemon. Both are covered in paprika and scallions.
Spicy Mayo Ahi Tuna Poke @ East Coast Poke Poke is becoming a “thing” in New York now, but these guys – now in their 3rd year – were ahead of the curve. The spicy mayo on fresh hunks of tuna with a cool seaweed base is the perfect Smogasbite on a hot summer day.
Sweets
Mocha w/ Almonds Hibiscus & Dulce de Leche w/ Almonds Doughnuts @ Dough* Dough may be the closest we have to doughnut perfection in NYC. Their massive glazed doughnuts are airy enough they would almost work as a pillow if it weren’t for the fact they won’t last more than a few seconds near your face. If you want choclatey, the dark chocolate mocha w/ almonds nails it down perfectly. For the fruit lover, hibiscus topped with dried cherries is their signature with good reason. The dulce de leche did not having quite enough of that South American caramel flavor coming through but its still pretty damn tasty.
Ice Cream @ Ample Hills Great ice cream with a rotating variety of interesting flavors.
Salted Chocolate Chip Vanilla Sandwich @ Ovenly* I’m not a big sweets guy but this cookie is amazing, even though it was a little dry from being out all day. Fresh out of the oven I’m guessing this is an easy 3. And I was shocked to recently learn it’s vegan.
Goodwich @ The Good Batch I’m a longtime fan of the chipwich and my ability to turn down ice cream stuffed between two cookies is severely limited. This one uses a oat chocolate chunk cookie with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of fudge. The only downside is you need to let the cookie soften for a while before eating.
Halo Halo in Dragon Bowl @ Ube Kitchen Ube ice cream served in a dragonfruit with the fruit and fresh & toasted coconut. It’s as tropical and refreshing as it sounds.
Ice Cream @ Blue Marble Good ice cream if that’s what you’re in the mood for and the line for Ample Hills is too long.
Raindrop Cake This 2016 newcomer took the internet by storm so I’ll put it up top for now even if it’s not actually the best tasting thing at the ‘burg. The center is made of only water and agar (an algae based gelatin) and has the look and consistency of, well, watch the video and see for yourself. The flavor comes from soybean flour and brown sugar syrup which essentially gives it that taste of a flan jello. It’s also vegan.
Fusion Frenzy
Kung Pao Pork Belly Sandwich @ Strange Flavor This might be my favorite new vendor simply because itโs such a genius combo: Sichuan Food & Sandwiches. So far Iโve only had this Kung Pao Pork Belly but you can see from the size of that pig theyโre not messing around. Definitely in my top 5 vendors.
Original Jianbing @ Jianbing Company New in 2016 is this Chinese crepe filled with egg, cracker, 13 sauce, scallions, cilantro, homemade chili sauce. So as you can see, there’s a lot going on in that crispy little crepe. The crunch combined with the tangy, hoison-like 13 sauce and chili sauce is something that needs to be experienced. If you have any spice tolerance, get it hot (it’s not that hot).
Cholander Sammie @ Kimchi Smoke This behemoth is well worth the $14 price tag. Smoked pork shoulder comes smothered in cheese, kimchi and their signature Fatboy BCS sauce. It’s the best way to ensure you leave Smorgasburg in a food coma.
Short Rib Nachos and Spicy Tuna & Short Rib Tacos @ Takumi Taco* The taco fusion craze takes on Japan with excellent results. Whatโs not to love about big hunks of tuna in spicy mayo and avocado? Nothing. The crispy gyoza taco shell makes it a little more Japanese and is perfect wrapper. The short rib is meaty and tender and great with wasabi crema. But it makes an even better topping for their nachos.
Chicken Teriyaki Hand Roll @ MOMO Dressing Momo is now using their popular salad dressings to make Japanese style handrolls. At $6, they’re a tasty snack and one of the lighter options at Smorgas.
Carne Asada Burrito @ Best Buds Burritos I’ve gotta give these guys credit for being the first in NY to execute on the stoner fantasy of french fry filled burrito. Otherwise it’s a pretty standard California style burrito with crema, cheese and cilantro.
Beef in Scallion Pancake @ Outer Borough I love the idea of using scallion pancakes to make a wrap. A better sauce could take it to the next level.
Slow Roasted Pork Belly Paratha Taco @ Goa Taco I like the paratha and the pork belly, but I would have liked something a little more Indian than the somewhat uninspired cilantro / chipotle mayo combo.
Asian
Thiabird Bowl @ Thai Bird Iโm a sucker for good, authentic Thai and these guys hit the spot. The photo is their display fried chicken & pineapple, but the actual move here is to get the bowl with paratha and papaya salad. Thereโs a nice coconut sauce that cuts the salty spice of the fried chicken.
Pan Fried Pork Bun @ Mao’s Bao If you’re into Bao (Chinese pork buns) these juicy little guys won’t let you down. It’s also the perfect snack to share a few with friends.
Peking Duck & Jerk Chicken Dumplings @ Destination Dumplings I can’t believe it took this long to get dumplings at smorgasburg! The filling options are great here and these are the best peking dumplings I’ve come across. The spicy jerk chicken is also nice with chunks of pineapple to cut the heat. If I have one complaint, it’s that the skins were a little too crispy on the edges.
Stuffed Kimchi Pancake & Mungbean Pancake @ Kimchi Cooks The stuffed kimchi pancake contains beef, onions, ricotta and their signature kimchi which is a perfect mix of tang and spice. The pancacke consists of mung beans, kimchi and scallions (and no eggs!) it makes for a spicy, tangy and reasonably healthy Smorgasburg snack.
Banh Cuon w/ Tofu, Mushroom & Carrots @ Bep Wrapped in a thicker rice paper than summer rolls and loaded with flavor this is one of the best Vietnamese rolls I’ve had. Add some hoison sauce for optimal eating pleasure.
Spring Rolls @ Lumpia Shack* They offer Pork, Peking Duck and Mushroom filling in crispy, Filipino style spring rolls. They’ll give you all three for $8. Take the deal.
Chicken Satay Stick Rice @ Bamboo Bites Spiced chicken, cucumber, cilanto over sticky rice. This is a solid snack I think could rate it higher if not for the slightly-too-sweet peanut sauce.
Chicken Roti @ Mamak Rendang Sweet and spicy chicken in a buttery roti. You’re about to realize you can sell my anything in a wrap, but this is the best of the bunch.
Thai Style Issan Sausage @ Queen Cobra Thai I ate these sausages off the street all the time in Thailand and loved them. These are a decent rendition, but don’t pack quite the same punch.
Latin American
Elote (Mexican Corn) & Spicy Mango One thing Smorgasburg generally lacks is light options. I’m not sure a piece of corn smothered in butter and cheese counts, but at least it’s a vegetable. And it’s delicious so who cares. The spicy mango may not pack the same punch but it’s certainly healthier and refreshing on a hot summer day.
Roasted Pork in Salsa Verde Burrito @ Burrito Juarez Think of these as your “Skinny Girl” burritos. No rice, no beans, no sour cream. These Juarez style wraps are a simple single protein with the only toppings being the option to add cheese and avocado for $1 more. As someone who has long derided the over-stuffing of burritos with rice, I enjoyed this slimmed down version immensely.
Toro Arepa @ Palenque One of the first places I’ve seen to offer “healthy” apreas – this is a multigrain arepa topped with beef, cheese and of course avocado. They also offer traditional and quinoa based arepas. This 4″ size is perfect for a few bites when coming doing a Smorgasburg tasting.
European/American
Doner Kebab @ Kotti Berliner Get this stuffed Turkish Bread “the works” It does require unhinging your jaw to eat, but it’s also my favorite sandwich at Smorgas.
Mozz Sticks & Mozz Pops @ Big Mozz NYC You can watch these guys just making fresh mozz all day. But you should try some too. Cause it’s delicious.
Slow Cooked Red Chile Chicken Sopapilla @ Zia Green Chile Company The stewed chicken has a good tangy chili flavor but paired with an empanada-like dough is a little hearty for the warmer months that Smorgasburg primarily entails. I did really enjoy the hatch green chile sauce and will give it another go come Fall.
Lobster Burger @ BonChovie What could be better than a burger and lobster in one? Not much, although a little less salt on the lobster would help.
Jamon Bite @ Lolitas Fact: Jamon iberico is one of the world’s greatest hams. And I’ve had some amazing sandwiches made from it in Spain. Unfortunately here it’s undone by a substandard soft white bread. This should be an easy upgrade and I look forward to trying it again if they do.
Vegetarian / Vegan
Nu Burger @ Nu Burger The bean and potato patty and pomegranate-cayenne mayo makes this one of the better vegan burgers in town.
Mushrooms w/ Faux Gras @ The Regal Vegan My other top vegan pick comes with truffle oil covered mushrooms over a nutty faux gras spread on bakery fresh bread. If you like those things, this is a great bruschetta-type start to your day at the ‘burg.
Kim’s Chi Banh Mi @ Monk’s Meats In the battle of soy based meat substitutes, seitan always beats tofu. Hear it’s seared and covered in enough Vietnamese spices you really don’t miss the meat. The kim chi is also damn good and belongs on more sandwiches.
Phatty Melt @ Chickpea & Olive A beet based burger with a few different topping options. It’s meant as a vegan substitute to a burger and it’s suitable if you want just that.
* Indicates vendor also has a permanent location
Smorgasburg (April-November)
Saturdays at East River State Park, Williamsburg
Sundays at Breeze Hill, Prospect Park
Brooklyn, NY
