Visiting Madison Square Garden the year that both the Knicks and the Rangers are in the playoffs was such a treat! As we anticipate the outcome of their seasons, I have personally announced a winner at MSG—and that’s the food. I tried everything at the stadium, and here are my favorites!
Carnegie Deli: Pastrami on Rye, $18
I started off my food tour strong with Carnegie Deli, home of the overstuffed pastrami sandwich. The Madison Square Garden location is the last remaining Carnegie Deli in New York City, so I was ecstatic to try it. The pastrami was juicy and tender—this sandwich was absolutely delicious. I love that it has 12 ounces of meat, so you’re getting your money's worth.
MSG TopDog: The Five Pounder, $35
If you want to meet new people at the stadium, or just be the center of attention, you should definitely buy this five-pound hot dog. It's a show stopper and a conversation starter! I thought it was just a gimmick, but after tasting it, I was shocked by how good it really was.
The hot dog was topped with sriracha, cheese, peppers, and fried onions. I was most surprised by the price, but since you could easily share this with three other people, $35 is a complete steal!
Avenue Cantina: Crispy Carnitas Tacos, $14
Chicharrones... on a taco? Yes please! I love this simple yet brilliant twist on a classic carnitas taco. The tacos were packed with flavor, the meat was tender, and the crunchiness of the chicharrón made for a great bite.
Fuku: Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich, $15
I loved the simplicity of this sandwich: crispy white meat, pickles, and spicy kimchi mayo on a potato roll. The kimchi mayo was the best part. It was tangy, salty, and sour, and added a new dimension to the sandwich.
I tried this at the Rangers game, and the temperature in the arena was very chilly so eating this warm chicken sandwich brought me so much joy.
Tao Sushi: SP2 Poke Bowl, $21
Never in my wildest dreams would I think I would order a poke bowl at a sporting event, but the more I thought about it, the more the idea grew on me. There is a lot of jumping and screaming at games, and eating fried food can weigh you down. It was actually really nice having a delicious and healthy alternative.
I also hesitated when I thought about how fresh the seafood would be at an arena. I was blown away by all the ingredients in my bowl, and they were not only fresh but delicious. I’ve been to the actual Tao restaurant and you’re getting the same quality you would get there.
Big Gay Ice Cream: American Globs, $9
This is my ideal dessert! Crushed dark chocolate pretzels rolled onto vanilla soft serve ice cream and dunked in chocolate sauce. It's a little messy to eat at a game, but definitely worth it!
Previously on Stadium Eats: The Best Food To Eat At Coors Field
