The heart of Manhattan is about to transform into the ultimate culinary playground as the Times Square Alliance (@TimesSquareNYC) brings back its iconic Annual Taste of Times Square on Monday, September 8, 2025, from 5 pm to 9 pm. This beloved outdoor food festival, one of New York City’s longest-running culinary celebrations, promises to unite over 30 of the district’s most celebrated restaurants for an unforgettable evening of global flavors at the Crossroads of the World.
A Culinary United Nations in the Heart of NYC
The 2025 Taste of Times Square represents far more than just another food festival: it’s a testament to the incredible diversity that defines New York City’s food and beverage industry. Taking place across Duffy Square and the Broadway Plazas between 43rd and 48th Streets, this year’s event brings together an impressive roster of restaurants representing cuisines from Mexico to the Caribbean, Cuba to Italy, India to America, and everywhere in between.
The festival’s strategic location in the heart of Times Square serves a dual purpose: showcasing the district’s incredible culinary diversity while making it accessible to both locals and the millions of tourists who visit the area annually. This positioning aligns perfectly with current food and beverage trends that emphasize authentic, diverse dining experiences and cultural exchange through cuisine.
Featured Restaurants: A Global Culinary Journey
This year’s participating restaurants read like a who’s who of Times Square dining, each bringing their signature flavors to the festival. Here’s what food service industry professionals and attendees can expect:
American Classics and Comfort Food:
- Applebee’s Grill & Bar (applebees.com / @applebees) brings their neighborhood favorites
- Ellen’s Stardust Diner (ellensstardustdiner.com / @ellensstardust) combines classic American fare with Broadway entertainment
- Junior’s Restaurant (juniorscheesecake.com / @juniorscheesecake) offers their legendary New York cheesecake and deli classics
- Planet Hollywood (planethollywoodnyc.com) serves up Hollywood-inspired American cuisine
International Flavors:
- Bar Mexicana (barmexicananyc.com) showcases authentic Mexican street food
- Havana Central (havanacentral.com / @havanacentral) brings Cuban classics to the plaza
- Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine (jasminecaribbeancuisine.com) offers vibrant Caribbean flavors
- Dilli Dilli (dilli-dilli.com / @dillidillinyc) presents modern Indian cuisine
- Palermo Argentinian Steakhouse & Bistro (palermonyc.com) features South American specialties
Fine Dining Experiences:
- Blue Fin (bluefinnyc.com / @bluefinnewyork) brings upscale seafood to the streets
- Bond 45 (bond45ny.com / @bond45nyc) offers Italian elegance
- Brooklyn Chop House (brooklynchophousenyc.com / @brooklynchophousenyc) presents premium steakhouse fare
- Carmine’s (carminesnyc.com / @carminesnyc) serves their famous family-style Italian dishes
Unique Concepts:
- Burger & Lobster (burgerandlobster.com / @burgerandlobsterusa) combines two American favorites
- See No Evil Pizza (seenoevilpizza.com) brings artisanal pizza to the mix
- Serendipity 3 (serendipity3.com / @serendipity3nyc) offers their famous desserts and comfort food
- Pink Taco (pinktaco.com / @pinktaco) presents modern Mexican with a twist
Affordability Meets Quality: The $10 Rule
One of the most compelling aspects of Taste of Times Square is its commitment to accessibility. All “tastes” at the festival are priced under $10, making it possible for food and beverage enthusiasts to sample dishes from multiple restaurants without breaking the bank. This pricing strategy reflects current food and beverage trends that emphasize value and accessibility while maintaining quality.
The festival operates on a convenient wristband system where participants register their credit or debit card for seamless transactions throughout the event. This cashless approach not only streamlines the dining experience but also provides valuable data insights for participating restaurants: a crucial consideration in today’s data-driven food service industry.
Pro Tip for Industry Professionals: Festival-goers can save 20% through advance wristband purchases at TSQ.org/Taste, demonstrating effective revenue management strategies that many restaurants can apply to their own operations.
Entertainment That Amplifies the Experience
Beyond the exceptional culinary offerings, the 2025 Taste of Times Square will feature live music and entertainment from participating restaurants that regularly host performers at their establishments. This year’s entertainment lineup includes:
- Ellen’s Stardust Diner Stardusters featuring Broadway showstoppers
- Havana Central with authentic Cuban music
- Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine bringing Caribbean rhythms
- Russian Samovar (russiansamovar.com) adding Eastern European flair
This integration of dining and entertainment reflects a growing trend in the hospitality industry where restaurants are evolving into comprehensive entertainment destinations, not just dining venues.
Strategic Partnerships and Sponsorship Opportunities
The festival is proudly supported by key industry partners including Gatorlyte and Foundry Bar at The Westin New York at Times Square (marriott.com/en-us/hotels/nycsw-the-westin-new-york-at-times-square/dining/). These partnerships demonstrate the collaborative spirit that drives success in the food and beverage industry, particularly in high-visibility markets like Times Square.
For food and beverage companies and hospitality managers, this event showcases effective partnership strategies and the value of community-driven marketing initiatives that benefit all stakeholders.
Industry Networking and Learning Opportunities
For food and beverage professionals, the Taste of Times Square offers more than just great food: it’s a living laboratory of successful restaurant operations, menu innovation, and customer engagement strategies. Observing how different establishments present their brands, manage high-volume service, and engage with customers provides valuable insights for restaurant marketing and hospitality technology implementation.
The festival also demonstrates effective local food sourcing strategies, as many participating restaurants showcase ingredients and dishes that represent their commitment to quality and authenticity: key factors in building sustainable food brands.
Planning Your Festival Experience
Whether you’re attending as an industry professional or food enthusiast, here’s how to maximize your Taste of Times Square experience:
Before the Event:
- Purchase advance wristbands at TSQ.org/Taste for 20% savings
- Research participating restaurants by visiting their websites and following their Instagram accounts
- Plan your route through the festival area to maximize sampling opportunities
During the Event:
- Network with other industry professionals and restaurant owners
- Document successful presentation and service strategies
- Engage with restaurant social media accounts using #TasteTSq
Follow-Up Opportunities:
- Connect with discovered restaurants for potential partnerships
- Apply observed strategies to your own operations
- Share experiences on professional networks
The Annual Taste of Times Square represents everything that makes New York City’s food and beverage scene exceptional: diversity, quality, innovation, and accessibility. For industry professionals, it’s an opportunity to witness best practices in action, discover new partnerships, and celebrate the collaborative spirit that drives our industry forward.
Don’t miss this chance to be part of NYC’s biggest outdoor culinary celebration. Visit TSQ.org/Taste to secure your advance wristband, follow @TimesSquareNYC for updates, and join the conversation with #TasteTSq. Whether you’re a restaurant owner, food service executive, or hospitality manager, this festival offers invaluable insights into successful food and beverage operations at one of the world’s most iconic locations.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
