Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Street Food
By
Jeremy Frost
Published Jul 27, 2004
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jeremy Frost
Published Jul 27, 2004
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is a sucker for a street fair. We're not talking about the neighborhood-based, culturally-themed festivals that pop up from time to time. Those are great, but we'll take the tired old generic street fair - factory-second underwear and all - that pops up on a different Manhattan avenue every Saturday and Sunday from March through November. Sure, they're all the same, but who can resist the predictable variety of these so-bad-for-you-but-so-good movable feasts? Among our favorites:
Spring Rolls: Although there's usually more than one "Thai Food $1.00" sign at a street fair, Gothamist is partial to Erawan's tent. Their spring rolls are crispy, and they use thai sweet-and-sour sauce instead of mass-produced packets of Chinese duk sauce. $1.00.
Mozzarepa: a variation on the "arepa", a cornmeal patty of Colombian origin, this handy sandwich of cornmeal cakes and mozzarella cheese is a hint of sweet and a hint of salt permeated with copious amounts of fat. $3.50.
Deep-Fried Oreos: Oreos, like most foods, are even better when you roll them and batter and deep fry them. They're like a funnel cake filled with melted cookies-and-cream ice cream. Yum. You can find them at zeppole stands; just pray they aren't fried in the same oil as the corn dogs. 6 for $3.00.
Of course, there is more substantive nourishment available, from the ubiquitous Italian sausage cart to more unique ethnic offerings. But these quick grab-and-go items are the perfect snack as you peruse the cheap clothes, posters, and other bric-a-brac in the tents nearby.
See the schedule for the year's remaining street festivals at New York Metro.
Tagged
A HREF
chinese
dogs
Eat on the Cheap
festivals
food
gothamist
ice cream
italian
manhattan
metro
new york
New York Metro
Shopping
spring
spring rolls
street fair
thai
thai food
Jeremy Frost
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .