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The 7 Best Food Courts and Food Markets in New York City

Food courts also known as food markets or food halls offer a lot of different options for even the pickiest of eaters. They are great to pick up a quick lunch or dinner and they are great when dining with large groups. A number of excellent food courts and food markets recently opened in New York City the last few years and here are seven of the best.

Chelsea Market – 75 9th Ave

Steamed Lobster from Chelsea Market
Chelsea Market is probably one of the largest and most popular food courts/ food markets in New York City. There is truly something for everyone here. Looking for a succulent steamed lobster? You have the Lobster Place. Looking for a tasty chicken pot pie? You have the Tuck Shop. The options here are seemingly endless and we are always finding new places and new dishes to try. This is a must for any foodie!

The Pennsy – 2 Pennsylvania Plaza

Pat LaFrieda black angus steak sandwich
The Pennsy is our go to place for lunch or even a quick snack whenever we are around Midtown, Penn Station or Madison Square Garden and it is one of the newest food courts on this list. Pat LaFrieda’s black angus steak sandwiches are just unbelievably delicious and Cinnamon Snails’ vegan doughnuts are wildly addictive. We highly recommend both!

Gotham West Market – 600 11th Ave

There are bunch of excellent vendors in Gotham West Market in Hell’s Kitchen but our favorite by far is Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop. Their Tokyo Shoyu ramen is top notch and it is one of our favorite ramen dishes in New York City. Gotham West Market usually stays open until 11 PM and midnight on the weekends so this is great late night dining option.

Hudson Eats – 200 Vesey St

Mighty Quinn's Barbeque Dinner
Hudson Eats is a gorgeous food court on the second floor of Brookfield Place in Battery Park City. The dining area offers beautiful views of the Hudson River and when it comes to food, some of our favorite spots here include Mighty Quinn’s for their amazing brisket and ribs, Umami Burger for their signature burger and Sprinkles for their yummy cupcakes.

Seaport Smorgasburg – 11 Fulton St

Red Hook Lobster Pound Lobster Roll
Pier 17 won’t be open until next year after years of renovation but Seaport Smorgasburg one block away is open for business and it moved indoors this year. Lunch options range from lobster rolls from Red Hook Lobster Pound to the ramen burger from Lumpia Shack Snackbar so definitely come with an empty stomach.

Grand Central Dining Concourse & Urbanspace Vanderbilt – 230 Park Av

There are a lot of great new options for dining in and around Grand Central. In Grand Central, there is the Grand Central Dining Concourse with legendary restaurants like Shake Shack and Two Boots Pizzeria but honestly it can be crowded here sometimes. Nearby there is also Urbanspace Vanderbilt and there are even more delicious options, 21 vendors to be exact. There are gems here like Dough, Sigmund’s and Roberta’s.

Essex Street Market – 120 Essex St

ni japanese delicacies forbidden rice burger
Essex Street Market is a historic food hall in the Lower East Side and it is only a short walk from Chinatown or Little Italy. With a coffee shop, juice bar, bakery, cheese shop, meat market and more it is a one stop shop. It is also a great place to pick up lunch and one of favorite stands for a quick and healthy lunch is Ni Japanese Delicacies. Keep an eye out for their daily special bento boxes.