In my own perfect world, every Grand Slam tournament would have its own signature food. For example, Wimbledon has strawberries and cream, while Roland Garros has waffles slathered with Nutella. However, the reality is that the US Open doesn’t have any singular signature food item, discounting the Honey Deuce, which is a cocktail rather than a dish. Instead, what truly defines the culinary experience in Flushing Meadows is an abundance of choice. In other words, I have come to believe that the signature dining experience of the US Open is, quite simply, variety itself.
One way I enhance my viewing experience of the Grand Slam tournaments is by preparing and consuming the signature food and beverage items from each iconic venue. It’s a small personal tradition that makes me feel more connected to the fan experience when watching from home, as it creates a sense of occasion. The US Open, however, always leaves me in a bit of a quandary. With so many different celebrity-chef creations and classic New York flavors on offer, there isn’t a single dish that stands above the rest. The abundance of choice is part of what makes it special, but it also means deciding what to mimic is no simple matter.
This year, I have decided to lean into that variety and regard the dizzying array of food as a feature rather than a bug. In other words, the home chef experience is to replicate the curated chaos of celebrity chef creations, diverse flavors, and the endless choices available to fans roaming the grounds. If you want to recreate the US Open dining experience at home, don’t bother hunting down a single iconic dish. Variety is the way to go.
To streamline that experience for my readers (and honestly, to organize my brainstorming for my own use), I combed through the menu at the US Open to find ways to replicate a diverse array of dining experiences at home. During this exercise, I also opened the aperture a bit to consider where I can order takeout from restaurants in my area for our dining pleasure. An alternative approach is simply to order appetizer sampler platters from a few of the trendiest, most upscale restaurants in your area.
The best way to enjoy the culinary spirit of Flushing Meadows is by turning dinner into a global food court of flavors.
| US Open Official Offering | Make it at Home/Local “Order In” Suggestions |
| Oyamel (José Andrés) José Andrés is one of the most celebrated chefs in the world, known both for his culinary empire and for his humanitarian work with World Central Kitchen. His restaurants bring a modern, inventive edge to traditional cuisines. Oyamel is his playful take on Mexican food, famous in Washington D.C. for its creative tacos and authentic regional dishes. At the US Open, Oyamel is showcasing tacos with cochinita and chilorio, giving fans a taste of Andrés’s approach to elevating Mexican street food flavors into refined bites. | Make it at Home Last year, I wrote about making Coqodaq’s Gochujang Fried Chicken Nuggets, which, minus the caviar, is pretty close to what you will get in the venue. I feel that the same technique would work for the chicken sandwiches. Order In Chances are, there is a Korean restaurant in your local area that offers a variety of fried chicken. They deserve your business. |
| pastaRAMEN (Robbie Felice) Chef Robbie Felice’s pastaRAMEN blends Italian and Japanese techniques in a mash-up he calls “Wafu Italian.” Based in Montclair, New Jersey, the restaurant has developed a cult following for its bold, cross-cultural dishes. At the US Open, Felice is offering his temomi shrimp scampi ramen, a dish that captures the quirky, innovative spirit of his restaurant while appealing to fans eager for something both comforting and unexpected. | Make it at Home Robbie Felice appeared on the Today Show last week, where he made temomi shrimp scampi ramen on live video. That appearance included recipe instructions that can be screen-grabbed. Order In You won’t find a precise substitute for this in your local area unless you live in Montclair, New Jersey. You could order plain Ramen from one place and Shrimp Scampi from another, but at that point, you should just make the recipe Felice demonstrated above. It’s pretty simple. |
| The Migrant Kitchen The Migrant Kitchen is more than just a restaurant—it’s a social enterprise with a mission. Founded in New York City, it’s dedicated to feeding underserved communities, with a portion of its proceeds supporting that effort. The menu blends Middle Eastern and Latin American influences, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of its founders. At the US Open, The Migrant Kitchen is serving empanadas, falafel bowls, chicken mole, and hazelnut doughnuts, giving fans not just great food but a chance to support a worthy cause. | Make it at Home There’s a lot to break down here, so we’re just going to go with a list of recipes: Chicken Tinga Empanadas, Falafel Bowl, Chicken Mole, and Decadent Hazelnut Nutella Donuts are all tasty-sounding options. Order In TIL while writing this post that there are a couple of excellent restaurants in my local area that specialize in empanadas. I am likely to try them out this week. The national fast casual chain Cava offers falafel bowls, and chicken mole is a menu standard at Mexican food restaurants. If you can’t find a hazelnut donut near you, you’re not even trying. |
| Coqodaq Coqodaq made waves in New York’s dining scene with its unapologetically indulgent fried chicken concept, which famously includes chicken nuggets paired with caviar. It’s the kind of tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top dish that social media can’t resist. At the US Open, Coqodaq is returning with those same caviar-topped nuggets and adding crispy chicken sandwiches. The menu is a buzzy mash-up of comfort food and extravagance—perfect for the spectacle of Flushing Meadows. | Make it at Home Last year, I wrote about making Coqodaq’s Gochujang Fried Chicken Nuggets, which, minus the caviar, is pretty close to what you will get in venue. I feel that the same technique would work for the chicken sandwiches. Order In Chances are, there is a Korean restaurant in your local area that offers a variety of fried chicken. They deserve your business. |
| San Matteo San Matteo is a beloved Upper East Side pizzeria specializing in authentic Neapolitan pies. It’s a family-run spot that has earned a reputation for blistered crusts, rich tomato sauce, and toppings that range from classic to decadent. At the US Open, San Matteo is firing up margherita and prosciutto pizzas, with the option to add fresh burrata. It’s a slice of Naples transplanted to Queens, appealing to fans who want something both casual and artisanal. | Make it at Home My Pizza Corner has published what they bill as an Authentic Neapolitan Pizza recipe. Order In Find a local restaurant that specifically specializes in Neapolitan pizza and order from there. Alternatively, order from your favorite local pizza joint. We won’t judge. |
| Carnegie Deli Few names are more synonymous with New York food culture than Carnegie Deli. The legendary spot, famous for its towering pastrami sandwiches, has been immortalized in countless films and stories as the quintessential New York deli. Though its flagship closed in 2016, its legacy lives on through pop-ups and special events. At the US Open, Carnegie Deli offers pastrami sandwiches, hot dogs, and cheesecake—classic fare that connects tennis fans to New York’s culinary history. | Make it at Home I feel like pastrami sandwiches, hot dogs, and cheesecake are all a part of the basic repertoire of any competent home cook. However, you can also buy cheesecake in single servings from the bakery of most grocery stores. Order In You have a local deli, order the pastrami sandwiches from there. You know that Hot Dog stand outside your local home improvement store that always smells so good? This is your excuse to grab hot dogs from there. For cheesecake, there is always the Cheesecake Factory, but you are likely to find it on the take out menu of any upscale restaurant. |
| Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Van Leeuwen started as a Brooklyn ice cream truck in 2008 and has since grown into a national sensation, celebrated for its high-quality ingredients and inventive flavors. Known for offering both classic and vegan varieties, the brand has become a staple in New York’s dessert scene. At the US Open, Van Leeuwen is scooping its exclusive Honeycomb Fudge Slam flavor—sweet cream ice cream packed with honeycomb candies and fudge swirls—alongside its regular lineup. It’s the playful, indulgent finish to the US Open dining adventure. | Make it at Home… Sort Of You will not find the exclusive US Open flavor of Honeycomb Fudge Slam anywhere but the tournament. From Instagram photos posted by Van Leeuwen, this looks to be a vanilla ice cream with fudge swirls. Honeycomb candies are an expensive and luxurious add-in… that I would probably skip. Or I might substitute honeycomb-patterned waffle cone pieces as a reasonable substitute. |
