Buffalo

Breezy Burrito Bar

Now moved to its own freestanding location after a three-year stint at the EXPO Market in downtown (the latter is now permanently closed), the Breezy Burrito experience is closer to Americanized fast food à la Mighty Taco than the Fresh-Mex cuisine it aspires to, despite the presence of pickled onion as an optional topping which now seems to be de rigueur for taco places in Buffalo. The menu has expanded along with the physical space, but at its core is the same slate of build-your-own burritos, burrito bowls (with Mexican rice and black beans), tacos (two to an order on hard-shell, soft flour, or soft corn tortillas), and taco salads, along with nachos, chicken tortilla soup, and other simple Tex-Mex favorites. Portion sizes are nothing to write home about, but prices are fair considering.

Tue-Sat 4PM-2AM·$15-20

Family Thai

If you've been to the West Side before, you may remember Family Thai from their lengthy stint in the West Side Bazaar's International Kitchen a couple years back. If so, you know the drill: the menu does not stray far from usual standards like pad thai, tom yum soup, red and green curry, and the like, but rest assured that the flavors are far more vibrant and the preparations far more authentic than your average American Thai joint. Sadly, it's not completely the same experience — many popular favorites from the Bazaar days (including the spicy yum nua beef salad) have been axed from the menu — but there's now a selection of Burmese specialties on offer that rivals the Thai ones in deliciousness. Service is friendly, portion sizes are huge given what you pay — what more could you ask for?

Mon Wed-Sat 11AM-9PM, Sun 11AM-6PM·$10-25

Pattaya Street Food

Gourmet Lao Foods opened their own freestanding restaurant (see above) in 2018, but the West Side Bazaar stall where it all began remains in operation — albeit with a new name — serving delicious bubble teas, Laotian desserts (including dok jok, the crispy, coconut milk-infused cookie that they're most famous for). Plus, as if to make up for a weak point in most of the International Kitchen's other food stalls, Pattaya stocks a cooler with a full range of bottled soft drinks.

Closed · opens 11:30 am tomorrow·Under $5

EXPO Market on Hertel

Though it makes a game effort, the EXPO Market's smaller North Buffalo satellite doesn't quite pull off the same hip, millennial-friendly vibe as the main location downtown — the concept doesn't really translate to the low-rise, quasi-suburban Hertel neighborhood, not to mention the fact that its location in a former Family Video rental outlet lends it a more prefab air, more like a miniature shopping-mall food court than anything. Still, if you're in it strictly for the food and not the ambience, you've got a veritable cross-section of Buffalo cuisine (and specifically North Buffalo cuisine) at your disposal.

Daily 11AM-10PM

Labatt Brew House

The ground floor of the Labatt Brewing Company's U.S. home offices is given over to a 200-seat restaurant as well as this small "innovation brewery" for limited-edition and seasonal beers, most unavailable elsewhere. (They seem to be positioning Blue Citra, a hoppy lager with notes of grapefruit, as the next new breakout star in the Labatt lineup; get it here before it hits stores.) Enjoy any of these dozen or so beers either in the restaurant, a large beer garden out back, or a small tasting room with a bird's-eye view onto the production floor — and if you want to help any of them find a wider market, put in a good word on the feedback form they provide!

CEPA Gallery

Located in the historic and architecturally stunning Market Arcade in the Theater District and funded by CEPA members as well as charitable foundations, the CEPA Gallery's mission, according to its website, is "to present contemporary photo-related art, to support working artists, and to promote a greater understanding of photography and its associated aesthetic and cultural issues", with a particular focus on the work of local photographers as well as those who come from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the field. To that end, exhibitions of work by CEPA members and others are frequently held in the gallery space.

Mon-Fri 7AM-9PM, Sat 8:30AM-4:45PM, Sun 10AM-3PM·Donation

Pho Lantern

Owned by the same folks as Á Châu International Market across the way, it's no surprise that Vietnamese cuisine is the name of the game at Pho Lantern, but it is surprising that the specialty of the house is not the namesake soup but seafood: selections include steamed mussels, crab, shrimp, clams, oysters, crawfish, lobster, and a fairly faithful rendition of Buffalo-style fish fry. Sadly, most of the non-seafood options are not as good; exceptions to that rule are some not-half-bad banh mi sandwiches and the pho itself: it comes in one variety only, with tendons, meatballs, and (optionally) thinly sliced filet mignon, but it's a contender for Buffalo's best.

Tue-Sat 11AM-9PM, Sun 11AM-7PM·$10-35

The Farm Shop

Aside from the Elmwood-Bidwell Farmer's Market, this is the sole retail outlet for Cattaraugus County's family-owned White Cow Dairy. What the Farm Shop's inventory lacks in range is made up for by its quality: the cows are fed on 100% wild grass, making for old-fashioned flavors you can't find at the supermarket, and the constantly-changing selection is crowned by some of the best yogurt you'll ever taste. Aside from dairy products, there's also a modest range of other locally-sourced goodies, such as fresh produce from Buffalo's own WestSide Tilth Farm, artisan chocolate from Dark Forest Chocolates out of Lancaster, and real New York maple syrup.

Fri noon-7PM, Sat 9AM-7PM

Burgerim

Part of the initial incursion into the U.S. market of this Israeli fast-casual burger chain, Burgerim's unusual name incorporates the Hebrew plural suffix -im — and "burgers, plural" is a pretty good summation of the experience. Not only is the specialty of the house small "chef-inspired" burgers (albeit not quite as small as sliders) ordered in groups of two or three to mix-and-match, tapas-style, but each burger itself is further customizable in myriad ways: patties come in beef, chicken, salmon, turkey, lamb, falafel, and plant-based burger patties, and toppings are multitudinous as well. If bigger is better (or if you're overwhelmed by excessive variety, a common complaint), they also offer a smaller selection of specialty quarter- and third-pound "Big Burgerim". The menu is rounded out by standard fast-food sides such as chicken tenders, fries, onion rings, and milkshakes, in gourmet versions to match the burgers.

Sun-Thu noon-9:30PM, Fri Sat noon-11:30PM·$15-35

Grant Street Bazaar

The problem with the West Side Bazaar is one of supply and demand. They occupy a fairly small space, yet the pool of wannabe entrepreneurs among Buffalo's immigrant community is large and growing. By 2019, the waiting list was reputed to be years long. Enter Sue Chauhan, owner of Vineeta International Foods down the street, who took the bull by the horns with this similar small-business incubator. The Grant Street Bazaar boasts a cell phone shop and a small area devoted to brightly-colored ethnic fashions, but (wisely, given where West Side Bazaar customers tend to focus their attention) the food hall comprises the vast bulk of its space, with eight booths that run the gamut of international cuisines and an ambience that's decidedly grungier than the competition (though foodies know that's usually a mark of authenticity, and that's certainly the case here). Hungry visitors can choose from:

Mon-Fri 10AM-10PM, Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun 9AM-7PM

Snowy Owl Kombucha

Snowy Owl is a "kombucha production studio" that opened in September 2016 as one of the inaugural tenants of The Barrel Factory's "makers' market" selling artisanally produced goods. Snowy Owl makes theirs in a sustainable manner using 100% organic, fair trade-certified tea leaves. On Fridays and Saturdays, thirsty customers descend on their brewery-cum-tasting room-cum boutique to sample one of about a half-dozen plain and flavored kombuchas (also available is a "blend your own" option, where you can go to town on Snowy Owl's own juicer and your choice of fruits) — either imbibe at the bar or bring your own growler.

Fri 4-8PM, Sat noon-8PM

Broadway Market

The Broadway Market traces its history to 1888, not long after the birth of the city's Polish community. Back then, this was not only a place for the newly minted community to stock up on daily essentials, but also to meet friends, see and be seen, and enjoy a comforting reminder of their homeland. Today, Polish and other Eastern European foods and gifts share space on the sales floor with soul food stands, halal groceries, and other items that reflect the diverse pastiche of the modern-day East Side. For most of the year, the Market is a fairly quiet place, with about a dozen stalls and eateries open for business (more on Saturdays, which is generally the busiest day of the week) — but come in the weeks leading up to Easter and you'll find yourself amid the throngs of Buffalo Poles who flock back to the old neighborhood each year to pick up specialties for the traditional breakfast spread. At those times, seasonal vendors swell the ranks to perhaps three times as many as listed here.

Mon-Sat 8AM-5PM

Queen City Gallery

The Queen City Gallery "Celebrates the Architecture of Buffalo" (to cite its mission statement) from its headquarters in the Market Arcade on Main Street in the Theater District. Here you'll find not only the work of its owner, Michael Mulley, but also photography and works in other media by a bevy of local artists, with an accent on vintage and contemporary depictions of Buffalo and Western New York. Books and prints are offered for sale at reasonable prices.

Tue-Fri 11AM-4PM, Sat by appointment

Stitch Buffalo

Stitch Buffalo's main mission is to help refugee women develop economic, educational, and practical skills, and it does this by employing over 55 of them as skilled textile artisans who hand-stitch a variety of goods using the native colors, styles, and methods of their respective homelands. One thing they don't make is clothing, but stop by Stitch if you're in the market for an embroidered pin (peace signs and "Buffalove" are popular motifs), a hair clip, a felt elephant figurine, or the like. And if you'd rather DIY, check their website for the date of the next "Second Stitch" pop-up event, where surplus yarn, knitting needles and other supplies are sold.

Tue Thu 1-4PM, Fri 9AM-4PM, Sat 10AM-2PM

Taste of Siam

What Bobby Sysomboune offers diners here is a small yet innovative range of Thai food served in a great ambience. Taste of Siam's menu is second on the local stage only to the West Side Bazaar's Nine & Night Bistro in terms of authenticity, and it includes specialties served nowhere else in Buffalo: ka nome bang moo (an appetizer of toast stuffed with fried seasoned pork, with dipping sauce on the side), pud prig sod (a spicy stir fry with onions, tomatoes, celery, chili peppers, and your choice of meat), and an impressive range of salads. Best of all, the setting for all this deliciousness is a large, airy two-story dining room bathed in natural light and bedecked with ornate woodwork. Service can be slow, but the food is worth the wait.

Mon-Sat noon-10PM, Sun 4-9PM·$15-30

Ten Thousand Villages

A not-for-profit chain of volunteer-staffed boutiques with about 100 locations across the U.S. and Canada where the specialty is clothing, handicrafts, decorative knickknacks, and gifts manufactured by artisans in 38 disadvantaged countries throughout the world. Ten Thousand Villages is the place for those who prefer to shop small for fair-trade goods rather than with a for-profit corporate entity like Pier 1 Imports, but whose tastes in fashion, home decor, and the like are a bit less quote-unquote "ethnic" than the stuff you find at the West Side Bazaar. Prices are a bit high, but the money you spend really makes a difference in the lives of these artisans.

Mon-Sat 11AM-6PM, Sun 11AM-5PM

WestSide Tilth Farm

Co-owners Neil and Carrie's farm got its start in 2015 as West Side Herbs & Alliums, and despite the name change, those remain the cornerstones here (the selection of herbs is particularly astonishing, ranging from everyday pantry staples to medicinal herbs to obscurities like lemon balm and buzz buttons). But they've diversified their repertoire since the old days: nowadays you'll also find fruit trees, microgreens, and a whole host of other vegetal goodies, all grown organically in raised beds so as to sidestep the issue of soil contamination that is the bane of urban farmers across the Rust Belt.

Farm stand open Fri 5-7PM in season

Nine & Night Bistro

It's perhaps a testament to the singular nature of the West Side Bazaar that Nine & Night is its least "exotic" dining option. Though they can't hold a candle to Family Thai, the predecessor in this location within the International Kitchen (the tom yum soup is a flavorless disappointment; most of the yum salads, with the exception of the seafood one, are gone from the menu), these folks still serve a decent selection of Thai specialties where the emphasis is still on authenticity rather than pandering to the American palate. Service tends to be slow, so be patient.

Mon noon-6:30PM, Tue-Thu 11AM-7PM, Fri 11AM-8PM, Sat 10AM-8PM·$5-15

Root + Bloom

The menu at this "plant-based café and market" is not what you'd call extensive, but it covers a lot of ground with its creative vegan takes on classic American stick-to-your-ribs comfort food: the "Edna" is a platter of macaroni and cultured cashew cheese topped with barbecue tofu, while the "Shirley" (a stack of snickerdoodle pancakes dusted with cinnamon coconut sugar) is a hit with the brunch crowd, and yes, all the menu options are named this way. The best thing about Root + Bloom, though, is the ambience: though the indoor dining room is obviously de rigueur when it's cold or rainy, the place to be on beautiful sunny days is the breezy patio out back. If you like what you taste, you can even take home your choice of the artisanal vegan products they use in their recipes.

Dinner Thu-Sat 5-9PM; brunch Sat 10AM-2PM & Sun 10AM-3PM·$15-25

Deb's Delights

Deb's Delights ships its inventory nationwide from their headquarters in East Aurora not only to the shelves of numerous Western New York supermarkets, but also to its flagship retail outlet that opens for business each Wednesday at the Broadway Market. What products make up that inventory? No less than 70 different varieties of jellies, relishes, salsas, hot sauces, condiments, and — above all — pretty much any kind of vegetable that can be pickled; a high-quality range of stuff that ably demonstrates the truth of her slogan, "If you can't, I can".

Wed 10AM-5PM

Larkin Market

In the words of Larkinville executive Leslie Zemsky, the Larkin Market is all about "social shopping": a place where you can not only shop but meet up with friends, have a bite to eat, relax to the tune of live light acoustic music performed by local bands, and get to know your friendly neighborhood artists and artisans. Offerings run the gamut from vintage fashions, bath products, farm-fresh produce, artisanal foods, photo prints of Buffalo scenery, and even full meals courtesy of area restaurants and food trucks. Beer, wine, and gourmet food tastings are hosted frequently.

Thu 4PM-7:30PM, Jul-Sep

AMC Market Arcade 8

The eight screens show the typical big-budget Hollywood fare, but in terms of amenities, this is easily Buffalo's swankiest cinema experience: ticketless entry, heated reclining seats, and a full bar (the Market Arcade 8 is the only movie theater in New York State with a liquor license!) are but a few of the additional touches that elevate it a cut above the competition. As anywhere downtown, limited parking is the Achilles heel of this place: if you're not arriving by Metro Rail, best practice is to head for a spot in the M&T Bank parking lot across Washington Street, which is open to non-bank employees beginning at 4PM (10AM on weekends) at a flat rate of $3.

The Peddler

The Peddler is more than just a flea market — it's a neighborhood institution, a social gathering place, and a real slice of Elmwood Village life, where an underused parking lot becomes an emporium of vintage and antique furniture, home decor, and clothing that's inspired by the Chelsea Market in New York City. Vendors — some steadfast regulars, some more itinerant — offer an interesting and diverse selection of upscale goods to a customer base ranging from hipsters to families with kids to old folks to a growing legion of folks who come from out of town in search of bargains. In the winter, The Peddler moves indoors to The Foundry on the East Side.

Sat 8:30AM-4PM, mid-Apr through late Oct

Steve's Clam Bar

Once upon a time, North Buffalonians had to ask around to find out where and when Steve Meli would be setting up shop, whether it be the back room of some random neighborhood tavern or just a street corner somewhere along the strip. But with the opening of the EXPO Market on Hertel, now Steve's Clam Bar is a daily, fixed-address operation. Über-fresh Alaskan king crab legs, succulent lobster tail, clams casino, and other specialties from the briny deep are served with aplomb as always, but with the larger space has come the addition of a raw bar with about half a dozen oyster varieties on offer at any given time. And if you can handle the heat, garnish it all with one of Steve's own not-to-be-trifled-with homemade hot sauces.

$15-25

007 Chinese Food

A native of Myanmar, Maung Maung Saw draws on his experience as owner of a Chinese restaurant in Malaysia to craft the best and most authentic dim sum in Buffalo (not that there's much competition). The stars of the show at 007 are lo mai fan (balls of sticky rice mixed with stir-fried chicken and mushrooms, with sriracha sauce on the side for dipping), and of course, steamed shu mai stuffed with your choice of beef, chicken, or vegetables. Unless you're an exceptionally light eater, you won't be able to make a full meal out of what you get here, but this food works spectacularly as appetizers to accompany a main course from one of the Bazaar's other food vendors.

$5-15

Wa Wa Asian Snacks

The word "snacks" is a misnomer — the menu has expanded greatly since the grand opening to encompass an eclectic range of full-size mains — but the rest of the name is accurate. At her eponymous West Side Bazaar eatery, Wa Wa Khiang enables you to eat your way from one end of Southeast Asia to the other: Burmese pork curry and mohinga, kanom jeen soup and som tum papaya salad from Thailand, Vietnamese banh mi that give the ones at Pho Dollar a run for their money (no mean feat), and even Hainanese chicken rice, the only place in Buffalo that serves this specialty of Singapore and Malaysia. Jack of all trades, master of none? Not by a long shot: this is the best food at the Bazaar, and that's saying something.

$10-15

African Heritage Food Co-op

The African Heritage Co-op is not only a food market, but also a blow struck for entrepreneurship in the local black community, because (as they say around here) "anything less than ownership is unacceptable". Fresh fruits and veggies, organic toiletries, and other healthy goodies. At the Black Business Bazaar on the first Saturday of each month, a range of local independent vendors convene to proffer their own goods.

Wed-Sun 11AM-7PM

BFLO BOHO

The website says it best: "regardless of what Wikipedia says, 'boho' was not invented by Sienna Miller or the Olsen twins". Instead, the Bohemia that Jodi Mohn Griggs brings to Buffalo is the original one — since 2015, she's partnered with some of the last traditional jewelers and glass artisans in the mountain village of Jablonec nad Nisou to bring their wares to Buffalo, first at the East Side's Broadway Market and now at a brick-and-mortar location on the Washington Street side of the Market Arcade: one-of-a-kind buttons, brooches, pins, necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry imported from the Czech Republic and sold for prices that won't break the bank.

Tue-Fri 10AM-6PM, Sat 10AM-5PM

Bailey Seafood

Part seafood market selling shrimp and crab legs by the pound to cook at home, part take-out spot specializing in tasty treats from the briny deep: there's a good reason why East Siders brave ubiquitous crowds and endless lines to enjoy what Bailey Seafood has to offer. Simply put, the food here is really, really good, with shipments of high-quality product arriving daily. The marquee item is the "Haddock Super Sandwich", a feast that truly lives up to its superlative name, but frankly it would be useless to try to summarize the gargantuan menu in any succinct way: just know that pretty much anything you can think of that's aquatic and edible is on the menu, along with plenty of non-seafood items, and if you like Southern cuisine, you'll especially want to give Bailey Seafood a try.

Mon-Thu Sat 11AM-8PM, Fri 9AM-9PM·$10-25

Camellia Meats

Camellia Meats was born in 1935, and it's still run by the third generation of the Cichocki family, who sell a full line of over fifty fresh-cut meats both here and at their Broadway Market outlet — not only the kiszka, kabanossy, and award-winning Polish sausage with which they've made their name, but multitudinous mouth-watering cuts of beef, pork, chicken, and fish, deli meats and cheeses, and a small selection of fresh produce and prepared foods.

Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM, Sat 9AM-3PM