This Weekend’s Must-Eat Food Pop-ups & Drops in NYC

Written By 8it Team

Let’s be real…keeping track of all NYC’s food pop-ups and limited-edition dish drops has been nearly impossible. Over the last few decades, pop-ups have been on the rise in NYC and 8it has become the go-to source for tracking all of them and helping these entrepreneurial chefs get discovered. From chef residencies to sidewalk pop-ups, we've sifted through the culinary chaos on Instagram to bring you a handpicked selection of NYC's finest pop-ups and limited-edition drops that you should dig into this week. Consider this your backstage pass to the hottest pop-ups & limited-edition eats in NYC! Dive into our weekly curated list of upcoming food adventures before they disappear 🧨💥

March Madness is all about picking favorites—but let’s be real, the underdogs are always the ones worth rooting for. At 8it, we’re betting on the food world’s Cinderella stories: the pop-ups and drops that come out of nowhere and dominate. This weekend’s lineup has both—the heavy-hitters bringing the hype and the unexpected gems ready to take the crown. Whether you're playing it safe or rolling the dice, get your brackets ready, because the only thing getting eliminated here is your self-control.

Dacha 46
Talea Beer Co - Williamsburg // 87 Richardson St, BK // Fri 3.21

📸 @dasha_46

Dacha 46 isn’t just here to play—they’re here to win. Best known for their dumpling game, this underdog pop-up is making a power move at Talea Beer Co. this weekend, dropping a Khachapuri-inspired pelmeni wrapped in carrot dough and topped with Borodinsky breadcrumbs & dill. It’s a bold, unexpected play, but that’s exactly why we’re betting on it. Plus, with DJ Joey Disco setting the vibe and 10% of sales supporting JDC Joint’s work in Ukraine, this is a Cinderella story worth showing up for.

Nowon x Hen House
Hen House // 120 1st Ave, NYC // Fri 3.21

📸 @nowon.usa

Some teams dominate the game, but the real magic happens when an unexpected duo shakes things up—like Jae Lee of Nowon linking up with Hen House for a one-day-only set menu that’s straight-up unstoppable. This collab fuses Korean and Mediterranean flavors into a lineup of heavy hitters: Korean Chopped Cheese Hummus, Batata Harra Teok-Bokki with Toum, and Lamb Shawarma Kimbap. The set is $50 and the limited quantity is gonna fly, so DM Hen House to lock yours down stat.

Kumquat Cake Donuts
Elbow Bread // 1 Ludlow St, NYC // Thru Sun 3.23

📸 @elbowludlow

I have a soft spot in my heart—and an endless hole in my stomach—for anything Elbow Bread puts in their window. (No joke, I once got the Vanilla Challah Honey Bun twice in one week… the same week I got the Black Bread Cream Cheese Date Sandwich). So, it goes without saying that I can’t wait to get my hands on this weekend’s drop: Candied Kumquat Black Sesame Buttermilk Sourdough Cake Donuts. In a bracket full of winners, this is the kind of top seed that sells out fast—don’t sleep.

Intermission
With Others // 340 Bedford Ave, BK // Thru Sat 3.22

📸 @intermission.intl

Intermission is back at With Others, serving up a menu with seasonal ingredients at its core. Green garlic, peas, fava beans, and rhubarb are peeking their heads back out with this sweet sunshine, making their return to the menu. Fresh seafood, Kinderhook Farm pork, and great wine will be aplenty. No reservations, but if you are determined to secure your spot, you can reach out to Chef Jay Wolman directly on IG and he’ll try to make that happen. Call it a Cinderella story—this lineup is primed for a deep tournament run.

Strawberry-Passion Fruit Tart
Hani’s Bakery // 67 Cooper Square, NYC // Till strawberries are gone

📸 @hanisbakerynyc

Hani’s Bakery (pssst, it’s pronounced “honey’s”) opened late last year, led by power couple Miro Uskokovic, former Gramercy Tavern Pastry Chef, and Shilpa Uskokovic, a Senior Food Editor at Bon Appétit. With roots in Serbia and India, their nostalgic American-inspired bakes carry global influences. This weekend’s star? A Strawberry-Passion Fruit Tart by fellow Gramercy alum Daniel Alvarez, featuring brûléed pastry, passion fruit custard, and Harry’s Berries. It’s a top-seed contender, but like any tournament favorite, it won’t last long—better grab one before the strawberries run out.

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8it Team
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