As a pescatarian, food festivals can always feel a bit risky. However, Smorgasburg World Trade Center did not let me down.
There are many options there for even the pickiest eaters. Once the savory is out the way, there are even more options to feed that sweet tooth.
With 3 different locations, EVERY weekend (Friday is World Trade Center's Day), Smorgasburg holds the crown for NYC food festivals. The best part is that everything is pretty affordable.
Want amazing eats and a perfect date on a Friday? Working and looking for lunch in the financial district? Or just hungry lol?
Then Smorgasburg World Trade Center is the place for you! This post will give you a head start with a review of my top 5 picks from what I ate at the food festival!
My Top 5 Smorgasburg World Trade Center Picks Reviewed:
1. Yakitori Tatsu: Scallops
These Scallops actually caught me by surprise. The scallops were really tender, juicy and sweet!
It actually came with 3, but I jumped into that first one a bit too quick. For 5 bucks it was worth it.
Charred to perfection with a satisfying smoky taste. Full transparency, I ended up getting right on line for another one! Can't wait to go back.
Rating: 8.5/10
2. Jakarta Munch: Tofu Bowl
I was pleasantly surprised here! I’ve been to bali and the food was really good and this was no different.
My protein was tofu and it was well cooked and seasoned, which is impressive for tofu honestly. It wasn't just squishy and tasteless (I've been there)
The tofu was met with a bit of spice, pickled onions and the sweet sauce you see all around the the plate. The sauce wasn’t so sweet where it clashed with savory, but sweet enough to give you a tasty soy sauce that had the perfect amount of spice. It was a mix of soy sauce, ginger, garlic & cinnamon.
The rice was sticky and make sure you ask for the shrimp shallot sauce (the sriracha like sauce in the corner, near the fork). It was a random add on in the end, but I'm happy I tried it. I Went back to get more.
Rating: 8.5/10
3. Carlitos Barbecue Taqueria: Fish Taco
You guys will learn overtime that I eat a lot of tacos, and these did not fall short.
The tortilla had a homemade taste and was put on the grill for a good amount of time. It wasn't mushy, but also not tough.
This fish taco had a thin layer of breading I actually appreciated. It was topped with red cabbage, grilled onions and chipotle mayo sauce (like I said in the El Jeffe Review, I LOVE chipotle mayo). The fish was fresh, juicy and flaky.
Rating: 8/10
4. Parish New Orleans Po-boy: Shrimp Po-boy
Look at this picture and you could tell this was packed with flavor!
This po-boy packed a subtle kick of spice that sits on the tongue through the entire meal with Cajun shrimp flavor in every bite. When you think cajun shrimp, this is exactly what I expect.
Garlic butter and herbs come together to create a juicy sauce that made my taste buds dance.
Only thing I would say is the bread was a bit tough, but it was fine. I ate a good amount of the shrimp outside the sandwich and then the pieces inside with the sauce dripping in the bread still hit the spot.
Rating: 8.3/10
5. The Little Sicilian: Cannoli
Had to end it off with dessert & cannolis always hit the spot.
This cannoli was pretty soft, which I actually preferred. The filling was the sweet ricotta goodness we expect, mixed in with what tasted like some small chocolate chips.
I really liked that it wasn't too sweet, even with the powdered sugar on top. I even went back to get another one!
Rating: 8/10
Bonus: Coconut Water
After all that food, there was no other way to wash it down than with some fresh coconut water. It sucks I didn't get the name of the vendor but they had sugar canes, coconuts & more!
When you make the trip to Smorgasburg World Trade Center, don't forget to check out the Jamaican Purple Tent vendor across from Mao Boa for a fresh coconut.
If you're reading this and it's not Friday, I'm so sorry for the built anticipation. From my experience over the years, compared to the other Smorgasburg locations, this one is less crowded and a good vibe. Not to mention the food was great.
Prepping your tastebuds for Smorgasburg World Trade Center is the purpose of this post, and I hope I succeeded.
What's your favorite Smorgasburg pick? Let me know if there's something I must go back and try (I wouldn't mind another trip)
