New pop-ups are a great way to roam NYC with your mouth open like PacMan, eating food straight from the fever dreams of the city’s most exciting chefs. And they’re everywhere. The next time you decide to venture beyond that one neighborhood restaurant where the waitstaff has seen every outfit you own, check out one of the pop-ups on this list.
November 27 - December 3
Chef Taro Kiso @ Kissaki / Friday, November 24 - Tuesday, December 5
If you're trying to choose between the city’s several thousand omakase experiences, just book a seat at this pop-up instead. Kissaki's location on Bowery is hosting an omakase pop-up with Japan’s chef Taro Kiso, who is known for his onigiri skills. His most famous dishes—ikura onigiri, shabu shabu with sea bream, grilled nodoguro—and some special pieces of nigiri will be on the menu. The pop-up runs from Friday to Tuesday, with two seatings each night. It should be well worth the $180 tickets, which you can book here.
Xin Mời @ Đi Ăn Đi / Monday, November 27
Vietnamese supper club Xin Mời are doubling down on their bún bò capabilities in a collaboration with their pals at Đi Ăn Đi in Greenpoint. Bún bò is just one course in this prix-fixe feast, which will involve plenty of other warming dishes to help you settle into this chilly November weather. Đi Ăn Đi’s drink menu will also be available à la carte. Tickets are $90; reserve your spot here.
Off The Menu Night @ Urban Vegan Roots / Monday, November 27
Urban Vegan Roots, and its sister restaurant Urban Vegan Kitchen, are some of our go-tos for casual, plant-based food. But once a month, chef Jimmy Bardsley gets fancy with a three-course menu. We don't know exactly what's on the menu, but it's guaranteed to be a good time—for $45, you get dinner, a cocktail or mocktail, and DJs playing tunes all night at the Astoria restaurant. Reserve your spot here.
photo credit: Willa Moore
Lev x The Hancock @ The John C. Kelly House / Wednesday, November 29
In case the rest of the pop-ups on this list weren’t insidery enough for you (because why else would one go to a pop-up, anyway?), there’s always Lev. Lev does site-specific, seasonal cooking, with a different menu at each event. Finding one over the summer required near-stalkerish behavior, but their meals have since become easier to attend. The next one is on a Wednesday evening in Bed-Stuy, and you can get your tickets here.
Schrafft’s Fifth Avenue @ Fifth Avenue’s Open Streets / Sunday, December 3, 10 & 17
There was probably someone in your 7th grade class who made Holly Golightly their entire personality that year, and if that person was you, wear your best little black dress to Schrafft’s Fifth Avenue food kiosk during Fifth Avenue’s Open Streets. The iconic eatery is known for its coffee and Danish cameo in the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and they’ll be serving pastries and drinks with the same packaging you see in the movie. Swing by Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets on Sunday from 12-6pm.
December 4 - December 10
photo credit: Hannah Albertine
Puma Yu @ Hana Makgeolli / Thursday, Dec 7 and Friday, Dec 8
New York isn’t the only city with an exciting Thai food scene. Puma Yu’s is Athens, Georgia’s new favorite Thai spot, serving small-plate southern Thai specialties and fantastic cocktails, often sourcing seasonal ingredients from around Georgia. Hana Makgeolli is hosting them in Greenpoint for two nights this month. We’ve been told their martini alone, made with Thai bitter and lime oil, will make this one for the books. Make your reservation here.
Ongoing
photo credit: Connie Zhou
Edith's @ Nordstrom NYC Flagship
Edith’s @ Nordstrom Flagship Store / Through January 3
“Ladies who lunch” is sort of supposed to be an insult, but eating a whole meal where you just had a shoe-shopping marathon just seems like good time management to us. Take a break between holiday shopping this month at the Edith’s Sandwich Shop pop-up at the Nordstrom NYC flagship store. Expect some familiar breakfast and lunch specials, custom slushie flavors, smoked pastrami, and more through January 3rd.
F.O.M.O Series @ Mel's / Changes every two weeks, through December 2023
Mel’s started their Friend’s Of Mel’s Oven pizza series in June and it’s still going strong. Some of the city’s most acclaimed chefs, like Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Daniel Boulud, have created pies that get two week stints on Mel’s menu. Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja of Shukette has a Middle Eastern-influenced pie, topped with lamb merguez, halloumi, broccoli rabe, and bang bang shatta from November 18 - December 1. She'll be followed by Alex Raij of La Vara (December 2-15), and then Hillary Sterling of Ci Siamo (December 16-29).
Boubouki @ Francis Kite Club / Saturdays
Francis Kite Club is a bar and community space that hosts everything from live music and poetry nights to live figure drawing, and they’ve now started hosting food pop-ups. On Saturdays, Boubouki is slinging souvlaki and stuffed grape leaves from 5-10pm. Check Francis Kite Club’s Instagram for other food pop-ups and events.
