murray-hillMon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Sun 11:00-19:00
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.
koreatownDaily 08:00-23:00
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.
union-squareMon, Wed, Fri, Sat 08:00-18:00
Union Square Greenmarket has anchored Manhattan greenmarket shopping in New York City since 1976. Hudson Valley farms supply chefs and home cooks four days a week.
Tip: Saturday is the biggest spread but the most crowded. Wednesday morning is the calm market for chef shopping.
chelseaMon-Sat 07:00-22:00, Sun 08:00-22:00
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.
lower-east-sideMon-Sat 08:00-20:00, Sun 10:00-18:00
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.
williamsburgApr-Oct, Sat 11:00-18:00
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.