Where and What to Eat at the US Open

Cathy Erway
·6 min read

Photograph by Karsten Moran

The US Open is one of the world’s premiere sporting events, taking place annually over the two weeks that straddle Labor Day in New York City. But in all my years living here, I’d never gone until I began dating a hobbyist tennis player eight years ago. That changed in 2017, and ever since, the US Open has been one of my favorite times of the year. Even though I can barely pick up a racquet—and even though my now husband might regret introducing me to the sport ever since a teenage sensation by the name of Carlos Alcaraz brought out the latent cougar energy in me—it’s become a tradition in our family. We’ll spend at least two full days at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center each year, which means we’ll eat a lot of its food.

If it’s your first time navigating this tournament, get a Grounds Pass or day session ticket to either of the big stadiums (Arthur Ashe or Louis Armstrong) during the first week. That way you can roam the whole center day and night, catching matches on the smaller outdoor courts as well as the larger enclosed venues. You can often see really good players up close and personal—like the time a doubles-playing Stefanos Tsisipas nearly tumbled out of the court while lunging for a ball, his sweaty ringlets brushing the people in front of me (now do you see why I attend?).

Avoid the lunchtime crush at the Food Village, where queues for popular items like Fuku’s fried chicken sandwich can make you lose precious time chasing down players—I mean matches. At night, this area, the longest stretch of food vendors along a centrally located picnic area, clears up substantially. Otherwise, there are plenty of food vendors inside the big stadiums and plenty of breaks to grab a bite and get back to your seat.

If you're keen on making an event out of the food, Flavors of the Open, is the US Open's mini food fest. With live cooking demos, music, and samples from a slate of celebrity chefs, it's one way to avoid decision fatigue and try a little bit of everything. Alex Guarnaschelli, Kwame Onwuachi, and Simon Kim's COQODAQ are on the roster.

So what should you fill up on? Here are my tips.

Where can you get a good hot dog at the US Open?

It’s not a sporting event—and it’s not New York City—without a good hot dog, and the US Open does not disappoint. Two vendors, Franks & Fries and Franks & Sausages, serve up a foot-long dog, with or without sauerkraut, so you won’t have to leave your seat for a while.

Best bang for your $20?

Food is expensive at the US Open. But for less than $20 you can get an exemplary basket of chicken tenders with seasoned waffle fries from the no-name vendor at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grand Slam Grill, perhaps the best value of the tournament.

After you’ve had your first Honey Deuce, what should you drink next?

Keeping melon ballers out of garage sale bins since 2006, the Honey Deuce is the US Open’s signature cocktail. But pace yourself! Attending this tournament is an endurance sport, so stay hydrated (bring a non-glass water bottle to fill up at fountains). And stay alert by visiting a Lavazza tent for a creamy, earthy cold brew to lift you from the afternoon doldrums.

Most healthyish meal?

Between burgers and barbecue, pastrami and souvlaki, there’s a lot of gut-busting food options at the Open. If you’re looking to avoid the meat sweats, head to Korilla BBQ for a tofu rice bowl, which comes with kimchi, corn and kale, and your choice of two sauces squiggled on top.

Best portable bite?

Trying to get from the Grandstand to Court 17 while grabbing a bite? Skip the sloppy sandwiches and grab a slow-cooked chicken, beef, or spinach and cheese empanada from La Casa de Masa, a vendor that also sells other Latin American grab-and-go snacks like arepas and elotes.

Sweetest way to cool off?

Grab an ice cream bar from a Van Leeuwen cart rather than waiting in line for a scoop at the vendor’s Food Village stand. You’ll find two or three flavors like Toffee Brown Sugar, Vanilla Caramel Swirl and Vegan Wildberry—the perfect way to cap off a hot day in the sun.

Where to get a splurgy sit-down meal?

If you have the time and means, there’s a whole upper echelon of eating at one of the dine-in restaurants in the arena. Most are emblazoned with a celebrity chef’s name—or more than one, as in the case of Aces, a fine-dining spot within Arthur Ashe stadium whose seafood-forward menu features a triumvirate of iron chefs in Masaharu Morimoto, Kwame Onwuachi and Ed Brown serving everything from sushi combos to shrimp escovitch. Next door to it, Benjamin Steakhouse offers classics like wedge salad, lump crab cakes, and steaks costing upwards of $80 (the team says they grill around 300 steaks per day during the main draw), yet it’s a solid splurge. Ben who? Steak Ben—all you need to know.

Outside the Stadium: Where to get breakfast before you go?

Located in Flushing, Queens, the US Open is in a mecca for food lovers, with a dizzying array of international options surrounding it. Get off the screechy 7 train at 111th Street for a comforting Dominican breakfast before heading over. Classics like mofongo, chicharrons and rellenos (stuffed plantains) are served up in a cheerfully adorned dining room at Morena’s Kitchen. Walk it off to the arena for 15 minutes before starting your day session.

Outside the Stadium: Where to get late-night eats?

You’re done for the day as a spectator and still hungry? You’re in luck. Just another subway stop away and you’re at Flushing-Main Street, where regional cuisines from around Asia can be found. There’s trendy hot pot and face-numbing Sichuan spots, as well as relative newcomers like the excellent Thai spot Zaab Zaab. But if you’re eating late, head to a crowd-pleasing standby Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, which serves colorful soup dumplings flavored with the likes of loofah gourd and scallop, and other Shanghainese staples like pan-fried rice cakes, until 1 a.m. on weekends.

Our Guide on Where to Eat in Queens, New York will keep you fed

Originally Appeared on Bon Appétit

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