Astoria Flea & Food

I had dessert from HK French toast & it was delicious! Slightly pricey, but things usually are at these sort of events. The staff were friendly and the French toast was just what I needed!
I was impressed with the flea/​night market and saw some familiar vendors as well as new ones. It was really busy and what a cool location!

Dropped by when they were out back at Kaufman
and the sheer lack of places to sit/​eat while the folks dining al fresco at the Astor Room make it a pretty awkward spot.

I am a big Astoria Flea fan. I used to Trek down to Long Island City for the LIC Flea and was so relieved I wouldn’t have to do that anymore just to get my bubble tea fix from Tea+Milk.
My husband and I checked out the Astoria Flea multiple weekends this summer. Sometimes we took guests who were visiting from out of town, and they seemed to love it as much as we did.
A few other reviewers mentioned that it was dead the weekend that they went; I think the offerings are sparser some weekends since it’s the summertime and surely vendors are vacationing, etc. I went around the 4^th of July when the flea had some sort of beach theme and instead of being a bustling marketplace, the block was indeed deserted.
I found so many new food options to love, but I think my favorite is the oconomiyaki.

Decent flea. When we were there, it wasn’t crowded but there is nothing special too see here. There are good amount of food booths but we didn’t try any of them because we weren’t hungry when we were there.
If you happen to live around the area, it’s not so bad to check it out but if you’re not, we don’t think it’s worth a trip

This place is amazing! Every weekend on Sundays they have different local businesses that vary in food, clothing, jewelry, antiques, smoothies sweets to music! The variety of vendors is great as it’s a one stop shop for me to get a dress, jewelry and food. Snacks are a bit pricey $ 6 – 10 but worth it to try. Not too much seating options if you want to sit and eat. They have bubble lychee tapoika tea which is my favorite! I highly recommend checking the flea market on the weekends!

cute flea that happens on Sundays in the lot of Kaufman Astoria studios. Pretty cool to be in the area where OITNB and sesame street are filmed. My boyfriend and I biked over this past sunday to pick up some treats.
The flea wasn’t too crowded and while they seemed to have a lot of nice options for lunch time snacks/​iced drinks/​desserts, there weren’t too many options (the flea is on the small side). There was also a component of the flea that had vintage jewelry and clothing.
Music played overhead and there was lots of seating for people to relax. We ended up getting a ton of these dessert called Bibinkas which we took to go. They are like a rice based cupcake (gluten free) that had a variety of toppings/​flavors. Smores was my favorite although this was the only non-​GF option.
Overall, I would probably make a quick pit stop here on a sunday but it should not be a destination. LIC flea is a bit bigger if you want to stay in Queens for your food stands.

I want to LOVE this place. I want to never have to skip a Sunday at the flea. I WANT to. So badly. But this is a carbon copy of the LIC flea, if not leaving more to be desired when compared to its other cousins.
Ok, so the food is good. It’s never disappoints in taste and variety, and the flea is a great place to pick up a new favorite vendor to hopefully visit their brick and mortar location. However, the prices for a food truck are less then stellar, and you can count on dropping at least $ 10 for a snack that won’t leave you filled between meals.
Some vendors are incredible. They have awesome housewares and clothing and jewelry to offer. Other vendors are downright rude and don’t seem to offer that local community flea market feel that SoCal can proudly boast and brag about.
Regardless of the highs and lows, the flea is definitely a place to walk through when out and about on a Sunday. I’d much rather take a bike ride out to the LIC flea, where the vendors are a bit more vetted and you have the park just a few steps away to sun and snack on your PINT OF PICKLES from the PICKLE MAN (seriously, get the brown mustard pickles!)

Do you love the idea of Smorgasburg but can’t stand the overcrowding and the overwhelming population of frat boys and girls taking pictures of their ice cream sandwiches pointed to the sky?
If you answered yes, then come to the awesome Astoria Flea & Food on Sundays. Sure, there aren’t quite as many vendors and some of them are just poor man’s versions of the superior stuff in Brooklyn, but there still are incredible choices for food.
Do not miss the General Tso’ Boy booth — they have what sound like bad American Chinese food in sandwich form, which turn out to be excellent. On my visit, they had just the General Tso’s Chicken Sandwich (get the full size for $ 10 as the half-​side for $ 5 looks minuscule). Delicious, huge chunks of chicken thighs are packed into a crusty, excellent piece of bread. You can also add some forgettable Wonton Chips for $ 1, but I would pass on those to save room for the other booths.
Another major winner in the savory department is the Oconomi booth, which peddles some really excellent but incorrectly-​spelled Oconomiyaki. Be smart and get the combo with the even better Yakisoba noodles for the very reasonable price of $ 8.
There are a ton more great vendors we didn’t get to try on this visit — Butcher Bar has great BBQ, there is an NY version of the famous Nong’s Khao Man Gai from Portland, and Coney Shack looks like it has great Asian-​style tacos.
Moving onto sweets, there are a ton of great options too. The very unique Bibingka-​Esk booth sells these Bibingkas, which are a type of Filipino pastry made of rice. The original flavor for $ 4 was pretty good, but you should definitely get the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip one ($ 3). After that, make sure to hit up Ice & Vice for some really incredible ice cream. They were just announced as finalists for true Vendy Awards this year, and it’s easy to see why when you try any of the three flavors that were available. Best of all was Opium Den — a firm yet smooth base mixed with poppy seeds and brown bread croutons ($ 4.50 a scoop). It was as awesome as it sounds strange.
There are of course some misses, which make me willing to suffer through the commute to Williamsburg. Worst and most disappointing of all is Old School Doughnuts. I was so excited when I spotted it, as they even try to look like the best in the city Dough (available at Smorgasburg), the way they display their doughnuts. Unfortunately, the similarities end there, as these were some of the worst doughnuts I’ve tried in a long time. I made the mistake of trying their bootleg Croughnut ($ 4), which was just inedible. All I eat is sugar, but the overwhelming amount of sugar in these was shocking and unpleasant. To add insult to injury, they actually charge more than Dough for these bad doughnuts ($ 3).
If you can’t make it to Astoria on Sunday, then check out the similar fair in LIC on Saturday. Either way, these Queens options are a nice, relaxed change of pace from the more crowded food fairs in NYC and Brooklyn.

Love this addition to Astoria! I was a fan of the LIC Flea, so knew I had to check out the Astoria Flea. Well, I think I like the Astoria version better. The vendors (which change from week to week) are generally really good but more than that, there’s a great energy at the flea & food market.
Favorite food vendors (who can usually be found at both LIC Flea and Astoria Flea): Oconomi, Khao Man Gai, Bibingka-​Esk and No Fork. Also, I can’t remember the name of the vendor but they sell a truffle mac and cheese and it is fantastic. Highly recommend!

It’s great that it’s compact and cozy, it can get crazy when the fleas are big. They have a pretty decent food stand selection: Asian fusion tacos (Coney Shack), donuts, pickles, ice cream, shaved ice (Ice Riders, which the girl rides a bicycle to shave the ice), bubble tea (Tea n’ Milk), BBQ butcher for Quality Meats (really good but pricey), and others unique food carts. They have little stands for other knick-​knacks and clothes but I’m really there for the food.
There are different food stands every week and it’s great to stop by and have a variety to fill you up! They have a couple tables and each ends of the market for eating.

A good alternative to Brooklyn flea market, a lot smaller though but for a start it is good. I hope a lot more more smaller vendors join.
Food wise I didn’t see Butcher bar but there were small other food stalls, they had tiny portions for reasonable prices
They had these little sand boxes for kid to play.
Clean and cozy.

There is nothing here that I cannot find elsewhere– except the ginormous Kaufman sign. That was part of the appeal for me tugging 5 other souls here on a Sunday. Also appealing was that one of my favorite shows of the moment, OITNB, is filmed at Kaufman. I just needed to be in the vicinity of «Crazy Eyes.»
I liked the idea of a smaller market, maybe 2 blocks worth, and less people to contend with than its Brooklyn counterparts. Given that it was not on a large scale, I was expecting more quality vendors. As I had just come from dim sum, I didn’t have any more space for food, so I didn’t eat. But there were a few places I did recognize, one of which being Zha NY. I remember attending the launching of their business at Zucker Bakery. It was a let-​down. Everything I ate was pretty much the same and the proportions of rice to meat/​other filling was terribly off.
The jewelry vendors dominated here with 5 – 6 stands. That’s a lot considering how small the lot was. A couple of people in my group ended up buying bracelets at the more trendy sellers; I’ll leave you to decide which ones I’m referring to. There were some other forgettable stands that were selling things that didn’t appeal to me.
Judging by the crazy amount of traffic, as usual, heading into Queens, I won’t be making a trip here unless I’m in the mood for some quiet downtime.

A predominantly food based flea market in Astoria? Consider me interested.
GET IT:
1. Tea n’ Milk — Hibiscus peach white tea w/​tapioca — definitely a refreshing drink for a hot day in the sun. Other craft bubble tea spin offs will keep you coming back to try the other flavors.
2. Khao Man Gai — Chicken wings had a nice flavorful garlic kick to them! Get the Watermelon drink to wash it down. Coming back next time to the 2013 Vendy Award Winner for their star main dish though.
3. Bibingka-​esk — If you’re into Filipino pastries, show some support for this honest, local family start up shop. The UBE and S’mores flavors were chewy and delicious.
4. Butcher Bar — 14 hour smoked and super tender brisket? Yes.
HONORABLE MENTION:
5. Old Fashioned Doughnut — Toasted coconut doughnut was a good change up from usual flavors, but the coconut crust falls apart off the donut too easily. Bavarian crème croughnut flavor was excellent, but the pastry itself was just ok.
PASS:
6. Oconomi — Okonomiyaki w/​pork and classic sauce. Unfortunately it wasnt very well bound together. Thin slice of pork in there wasn’t special.
7. Lukes Lobster — $ 8 for half a lobster roll no larger than 4 inches, which didn’t even blow my mind? I feel ashamed for even considering this.
8. Jessy’s Pastries — Only stopped by to grab a Mango/​Papaya drink for an easy $ 3, but it wasn’t as special. One of the only stands that offered empanadas so that may be worth considering in the future.

Woo hoo, I’m glad that Astoria had their own Flea & Food now. The venue is a bit smaller I think in comparison to LIC but it’s got some of the same vendors I’ve seen and of course new ones as well. The best part of Astoria Flea and Food is the fact it’s convenient for me to get to since I can walk rather than train/​bike to LIC. I would highly recommend jam jar that Abby was selling, it was delicious. The best part of these events is the ability to try out different foods from people who are just trying to get their business started. They may not necessarily have the money for a store front or even a food truck, but you get to try something new that isn’t anywhere else. Other side benefit? This is right next to Studio Square and a great way to spend a lazy Sunday.

I love the LIC Flea and when I found out they were behind the new one opening up in the street that Kaufman Astoria Studios invaded (lol) I was absolutely ecstatic.
It’s been open now for about 3 or 4 weeks and while my boyfriend and I meant to check it out on week 2, it began to pour so we ended up going on the Sunday of their 3^rd weekend. To be honest I would probably rate it as having been 3.5 Unilocal stars… but I can’t justify rounding it to 4.
As a disclaimer I will note that each weekend is a different experience since there are mainstay vendors and ones that aren’t. The Sunday I went it was a gorgeously sunny Spring day and as a result it was super crowded and difficult to get to chat with vendors, there were several lines for certain things and people just seemed… moody.
There were 2 particular food vendors that ran out of things so that was annoying and some other food vendors had lines that were not worth waiting on when Astoria is full of food places that sell non-​overpriced, excellent quality food. Sigh.
I was super excited to see an okonomiyaki vendor since I love Japanese street food, but was disappointed that they didn’t sell any takoyaki balls. Khao Man Gai NY’s food looked delicious and reminded me that I hadn’t had Thai food in like a hot minute — they were also very popular and pretty much had a small crowd gathered around them at all times.
My boyfriend was happy with his weirdly spicy pickle on a stick that he purchased from a pickle tent (lol). I enjoyed chatting with a really sweet woman who sold cookies and brownies that looked amazing. She let me sample a cotton candy cookie that frankly made me want to settle down and build a life with her cookies… but in having eaten it I may have dashed those dreams. Cookies don’t make for a good significant other because once you eat them they are gone. Consider this a public service announcement: Do not eat your significant others.
There was also a fantastic cheese vendor who makes all their own cheeses in-​house and we got to sample some amazing sharp white cheddar, brie, goat cheese and a spicy cheddar. They were all deliciously delicious :-D
I was bummed that Luke’s Lobster’s wasn’t around that day because every day is a day for lobster :(. There were also a few other vendors with vintage clothes & knickknacks, artisan jewelry, little tiny shrub plants tucked into wine corks and more — but I wish there wouldn’t have been so many food vendors. Not enough beverage people or objects… it was more like a food festival and less like a a FLEA MARKET.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE me some good food — but some of these things were overpriced ($ 6 for ONE MEATBALL?! Unless it’s the size of my head, then no thanks) and overdone at other fleas, street fairs, etc.
Astoria Flea still makes for a fun time with a friend or small group of friends (beware the crowds, I went around 3:30ish on a Sunday assuming I wouldn’t encounter any — but I was wrong) and I love being able to support small local businesses, but some weren’t even really local and you can find some better stuff elsewhere…

So excited this is down the street from my place! There are new vendors each week. I got some great, handmade gold jewelry there the last time I went.
I always eat right before I go, so I am always too full to try the food :(. But the drinks are delicious!
Can’t wait to go back and get some homemade pickles.

Yay! I’m sooo excited this is here! The block is split pretty evenly between food and shops, a mix of antiques/​used stuff and beautiful jewelry. The food options are awesome and very diverse. Butcher Bar has a stand (omg soo good) and I’m assuming several of the other vendors have brick and mortar locations.
Apparently the thing to get were these Japanese noodles. But the line was so long and I was too hungry to wait. I ended up getting a Senegalese burger from the stand next to it that was tasty. They had several other «ethnic» burgers to try that I think I will definitely be going back for.
I also got fries from another stand, but I can’t for the life of me remember what their cuisine was supposed to be. I just know they were delish and mildly spicy.
I also bought some jewelry from the vendors, some pretty «Tattoo» bracelets (the super thin chains with the little charm in the center). It was all very much in the moment style jewelry which I love.
The antiques had a good smattering of options, not as robust as what you might find at Brooklyn flea but I still really enjoyed the selections, and there was some killer quality buried in there. So that’s a plus.
I really hope this space is here to stay because I’m so happy to see it. Definitely take the time to support it and check it out! Astoria needs more stuff like this!

So what you’re saying is, the weather has gotten nicer and there’s a place in Astoria for me to be outdoors and sampling lots and lots of good food while taking a leisurely stroll down one single block of space?
Yeah, I’m down.
I won’t rate every meal because discovery is part of the fun, but here are some of the things I’ve had: BBQ, South African sausage, empanadas, lobster rolls, okonomiyaki, grilled cheese, Mac & cheese, burgers, cake pops, specialty marshmallows, donuts, frozen fruit bars… #thisiswhyimfat
So yeah, like I said… I’m down.

Why should Brooklyn have all the fun?
The newest addition to borough street life, where pugs and strollers roam free (at shockingly slow speeds) among crowded walkways leading through hipstinternational foods options that all look pretty good, and all sound like combinations born of a bingo ball. Goat wrap with tomato and honey? Artisanal kosher goat cheese? Mango chili popsicle? Bourbon pie in a jar? These too can be yours.

Husband and I love Astoria Flea & Food! We are able to walk over stroll the market place. Excellent food and drinks! Very gluten free friendly! Fun Sunday afternoon!!! I hope they decide to add more dates to extend it till Fall. They could do a Fall Festival Flea, Harvest Fest, and much more!