Keeping up with NYC’s food pop-ups and limited dish drops is basically a full-time job. 8it does it for you. We track the most time-sensitive drops across the city (from chef residencies to one-day collabs to sidewalk pop-ups) and every Friday we hand-pick the ones we’re especially excited for. Here’s this weekend’s must-eats…
It’s easy to fall into a rotation in NYC: same coffee, same slice, same order at the same neighborhood spot. But this city is constantly giving us reasons to break it. This weekend, there’s a whole slate of things to try for the first time – including 8it’s debut First Taste fest – and a few making their last run. So mix it up this weekend.
Palestinian Arayes
📍 Rodeo
🏠 1134 President St, BK • Crown Heights
🗓️ Fri 9.18 • from 6pm till sell out
: instagram @lalph_rauren
Palestinian-American chef, food writer/educator, and artist, Amanny Ahmad aka @lalph_rauren is running Palestinian arayes one more time at Rodeo before leaving the East Coast. Grilled stuffed flatbreads start at 6pm and go till sell out.
First Taste 001
📍 Lillistar
🏠 353 Bedford Ave, BK
🗓️ Sat 9.19 • 2-8pm
: @davefotogram
First Taste is bringing exclusive drops across food, drinks, fashion, and music for tomorrow only. The lineup includes a Chinese Sausage & Peppers Pie from Potluck Club x Ace’s Pizza, a Bánh Mì Empanada from Titi’s Empanadas x After Eden, and Loser’s Big Oreo Roll. Hennessy joins the lineup with their new line of Very Special Cocktails, alongside a limited run fashion drop from New York Penn. DJs Sunny Cheeba b2b Curly Nez, Just Dimy, Rae Sada, and Dos Flakos soundtrack the day with unreleased music and new sounds. Get your ticket to enjoy the last bit of rooftop season packed with back to back drops.
Chaz × Beabingka
📍 Frog Wine Bar
🏠 358 Marcus Garvey Blvd, BK • Bed-Stuy
🗓️ Fri 9.18–Sat 9.19 • 4pm till sell out
: Instagram @chasingchaz
Private chef Chaz teams with cousin Beabingka for a Creole-Filipino backyard pop-up at Frog. The menu runs ettouffée munggo with pickled ampalaya, lechon kawali in a Creole spice rub, pansit bam-i, lumpiang andouille, kinilaw, ensalada, ube bread pudding, and biko.
Arellano Pandesal
📍 HOY!
🏠 1 Clinton St, NYC • LES
🗓️ Sun 9.20 • 12-5pm
: instagram @joshgeel
2026 8it Award winner for Best Pastry Pop-Up, Arellano Pandesal, is hosting its final pop-up Sunday at HOY! Ensaymadas, fresh pandesal, Filipino desserts, agua frescas, Ube and Honey Duce soft serve, and cold brew lattes made with Filipino Barako coffee will make your Sunday a little bit sweeter.
Babka Ice Cream Sundae
📍 Gertrude’s
🏠 605 Carlton Ave, BK • Prospect Heights
🗓️ Thru Sun 9.20
: instagram @gertienyc
GERTIE teamed up with Biddrina Gelato on a gelato packed with chunks of their signature babka and topped with macerated cherries and chocolate sauce. Try it in the seasonal sundae at Gertrudes through Sunday, or grab a pint at GERTIE.
This is just a taste of what’s poppin’ in the 8it app. If you have any suggestions to make the 8it app experience even better than it already is, don’t hesitate to shoot us a DM.
STAY HUNGRY, NEVER HANGRY!
The 8it team
PS. Tag @nyc8it in your food adventures and remember…
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