Night markets are a quintessential part of many Asian cultures. As the sun slips down, the overwhelming heat of the day cracks, signaling “it’s go time!” Dozens, sometimes hundreds, of stalls take over the streets. Woks get fired up. Shoes and t-shirts are laid out. A cacophony of voices, banging pans, laughter, and yelling accompany thick scents wafting through the air. Night markets are hubs for commerce, community, and plenty of epic eats.
(Read about my experience at a Tapei night market HERE and Koh Samui night market HERE!)
New York City is finally catching onto the idea of night markets. And a brand new one by Urban Space has been launched in Union Square for the month of July.
The Frugal Foodies were invited to the opening night to give the eats a try. Obviously we had to go to find the best deals….
Here are 5 can’t miss eats at the Union Square Night Market that are all $15 or less.
1. Coconut Crusted Shrimp from Mama’s Cupboard, $9
Mama’s Cupboard is a fast-casual Vietnamese-inspired spot serving up the likes of banh mi, rice bowls, noodle bowls, and salad. While their brick and mortar spot is in midtown east, Mama’s Cupboard is no stranger to the Urbanspace pop-up market scene.
The menu boasted banh mis, puffs, and skewers, and they had the longest line of the Union Square Night Market. We got the coconut crusted shrimp skewer ($9), which was perhaps my favorite bite of the entire night. The coconut crust was light and crispy with an ever-so-soft sweetness that balanced out the spicy cilantro aioli beautifully. Each bite was juicy, crispy, sweet, and spicy with a little hint of salt. I could have eaten 6 of them. Next time, I will try the coconut shrimp banh mi because I have an inkling it’s wonderful.
2. Empanadas from Palenque, $5 each
Palenque has been serving up Colombian dishes made with good-for-you ingredients since 2011. Their entire menu is gluten free with a dough made from organic brown rice, quinoa, sesame, flax, and chia seeds. Palenque has a brick and mortar shop in Brooklyn, but is not stranger to the New York City pop up market scene.
We ordered two empanada which were a sensible $5 a pop. Sally, Jeremy’s sister, has celiacs and she enjoyed the chicken one while Jeremy and I split the marranita, which was filled with pork belly and sweet plantain. It was bliss. The balance of sweet to salty was spot on, and the sauces added pops of heat. What really sold me on this empanada was the texture of the dough. It has a delightful graininess with a taste that I can only describe as “wholesome.”
3. Burger, Fries, and Soda combo from Caracas Grill, $12
Caracas Grill serves up smash burgers and wings. After 5 minutes of Googling, I’ve surmised that it’s a new concept with no brick and mortar locale.
The burger wasn’t bad! I liked the addition of little fried potatoes on top and the patty had a nice char. One note is that I think it could have used some sort of special sauce on top. The fries were well-seasoned and crunchy. And $12 is a stellar deal for the combo!
4. Lamb Shawarma Wrap from Hen House, $15
Hen House is a Lower East Spot that serves up Lebanese cuisine. You can get classic Lebanese street food, like a chicken shawarma pita wrap or a soujouk platter. But Antony Nassif, the owner, is constantly coming up with unique specials– notably a Lebanese crunch wrap supreme.
Hen House started as pop up at Smorgasburg before the LES locale opened in 2023. Seeing them at the Union Square Night Market wasn’t a surprise. The totally loaded shawarma wrap for $15, however, was a surprise.
The lamb had a hearty char and they didn’t skimp on the tahini. Pickles and onions gave each bite a crunch. And I liked that the thinner flat bread was crisped up on the griddle. All in all, a solid shawarma wrap!
5. Pastéis de Nata from Joey Bats Cafe, $4
Pastéis de Nata is a Portugese pastry that consists of a warm flaky pastry filled with a rich egg custard. The Joey Bats website describes them as “imagine a warm creme brûlée wrapped in a flaky croissant….” which is 100% accurate.
These are hands down the best Pastéis de Nata I’ve had in the city. The pastry is warm and flakey. The filling is rich, thick, and just sweet enough with a generous addition of cinnamon. Powdered sugar on top ties it all together. It’s one of those desserts I dream about.
The Urbanspace Union Square Night Market has some solid options that won’t break the bank.
Plus…. who doesn’t love a night market?! Catch it every Thursday through August 1st, 12-9pm!
