The Hottest Pop-Ups in NYC Right Now

Pop-ups have long thrived in NYC, but over the past couple of years, they’ve become an integral part of the dining scene. These blink-and-you’ll-miss-it events might deliver a thrilling meal for those in the know or offer a peek at dishes that could someday take center stage at a buzzy new restaurant.

The city’s proliferating pop-ups have never been more fun to attend — or harder to keep track of. Below, we’ve got your go-to guide for all meals ephemeral in NYC. Check back each week to track which New York City pop-ups should be on your radar right now.

Know about an upcoming pop-up that should be on this list? Email us at ny@eater.com.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

March 17 — 24

Nora Allen at Cozy Royale

2021 Eater Award-winner Mel’s head baker Nora Allen is participating in an ongoing guest chef series at burger favorite Cozy Royale. On March 20, Allen will make her own take on a burger-soup combo. Reservations are currently booked but walk-ins are available. 434 Humboldt Street, at Jackson Street, Williamsburg

Sonbul at Burly Coffee

This Bed-Stuy coffee shop will host a Korean dinner from pop-up Sonbul, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., on March 17. Expect japchae, mandu (Korean dumplings), seafood pajeon, and Korean-style Philly cheesesteaks. Soju and other drinks will be available. 356 Throop Avenue, near Dekalb Avenue, Bed-Stuy

99 at Rhodora

Cakes and other desserts by baker Mina Park will be available in Fort Greene on Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 19. From 11 a.m. while supplies lasts at the wine bar, find a strawberry milk mousse cake, boba milk profiteroles, mocha-chestnut meringue, and more. 197 Adelphi Street, at Willoughby Avenue, Fort Greene

Din Din at Undisclosed Location

Chef Courtney Sproule, who made the rounds in Portland, Oregon’s supper club season, has been hosting dinners in New York City over the past year. The latest have been dinner parties held at an undisclosed location in Bed-Stuy. On March 18, the dinner series is back for a four-course, $ 60-per-person meal with dishes like lamb speck sausage with hazelnut and porcini in tomato sauce and trumpet mushroom celtuce carpaccio. Seatings for 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. can be booked on Sproule’s website. Location is given upon reservation.

Ongoing

Iftar at Little Flower Cafe

From March 22 through April 21, chef Hamed Abdi will offer home-style Afghan dishes for dinner to break the fast during Ramadan. It’s first come first serve, with to-go plates available at halal cafe Little Flower. 25-35 36th Avenue, at 28th Street, Astoria

Flor Camorlinga at Fulgurances, Laundromat

Camorlinga, an alum of restaurants in Chile and Vespertine in Los Angeles, will be in residence at the Greenpoint restaurant until April 29. The menu mixes in Camorlinga’s Mexican heritage with Asian and European techniques picked up through her travels, such as Korean Mexican fried chicken wings. 132 Franklin Street, Greenpoint Avenue, Greenpoint

Luisa at Freehand Hotel

Luisa, a pop-up natural wine bar, will be at the Studio Cafe space through the end of March. It’s a partnership with the hotel’s Bar Calico. There will be coastal wines, mostly from Spain and Portugal, as well as cured meat plates and, of course, tinned fish. It’s a preview of a forthcoming restaurant Roberta’s alum Maya Serhan hopes to open. Serhan says she plans to collaborate with outside chefs to also “create their version of a tinned fish plate.” Reservations can be made at hello@luisanyc.com. 23 Lexington Avenue, between East 23rd and 24th streets, Gramercy

A Taste of Italy at Dante

As part of an ongoing series through the end of March, Dante is inviting acclaimed bartenders from all over Italy to do a residency at the bar. 79-81 MacDougal Street, near Bleecker Street, Greenwich Village

Soup Doula at Nightmoves

A new soup pop-up is posted up at Four Horsemen’s attached club, Nightmoves, through at least the end of March: Sundays, from 3 to 7 p.m. The menu will change weekly and a DJ will spin during the event. 295 Grand Street, near Havemeyer Street, Williamsburg

Zaza Lasagna at Cobblestone Foods

Chef Zahra Tangorra’s pop-up Zaza Lasagna has returned for another season. Every Friday this winter, customers can pick up pre-orders of lasagna, eggplant parm, pasta e fagioli, and more red-sauce dishes from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Must order online in advance. 220 Atlantic Avenue, near Court Street, Cobble Hill

Big Chune at Prima

Nathanael Cox continues a residency at Clinton Hill’s Prima, a coffee shop that morphs into a wine bar at night. With Big Chune, Cox serves rotating small bites that in the past have included oysters with coconut milk and finger lime, corn fritters, and Jamaican patties. Cox’s menu runs Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 5 to 10 p.m., and Sundays, from 5 to 9 p.m. 147 Greene Avenue, near Washington Avenue, Clinton Hill

March 10 — 17

Cecily at Agi’s Counter

Cecily is a new restaurant coming to Greenpoint this fall from Kristin Ma, a sommelier at Estela; Stephan Ilnyckyj, a chef at Prospect Heights restaurant LaLou; and Tara Noble, a hospitality consultant. Next week, they’re doing a test-run at Agi’s Counter. The dinner will be hosted on March 14, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., with the menu posted ahead of the event. 818 Franklin Avenue, near Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights

Chuddy’s at Mama Yoshi Mini Mart

A Trini pop-up is coming to Ridgewood with dishes like bake salt and fish. It’s going down March 12, noon to 5 p.m. Cash only. 17-11 Grove Street, at Cypress Avenue, Ridgewood

Kit An Kin at Flatbush Central Caribbean Marketplace

Pop-up Kit An Kin is throwing a potluck for the Flatbush community tonight, March 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the recently opened Flatbush Central Caribbean Marketplace. It’s happening in the Mangrove, the space’s shared kitchen. 2123 Caton Avenue, at Flatbush Avenue, Flatbush

March 3 — 10

Strange Delight at No. 7

Strange Delight is hosting its first official pop-up on Sunday, March 5 at No. 7. The new venture is from Anoop Pillarisetti, Michael Tuiach (both on operations), and Ham El-Waylly (on culinary), who are looking for a permanent space in Brooklyn. Expect seafood dishes that El-Waylly has been testing with the team for the eventual restaurant, alongside No. 7’s fried chicken, as well as hush puppies. Tickets are $75 per person, and reservations are open (tickets are sold-out online, but there’s space for walk-ins at the bar). Pillarisetti has been involved with the Momofuku group, Pok Pok, and Shake Shack; Tuiach is also an alum of Shake Shack, and is now a part of the vegan Moonburger drive-thru; El-Waylly, also a longtime veteran of NYC hospitality himself, formerly owned Hail Mary, a Greenpoint diner, in 2016, with his wife and fellow chef Sohla El-Waylly; this will be the first restaurant he’s co-owned since then. 627 Vanderbilt Avenue, near St. Marks Avenue, Prospect Heights

Jessie Yuchen and Tyna Hoang at Winona’s

On March 6, expect a shrimptastic Taiwanese Vietnamese feast of dishes like shrimp heads and pomelo shrimp salad. The family-style tasting menu experience is $100 per person. Reservations are open. 676 Flushing Avenue, near Whipple Street, Bed-Stuy

Bánh by Lauren at Nudibranch

Lauren Tran’s pop-up Bánh by Lauren, this time to the East Village’s Nudibranch, from alums of the Momofuku world. On Sunday, March 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. (or until sold-out) she’ll be selling a la carte slices of bánh bò, pandan coconut chiffon cake, Vietnamese coffee chiffon cake, and bánh cam (sesame balls). Pick-up only. 125 First Avenue, near St. Mark’s Place, East Village

Mayumu at Archestratus

Sunday, March 5 from 1 to 3 p.m. try treats, like adobo chocolate chip cookies and horchata bibingka, from Abi Balingit’s new Filipino American dessert book, Mayumu. 100 percent of the proceeds are going to the Harper Collins Union, from the publisher of her book. 160-164 Huron Street, near Manhattan Avenue, Greenpoint