Chelsea Market on Ninth Avenue runs an indoor food hall in the old Nabisco factory in New York City. Los Tacos No.1, Lobster Place, Sarabeth's, Doughnuttery, daily lunch crowd.
Tip: Avoid noon to 14:00 on weekends; the corridors fill. Los Tacos line moves fastest; Lobster Place is the slow seat.
Address: 75 Ninth Ave, New York, NY 10011, New York City
Essex Market moved in 2019 to a glass-and-steel building on the Lower East Side in New York City. The 1940 public market continues as a 36-stall indoor hall.
Tip: Boubouki, Shopsin's, and Don Ceviche all serve full lunches; counter seating runs the length of the second floor.
Smorgasburg has run the city's biggest outdoor food market on the Williamsburg waterfront in New York City since 2011. Saturday market, 100 vendors, East River views.
Tip: Arrive at 11:00 for the cleanest queues. The market closes at 18:00; vendors sell out by 16:00 most weekends.
Queens Night Market in Flushing Meadows runs Saturday nights April through October in New York City. 100 vendors, most plates under $6, all five-borough cuisines.
Tip: Take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point. Plates are capped at $6, $10 for premium; bring $40 cash for four people.
Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket runs Saturday mornings outside Prospect Park in Brooklyn New York City. Thirty-five Hudson Valley and Long Island farms, year-round operation.
Tip: Park Slope's biggest weekend draw; arrive before 10:00 for fresh bakery. The Bread Alone stall sells out by 11:30.
Kalustyan's on Lexington has run a South Asian spice and grocery shop in New York City since 1944. Four floors of dried chillies, lentils, oils, the chef supply for half the city.
Tip: Sumac, Aleppo pepper, urfa biber and rose petals are the four spices to take home. Mail-order ships nationally.
H Mart on 32nd Street runs the biggest Korean supermarket in Midtown New York City. Banchan counter, full fish market, dried-goods aisles, food court on the second floor.
Tip: The food court upstairs runs noodle counters and a tofu room. Skip the lunch rush at 12:30; 11:30 or 14:00 are the easy seats.
