NYCFeature
Where To Eat At The US Open
Waffle fries, birria tacos, kati rolls, and everything else you should be eating between sets.
photo credit: Rhea Nall/USTA
NYCFeature
Waffle fries, birria tacos, kati rolls, and everything else you should be eating between sets.
If you’re heading out to Flushing to see the world’s best tennis players in real life, you can find plenty of great eating options in and out of the stadium. It’s almost as strenuous to watch tennis as it is to play it, so you’re going to need some fuel. At Billie Jean King National Tennis Center you can enjoy a steak and wine or a bright Mediterranean meal at full service restaurants, or grab something on the go between matches, like hot chicken sandwiches, rice bowls, birria tacos and more. Here, you’ll find a full rundown on all the places to eat while you’re at the US Open.
Where To Eat At The US Open is presented by Chase®.
If you’ve ever had a burger at Minetta Tavern or Shake Shack, then you’ve had meat from Pat LaFrieda. Our pick on the menu at the Open is the filet mignon steak sandwich, but you’ll also find a roasted chicken sandwich and a hot dog dubbed the World’s Greatest—we’ll let you be the judge of that.
You may not be playing in the tournament, but moving your head back and forth for a 90+ minute match absolutely counts as a workout. So make sure you load up on carbohydrates at Eataly with a slice of pizza or a plate of tagliatelle bolognese, plus try the caprese salad or a sampling of prosciutto and mozzarella.
Iron Chef alum Alex Guarnaschelli is behind the wheel at Fare, where you can find refreshing drinks and cocktails that are paired with a seasonal Mediterranean menu. Starters like the Mediterranean charcuterie platter are easy to share with friends, and mains include classics like steak frites and fried chicken breast cutlet, as well as options like yellow tomato sauce pasta and shrimp a la plancha.
The menu at Mojitos by David Burke is an instant crowd pleaser. There are toasted cubanos, fried chicken sandwiches, short rib ropa vieja, and lobster tacos, as well as vegetarian options like yucca fries and avocado-roasted corn salad.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
Momofuku’s fast-casual chain has an outpost at the US Open, where you should definitely grab the spicy fried chicken sandwich with a side of jalapeño waffle fries and as many types of dipping sauce as you can handle. For a good meatless option, they also have Impossible nuggets that you absolutely should be dipping in Fuku Knockout sauce.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
At Korilla BBQ, you can choose from ingredients like kimchi, sesame chicken, bulgogi, and tofu to create the best rice bowl or Korean tacos on the court. While the proteins are packed with flavor, the vegetables and sides are also noteworthy, like the bright purple cabbage slaw, kale salad, and edamame. Just make sure not to skimp on the kimchi.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
You can score a refreshing poke bowl in between matches at Poke Yachty, which serves the Hawaiian dish with your choice of tuna, spicy tuna, salmon, shrimp and tofu.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
One bite of Hill Country’s barbecue is a game, set, match in our books. At the US Open, you can stop by for their classic smoked meat, sandwiches, or southern sides like mac and cheese or baked beans with burnt ends. Our favorite dishes include the chopped brisket sandwich and Texas tenders, both of which go very well with a hefty chunk of cornbread.
photo credit: Daniel Brennan
You can also grab a meal from Harlem’s Field Trip between sets. Choose between salads, rice bowls, and sides inspired by global flavors—we like the braised beef and crispy breaded chicken bowls, and their quinoa patty.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
San Matteo serves up Neapolitan-style pizza. Options include classic margherita, pepperoni, truffle and vegan. To go all out, add the Fresh Burrata to your pie. Our strategy is to share some antipasti with friends, but save a whole slice (or three) for yourself.
Benjamin’s is a great spot for a fancy steakhouse dinner involving red wine, and you’ll find the same experience at the Benjamin’s pop up at Arthur Ashe Stadium, available to Courtside Box seat holders and Luxury Suite guests. We like going for a classic rally here: a wedge salad followed by a thick slab of bacon and a filet mignon.
Stacked is aptly named, as this Forest Hills deli serves towering cold cut sandwiches and salads. Go with the Stacked OG sandwich to easily ace a quick lunch between matches, but we’re also fans of less intimidating options like the vegan muffuletta or jerk chicken caesar.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
Tortillas are the star at Taqueria Nixtamal—they’re soft and fluffy, but they still lend structural support to delicious tacos. The chicken is our favorite.
Fly Fish is a great option for seafood lovers—with a menu curated by Celebrity Chef Josh Capon, there are lobster rolls, poke, oysters and more that you can order for something a little more luxurious than your standard sports-watching meal.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
Van Leeuwen is one of our all-time favorite ice cream spots. They’re famous for their salted caramel and truly excellent vegan options that we often end up going with despite being very much not vegan. But really all you need to know in order to do Van Leeuwen right is: order the sundae. It’s delicious and the perfect solution to cooling off between matches.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
Crabby Shack sticks to what it knows best: crab and other crustaceans. The crab roll is a fan favorite, thanks to its hefty helping of crab meat on a perfectly squishy roll finished with garlic butter. Get it. We're also big fans of the “Clobster Roll” that’s half crab and half lobster, and the cornbread, which is lathered in enough honey butter that we're pretty sure they could sell it as dessert.
Curry Kitchen has chicken tikka masala wraps, kati rolls, lamb handi, and vegetarian curry, all ready to fuel you up before watching the next match. Don’t leave without ordering naan bread and a mango lassi.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
Much like the sport of tennis, the grilled cheese sandwich is a sacred art form that takes patience and hand-eye coordination (plus a lot of butter), and Melt Shop’s grilled cheese sandwiches are about as good as it gets. We never miss the chance to get the classic grilled cheese with American and New York cheddar, or there’s always the loaded tots with bacon, jalapenos, and herbed parmesan.
photo credit: Emily Schindler
Were you really at the US Open if you didn't order a Honey Deuce? We can’t personally answer that hypothetical, because we always get at least one of the event’s signature cocktails. You can enjoy this refreshing mix of vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur, garnished with frozen honeydew melon balls at The Open Bar, where they also serve wine by the glass, Heineken, wraps, sandwiches, and other snacks.
*Header image photo credit to Rhea Nall/USTA
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