Queens Night Market: A Foodie's Paradise in Queens, New York

New York City is a bustling cosmopolitan space known for its stunning skyline, mesmerizing Broadway shows, and of course, the famous culinary landscape that serves palates from all over the world… at a cost. In the heart of Queens, however, you can find a slice of this gastronomical heaven at a fraction of the usual price, the Queens Night Market.

queensnightmarket.com

What is the Queens Night Market?

The Queens Night Market (QNM) is a quintessential NYC experience in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, beside the New York Hall of Science. You'll find an array of roughly 50 food vendors serving delectable delicacies from countries as diverse as Ukraine, Haiti, Peru, Cambodia, Singapore, Japan, and more.

Last year, the market averaged 15,000 visitors each Saturday!

Entry to the Queens Night Market is free, and thanks to the sponsorship of Citizens in 2023, the Queens Night Market has been able to maintain its price cap of $6 per plate of food for its visitors.

The market is open every Saturday from 5 pm to midnight. In 2023 the market will be running from April 15th - August 19th and September 16th to October 28th.

Our top picks

• Nihari from Halal Cooco’s Den. The Nihari tasted amazing and I (Zaeem) can vouch for it’s authentic flavour, the meat was succulent and tender and the sauce tasted exactly like the restaurants in Karachi.

• Peruvian Ceviche from Don Ceviche. 2 weeks into our New York trip, both of us had decided that this was the best thing we had eaten in New York. The juicy yet melty flounder in a tangy sauce was unbelievable!

Other things we had

• Chicken tikka and paneer from Sholay BBQ - The chicken was good but the paneer was dry and the masala was chalky.

• Chicken and Lamb skewers from another grill at the start - The lamb was juicy and extremely tasty.

• Chicken Mole from Mixtama - We weren’t impressed with this, it tasted bland.

• Sams’ fried ice cream - There is a huge queue for this and it looks amazing, we were split, Alice loved it and wanted more whereas I thought it was okay, more of a novelty.

Getting to the Queens Night Market

 

Subway

Take the 7 train to 111th Street Station.

Walk south 4 blocks until you pass under an overpass. You will see the Night Market behind the New York Hall of Science on the Left.

(Manhattan-bound 7 trains will skip 111th Street Station through October, so take the Flushing-bound train and transfer or walk to Mets-Willets Point Station)

Bus

Take the Q23 or Q58 to Corona Avenue x 108 Street or the Q48 to 111 Street x Roosevelt Avenue.

Parking

The parking around Queens Night Market is limited and reserved mainly for vendors' vehicles so driving to the market can be difficult but if you do need to go parking is $15 per car. If you want to make sure you secure your parking spot, you can arrive early and spend some time at the New York Hall of Sciences before heading to the market when it opens at 5 pm.

Beyond Food

The QNM isn't just about food (although that’s mainly why we went). While you fill your belly, there's plenty to quench your thirst at the bar and keep you entertained. The night market offers a line-up of music, games, and other fun activities, making it an ideal outing for families. It gets especially exciting on closing night in October when vendors often dress up and serve their food in costumes, promising a night full of delightful surprises.

Towards the end of the night, the DJ starts playing floor fillers and the outdoor dancefloor was pretty busy by the time we left.

The market also hosts stalls selling vintage apparel, hand-poured candles, stationery, gourmet dog treats, handmade jewellery, ceramics, local art, and more. It's a chance to pick up unique, handmade souvenirs or gifts for loved ones.

Top tips for the Queens Night Market

• Remember to bring cash, as most vendors only accept that form of payment. There is an ATM on-site, but it charges $3 for withdrawals, and the lines can get long (although we didn’t have an issue when we went)

• Bring a picnic blanket so you can set up camp on the field to enjoy your food

Also, the lines get quite long around 8 pm at certain stalls, so arrive early if you don’t want to get caught up in the queues and risk certain items being sold out.

Full list of vendors

See a full list for 2023 on the website here.

1. Treat Yourself Jerk Chicken

2. Vincent Farms Natural Foods (Sierra Leonean Cuisine)

3. Go Green Yaks (Tibetan Tsel Bhakleb & Tsamthuk)

4. Anda Cafe (Bubble Tea)

5. Anda Cafe (Bubble Tea)

6. Emeye Ethiopian Cuisine

7. Joon (Persian Stew w/ Crispy Rice)

8. Menya Jiro (Japanese Ramen)

9. Bstro (Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken)

10. Hong Kong Street Food

11. Mister Bocadillos (Esfihas & Sugar Cane Juice)

12. Mister Bocadillos (Brazilian Churrasco)

13. De Rangoon (Burmese Tea Leaf Salad & Shan Noodles)

14. Kanin NYC (Filipino Chicken Adobo & Halo-Halo)

15. MuahChee Alley (Fujianese Lychee Pork)

16. Ay Cachapas! (Venezuelan Cachapas)

17. Chick'n Rotonda (Sisig & Betamax and Adidas Skewers)

18. Lettuce Meat (KBBQ)

19. Tania's Kitchen (Haitian Diri ak Djon Djon & Pikliz)

20. Sweet & Salty (Empanadas)

21. Pernil Ecuatoriano (Cuencan Sanduche de Pernil)

22. Enfes (Turkish Gozleme)

23. Gi Hin Mama Food (Squid & Lamb Skewers)

24. Cambodia Now (Cambodian Fish Amok & Chek Cheng)

25. DiLena's Dolcini

26. Sambuxa NYC (Sudanese Sambuxa & Salat Dakwa)

27. Blintz Box (Blintzes & Borscht)

28. Sholay (Clay Tandoor Kebabs and Roti)

29. La'Maoli (Antiguan Ducuna & Black Pudding)

30. Blaz Inn (Belizean Panades & Garnaches)

31. Tada Noodles (Korean-style Jjajangmyeon)

32. Moon Man (Indonesian Kue Pancong & Kue Putu)

33. Halal Coocos Den (Pakistani Biryani & Nihari)

34. Arepalicious (Colombian Arepas)

35. Matylda's Foods (Polish Pierogies)

36. Persian Eats (Persian Dizi & Saffron Ice Cream)

37. C Bao (Pork and Duck Buns)

38. Burmese Bites (Palata & Noodles)

39. Janie's (Pie-Crust Cookies)

40. Cotton Candy Art

41. Tacos El Guero

42. Nile Street Eats (Egyptian Firakh Panne)

43. Nansense (Afghan Mantu & Chapli Kebabs)

44. La Braza (Roasted Corn & Skewers)

45. La Braza (Roasted Corn & Skewers)

46. Los Almendros (Salvadoran Pupusas & Tamales)

47. The Little Sicilian (Arancini)

48. The Dough Club (Mochi Donuts)

49. Brazilicious (Brazilian Steak Sandwich)

50. TwisterCake (Romanian-Hungarian Chimney Cake)

51. Sichuan Ice Jelly

52. Lemak Kitchen (Malaysian Roti Jala & Roti John)

53. KarachiKababBoiz (Pakistani BBQ Rolls)

54. Taiwanese Yummy (Beef Noodle Soup)

55. Nomad Dumplings (Tibetan Momos)

56. Caribbean Street Eats (Trinidadian Shark Sandwiches & Pholourie)

57. Joey Bats Cafe (Pasteis de Nata)

58. Lion City Coffee (Singaporean Mee Pok & Chai Tow Kway)

59. Nixtamal (Mexican Mole Poblano)

60. Don Ceviche (Peruvian Ceviche)

61. Chop Chop Tea (Hakka Meatballs & Herbal Tea)

62. The Malaysian Project (Ramly Burger & Kaya Toast)

63. Twisted Potato

64. Twisted Potato

65. Sam’s Fried Ice Cream

66. Sam's Fried Ice Cream

A New York Night to Remember

With the perfect blend of food, entertainment, and culture, Queens Night Market provides an unforgettable New York experience, one that's light on the pocket but heavy on satisfaction.

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