The US Open brings in over one million fans every year to Flushing Meadows, New York not only to watch the world’s best tennis players, but also to try delicious bites to eat on the tournament grounds.

Food has become a major part of the US Open experience — beyond the tennis court, fans indulge in an array of cuisines representing New York’s diverse dining scene. 

Besides the Food Village located in the main park of the grounds, each major stadium (Grandstand, Louis Armstrong, and Arthur Ashe stadiums) at the US Open has vendors that sell different food. From local food vendors to international fare, Emmie Huynh ’27 and Erika Capella ’27 rank the wide range of culinary options at the 2025 US Open. 

ACES:

Most Refreshing: Classic Tuna Bowl from Poke Yachty

Tuna, onions, scallions, cucumbers, and wonton crisps in a shoyu sesame dressing over sushi rice for $26. It’s light and fresh — a perfect break from the greasy French fries found in all of the other restaurants in the Food Village (the main food area at the tournament). The sushi rice had a surprisingly good texture and wasn’t too salty, and the wontons were still crispy. It was enough food for a meal while leaving just enough stomach space to grab a scoop or two of the Van Leeuwen ice cream!

Rating: 8/10

A Simple Staple: Margarita Pizza from San Matteo NYC

San Matteo NYC, a favorite local Italian spot for many on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, served its famous wood-fired pizzas for fans to eat at the US Open this year. Despite being a new vendor to the food scene at the tournament, San Matteo did not disappoint. The crust was baked well and had a good balance of crunch and doughy texture. The sauce and mozzarella weren’t the freshest, but they definitely made do to make a decent pie. Although not the best pizza you’ll ever taste in New York, San Matteo did a good job keeping the quality of their US Open pizzas relatively up to par with the standards of their Manhattan restaurant. For $19, the price wasn’t terrible; considering most food options in the tournament grounds will range anywhere from $15-$100, purchasing a pizza from San Matteo isn’t a bad idea for a quick bite to eat. The pizza was enough to satisfy an individual for a full meal or serve as a good snack for two people to share. 

Rating: 7/10

Tastes of Italy: Gnocchi Alla Bolognese from Eataly

Authentic Italian flavors shone at the US Open; Eataly served up a variety of classic dishes found in their Manhattan locations. Eataly, an iconic Italian marketplace-style dining experience in the city, brought great taste to the US Open grounds for the fourth year in a row. I tried the Gnocchi Alla Bolognese from Eataly for my dinner and was happily satisfied. Although I’ll admit, I’ve been a fan of Eataly’s food for over a decade, I was impressed by the quality of the gnocchi served in the US Open food village, considering that the dishes were being prepared at a much faster pace than in their typical Manhattan restaurants. The gnocchi was soft and pillow-like, and wasn’t too mushy or too hard. The sauce was relatively simple with no frills, just a classic meat and red sauce topped with grated parmesan cheese, but it was still rich in taste. $28 is a pretty hefty price for a single bowl, but, compared to other meals at the US Open from brand-name vendors such as Eataly, it definitely isn’t the worst. 

Rating: 8/10

A Sweet Summertime Winner: Van Leeuwen Honeycomb Fudge Slam

Van Leeuwen is a staple ice cream spot in New York and has been a food vendor of the US Open for the past couple of years. Although Van Leeuwen offered a range of their classic flavors from their standard ice cream parlors, they sold a tennis-themed flavor that I had to try – the Honeycomb Fudge Slam. A vanilla base with hints of chocolate fudge and crunchy honeycomb bits mixed throughout the ice cream, this scoop was absolutely delicious. Even though I prefer to go for flavors that aren’t so sweet (sorbets are my go-to), the Honeycomb Fudge Slam was undeniably delicious. Each scoop topped with a cute tennis ball decoration, this ice cream had the perfect balance of chocolate hints to the smooth vanilla. However, best of all were the little honeycomb bits that were in the ice cream, adding a nice crunch with a rich honey flavor. I would fully recommend this $10 scoop of ice cream to anyone who goes to the Open who is in need of a sweet treat – nothing beats ice cream on a hot summer day!

Rating: 10/10

Pat LaFreida Meat Co. Black Angus Steak Sandwich

Pat LaFreida is a US Open classic. Their signature steak sandwich, served with melted cheese inside a baguette, is a must-have. The medium-rare steak was juicy and not too chewy, making it easy to eat while watching a match. I ordered their seasoned tater tots on the side, and they were perfectly crispy. The $28 sandwich and $9.75 for tater tots made the total close to $40, but it was worth the amount of food that it came with. I also highly recommend trying their Double Burger if you get the chance to go inside Louis Armstrong Stadium — the brioche bun and caramelized onions elevate the burger to another level.

Rating: 9/10

Faults:

American Classics: Fuku Fingers and Waffle Fries

Located inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, the fried chicken sandwich shop offers their chicken fingers and waffle fries for $24. It was slightly better than the average tenders you’d find at a carnival, but I was disappointed by the thick batter on the chicken and how the fries tasted of oil. The dipping sauce was a “spicy,” mayo-based sauce that I didn’t find very original. The meal is supposed to come with three tenders, but mine had an extra, which I appreciated. Fuku might be a decent pick if you’re craving deep-fried food in a hurry, but there are definitely better options in the Food Village; I will not be coming back to this shop next year.

Rating: 4/10

Pricy and Petite: Classic New England Lobster Roll from Fly Fish

This restaurant near Grandstand Stadium’s most popular menu item is the lobster roll at a price of $39.50. It’s a simple potato bun filled with Maine lobster, tarragon, and celery garnishes, served with a side of salt and vinegar chips. While it came with a decent amount of lobster meat, one roll was not enough for a whole meal, and I had to buy another one. This was one of my least favorite items I had — not because of the flavor, but because of the portion size and cost (and, to be honest, I’m not a fan of salt and vinegar chips).

Rating: 4/10

Michelin Guide Dining in Arthur Ashe Stadium: COQODAQ’s Nuggets and Fries

Owned by the Michelin-starred restaurant Cote Korean Steakhouse, COQODAQ is a small-scale takeout restaurant serving only two mains: their signature chicken sandwich and six-piece chicken nuggets. Originally just located inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, this restaurant made its way into the Food Village for the first time this year. Their nuggets came with their signature sauces (gochujang BBQ, honey mustard, and pepper parmesan) and pickled daikon. The restaurant went viral for offering a side of caviar to eat with the nuggets, but it was much too expensive for me to buy. The nuggets on their own were not much more impressive than regular fast food nuggets, but their BBQ and pepper parmesan sauces made up for the chicken’s generic taste. Their French fries (not pictured) were thin, crispy, and a very generous portion — slightly oily but a must-have to make it a complete meal. The nuggets’ cost of $26 and the fries’ cost of $10 made the meal come to a total of $36; for that price, I would rather get something cheaper and more filling.

Rating: 5/10