What to Eat Around the New Hudson Yards Subway Station

If you're really famished, there are several street carts close by. Across from the entrance a hot dog cart peddling "floaters" perpetually parks, and just to the east we spotted a crepe trailer, of all things. More substantially, six or seven trucks and carts position themselves at the Bolt Bus stop one block west between 11^th Avenue and the West Side Highway on the south side of 34^th Street. These normally include multiple halal curry trucks, a hot dog wagon or two, and juice carts. Two long blocks east, on 33^rd Street between 8^th and 9^th avenues is a lovely landscaped dining courtyard where one or two premium trucks park each day. Called Shipping & Receiving (333 West 33^rd St) and built around a former loading dock, it operates from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and the trucks include Carl's Steaks, Schnitzi, Absolute Greek, and NY Lobster Club.

[The burger at Friedman's and the shrimp po' boy at Porchlight.]

The closest real restaurant to the new station is undoubtedly Friedman's (450 10th Ave, 212-268-1100), the fourth iteration of a comfort-food eatery that started out in the Chelsea Market. It's really a perfect all-purpose spot — a bright barroom in front, dark and comfortable dining room in the rear, a full bar with a nice wine and beer list, and a crowd-pleasing menu of burgers, grilled reubens, veggie bowls, fish tacos, etc., etc. The food is good, if uninspired. If it's mainly a bar you're after, Danny Meyer's new Hudson Yards hot spot Porchlight (271 11th Ave, 212-981-6188) is only a few blocks directly south. The invented cocktails are above average, but food is something of an afterthought. There's a nice lunch of po' boys and a burger (noon until 4 p.m.), but after that, the fodder is mainly bar snacks of a diverse sort (with an emphasis on Cajun/Creole), from hummus to fried oysters to boudin balls.

There are a couple of coffee bars not too far away, if you're mainly interested in upping your blood caffeine levels. The Café Grind (477 10th Ave, 212-279-4100) just north of 36^th Street offers the usual coffee- and tea-based beverages, plus sandwiches and pastries in a no-nonsense setting. If you want a more opulent coffee bar, with gilt-edged mirrors and a brass Victoria Arduino espresso machine, the beverage bar with the sinister name of Death Ave Coffee Roasters (317 10^th Ave, 212-695-8080) may be your place.

To reach a concentration of restaurants with a wealth of choices, you must venture south from the station on 10^th Avenue to the blocks north of 23^rd Street. There find the Swiss-themed restaurant Trestle on Tenth (242 10th Ave, 212-645-5659), where signature dishes include a crepinette of pork shoulder with sauteed spinach, calves' liver with potato rosti, and duck breast with cipollini onions. Just around the corner is Trestle's lunchtime-only (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) sandwich stall, Rocket Pig (463 W 24th St, 212-645-5660), serving a single unusual pork sandwich. Across the street from Trestle on Tenth is the well-regarded bistro, a favorite of Chelsea gallery-goers, Red Cat (227 10th Ave, 212-242-1122), combining French, Italian, and Spanish elements.

[Top: Tresle on Tenth. Bottom: Death Ave (left), and Chop-Shop (right)]

Up the block from Trestle on Tenth are some cheaper options, including the Italian sandwich shop Bottino Take-Out (246 10th Ave, 212-206-6766), which offers heroes and conventional sandwiches, salads, and some hot entrees from the relatively expensive Italian restaurant Bottino, next door. 10^th Ave. Pizza & Café (256 10^th Ave, 212-366-9222) is a classic Italian pizza parlor with comfy seating and a TV to watch while you're eating. It has a sub-specialty of Greek dishes such as spanakopita and gyro platters, but the crisp, thin-crusted cheese calzone is the best thing on the menu. Finally, right next door, Chop-Shop (254 10th Ave, 212-820-0333) offers a creative take on Thai and other Asian food, including noodles, dumplings, and full-blown entrees, bouncy and fun. Wine, beer, and cocktails available.

[Bomboloni from Sullivan Street Bakery and a calzone from 10th Ave. Pizza & Cafe.]

For something sweet, you're going to have to traipse even further, to Sullivan Street Bakery (236 9^th Ave, 212-929-5900), where your choices run to all sorts of Italian-leaning oddities, including the custard-stuffed bombolino and a series of sweet flatbreads. The place also turns out interesting sandwiches (try the chickpea fritter sandwich called the ceci) and poached egg dishes. If you're discouraged by the distance, walk there from the Hudson Yards station on the High Line!