6 of the Best Hidden Dining Destinations in Your City
Whether it’s your neighborhood’s buzziest new restaurant or the brunch spot your friends won’t stop raving about, you probably keep tabs on some of your city’s most in-demand eateries. But what about the ones that fall just slightly under-the-radar? From nearly invisible late-night spots to movie theaters and stadiums that serve destination-worthy eats, here are six of our favorite hidden dining destinations to seek out now.
1. SAFECO FIELD, SEATTLE: Baseball stadiums may not normally be known for the quality of their gastronomy, but at Safeco Field—home to the Seattle Mariners—the eats go way beyond ballpark dogs. For starters, Safeco Field contains its own branch of Din Tai Fung, the phenomenally popular (and Michelin-starred) Taiwan-founded chain of dumpling restaurants. Then there are the lobster rolls available at Sound Seafood, the burnt ends at Jack's BBQ, and even Oaxacan chapulines (aka fried grasshoppers) at Poquitos, which have become an enormous fan fave. Sure, eating bugs isn't a requirement, but you shouldn't miss the chance to snack.
Image courtesy of Seattle Mariners
2. GANESH TEMPLE CANTEEN, QUEENS: Flushing, located in northeastern Queens, has long been frequented by intrepid diners after Mongolian hot pot or traditional hand-pulled noodles. But even the culinary sleuths may not realize that some of the neighborhood's tastiest dishes can be found within the Ganesh Temple. An impressive landmark in its own right, the temple is attended by Hindu worshippers and draws in hungry locals, both of whom dine on South Indian staples like dosas and tamarind rice in its basement canteen.
Image courtesy of Chun Yip So/Flickr
3. TOYOSE, SAN FRANCISCO: What if we told you that one of San Francisco's most under-the-radar dining destinations was located in a garage on a residential street? That's true of Toyose, which calls Outer Sunset home, and looks almost indistinguishable from the surrounding houses from the outside. Spot its awning and venture within to nosh on killer Korean staples, from kimchi fried rice and spicy chicken wings to seafood pancakes and beef pot stickers. Bonus: This late-night spot is open till 2 am, so you've got plenty of time to indulge.
4. MARCEL, ATLANTA: When it comes to hidden dining destinations, Atlanta's Marcel isn't exactly discreet: By day, it's one of the city's most elegant and in-demand steakhouses. But for those in the know, after-hours is when it's really worth dropping by. That's when the restaurant's secretive, absurdly satisfying late-night menu comes out to play. Available on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 pm to 2 am, it includes affordable staples like a burger topped with thick-cut bacon slices, $12 steak frites, and platters of oysters.
Image courtesy of Mary Caroline Russell
5. NITEHAWK, BROOKLYN: Typical movie theater snacks might not go much beyond tubs of popcorn and nachos topped with cheese whiz, but Brooklyn's Nitehawk is seriously stepping up the movie-going food game. With a location in Williamsburg and one soon to open in Prospect Park, the cinema-slash-restaurant serves up plates as varied as kale salad, crispy fish tacos, tuna poke, and fried okra. Best of all, you can place your order throughout each screening, in case your stomach starts to rumble halfway through.
Image courtesy of Nitehawk
6. CARTOPIA, PORTLAND: Portland is a city of pod people—the folks who frequent its many food cart pods, that is. These clusters of street food slingers pop up all over town, but one that's especially worth seeking out is Cartopia, located at SE 12th Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard. Even better: While many pods hit their peak at lunchtime, Cartopia is one of the few that stays open until the wee hours (midnight during the week and 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays). Expect Latin-American-style smoked chicken at Chicken and Guns and thin-crust pizza at Pyro Pizza, and don't miss the irresistible Potato Champion: their Belgian-style frites are paired with everything from satay sauce to pulled pork, and make for perfect midnight snacking.
Image courtesy of Potato Champion
1. SAFECO FIELD, SEATTLE: Baseball stadiums may not normally be known for the quality of their gastronomy, but at Safeco Field—home to the Seattle Mariners—the eats go way beyond ballpark dogs. For starters, Safeco Field contains its own branch of Din Tai Fung, the phenomenally popular (and Michelin-starred) Taiwan-founded chain of dumpling restaurants. Then there are the lobster rolls available at Sound Seafood, the burnt ends at Jack's BBQ, and even Oaxacan chapulines (aka fried grasshoppers) at Poquitos, which have become an enormous fan fave. Sure, eating bugs isn't a requirement, but you shouldn't miss the chance to snack.
Image courtesy of Seattle Mariners
2. GANESH TEMPLE CANTEEN, QUEENS: Flushing, located in northeastern Queens, has long been frequented by intrepid diners after Mongolian hot pot or traditional hand-pulled noodles. But even the culinary sleuths may not realize that some of the neighborhood's tastiest dishes can be found within the Ganesh Temple. An impressive landmark in its own right, the temple is attended by Hindu worshippers and draws in hungry locals, both of whom dine on South Indian staples like dosas and tamarind rice in its basement canteen.
Image courtesy of Chun Yip So/Flickr
3. TOYOSE, SAN FRANCISCO: What if we told you that one of San Francisco's most under-the-radar dining destinations was located in a garage on a residential street? That's true of Toyose, which calls Outer Sunset home, and looks almost indistinguishable from the surrounding houses from the outside. Spot its awning and venture within to nosh on killer Korean staples, from kimchi fried rice and spicy chicken wings to seafood pancakes and beef pot stickers. Bonus: This late-night spot is open till 2 am, so you've got plenty of time to indulge.
4. MARCEL, ATLANTA: When it comes to hidden dining destinations, Atlanta's Marcel isn't exactly discreet: By day, it's one of the city's most elegant and in-demand steakhouses. But for those in the know, after-hours is when it's really worth dropping by. That's when the restaurant's secretive, absurdly satisfying late-night menu comes out to play. Available on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 pm to 2 am, it includes affordable staples like a burger topped with thick-cut bacon slices, $12 steak frites, and platters of oysters.
Image courtesy of Mary Caroline Russell
5. NITEHAWK, BROOKLYN: Typical movie theater snacks might not go much beyond tubs of popcorn and nachos topped with cheese whiz, but Brooklyn's Nitehawk is seriously stepping up the movie-going food game. With a location in Williamsburg and one soon to open in Prospect Park, the cinema-slash-restaurant serves up plates as varied as kale salad, crispy fish tacos, tuna poke, and fried okra. Best of all, you can place your order throughout each screening, in case your stomach starts to rumble halfway through.
Image courtesy of Nitehawk
6. CARTOPIA, PORTLAND: Portland is a city of pod people—the folks who frequent its many food cart pods, that is. These clusters of street food slingers pop up all over town, but one that's especially worth seeking out is Cartopia, located at SE 12th Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard. Even better: While many pods hit their peak at lunchtime, Cartopia is one of the few that stays open until the wee hours (midnight during the week and 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays). Expect Latin-American-style smoked chicken at Chicken and Guns and thin-crust pizza at Pyro Pizza, and don't miss the irresistible Potato Champion: their Belgian-style frites are paired with everything from satay sauce to pulled pork, and make for perfect midnight snacking.
Image courtesy of Potato Champion
