It's mid-week and I cannot stop thinking about sunny food-filled weekends. Even though Smorgasburg at any location is usually unbelievably crowded, there is nothing else like it where a group of friends can disperse and buy a bunch of treats to share picnic style at the park. It is hard to pick a wrong spot when each of the 20 something odd vendors are handpicked by the organizers. Some are brand-spanking new Smorgasburg-exclusive food ventures and quite a good bunch are long-time Smorgasburg favorites.
Call it a tourist trap if you'd like. Crowded and expensive it definitely is. But then again so is a majority of the eateries in the rest of New York City. To each their own! The best I can recommend is to pick a good time to visit either their Williamsburg or Prospect Park location. The earlier it is, the less packed it will be. Most people are probably still asleep at 11 AM on a Saturday or Sunday. If an Instagram trendy vendor is a must-try, pre-noon is a wonderful time to avoid lines. They only get busier and busier as the day progresses. The only other times when crowds are small and lines short is when the forecast is dreary. While most vendors do end up showing up, the number of visitors who turn out pales in comparison. Downpours aren't fun for anyone; drizzles are perfect.
Tastes
Raindrop Cake. The hype for this water jelly last year was unreal. I get it, the perfectly smooth round blob looks beautiful in person and in photos. The taste is refreshing and light—a stark contrast to typical Western delights that are carby and creamy. But if you really think about it, this is just congealed water with syrup and soybean powder and it costs almost $10. Make some at home with honey and peanut powder.
If experimenting in the kitchen isn't your thing but you "gots to have", split one amongst 2+ friends. Otherwise it isn't worth it even for a photo.
Carnal. There is something so primitive yet so satisfying about being served meat on the bone. Short rib is one of my favorite types of beef, but I have only ever had it braised and grilled. Smoked and slow-cooked is something completely new to me. Having such a large slab of short rib is even more uncommon.
Don't be fooled by their sign; even though it is described as Beef Short Rib with Bone Marrow, the meat part is the star. Don't even think about being civil. Going hands in and gnawing is the best option. The ligament that holds the meat to the bone is not quite cooked down enough in this fashion to eat with a fork and knife. Pack a toothpick or flosser, be prepared to stand on a long line, and get ready to munch on some good meat.
Mofon•GO. My favorite part about Smorgasburg is discovering new foods. I tend to gravitate more towards Asian flavors whenever I search Yelp, especially if dining in Manhattan. Even though I would love to try other cuisines, the number of options and unfamiliarity to the menu is intimidating. Vendors at Smorgasburg, however, are specialized. Many have 1-3 item menus and the variety comes in the form of toppings and sides.
Mofongo refers to the Puerto Rican dish of fried mashed plantains and stuffed with meats. The one we tried was filled with fried pork and served with sriracha mayo. I think they currently offer it with shredded pork. I am not sure if I am not a fan of mashed plantains or if this could have used something juicier/saucier. I remember it being on the drier side. Is this normal for mofongo?
Craves
Lumpia Shack. Hands down favorite at Smorgasburg that my friends and I get at least once every year we visit. Skinny lumpia is pure love and joy. If frying foods at home wasn't so messy, I would gladly make and stock my freezer with these babies.
Although Lumpia Shack is must-have in general, it isn't a must at Smorgasburg if you'll ever be around the West Village and Washington Square Park as they have a Lumpia Shack Snackbar nearby.
Goa Taco. I wish I knew about the deliciousness that was paratha tacos earlier even after taking just one bite. Even though I have eaten scallion pancakes before, it was just a dish on its own. Wrapping it around meats and veggies is ingenious, might I daresay even better than standard corn tortilla tacos! The flatbread is crispy but still has flaky chewy layers.
Like Lumpia Shack, Goa Taco has 2 storefronts in the Lower East Side and Greenwich Village. If the crowds at Smorgasburg are unrelenting and there are other vendors to try, take a walk across the Williamsburg Bridge afterward and grab Goa Taco on the other side.
Big Mozz. How can anyone not like fried cheese sticks? Lactose-intolerant excluded. These are giant and heavy in all respects. The mozzarella core is the chewiest and stretchiest. Yet it is worth all the calories.
Wishes
Since I haven't gone to Smorgasburg yet this year, here's a list of a few new vendors I want to try.
Burrito Juárez. I just love food wrapped with anything carby. They supposedly make their tortillas fresh and don't stuff with rice (which is usually what a majority of burritos are filled with).
Kreung Cambodia It is still Asian eats but Cambodian food is definitely something new even in New York. I think I read somewhere that said profits made go back to helping the owner's farm in Cambodia.
Ube Kitchen They had me at ube. I won't deny my bias towards anything purple. While halo halo seems easy enough to put together at home, the hardest part is having just enough toppings on hand to not be eating the mixed dessert all week long.
Rutte's Dutch Waffles Stroopwafels are the perfect combination of everything I like: sugary, gooey, and crispy but soft. I've only ever dreamed of having it fresh and hot. All my praises to the person who finally brought the made-to-order version of the Dutch treat Stateside!
Dulcinea Churros & Co. Because one ice cream snack is never enough for an ice cream monster. Although, I am sure I would regret wishing for an ice cream sandwich. My sensitive teeth and (assuming) the hot sun will not make good friends with this sweet treat. Regardless...it looks delicious!
Oops...I accidentally published this draft early.
Oh well! Guess I'll have to finish it then!
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I didn't think I would be able to visit Smorgasburg until it got warm again. But apparently they have moved indoors for the winter. They run every weekend (I think) along with the Brooklyn Flea in a warehouse-like building in Williamsburg. It is easy to miss, but thankfully the organizers had many signs and people to point you in the right direction.
Smorgasburg - Brooklyn Flea Market
80 North 5th Street (at Wythe Avenue)
Since Bestie S was finally free on a weekend, Bestie C and I decided to take the opportunity to bring her to Smorgasburg. (Bestie A unfortunately couldn't make it this time around. Next time!)
I think it is best to go with others, that way you could share and get to try more things. But if sharing is not your cup of tea, that's all right too!
Ramen Burger 
Shredded Beef Ramen Burger $10 ...... Original Ramen Burger $8
The line was pretty short for the Ramen Burgers when we arrived, so we figured Bestie S had to try it at least once. I was surprised to see that they offered a different burger. We were going to try it but found out it was Sold-Out as we reached the front of the line. Although I have personally had enough tries of the original Ramen Burger, I wouldn't mind trying the other one at least once. But it better have tons of juicy sauce! (Because without it the burger just isn't anything too special to sing praises about.)
Outer Borough 
Beef Roll $8
Bestie C had one of these while Bestie S and I were waiting for the Ramen Burger. Her's looked really good + she said it was pretty tasty, so we had to try it for ourselves. At the end of the day, the both of us agreed that this was our favorites of everything that we had. The pancake was really toasty, crunchy, and flaky. We also liked the addition of a bit of sriracha inside. I thought the filling could have had a little more meat compared to the cucumbers though. (Just personal preference.) It was well worth the $8!
Bolivian Llama Party 
Bolivian Rose Petal Lemonade Soda $4
Maracuya Lemonade Soda (Bolivian Passion Fruit & Lemonade Soda) $4
Mora Basil Soda (Andean Blackberry Basil Lemonade) $4
Of the 3 sodas that we got, I liked the Maracuya Lemonade Soda the most. It tasted a lot like fizzy pineapple juice. But these aren't something that I would buy again, or really recommend. They lose their fizzies really quickly.
Red Hook Lobster 
New England Clam Chowder - $7
I have never had clam chowder before, but Bestie S has (from her school cafeteria). Unsurprisingly, she said that this tasted way better in comparison. I, on the other hand, thought this was really good! Definitely great for a cold and chilly day. Maybe I need to go on a "Best clam chowder" search? Any recommendations for places in NYC?
Rice & Miso Everyday 
Grass-fed Beef Grilled Rice Ball - $5 (or was it $6...forgot :X)
At this point all three of us were pretty stuff, even after we made a round through the flea market section of the warehouse. When we came back to the food area, the smell from this stall was just too attracting. Perhaps it was the sesame oil they used to grill the rice balls with? Plus, their lines were pretty consistently long. So we gave it a try. We all thought that this wasn't anything really special. Just brown rice with a little bit of beef. Scents are so deceiving! Another miss that day. They did offer rice with curry, which seemed interesting...but we were way too full to have rice + curry.
The Bruffin 
Spanish Bruffin - Chorizo & Manchego Cheese - $5
Bestie C had this on her list before we even bought anything, so I thought I should give it a try too. I ended up buying one of these to try at the very end of our trip to devour during the walk to the subway station. The Bruffin is suppose to be a mix between a muffin & brioche. I'm pretty sure I've never had brioche, but this bruffin's textures (buttery and flaky) are reminiscent of a croissant. It was very very cheesy, which I love! Not complaining about that. However, I am not sure if the middle was just very cheesy or a bit undercooked...the center was a little too mushy and soft for my liking. Plus, the very bottom of the bruffin was pretty charred and stuck to the paper wrapping.
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I was hoping to eat some lumpia again from the Lumpia Shack but unfortunately they weren't offerred at this location. (I think it has to do with a No-Frying-Allowed rule.) Instead there was an Adobo Shack, which I am assuming is from the same people as the Lumpia Shack. Their rice bowls looked really delicious, but the 3 of us agreed that it probably isn't the smartest choice to pick when there are soo many other stalls to try. Maybe next time! I definitely want to try more Filipino food.
There seemed to also be a lot more stands that sold sandwiches this time around. & Big sandwiches at that. Even though it is probably well worth the money, sandwiches are too filling for people/groups, like us, who go to Smorgasburg just to try food. That being said, they did look tasty though! I think I need to see if they have physical restaurants or trucks that I could go visit..
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I also bought a pack of Black N' White S'mores to take home to my little brother (which we haven't eaten yet), along with 2 bottles of dressing from Momo Dressing. I'll try to update this post with photos of the S'mores later on today!
Has anyone else visited Smorgasburg's winter location yet?
After the first time I went to Smorgasburg, I said really wanted to go back again. Bestie C and I finally got the chance to squeeze in a visit Saturday. The weather forecast for the day predicted clouds and a bit of precipation. But it was sunny, almost cloudless, and pleasantly windy all day. The perfect weather (minus the sudden gusts of wind) for going to an outdoor food gathering.
Vermont Maple Lemonade Stand
Butternut Donut - $1
We actually got to Williamsburg about half an hour too early. All the vendors were still setting up and we could only sit and wait for them. The two of us were starving! So when we saw a stall with these dollar donuts, we grabbed one for each of us and devoured it. I thought my donut tasted a little bit stale, but it could just be that the donut is a lot denser and more muffin like than what I am use to for a donut. I love that it wasn't overly sweet, just right for me. The sweetness came mostly from the coating so (I think) it balanced well with the butternut donut.
Ramen Burger - $8
Since we arrived super early, the line for the ramen burger was still really short. So...we thought why not...!? I know I said I probably wouldn't buy it again but that was because I expected the lines to be always really long. Again, I felt that the burger was alright. I would have preferred it to have sauce on both noodles buns because it makes it taste SO much better IMO, otherwise the no-sauce bites of ramen tasted a bit bland. Throughout the day we overheard others who tried it and there were overall mixed reviews. I guess it's a personal preference kind of thing? It's definitely a novelty idea and worth at least a try.
Mighty Quinn's
Big Brisket Sandwich - $9 (the Lil sandwiches are $5)
The first time we went to Smorgasburg, we noticed the line for Mighty Quinn's was on par with Ramen Burger's line but didn't get to try their stuff. This time around I couldn't give up the chance again. We were going to get the 'lil' sandwich because we had just finished the ramen burger. But then I noticed how tiny and bite-sized the 'lil' sandwich was. That was definitely a one person sandwich. Plus, the price point of that wasn't worth getting two small ones...so one big sandwich it was. Anyways! I really liked the brisket. It was pretty moist and juicy. The only thing negative was I thought the buns (or top bun in particular) was a bit too thick for my liking.
Pecan Patti
Pomegrante Sweet Tea - $6
Fresh Ginger Sweet Tea - $6
Of all the stands that I remember of that offered non-alcoholic drinks, the teas from this stand probably gives the most value for your money. There was another stand(s) that sold quart-sized drinks but their prices were closer to the double digit range. I liked it so much that I decided to buy the ginger tea to take home for my family to try. I can't pick a favorite though...they all tasted very good to me.
Lumpia Shack
Sampler (L to R ... 3 of each: Original, Vegetarian Truffled Adobo Mushroom, Peking Duck) - $9
I also wanted to try this the last time I went to Smorgasburg but was discouraged by the price. This time I didn't care so much because I really wanted to try lumpia at least once. (I blame itsjudyslife for this craving! :P) I'm glad they offered a Sampler on their menu since I am rather indecisive when it comes to food. This was by far my favorite savory dish of the day. Of course, who wouldn't love a bit of fried food? However...I was kind of expecting them to be bigger or even longer. This seemed more like an appetizer/snack portion. Is this the standard lumpia size? I really have no idea :X
Butter & Scotch
Sticky Toffee Trifle - $6
At this point in the day, I was already pretty full from all the foods and liquids. But I spotted a couple eating this concoction and my sweet tooth was craving it. I've never had a trifle before. Basically this one was a layered dessert with toffee cake baked with some sort of fruit (I think), along with TONS of cream. I think I heard the lady at the stand say there was rum or something alcohol-y in it as well. (I am not sure about this one actually...but judging from their name, Drunk Bakers, I'd say it's safe to assume some is in there.) It was delicious. But of course very indulgent. & I will proudly say I don't regret getting it ^__^
Momo Dressing
Sesame Dressing 12oz - $7 ... (8oz - $5)
I tried Soba noodles over the summer and wanted to try eating it in a different way (other than with spicy soy sauce). The people at the Momo dressing stand recommended the Sesame version for soba. *Cross my fingers* I hope it end up I liking it! I'm actually not a big fan of sesame seeds, but do like sesame flavor. (I know that sounds very contradicting...) Has anyone tried a sesame sauce before with noodles? How is that combo?
Has anyone else made a visit to Smorgasburg yet? What did you try? What are your recommendations?
If you haven't and will be in NYC before the end of November, you still have the chance to visit!
After Bestie C took me to Smorgasbar at South Street Seaport, we both knew we had to make a trip to Smorgasburg in Brooklyn. They actually have 2 separate locations, one for Saturday and another for Sunday. Since we went yesterday (Saturday), we had to make the trek to Williamsburg to get our tummies filled up. Otherwise, Sunday go-ers would need to find their way to the DUMBO location.
Smorgasburg Williamsburg | East River State Park | 90 Kent Ave & North 7th Street | 11AM - 6PM
Smorgasburg DUMBO | Tobacco Warehouse | 30 Water Street | 11AM - 6PM
It was both of our first time going to Williamsburg so inevitably we ended up taking a full 2 hours to reach the destination once we left our houses. Mostly because we took one too many subway transfers and rode the longer way there. Now we know better for next time! The L train is VERY VERY close to the Williamsburg location (as in just a few avenues). When in doubt, I think it's probably safe to walk towards the water!
Dough
Hibisbus Doughnut - $2.75 each
I made sure I went on an empty stomach. But by the time we got to Smorgasburg, I was starving. I did my homework/research the night before and knew my first stop had to be to get a donut. Have to fulfill my sweet tooth early! I can't say I loved this doughnut though, a little too sweet for my liking. (It could be because all the sweetness comes from the thick top layer of icing.) The doughnut itself was very fluffy and soft. This is something I would prefer to share rather than finish whole by myself.
Best Summer
Poached Shrimp & Brisket Summer Rolls - 2 for $7 ... 3 for $10
Something Bestie wanted to try, so we shared two. I think this was one of the duds of the day. It tasted rather...ordinary. I liked the peanut sauce though.
Home Frite
Fry Cone with Summer Peach BBQ sauce - $5
Something we got to munch one while we were on the long line for a ramen burger. The fries got saltier as we ate towards the bottom of the cone and many of the pieces were just small potato bits. Wasn't a big fan of this buy. However, I saw that their website listed special fries with duck, bacon cheddar, or even poutine. Perhaps next time!
The line for the famous Ramen Burger was LONG! We started waiting around 12:30 ish and I think we stood for a total of 1.5 hours, plus or minus some. This is just showing the 2nd turn of the line. It went on past 2 light poles!
Halfway through, the creator came towards us counting off the number of burgers they had left. To our luck, he stopped at a pair of hopeful customers right in front of us and handed off the "I might be the lucky person" cardboard signage! Even though they wanted to purchase 2 burgers, he said there was only 1 left. Despite hearing this, Bestie insisted we stick it out...JUST IN CASE.
Ramen Burger - $8
Luckily for us and a few people behind us, we were able to get our hands on a ramen burger. (We only intended on getting one to share anyways.) Who knows how that happened! But I'm glad there was enough for us. Their wrapping was really interesting. But I really wish we knew about it's secret technology before hand. According to Keizo Shimamoto's blog, the wrapper is suppose to hold all the juices/soup from the burger..but it ended up all over us instead.
The both of us agreed that it was good while it lasted. We particularly liked the burger and sauce combo more so than the noodles...but it did give the burger a very interesting texture. I suppose it would be closest to how it would feel to eat a bite of ramen and a hamburg steak together. This is probably not something I would line up so long (and under the scorching sun) for again. Unless...maybe if they offered a different version? Of course, I do not regret trying it. It's always great to try new foods!
BiteMe Cheesecake
Chocolate Lust - $3 each ... Box of 3 $9 ... Box of 12 $36
After the long wait for a ramen burger was over, we headed to yet another long line to grab ourselves a refreshing drink. But my sweet tooth was tingling again when I noticed this stall. They didn't have the flavors that I originally wanted to try, so I ended up choosing the oddball chocolate of what they did have. It was very reminiscent of a brownie in texture. I really like the bite size portion, but it is rather pricey. Yet...I still want to try the other flavors as well. Err I'm conflicted!
Pecan Patti
Citrus Sweet Tea - $6
The star of the day! Of course, a day full of waiting on lines probably made this taste extra good. We saw so many people walking around & on the ramen burger line with these mason jars. The line for the tea was surprisingly very long as well. Thankfully, this was well worth the wait! & You definitely get a good deal for your money. The mason jar probably holds about 4 cups of the tea and ice. However...the menu sign for this stand was a little confusing. Bestie C mistaken their dessert menu for the tea flavors because some of their sweets were also sold in jars. (We should have figured from the names but we really did think they just had really quirky drink names.) The signs and descriptions for the teas can only be seen once you reach their table. Luckily, we overheard others around us and made our decision just before we reached the stand. This would definitely be on my list to buy if I visit Smorgasburg again.
After today, I did get a few shades darker. But I must say, I don't mind it. I am in need of lots of vitamin D anyways! Despite the long lines and scorching sun, I still want to visit again. There are so many vendors, so many different foods to try, all located in one place. It is hard to resist. I didn't even get to try all the vendors I had on my list, there are still 8 left. Considering that we were able to go to more than 6 between the both of us, I think one more visit to Smorgasburg should be enough to satisfy me. But of course I won't complain if I get to go more than once! Luckily, this food gathering continues on until late November. So there is still plenty of time to get my food fix.
Has anyone else gone to Smorgasburg? How was your experience?
Are there similar food gatherings where you live?
