[August 2024] NYC food pop-ups, events, specials, food festivals, and things to do

Previous: June (I skipped July) 2024 food events

After a brief hiatus, I'm back with more NYC food pop-ups and events.

If you know any other NYC food pop-ups, food events, food-centric (or just interesting and offbeat) things to do happening this month or upcoming, please comment below so we can get it on this list.

Recurring

• Sundays, 10AM-5PM | Grand Bazaar NYC in UWS, Manhattan
• Wednesdays through October, 4PM-10PM | Night Markets NYC: Quisqueya Plaza | The Latin Night Market on Dyckman is a weekly celebration of comida, cultura, and commonidad every wednesday through October in Quisqueya Plaza in Washington Heights, Manhattan | FREE but raffle tickets and more info here
• Fridays, 8AM-1PM | Get a discount on high quality smoked fish (lox yay!) every Friday from Acme Smoked Fish in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Order between noon on Tuesdays to noon on Friday and pick up at your selected pick up time between 8am and 1pm on Fridays
• Saturdays, 10:30AM-2PM or sold out | Brooklyn Curry Project (@brooklyncurryproject) dishing out locally sourced, plant based & gluten free South Indian food from a tent is located on Willoughby Avenue across the street from Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn
• Saturday, 4PM-12AM | Queens Night Market (@queensnightmarket), a large, family-friendly open-air night market in Queens, featuring over 100 independent vendors selling merchandise, art, and food and featuring small-scale cultural performances, all celebrating the rich cultural diversity and heritage of NYC and Queens. Happens weekly in Flushing Meadow, Queens | $5 and under per dish
• Various dates | James Beard Platform events | about $100-$200
• Weekends | Banh does weekend specials (announced via Instagram) in Manhattan Valley
• Multiple dates | matcha classes and Japanese tea classes at Kettl Tea in Greenpoint, Brooklyn | tickets for various classes, $40-$65

August 1 - 4

• 8/2, Friday, 5PM-9PM | The Laksa Shop pop-up (menu) @ Rockaway Brewing Company in LIC, Queens
• 8/4, Sunday, 3PM-8PM | The Laksa Shop pop-up (menu) @ Wild East Brewing Co. in Gowanus, Brooklyn

August 12 - 18

• 8/14, Wednesday, 6:30PM | Beverage Seminar: Mezcal Education with James Beard Award Nominee Bar Clavel. Join Bar Director Dre Levon For All Things Mezcal. @ Pier 57 (25 11th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA) in Chelsea, Manhattan | GA $95
• 8/15, Thursday, 7PM | Dinner: Baltimore’s Bar Clavel x Brooklyn’s Claro. Join Chefs Carlos Raba and TJ Steele for This Mexican Collaboration Dinner. @ Pier 57 (25 11th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA) in Chelsea, Manhattan | Dining Table $170 OR Internal Chefs Counter $185 OR External Chefs Counter $150  
• 8/16, Friday, 5PM-9PM | The Laksa Shop pop-up (menu) @ Rockaway Brewing Company in LIC, Queens
• 8/16, Friday, 6-8PM | Annual Edy's Grocer Anniversary Block Party! Featuring music, ice cream, and more to celebrate 4 zesty years @ Edy's Grocer in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
• 8/16, Friday, 8-11:30PM | Intrepid Summer Beer, Wine, & Spirits Festival @ Intrepid Museum in Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West, Manhattan. Celebrate the USS Intrepid’s 81st Anniversary and join the Intrepid Museum for the second annual Summer Tasting Fest on August 16! Explore the world of wine and mixology with friends as you enjoy your favorite libations. | GA tickets $80.84 via EventBrite OR $49 via Pusld
• 8/17, Saturday, 4PM-12AM | The Laksa Shop pop-up (menu) @ Queens Night Market in Flushing Meadows, Queens.
• 8/17, Saturday, 12PM | Community Tasting: Wild Orchard Tea. Wild Orchard's mission is to produce the most delicious and pure tea, benefiting our health and the health of the natural world. Every sip of Wild Orchard tea reveals the deep flavor of their single-variety tea plant, Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, which is grown on a single farm located on the volcanic island of Jeju, South Korea. Products they'd be sampling: Ayr Matcha Black, Everyday Green, Everyday Black, and Sunday Brunch Loose Leaf Tea. @ Pier 57 (25 11th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA) in Chelsea, Manhattan | This is a free event and does not require a ticket- see you at Platform!
• 8/17, Saturday, 12-7PM | Night Markets NYC: Grand Concourse in the Bronx | FREE, but raffle tickets and more info here
• 8/18, Sunday, 10AM until sold out | Border Town's (@bordertownbk) handmade flour tortilla pop-up @ Commune Wine and Garden in Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn
• 8/18, Sunday, 10AM-6PM | JapanFes (@japanfes) in Upper West Side (Broadway, 86th -87th St)

August 19 - 25

• 8/22, Thursday, 4-10PM | Night Markets NYC: West Harlem. The Uptown Night Market is the largest, dopest foodie block party in the The Big Apple, Harlem-style. In West Harlem. | FREE, but raffle tickets and more info here.
• 8/22, Thursday, 6:30-8PM | Essex Market Presents: Talk & Taste - Bright Cooking with Camille Becerra @ The Essex Market Teaching Kitchen in LES, Manhattan. Sample the exciting modern urban vibes of chef Camille Becerra's bold new cookbook, Bright Cooking. A cooking demo and tasty eats (included with admission!) will let you tune into this pioneer of the healthy chic food movement, whose first restaurants took root on the Lower East Side. | $10 for admission only OR $42.50 for admission plus book
• 8/23, Friday, 7PM | Kettl Studio Chef Series: Chef Neal Harden x Kettl Dinner Pairing. Chef Neal Harden will join us at Kettl Studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn for three seatings, featuring a special multi-course tasting menu paired with a selection of rare teas from Kettl's catalog and exclusive selections sourced for these events. Each seating is limited to 12 guests. | $200 tickets
• 8/23, Friday | Tikkun BBQ pop-up (@tikkunbbq) @ Dutch Kills in Astoria, Queens
• 8/24, Saturday | Tikkun BBQ pop-up (@tikkunbbq) @ Dutch Kills in Astoria, Queens. | Part 3 of the 3 part Community Cookout Movie Night Series by @tikkunbbq in collaboration with @astoriahorrorclub and @31staveopenstreet this summer. Free horror movie, free hot dogs / free bbq chicken / etc., free Narcan and more. Tonight's movie: Poltergeist. Location somewhere abouts 31st Ave and 34th Street in Astoria, Queens.
• 8/24, Saturday, 10AM-6PM | Dragon Fest (@dragonfests), an outdoor Chinese food & culture festival with experiential activities, tastings, and market fairs that showcases the vibrant food, art and cultural traditions from China. In Broadway, 12-14th St, New York in East Village, Manhattan
• 8/24, Saturday, 5:30PM | Kettl Studio Chef Series: Chef Neal Harden x Kettl Dinner Pairing. Chef Neal Harden will join us at Kettl Studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn for three seatings, featuring a special multi-course tasting menu paired with a selection of rare teas from Kettl's catalog and exclusive selections sourced for these events. Each seating is limited to 12 guests. | $200 tickets
• 8/24, Saturday, 11AM-6PM | Jakarta Day at Indonesian Street Festival NYC. The annual Indonesian Street Festival New York is back, bigger than ever! Commemmorating both the 79th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence and the 75th Anniversary of Indonesia - US relations, this year’s festival will showcase you everything about Indonesia’s biggest city: Jakarta. Experience Indonesian culture and culinary richness at 68th Street between Madison and 5th Avenue.
• 8/24, Saturday, 12PM | Community Tasting: TOCHI Popcorn. TOCHI is a family-founded brand on a mission to reimagine popcorn that doesn’t taste like air, and celebrate diversity with flavors that go beyond kettle, butter, or sea salt. They will be sampling their gourmet popcorn line which features unique culinary ingredients from Asia, including Black Sesame from Japan, Ube from the Philippines, Milk Tea from Taiwan, and Salted Egg from Singapore. @ Pier 57 (25 11th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA) in Chelsea, Manhattan | This is a free event and does not require a ticket- see you at Platform!
• 8/24, Saturday, 10AM-6PM | JapanFes (@japanfes) in East Village (Broadway, 8th - 9th St)
• 8/24, Saturday, 12-3PM | Rooftop Tipsy Scoop Boozy Ice Cream Social At Rory's Rooftop & Puttery, West Village, Manhattan. | $19 via Pulsd
• 8/25, Sunday, 8PM | Kettl Studio Chef Series: Chef Neal Harden x Kettl Dinner Pairing. Chef Neal Harden will join us at Kettl Studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn for three seatings, featuring a special multi-course tasting menu paired with a selection of rare teas from Kettl's catalog and exclusive selections sourced for these events. Each seating is limited to 12 guests. | $200 tickets
• 8/25, Sunday, 10AM-6PM | Dragon Fest (@dragonfests), an outdoor Chinese food & culture festival with experiential activities, tastings, and market fairs that showcases the vibrant food, art and cultural traditions from China. @ 826 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 in East Village, Manhattan
• 8/25, Sunday, 10AM-6PM | JapanFes (@japanfes) in East Village (4th Ave, 9th - 11th St)

August 26 - 31

• 8/31, Saturday, 3-5PM | Brooklyn Oyster Festival @ BK Backyard Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Unlimited Oysters from Blue Island Oysters served from 3:00pm-5:00pm, 1 Complimentary Heineken Silver Beer. Additional Drinks Available for Purchase. | $55.20 via Eventbrite OR $45 via Pulsd
• 8/31, Saturday, 10AM-6PM | Dragon Fest (@dragonfests), an outdoor Chinese food & culture festival with experiential activities, tastings, and market fairs that showcases the vibrant food, art and cultural traditions from China. In Forest Hills, Queens

Upcoming (so grab cheaper tickets now)

• 9/7, Saturday, 12-4PM | Pig Island 2024 @ Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden on Staten Island. Celebrate 15 years of Pig Island NYC™ at this all-inclusive festival of traditional BBQ and global flavors. With complete freedom to explore their most creative ideas, more than 20 chefs and restaurants compete for top honors from a panel of Expert Judges. At Pig Island NYC™, you get to try every dish, from whole hog roasts to bites of belly to aged country ham. | $49 via Pulsd OR $70.42 via event website
• 9/7, Saturday, 1-9PM | NYC Margarita March. An awesome day of fun, excitement, entertainment and, of course, excellent Margaritas! Enjoy the best margaritas at 8 of the leading bars and restaurants in your city, all included in your ticket. A portion of ALL proceeds will go to non-profit and charitable organizations. All we ask is that you TIP your bartender & server for providing you with a great time! | $29 via Pulsd OR Early Bird tickets $50.61 OR GA $81.74 via Eventbrite
• 9/10-10/15, Tuesdays, 6-7:45PM | Breaking into Food Writing with Devra Ferst. Join us this fall for a 6-week intensive course on breaking into food writing led by veteran food writer and editor Devra Ferst. Classes will be held over Zoom. September 10, 17, 2 and October 1, 8, 15. | $650 via Archestratus
• 9/15, Sunday | The 12th Annual Momo Crawl in Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights, Queens. Tickets not out yet, but follow their Instagram account for updates
• 9/21-22, Saturday and Sunday, 10AM-6PM | NYC Hot Sauce Festival @ Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Witness the Insanity of the Stage of Doom, FREE Hot Sauce Tastings, Enjoy Our Selection of Craft Beers, Specialty Cocktails & Amazing Food Vendors. This is the 11th Anniversary of the NYC Hot Sauce Expo & we will showcase the greatest sauce companies in the United States & Canada. All Award Winning & All Amazing. | GA $15, Craft Beer Package $45, or Ultimate VIP Package $100 via website OR discounted tickets: $29 Craft Beer Package OR $59 Ultimate VIP Package via Pulsd

Where to find other food pop-ups and events

• Resy has a Events and Special Experiences page if you've got money and want to spend it on fancy shit