In today's world, music drop culture and food drop culture have become two sides of the same coin. Just like your favorite rapper drops a highly-anticipated album, a chef can also drum up buzz and excitement by unveiling a new dish. Both the music and food industries love the element of surprise, teasing their fans with cryptic previews and sneak peeks. And just like a new album, a new dish can generate some hype with food-lovers like you being first in line to try it. This week, we’re hyping up a global culinary voyage, a BBQ pop-up guaranteed to top the charts, a street food fest back with more hits, and a “choose your own adventure” doughnut drop.

As always, this article is just a small taste of the pop-ups and drops in the 8it app. Hit the green button below each dish to access 8it and get all the deets. (Private Beta password: NYCPOPUP)

Queens Night Market
Flushing // Saturdays Starting 4.15

Queens Night Market is kicking off its eighth season running with two ticketed preview nights the next two Saturdays before it hits full bloom on April 29. Famous for its $5 price cap on food and hundreds of rotating vendors, cuisines of more than 90 different countries have been represented at Queens Night Market over the years; almost half of the world’s countries. From Trinidadian shark sandwiches by Caribbean Street Eats to pan-fried noodles by Hong Kong Street Food, a walk around Queens Night Market is like a global voyage without the chance of getting seasick. An impressive feat considering it all goes down within Corona Park in Queens. Tap the globe below for all the info.

Tikkun BBQ
Ditmars Steinway // 4.22

Tikkun has been frequently testing out new concepts as of late with Oklahoma smash burger and chopped cheese pop-ups, but they sling some of the best BBQ in NYC. They’re going back to those roots at SingleCut in Queens next Saturday. So far this year, Tikkun has been doing BBQ once per month, and in March they sold out within three hours. Expect the usual suspects like ribs and chicken, but also the unexpected- last month, they ran smoked pulled lamb and spaghetti with charred poblano sauce, cilantro, and cotija. Brisket won’t be available by the pound this time, but they will have beef ribs, and you can pre-order a brisket whenever they have a BBQ pop-up. This is a sell out waiting to happen, so make sure you tap the bookmark button in the 8it app to add this to your MUST-EATS. Tap the smoke cloud below for all the info.

Philippines Fest
Chelsea // 4.15

It’s been too long since fumes emanating from lechon, sisig, and adobo filled the NYC streets and now that the outdoors are once again habitable, Philippines Fest is back for its first of the year. There’s never been a better reason to grab a lumpia or twenty and walk around until the food coma sets in so you can nap in the sun. Sisig Ng Bayan will be dropping a sisig crunch wrap and a sisig nacho nest to add to their menu that already boasts classic pork or chicken sisig over rice. Taco bell could never. Tap the Filipino flag below for all the info.

Grilled Cheese vs. BEC Doughnut
West Village // 4.21-4.23

NYC’s Willy Wonka of doughnuts: The Doughnut Project, is dropping a collab with New School Quality American Cheese next weekend, and you can cast your vote for what doughnut they drop by commenting on the 8it Instagram page. We got in the lab with Leslie Polizzotto and came up with two doughnuts that could each break the internet and start a line from Morton Street to Washington Square Park, but you must choose ONE. The options are a BACONEGGNCHEESE Everything Doughnut with Frank’s Red Hot Glaze or a Grilled Cheese Doughnut with Tomato Soup Glaze. Choose your fighter and hopefully you can tip the scales toward your preferred doughnut drop. Tap the scales below for all the info.

Beta password is: NYCPOPUP

Psst…If you’ve made it this far, you probably give a damn about what we’re doing at 8it. Our founder Steve would love to get to know you. Hit this link to lock in 15 minutes to say what’s up.