These eight dishes capture some of the most fun, surprising, and satisfying things to eat near Barclays Center right now. You get everything from playful soft serve and inventive doughnuts to serious ramen, pho, and a sharp cheddar frittata. Each pick focuses on a specific dish, so you know exactly what to order when you walk in.
Every item here comes from 8it’s tight curation process. The team tracks what trusted voices in food media and the restaurant world keep talking about. That includes critics and writers at places like Eater, The New York Times, The Infatuation, Grub Street, and Time Out. It also includes chefs, industry folks, and known food lovers whose taste people already follow. When the same dish gets called out by these sources, 8it flags it for you.
Start with a nostalgic cereal soft serve, then move through ramen, Persian dessert, pizza, pho, cocktails, doughnuts, and a savory frittata. Every dish on this list is near Barclays Center and earns its spot. Use it as a hit list for your next few outings in the neighborhood.
1. The Flirt — Kith Treats
8it Recommendation: A signature cereal-blend treat from Kith’s ice cream bar.
2. Army Budae Ramen — Mokbar BK
8it Recommendation: Korean army stew meets ramen at this Brooklyn favorite.
3. Latifeh — Sofreh Cafe
8it Recommendation: The highest, most fragrant form of the Persian confection.
4. Vodka Slice — Parashades
8it Recommendation: The vodka slice is the go-to order at this neighborhood pizzeria.
5. Special House Pho — 5ive Spice Tacos & Banh Mi
8it Recommendation: What you need on a cold winter day.
6. Matcha Old Fashioned — Bar Goto Niban
8it Recommendation: FYI — you can ask for extra gold leaves.
7. Cacio e Pepe Sourdoughnut — Doughnut Plant
8it Recommendation: I love this savory, peppery, parmesan cheesy doughnut.
8. Cheddar & Scallion Frittata — Bklyn Larder
8it Recommendation: A breakfast-worthy frittata from this beloved provisions shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does 8it decide which dishes appear in the app?
8it’s curation process draws from a defined set of vetted sources: established food media publications including Eater, The New York Times, The Infatuation, Grub Street, and Time Out, local chefs and industry professionals with credible track records, and widely recognized food personalities whose recommendations carry cultural weight. A dish is only included when it receives a positive recommendation from one of these sources. There is no crowdsourced voting or rating system. If a dish does not meet that threshold, it does not appear in the app.
What neighborhoods in Brooklyn does 8it cover?
8it’s map-based view covers dishes across various neighborhoods in Brooklyn. The app plots each recommendation geographically, so users can filter by proximity and see what is available near a specific location, including areas around Barclays Center, without needing to know the neighborhood boundaries in advance.
Does 8it cover limited-time dishes and pop-ups?
Yes. 8it has dedicated sections for pop-ups, drops, and time-sensitive food events. These entries include an “Add to Calendar” feature so users can track availability directly from their phone. Pop-up dining has grown into a significant segment of NYC’s food activity, with the global pop-up restaurant market valued at $1.8 billion and expected to double within a decade. 8it treats scarcity as a core discovery category rather than an afterthought.
How is 8it different from searching for food recommendations on social media?
Social media surfaces recommendations based on engagement algorithms rather than expertise. Food and nutrition content on platforms like TikTok and YouTube often lacks a cited evidence base and can contain inaccurate information. This creates a reliability problem, because you see what is popular, not necessarily what is good. 8it operates on the opposite principle: every dish in the app is tied to a named, vetted source, a food writer, a chef, or a recognized food personality, and the original source article is linked directly from the dish card. Users see who recommended it and why, not just that it performed well in an algorithm.
The eight dishes above are all within reach of Barclays Center, from a Persian chilled dessert to a savory sourdoughnut. Each one answers the “what should I order” question before you arrive.
