🚕 Outdoor Dining Returns to NYC Streets

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Outdoor dining returns to NYC streets for the 2026 season.

Pies ‘n’ Thighs opens a family-friendly spot in Prospect Heights.

Jollibee expands with a new Midtown location near Grand Central.

Sushi push pops go viral, bringing a fun grab-and-go twist to NYC dining.

April openings heat up with Soba Ulala, Tachi, Cafe Fleuri, and Philippe Chow.

From street dining to viral bites, NYC’s food scene is buzzing this spring.

Pies ‘n’ Thighs Opens Family-Friendly Location in Prospect Heights

Pies ‘n’ Thighs has opened its second New York City location in Prospect Heights.

The new restaurant is located at 244 Flatbush Avenue at St. Marks Avenue.

This opening marks the Southern restaurant’s 20th anniversary.

The space is designed to be more family-friendly than the original Williamsburg location.

It includes high chairs and a dedicated kids’ menu with chicken tenders.

The full menu remains available along with several new items created for this location.

New dishes include a hot honey chicken sandwich, a fried green tomato BLT, and a fried bologna sandwich.

The restaurant has also introduced a weekend brunch menu featuring red velvet pancakes, shrimp and grits, and a breakfast sandwich with fried chicken, egg, and cheese on a biscuit.

Pies ‘n’ Thighs is known for its fried chicken, catfish, biscuit sandwiches, and pies.

The Prospect Heights location is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., extending to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The original Williamsburg flagship at 166 South 4th Street remains open.

Jollibee Opens Third Manhattan Location in Midtown

Jollibee is expanding its footprint in New York City with a new Midtown Manhattan location.

The restaurant will open on March 31, 2026, at 14 East 42nd Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues.

It is located just steps from Grand Central Station.

This marks Jollibee’s third outpost in Manhattan.

The brand is famous for its Chickenjoy fried chicken, twice named the best fast-food fried chicken in America by USA TODAY.

Signature menu items include Chickenjoy (original and spicy) with gravy, ChickenSandwich (original and spicy), Peach Mango Pie, and Pineapple Quencher.

The new store will offer dine-in, take-out, online ordering, and catering services.

Daily hours will run from 9 a.m. to midnight.

Beth Dela Cruz, Business Group Head of Honeybee Foods Corporation, expressed excitement about bringing more “Jollibee joy” to the Midtown community.

A three-day grand opening promotion will reward the first 100 in-store customers each day with prizes including a year of free Chicken Sandwiches, T-shirts, and a beanie.

Jollibee is the flagship brand of the Jollibee Group, founded in the Philippines over four decades ago.

The company operates over 10,000 stores across 32 countries.

Outdoor Dining Returns to NYC Streets on April 1

Outdoor dining officially returns to New York City on April 1, 2026.

The Dining Out NYC roadway program reopens for the 2026 season.

Roughly 1,800 roadway and sidewalk dining setups across the city are eligible to operate.

Just over 700 of these setups are fully licensed, while the rest operate under pre-existing conditional sidewalk approvals.

Year-over-year participation remains consistent with 2025 levels.

The Department of Transportation provides an official Dining Out NYC license tool to search participating spots by neighborhood or cuisine.

The tool is updated periodically as new applications are approved.

DOT officials note that the current seasonal April-to-November window creates challenges for many restaurants.

They are advocating for year-round roadway dining and a simpler application process for small businesses.

Some locations will begin with sidewalk-only setups while awaiting full roadway permits.

Neighborhoods such as the Lower East Side, Astoria, and Downtown Brooklyn will see familiar outdoor setups return.

Restaurant owners say the seasonal limit makes it difficult to invest in long-term outdoor infrastructure.

April 1 marks the official start of the 2026 outdoor dining season.

Sushi Push Pops Become NYC’s Latest Viral Food Trend

Suka Sushi on Lexington Avenue near East 25th Street is selling the city’s newest viral food item.

The tiny takeout-only shop offers sushi rolls served inside a thick cardboard push-up tube.

There are eight varieties available, each priced at $16.95.

Customers snap off a small plastic soy sauce tube, pour it over the rolls, then push the sushi upward from the bottom like an ice cream pop.

The rolls must be eaten with fingers and mouth only, with no chopsticks or forks.

Co-owner Ben Rozenshteyn, a former litigator, says the shop produces 400 to 500 rolls daily.

Tasted varieties included spicy tuna and a Philadelphia roll with salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber.

Another standout combined shrimp, mango, cream cheese, cucumber, and masago.

The rolls tasted fresh with distinct flavors and textures despite being served in the tube.

Eating the push pops requires some dexterity, and pieces can easily fall while walking.

The trend offers a fun, on-the-go sushi experience that is quickly gaining attention in New York City.

April 2026 Brings a Fresh Wave of NYC Restaurant Openings

Eater NY has rounded up the latest restaurant and bar openings for April 2026.

Soba Ulala in Soho fully opened on March 31 with house-made soba noodles prepared twice daily.

Chef Hirohisa Hayashi offers hot and cold soba with various toppings plus small dishes and lunchtime sets.

Cafe Fleuri in the Financial District opened in late March with Southern French and North African influences.

The floral-filled space serves poached haddock with clams, braised lamb shoulder with merguez, and rice pudding with rhubarb.

Golden Mall quietly opened in the Financial District on March 30 with initial vendors including bubble tea and chicken steak.

Tachi in Hell’s Kitchen opened on March 26 with a 12-seat omakase counter and walk-in sake bar.

Cocktail Omakase on the Lower East Side opened on March 27 offering a $55 four-cocktail and four-bite tasting menu.

Jollibee opened its third Manhattan location in Midtown on March 31 with Filipino fried chicken and burgers.

Philippe Chow debuted its glitzy Fifth Avenue flagship on March 27 with tableside Beijing duck and cotton candy baked Alaska.

Let’s Chama! opened two new bakeries in Chelsea and Bushwick in mid-March serving khachapuri and mushroom pie.

Pies ‘n’ Thighs launched its second location in Prospect Heights on April 1 with family-friendly chicken tenders.

Dean’s in Soho opened on March 31 with British coastal pub fare including stargazy pie and fish and chips.

Nostos on the Upper East Side opened in late March focusing on Northern Greek braised dishes and wood-fired meats.

These new openings add diverse flavors and concepts to neighborhoods across the city.

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