LIC Flea & Food

LIC Flea is a decent sized flea market which houses a beer garden in the back, a couple of food vendors and some other random jewelers and art sellers.
I’ve been here a few times, but the first time was through a Unilocal event. I recently made a visit here for the Pickles from «Pickle Me Pete». I usually get them from San Gennaros fair in Little Italy but I missed it this year. I highly recommend the Horseradish Pickles btw.
And another vendor I really love is Bao Shoppe. They have a restaurant on Steinway too, but they only offer a limited menu when at the Flea.
Overall pleased with the Flea, but I wouldn’t trek from another borough for this.

So the outdoor rendition is unsurprisingly better, but still underwhelming.
Tikkapops — Wings with recommended masala sauce (small amount) $ 5
Poffees way overpriced & didn’t specify tax — Special Small strawberries & cream OK $ 6.00
Donuts
Cookies Anonymous — mediocre, overpriced bacon chocolate chip cookie
etc. etc.

I came here after finding a newspaper article on it.
Located in a pretty quiet neighborhood in a relatively small lot.
True to its name, there are food vendors and booths selling all types of trinkets and clothes.
Really was not all too impressive. A lot smaller than Smorgasburg.

This market is much smaller in comparison to smorgasburg so there’s not nearly as much to check out, but this also means less crowds. You’ll probably run through the whole market in about 20 minutes. There’s a decent selection of food vendors — we ended up getting a pulled pork sandwich, fresh cut fries and some empanadas. All were tasty and we managed to get a seat to sit down and eat our food in the shade which was nice. There are a few «flea» vendors here selling revamped furniture pieces, photography, jewelry and new clothing. Not exactly what I’d expect for flea market style vendors, but I would imagine one could find something they like here. If you’re making your way to this market I would definitely suggest walking along the riverfront and checking out gantry state park to make a day of it.

We got here around 3:30pm, but the place was still lively (not crowded though). Almost all vendors were still open, except for one.
We tried the stall with the fried ice cream, a bbq stall with a short rib sandwich, and the combo okonomiyaki + yakisoba.
The saving grace of the trip was the fried ice cream. We got the oreo crusted pistachio ice cream which was heavenly. The crust is crunchy and offers a slight cakey texture which is better than the typical tempura take. The pistachio ice cream tasted natural and wasn’t a sickly green color. For $ 6, it was worth it for me.
The short rib sandwich I got from one of the stalls was disappointing. The meat was more dry than not, the pineapple chunks were big and falling out. The word aioli tasted more like mayo than any seasoning. The bun was so soft it became mushy really fast. For $ 7 it was a sad experience. Also got the chicken hot dog here for $ 2. It was a little more flavorful than I thought it would be, but not really a step about a dirty water dog.
Also stopped by the okonomiyaki stall and got the combo. Ordering goes fast, but the wait for your food is fairly long. The yakisoba was good, but not better than going to otafuku. The okonomiyaki has bacon weaved at the bottom… but if all you have is a flimsy plastic fork, it becomes a problem. The outside of the pancake was crispy, but the inside wasn’t completely cooked (they try to make it tall, not wide). Flavor wise, it was ok.
Overall, disappointed that I traveled here, but it was an experience at least.

OK, so I have to confess we came here purely to see what all the fuss was about and to grab some food & drinks. Great spot for that although I’d caution that you may bake on a hot day, esp. with the heat off the pavement and limited seating available under the tent, where they have tables set up.
There are several food/​drink vendors, ranging from BBQ to Japanese to desserts to beer vendors and several things in between. Beware that some food vendors don’t take credit cards so have plenty of cash handy if you don’t want to be limited in what you can buy. I ordered a «Monster» ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ sandwich from Butcher Bar (cash only, homie) and also a grilled chicken sandwich and loaded baked potato from Chop’d Cheese. Everything was tasty but my favorite item was the sandwich from Butcher Bar.
There are also several vendors selling their wares (clothing, accessories, furniture, etc.) but, as I said at the outset, we didn’t come here for that nor did we explore them at all. Many people were checking them out, however, and a quick glance over the booths did seem to offer a variety of interesting, quirky things. Had it not been so hot, our interest in exploring them may have been piqued.
The also had live music and a lawn chess set to entertain. Everyone we encountered here were friendly
Parking is available on the street… well, if you get lucky that is. Otherwise, you can park in the garage right across the street for about $ 10.00. Just make sure you drive all the way up to the non-​reserved spots up on the 4^th floor.
I’d come back again but would likely come back when it was a little cooler or at least cloudy and when the sun wasn’t beating down.

Fun family time… not much of a shopping mecca though.
If you are seeking a huge flea market with long rows of «diamonds in the rough,» this spot is not for you. Try the flea market at St. Nicks on Union Tpk. in Jamaica, Queens on the weekend, instead.
Still, I came with my 2 kids and my husband on a mellow August Saturday. It wasn’t crowded. Really friendly vendors selling jewelry, clothes and housewares.
I would say the food offerings are more like 50% of the flea… not 80%. There was a cool band playing and we were able to get seats in the shade.
I had a pork belly wrap from Bao shop and loved it. I found it really flavorful, actually. It was $ 8. Sriracha is available if you want it spicy.
Husband had the pork mac and cheese (can’t remember the vendor) but look and the pic. It was soon good, with and sweet BBQ sauce. Really cheesy too and filling.
Afterward we walked around by the water. Kids had a great time.
We didn’t want to keep running to the meter so we just paid to park in the garage nearby.
Btw, lots of dog walkers in the area. Thought I would mention in case anyone is scared of them or allergic… but they are all leashed.

If you’re into eating at flea markets then LIC Flea is the place for you, since the majority of the market is comprised of 80% food vendors, while the other vendors sell everything from clothing to jewelry.
The diversity of food is quite ecletic. Our 1^st stop was «Sam’s fried ice cream» stall. We enjoyed a scoop of green and chocolate ice cream dipped in corn flakes and deep fried. Our next stop was «The Bao shoppe» where I ordered a scallion pancake philly cheesesteak filled with onions and American cheese.
At the «Oconomi» stall we ordered a savory vegetable Japanese pancake topped with mayo, bacon, Bonito flakes and a whole Lotta other stuff she was sprinkling and squeezing out from the bottle. I just kept nodding my head in approval as she kept dusting my pancake with sauces and toppings.
My last stop was «The butcher block» that served up fresh squeezed organic lemonade and teas. I couldn’t go on binging like I did because I really didn’t want to use the disgusting portable bathroom stalls that were located by the entrance, trust me on this one, don’t go unless you have to!
There is a ping pong table set up in the middle of the market and a «Throw the bean bags in the hole» type game on the other end of the market was also free to play. Aside from the plethora of food vendors one of the major draws is the beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline looking across the East river and a view of the 59^th street bridge connecting Queens and Manhattan.
The LIC community boat house were also letting people get into their kayaks and paddle in the East river. I’m not sure if there was a fee involved, but I would venture that it was not free.
When you hear flea market you usual think of inexpensive and cheap, not here, pricey stuff but bring your wallet since cash is pretty much the only form of payment the vendor’s will accept.
The parking meters on the streets are expensive at .25 cents for 15 minutes with a maximum 1 hour park time. You will need to pay a little more at the private lots nearby to avoid going back and forth to feed the meters. Another option would be to leave the car home and take the train in, or park a little further away for free street parking.
Not a bad way to spend your day since the views of the City and water make it worth the trip.

I love flea markets such as this! As an open market many local business use this as a platform to introduce themselves to the public. This is an excellent location to hold a flea market: close to residential buildings and close to the waterfront.
The vendors sell goods ranging pictures, t-​shirts, dresses, furniture: much of it includes unique items. This is a good way to enjoy and spend your weekend.
The restaurant vendors set up shop around the sides of this lot. They give you a sample of the food. They charge a bit more for a smaller amount of food. The food sampling tastes great. A good way to catch more patrons at the market; It leads to building a following.
After walking around the market, you can sit down place near the back. Many people come here for the beer gardens.
Earlier this year, Unilocal hosted an event for the beer gardens. Even though I don’t drink, it was fun.
A great perk includes bringing your dogs here! Some vendors put out a plate of water for passing by dogs when the temperature soars into a heatwave.
Come and enjoy yourself here at the LIC Flea market.

I was excited about LIC Flea & Food since it first began. There’s nothing there you wouldn’t like. You can go just for the food (various vendors from NYC), or you can go for all the awesome stuff being sold. Take your pick. Plus now they have a beer garden. And as everyone knows, beer makes everything better. Go, discover, enjoy.

This is a decent size fleat market. Not many booths dedicated to the «flea market» part, there is more concentration on the food part. There is an area in the back that serves drinks (beer and wine). There is plenty of seating so its a great place to spend an hour or two on the weekend. Its situated next to a river. It’s pretty smart to have manual portable sinks so customers can wash their hands. There are also porta-​potties right outside the front gate. You can get here by either E or 7 Train. It’s not as crowded as some other markets such as Smourgasburg so its definitely nice if you want to avoid the tourist crowd.

Fun place to spend a weekend afternoon but this is not necessarily the definition of «flea» that you may be used to.
I will go with the pros first:
1– Beer garden: no frills, several beers on tap in a hut in the back of the market. $ 6 per cup and there is a roped off section with tables and chairs to sit in while drinking. Price is good but the area is a bit close to the dumpsters. Just be sure to not sit on the dumpster side.
2– Variety of food booths: there was everything from BBQ to Japanese to macaroons. I wish I had more than 1 stomach to try it all.
Cons:
1– Prices: the non-​food vendor prices were steep! I am more of a «must find good deal» kind of person and there was none to be had here. As expected everything is cash only but there is an ATM in the market with only a $ 2 withdrawal fee!
2-​No ice cream! It was an 85 degree day when I went and there was no ice cream to be had anywhere! Ritas icies had to suffice but it just wasn’t the same.

This place is a great addition to the good weather. First off it is located right by the boardwalk which is a lovely spot to go for a walk or to hang out. The flea market has a great selection of food, accessories, drinks, desserts. I have come twice now and would highly recommend the fried ice cream stand. It is so unique and they have as good selection of flavors. I would recommend the green tea and the pistachio. They also have great photography shots you can buy. It is great that most of the item stands take credit card. I am not sure about the food and drink stands. But I am curious about the gelato macros. I bought a few photographs already and they are beautiful. I also got some hand made jewelry. This place has also great vibe and always full of people. It is exciting and I hope to continue to find more treasures here.

I am going to throw 5 stars at the LIC Flea & Food. The experience may not be entirely perfect as a whole, but the LIC Flea and their mission is perfect for this area.
I recently was able to attend the Flea as part of a Unilocal Elite event. Generally I don’t write a review about a place unless I attend as a regular customer which the way this event was structured allowed me to do so.
So here’s the rundown:
Pros:
The Flea has an awesome location that is at the north start of Gantry State Park (which, for me, rivals the High Line, but that is another review) there is also Kayaking available at this location.
«And though she be but little, she is fierce» — I’ve read reviews that says the flea is «smaller» than they thought, perhaps, but I believe the Flea is expertly curated. Along the outside edges are international food vendors with street food of nearly every type imaginable. The vendors on the inside sell unique items and antiques — they are also willing to haggle and deals can be found. The owner has a great eye and it is obvious he tries to have the best stuff and the least fluff.
The Beer Garden highlights craft beers made locally in QUEENS after having tried many of them, offer a great selection. Although you are confined to a certain area (which doesn’t make much sense, why is it legal to drink outside in this part of the flea, but not the rest?) there is plenty of seating and an AstroTurf landing to catch some sun.
Cons:
Beer Garden + International Food vendors + Porta-​potties does not equal the best bathroom experience ever. Also I saw portable hand washing stations around, but the ones I tried didn’t work :(
Some complain about the cost for what you get from some food vendors. I don’t think that should be a knock on the Flea, but on the market. Don’t give those vendors your business and spread the word about those individual good and bad ones.
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The flea gives you access to great beers, food and shopping near a world class state park — how there can be complaints about this I am not sure, but to me, this is exactly what LIC wants and needs. It seems like a perfect way to spend a leisurely weekend afternoon along with great views of the Manhattan skyline.

Second year in a row going. .great food, great beer and great people! !!
BBQ squid and shrimp sticks were fantastic we also had a few empanadas, mac & cheese and beef, also very good.
We will be back throughout the summer

⁵⁄₅ for LIC Flea
³⁄₅ for my chocolate croughnut from Old Fashioned Doughnuts. It was nice but quite average. The chocolate filling was quite bland also. Nice lady serving the doughnuts. Would probably try something else next time just incase it was a one off!

Whenever there’s a Unilocal event, there’s always a good chance I haven’t been to the place that is hosting the event. The LIC Flea is one of the exceptions to this trend. Whenever the weather is awesome and the timing is right, my wife and I bike down to the LIC Flea to eat some amazing food, drink amazing beer, and find kick ass furniture that we can’t actually fit into our apartment.
If you like food, beer, cool furniture, arts and crafts, or even pickles… the LIC Flea is the place to be. What are the odds someone doesn’t like at least one of those things? Small, I say! At the very least, everyone in the universe likes pickles. Right?
We sometimes arrange our arrival around the same time the beer prices drop (they’re not really that high to begin with), because they’re trying to get rid of what’s left.
This is a great summer spot, or really any day where the sun is shining.

Nothing beats smorgasborg in Williamsburg but I must say, I was surprised by the variety of food tents and antique items/​clothing in such a small condensed space. I was especially excited about WOOPS the gelato macaron store. I tried the passion fruit and Nutella. Nutella was too sweet and overwhelming but the passion fruit in the other hand was tart and satisfying. The best part about this flea market was the incredible breath taking view of NYC through the gantry park. The flea market led us walking to the park right beneath the coca cola sign. Such a sweet idea for a cute date or even for a nice hang out with your friends!

The music gave you a really cheerful vibe as you walk in. I heard Christmas and Spanish music.
There are two floors and the booths are small. Each is manned by really lovely people. No rushing you to come and buy but they’re standing by ready to assist.
Items on sale are mostly arts and crafts and homemade foods suchs as cakes, drinks, pickles.
Some of the items look used but in good condition and some look brand new.
Though I didnt purchase anything, I enjoyed my stay.
The End.

It was raining the day I went so maybe that’s the note best time to go. There were not many vendors and it seemed kind of dead.
The space is pretty small anyway and the vendors that were there were mostly clothing and accessory people. I would have liked to have seen some more food.
I’ll go back on a nice day, but I can’t imagine this could hold a candle to the Brooklyn Flea even on a perfect day.