You’ve planned your trip to see the New York Islanders play at UBS Arena, and you can’t wait to get to the venue. However, there’s one small problem: you have no idea where you will eat beforehand. You don’t want to have a basic hot dog or a pretzel picked up last minute at a food concession, you want dinner to be worth your while, and memorable. The good news is that the UBS Arena offers some of the most impressive food concessions in any sporting venue. This guide will break down precisely what you need to know about each of them, so that you can decide what you’ll eat before the game.
Fuku
Fuku is the brainchild of David Chang, who has popularized the OG spicy fried chicken sandwich. We would argue that there’s nowhere else you need to go if you’re a big fan of fried chicken sandwiches, because this will be the best meal you could eat before a game. It is topped with David Chang’s signature Mayo, and is known for being both tender and crunchy, with a bit of spice thrown in. This famous OG spicy fried chicken sandwich is found at Market 214 within UBS arena.
Big Chicken Shaq Attack
Keeping on theme with chicken, if you are this way inclined, you will need to check out basketball legend Shaquille O’Neill’s Big Chicken Shaq Attack sandwich. This signature offering combines bold flavours and quality ingredients to create one of the most popular items among the venue’s diverse food options. The thing that sets this popular Mexican menu item apart is the spicy jalapeno slaw topping. You can get your hands on the Big Chicken Shaq Attack at Market 111 and Stand 206.
Italian Poutine Puck
Italian Poutine Puck is another popular food item located at Market 111 within UBS Arena. This innovative dish reimagines traditional Canadian poutine with Mediterranean ingredients, creating a shareable option for hungry fans who have come to the game with their friends. Instead of conventional cheese curds and gravy, which are most commonly served with protein, this creative alternative features cherry-sized balls of fresh mozzarella. Add to this the vodka sauce and crispy fried pepperoni chips, and you’ve got yourself one of the best pregame meals you could find.
Birra Grilled Cheese
Perhaps you are more of a grilled cheese person and love the idea of combining one of your favorite lunches with spicy BBQ. Located in Market 220 within the UBS arena, you’ll find traditional Mexican cuisine meets American comfort food. The Birra grilled cheese starts with spicy shredded beef generously layered with melted Monterey cheese and butter-toasted Texas toast. It’s also served with a dipping sauce and a side of crunchy kettle chips.
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Maybe you are more of a pizza person, and you love the idea of being able to share one of your favorite foods with your friends before the game. If this is the case, you’ll definitely want to check out the popular Buffalo chicken pizza at Market 108, and Market 203. Each pizza is finished with a zesty drizzle of ranch dressing, and unlike standard arena pizza options, the specialty pie brings together multiple flavor dimensions. It’s certainly not the traditional venue fare that you can expect to find before a game, and it might even have you coming back time and again.
Fear the Schmear
Another culinary institution in the UBS arena is Fear the Schmear, which delivers a bold combination of flavours that breaks away from conventional stadium fare. It features seared braised pork belly, along with roasted habanero cream cheese and fresh tomato slices. All of this is served on an oversized English muffin. You can find this culinary delight at Market 103 within UBS arena.
The Islander Sandwich
If you have stumbled across the Big Chicken kiosk within UBS arena, you’ll definitely want to check out the Islander sandwich. Its foundation is a crispy chicken breast topped with zesty Buffalo sauce and a generous layer of cream cheese. Perhaps the most standout element of this menu item is the blue and orange bagel it is served with. It’s an iconic sandwich, and it is available at the Big Chicken kiosk.
Oh La La Steak Sandwich
Maybe you’re somebody who can’t ever go past a steak sandwich, and has high expectations. The good news is that if you have found yourself standing in front of Section 118 within the UBS Arena, you can get your hands on one of the best steak sandwiches in the area. The Oh La La Steak sandwich features carved rotisserie beef rib eye, with mustard, grilled red onion, horseradish cream spinach, all served on delicious ciabatta bread. As well as the signature sandwich, you can also get your hands on mushroom truffle steak, peppercorn steak, and fries.
Mighty Quinn’s BBQ
There’s nothing quite like sitting down, relaxing before a game, and sharing a Southern Comfort staple like BBQ. If you are a fan of slow-cooked meats and would much rather experience something like this for dinner than traditional venue fare, then you need to head over to Mighty Quinn’s. The brisket sandwich is their flagship offering, featuring tender brief brisket smoked for up to 20 hours. They also have smoked chicken, pulled pork, and a sweet potato casserole topped with Maple and bacon to finish everything. You’ll find Mighty Quinn’s at Market 104 within the UBS Arena.
Street Food Loaded Nachos
Sharing a game-day meal can become an event in itself, especially if you go to Street Food Loaded Nachos. The signature loaded chili nachos feature a generous base of corn tortilla chips topped with crumbled chorizo, beef chili, and chicken tinga as your protein options. It’s the ultimate shareable option, and for larger groups, they’ve got the family-sized Nacho platter. You can find shareable nachos at Market 102 and Section 102.
Conclusion
This guide makes it clear that UBS Arena stands out as a culinary destination, transcending typical stadium fare. We have looked at several exceptional food spots, from fried chicken sandwiches to authentic Canadian poutine. If you’re going to a game at UBS Arena and looking for a unique experience with your friends before you find your seats, you’re now armed with expert knowledge to find the best bites to keep you going all night.