Madison Square Eats

My office is across street from the flatiron building so o look forward to each one of these with glee. The Korean cart has the BEST rib eye tacos. The empanadas are WOW. the hand sushi rolls are the healthier option and are very good — it’s dangerous to go there because it’s tempting to eat everything. The lines are crazy but during nice weather when you grab a seat and a cocktail or some sangria. It’s the most authentic and satisfying NYC outdoor-​break-​from-​the-​office-​lunch. Can’t wait for the next one!

MSE is now in its eighth year with the 2015 their Spring installment going on from May 1^st — 28^th and their Fall installment going on from September 4^th — October 1^st.
SPRING 2015 VENDOR LINE-​UP: Bombay Sandwich Co. * Paella Shack by Barraca * People’s Pops * Potpuri * Gelato Ti Amo * Asiadog * Nunu Chocolates * Bangkok Bar * The Cannibal Beer & Butcher * Takumi Taco * Roberta’s * Red Hook Lobster Pound * Cheesecakes by the Truffleist * Mexicue * Melt Bakery * Ilili Box * Uma Temakeria * Calexico * Two Tablespoons * Fire Belly Korean BBQ * Hong Kong Street Cart * Arancini Bros. * Bar Suzette Creperie * Momofuku Milk Bar * Mayhem & Stout * Macaron Parlour * La Sonrisa Empanadas * Hill Country Barbecue * Sigmund’s
Things I tried and remembered:
Asiadog:
Vinh Organic Beef Hot Dog (at 11:25am they said they were out of regular beef [MSE opens at 11am and it was pretty empty] — but by noon I saw someone wheeling cases of hotdogs through the market, presumably for Asiadog) for $ 5.50 –Pretty good combo of flavors from the toppings but a little soggy. Satisfied that I tried but will likely always go to one of regular vendors that I prefer instead.
Hong Kong Street Cart:
Passion Fruit Bubble Tea for $ 5 — The «tea» was good but the «bubbles» which I always like when I get bubble tea from other places didn’t float my boat at all and weren’t worth the calories to ingest.
Pork Belly Bun for $ 4 — Very good and worthwhile to get again.
La Sonrisa Empanadas:
Roberta’s:
Bee Sting Pizza for $ 12 — I’m obsessed with this pizza. Super-​thin crust, pepperoni? And cheese drizzled with honey over the pie. I generally don’t like sweets in my main meal but this only has a hint of sweet which beautifully compliments the pizza. It’s a must try.
Bar Suzette Creperie:
Truffle Fries for $ -
Momofuku Milk Bar:
Crack Pie for $ 5.50 — Buttery tasty but way too sweet.
La Sonrisa Empanadas:
Coconut Chicken Curry Empanada
Mexicue:
Burnt End Sliders for $ 5.00 — Okaaaay and not worth getting ever again.

I love nearly everything about Madison Square Eats! I’ve attended it at least once every time it has gone on and have a great experience each time. There is something to eat for everyone, no matter the dietary restriction. The employees for the various vendors are consistently pleasant and handle the large crowds quite well. With the subway just a few blocks away it is a great location for people in various parts of NYC to be able to attend. I tend to go to it for a pre-​dinner cocktail hour. Many of the vendors offer drinks… wine, beer, margaritas, sangria as well as an abundance of delicious eats. Also, UrbanSpace coordinates it and they do a awesome job not only getting top notch vendors from all over NYC involved but they also promote it well via Instagram and interact with customers through their various media outlets.
TIPS:
–Make sure you snag a table as soon as possible if you plan to hang out there and rotate to get food with your group.
–Have cash on hand… if I recall every vendor only takes cash. They do have ATMs on site but that comes with a fee.
–Avoid lunch hours Monday — Friday… it does get super busy. But if you have the time and patience to wait it out to get some delicious grub then go right ahead!

It’s a pretty decent street vendor market, with vendors that appear to rotate. It gets absurdly packed to the point where finding a seat is not in the cards if you’re with more than 2 people. It’s kind of a scene more than it is an actually worthwhile experience. The vendors are definitely above average and you get to try different spots from around the city consolidated into one area, but man, is it overpriced. It could be time well-​spent, if you’re lucky enough to avoid when it’s swamped with people, but don’t go out of your way for it.
I could do it once a season, maybe twice. Otherwise, it’s nothing crazy. Madison Square Eats feels more like it’s geared towards tourists than it is towards actual New Yorkers, as evidenced by the exorbitant prices and the very gimmicky atmosphere.

One of the best street food markets in New York. It’s very consistently good although a bit pricey. It is decorated beautifully and very picturesque!
The best part is getting a few items from different stands and trying a variety of options. Don’t forget to get an ice cream sandwich from the cart!

Love it! This spot is a fun experience when it’s happening. Be sure to check their page to know dates when they’re coming back. They have a good selection of foods to choose from along with a seating area. Madison Square Park is also nearby for seating and relaxing. I go every season and would definitely recommend it to out of town guests.
Cool place to grab a bite and beer and check out the surrounding views :)

Unilocalers unite! The pix and personal accounts of your foodie experiences led me to this wondrous display of eclectic cuisines. We ventured out here today, on the last weekend of the event to sample the eats and we were not disappointed.
First, we took a lap around to assess the offerings and decided to try the Truffleist Cheesesteak w/​Goat Cheese and Truffle Honey and a Maple Limeade for my son. It was tasty and a perfect size for sharing while still affording enough prime stomach real estate for more samplings. Next, we got an order of fresh prepared Bangkok Bar Pad Thai. The cook just finished up a batch and we were lucky enough to snag a helping. While we waited for our food, hubby grabbed us some deliciously crisp Sparkling Sake from Hong Kong Street Cart; quite refreshing and the lucky kitten display is the cutest!
I had Red Hook Lobster on the mind, so we made a mad dash to get a bikini style Lobstah Roll, sans the roll, and an order of Lobster Mac and Cheese; both of which were good and chock full of lobster.
Hubby parted ways and visited Sigmund’s Pretzel for a Roasted Turkey Sammie on a Pretzel Roll w/​Apple Slices, Honey Mustard and Gouda; it was like eating Thanksgiving. Very good.
We bagged some Croquettes from Paella Shack by Barraca; Shrimp, Mushroom and Ham. They were good and the tangy mayo dip that accompanied made them taste even better.
La Sonrisa Empanadas had a nice selection and we tries the Chicken Curry and Crab & Cream Cheese Empanadas, both of which were damn good! The curry was so fragrant and the crab, seasoned well.
Hubby got us a not-​too-​strong Passion Fruit Margarita to share from Mexicue. He had his eye on that item when we first arrived; glad he opted to try it out.
After a pause for the cause to allow for digestion, I visited the Asiadog stand and ordered «The Luke», opting for an organic beef dog for a buck extra as well as a side of Kimchi. The dog was covered in Thai Beef Chili w/​Cilantro and although it tasted awesome and full of flavor, I have to say that I’ve had better kimchi. It was bland and not that spicy and I loooooove kimchi but I’ve always had salty, spicy kimchi that’s bursting with flavor.
My sister visited the Koa stand and got the He-​he-​a-​he-​he Chicken which was very good. The breading reminds me of mickey d’s nuggets but they were fresh and real and covered in spice and hot oil. Nice!
After filling ourselves (almost) to the brim, I HAD to stop by Melt on our way out to get ice cream sandwiches. I got the Lovelet, Red Velvet Cookies & Cream Cheese Ice Cream. My sis got the Lex, Brown Sugar Cornmeal Cookies & Maker’s Mark Bourbon Ice Cream. Both were great.
Can you say food coma for the ride home? Yuppers

Tried a $ 10 kale and roasted Brussels sprouts salad at Mexicue thinking I might have finally found a healthy option at Madison Square Eats. WRONG! The best thing in this sad half filled bowl was the warm black beans. The bowl was mostly arugula and oil with 4 mushy, overcooked Brussels sprout halves and a sprinkling of pico de gallo and cotija cheese. Don’t order this.
Mayhem and Stout was out of their brown rice so we ordered the Madison sandwich with short rib and brisket for $ 10. This meat was really outstanding! Packed with flavor and meaty juices I was really impressed with the beef and the soft, fresh baguette. The lettuce and mayo loaded on top tasted like a more delicious and crunchy version of the lettuce topping at McDonald’s… as random as that sounds it’s meant as a compliment.
Choose your vendor carefully here. There are a lot of duds but it is possible to enjoy a solid dinner for less than $ 15. Two stars for this urbanspace concept as a whole.

I didn’t even know about this until I was in the area and a friend recommend we gave it a shot. This of course its a lot smaller than the one in Williamsburg or LIC but I have to say there was plenty of different vendors. Since I wasn’t super hungry I just walked around and got some sangria and it was pretty awesome. It was a beautiful day so we grab two chairs and enjoyed our drinks while we people watched. Its a bit hard to get seating but if you stand in one spot they open up frequently.
Everything here smelled so good and I’m always up for any place where I can get a variety of foods and drink outdoors :)

Love Madison Sq Eats!
After trying the multiple Smörgåsbord locations and Broadway Bites this may actually be my favorite of them all. Madison Sq. did have some of your good old favorite eats but they also had some new spots that I had never seen before. I tried the Truffilest Cheesesteak and wow! Totally exceeded my expectations. Im a huge fan of truffle oil so I figured that I would try this and it was very good. The steak was nice and thick which I did not expect. It will just melt in your mouth, I highly recommend! I would also recommend Roberta’s pizza. Hot fresh pizza right out of the brick oven, amazing! For dessert decided to go with Melt. The ice cream sandwiches are rather unique. The red velvet tasted like a piece of red velvet cake. Pricey as they run $ 4 per sandwich but worth a try
Madison square eats will only be around till October 1!

I stumbled upon this food haven while visiting a book store in that area. The month long food fiesta is from Sep to October. You can find a host of street vendors selling different cuisines and foods. Right from the Noodles from the Bangkok to Brick Oven Pizzas– your food buck stops here!
Anyhow I tried:
Summer Rolls from two tablespoons: If you are a vegetarian you need to find this one! Perhaps the only ppl selling not only the veg option but also some healthy choices in food. I had their two rolls– Corn n Coconut & Quinoa & Tofu. I liked the later one a lot. There’s also one with lentils in it.
Roberta’s Pizza: Next on my list was Pizza! They had an oven and were rolling out fresh small pizzas! I had a simple cheese n tomato pizza and it was just delicious. Plus the fresh char on the dough mase it super yum!
Tortilla Chips from Mexicue: A huge portion but this was a yum affair. Home made corn chips garnished with cheese, salsa, a bean sauce and fresh Jalepenoes on top– I had a total party in my mouth!
Berry Sangria: A lot of vendors sell Lemonades and different variations of Sangrias! They all are equally good.
Melt Ice Cream Sandwich: The finale for this yummy feast was by a huge cookie and ice cream sandwich. Available in four different flavors such as Red velvet, Oatmeal and plain Vanilla, I had the Cocoa one and and I totally loved it. It was buttery, soft and chewy!

I love Madison Square Eats! You just have to take it for what it is and be prepared to deal with a lot of people traffic and long lines for food.
They do cram a decent amount of seating into the small space and have a good about of options!

Madison Square Eats is a fun place to stop for lunch or a snack. They have a bunch of local restaurants with booths where friends can all pick what they’re in the mood for or you can buy a few things from a few stores. Some notable mentions when I was there were Takumi Tacos and People Pops. There is really something for everyone in a fun summer NYC atmosphere!

Get there early or late because of the crowds. I’ve been coming to Madison Square Eats for years, but for some reason, never reviewed it. MSE happens twice a year, and it’s a wonderful experience to try all sorts of great food vendors that would be annoying to get to otherwise.
A lot of them are expensive, and the more popular ones have ridiculous lines, so plan accordingly.
My favorites have been Pig & Khao and Bar Suzette.

This is a cool little street maker right next to Madison Square Park. There’s a wide array of options, so it’s a great stop if you’re in the neighborhood over the weekend and your group cannot agree on a cuisine.
We split food from a few vendors. First was a cheeto macaron from Macaron Parlor. I was a bit hesitant to try it, but low and behold… it tasted like a typical macaron.
Second, was pork belly bun, vegetarian bun, and scallion pancakes from Hong Kong Street Cart. I’d definitely go back for the pork belly. It’s served with one cut of fat along with two cuts of leaner slow cooked meat along with a slice of cucumber, a hoisin like sauce, and a hot bun. The scallion pancakes are good too, but I find them to be quite accessible.
Lastly, we picked up some tacos from Fire Belly Korean BBQ. We had the bulgogi, veggie, and sesame chicken tacos. All three were a little spicy and tasted great. My only wish is that the tortillas were a bit stronger as mine fell apart rather easily.
All in all, Madison Square Eats is a fun and delicious spot to check out!

We stumbled upon this pop up shop of food carts on our way to view the Flatiron. There were so many local vendors with different NYC treats. We had already started our dinner in Eataly, but finished it off with a margarita and tacos from the Calexico cart. Great choice!
This would be a great venue to visit if you have limited time and want to try a bunch of different New York vendors, but can’t make it across the city to their storefronts!

La Sonrisa Empanadas
Got the coconut chicken curry empanada. Was it good? Sure. It’s fried. How is it not good. Crispy on the outside with a good amount of chicken filling inside that goes great with hot sauce. Could it use a more flavorful punch? Def. Would I get it again? Nah.
People’s Pops
Try the strawberry basil! It’s been my go-​to for years. Chunks of real strawberries buried in with basil. Mmmm.
Skip the more watery based ones like rose water unless you want an ice pop consistency.
Macaroon parlour
Icecream sandwich but with giant fluffy macaroons instead of heavy cookies.
Heaven.
I agree with another reviewer that there aren’t many healthy options aka it’s all icecream, bread, fried or all of the above.
Two tablespoons’ summer rolls looked like the only healthy option and there was a line so I haven’t tried it yet.
Outdoor meals are what summer is all about though, ain’t it?

I gave 4 stars because Red Hook Lobster was there. I hit a roll full of lobster claws and ordered it Connecticut style — which is warm with butter.
This is every year but I don’t remember seeing this famous lobster booth before.
Good to eat at odd hours — lines are shorter.

Okay so this is my second year fumbling around the crowds at Madison Square Eats. They’re getting 4 stars out of me because some of the prices are ridiculous ($ 6 tacos? NOPE. $ 6 empanadas? HELL NO. $ 7 scallion pancake that’s as thin as my Mac air? TRIPLE NOPE) and because it does have a tendency to get insanely crowded here.
Thankfully I’ve always taken my food here to go, but if you want to order dranks then you have to drink them within the space.
There are some amazing, amazing options here — craving sweet, savory, alcoholic? Then Madison Square Eats has something for you!
The vendors I’ve frequented here so far have been:
+ Calexico — get their pulled pork quesadilla, it’s a better bang for your buck than the tacos!
+ Mexicue — get the EVERYTHING, they don’t skimp on portions or flavor at all!
+ Melt — ice creeeeeam sandwiches!
+ illili’s «The Box» — today I had their pressed chicken wrap with garlic whip (also comes with a pickle, but I no likey so I asked them to hold it) and their Phoenician fries. MYGOSHTHOSEFRIES. They are handcut and fried to orde, dusted in sumac, salt, Aleppo pepper, what looked like paprika and their signature garlic whip. That garlic whip is stupid. I would lick it off (almost) anything. Their pressed chicken wrap also contained garlic whip. OHGODICANTSTOPTHINKINGABOUTTHEGARLICWHIP.
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I can’t wait to come back here and hopefully grab a cocktail in a ginormous half watermelon with tiny umbrellas next time I do (see pics!)

I was more than excited to come here today! I must admit I did through research of all the vendors on UrbanSpace’s website so I knew what I wanted to get once I got here. I came here on Cinco De May during dinner when the working crowd came to let off some steam. Despite the small, cramped space that Mad Sq. Eats has, it was set up nicely and it was easy to walk around and see what vendor had to offer. In addition, the stringed lights was a nice touch. The two booths I went to were:
— Two Tablespoons: 3 for $ 10 vegetarian and vegan summer rolls which were amazing and light and fresh for a hot day. My favorite one was the Beet & Goat cheese and Curry & Coconut (had a beautiful strong Indian curry flavor, I was very impressed). They were a bit of a mess to eat since it was very sticky with the insides spilling out. This made it hard to cut it in half and share with a friend and the wait time was a little lengthy. But over, nice & fresh treat!
— Roberta’s: probably one of the best pizzas I have ever had, and to top it off, the Bee Sting was absolutely amazing. I am still sitting in my chair and in awe at how good Roberta’s was. The honey in the Bee Sting was balance out perfectly with the saltiness of the soppressata. The crust was absolutely amazing soft and not very chewy with the perfect amount of crispiness and bubbles in the pie. The wait was quick and we were able to see how the pizza was made right in front of us in their brick oven. Although a little steep in price, $ 12 for a pizza that is close to the size of a personal pizza.
I am taking off one star for Mad. Sq. Eats not having enough healthy options. Fried food seemed to be the norm despite being in a city with many health conscious people.

Il faut savoir que j’ai choisi la date de mon séjour a New York pour cet évènement !
J’aime beaucoup beaucoup l’idée de réunir plusieurs commerçants et restaurateurs dans un même seul endroit (faire payer l’entrée en France est juste ridicule comme le fait Superbarquette).
Vous trouverez forcément votre bonheur, il y a tellement de variété en passant par les traditionnels mac and cheese aux rouleaux de printemps végétarien.
J’ai pris deux rouleaux de chez Two Tablespoons et c’était très bon (quoique un peu fade parfois), assez original comme idée et surtout très frais et coloré.
J’ai pris lentille/​betterave/​fromage de chèvre et tofu/​quinoa/​sauce à l’amande avec une préférence pour le premier.
L’emplacement est super central, en face du Flatiron building et près du Madison Square Garden.