Features

Taste testing through a trip to Bryant Park’s Winter Village

Avery Quake and Ellie Furman • December 3, 2025

Bryant Park’s food vendors provide visitors with diverse snacks and drinks throughout the holiday season.

As the air chills and festive crowds return, the holiday season approaches in New York City. This December, we visited the Bryant Park Winter Village to try some of the food stands that have recently gone viral on social media. We visited the attraction around midday on a Monday, which helped us avoid long lines and big crowds of tourists. Bryant Park Winter Village is located beside the Bryant Park ice skating rink and has an array of gift shops and food stands serving various global cuisines. The holiday decorations create a festive atmosphere for anyone walking through to enjoy.

The Truffleist serves truffle-seasoned fries, mozzarella sticks, and chicken nuggets to visitors at Bryant Park. Ellie Furman ’26

We started at Truffleist, a stand that is famous for its truffle-covered snacks. We ordered truffle fries, mozzarella sticks, and chicken nuggets. The truffle flavor was strong without overwhelming the dish, and all three items were crisp and well-seasoned. The fries were the standout, with an even truffle coating. However, with the total coming out to $50, the portions felt a bit small for the price.

Next, we ordered pasta from Cheese Wheel Pasta, another popular stop. We ordered one dish for $17. Cheese Wheel Pasta makes its single dish by tossing pasta inside a large wheel of parmesan cheese. There was no line to order and only about a five-minute wait before we received our food. The pasta was creamy and warm, and the booth’s Christmas lights added holiday ambience. While the portion size was not large, the flavor was rich and satisfying for a quick bite.

Happy Dumplings serves fried pork dumplings with a crispy exterior and flavorful dipping sauce. Ellie Furman ’26

One of the most viral desserts this year is from Strawberro, which specializes in chocolate-covered strawberries. We ordered two normal-sized portions, including one classic chocolate and one “Dubai-style,” which uses thicker, premium chocolate. They make the chocolate freshly right in front of customers. It took us around ten minutes to get through the line. The strawberries tasted fresh, and the chocolate hardened nicely on top. The Dubai chocolate strawberries were $25, and the classic chocolate strawberries were $20, adding up to a total of $45. Overall, this felt like a fun treat for first-time visitors.

Down the Chimney serves hot chocolate with a cinnamon-sugar bun prepared fresh for customers. Ellie Furman ’26

To try something savory again, we went to Happy Dumplings, which is a savory, Asian-style food stand. We bought the fried pork dumplings for $17. The line was pleasantly short, and our food came out quickly. The dumplings were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. We paired them with a flavorful dipping sauce as well. The staff was friendly and made the experience enjoyable. Out of the savory foods we tried, Happy Dumplings was a better option than Cheese Wheel Pasta.

We finished at Down the Chimney, which serves hot chocolate paired with a cinnamon-sugar bun. Also priced at $17, this item had about a five-minute line followed by a ten-minute wait while the staff prepared it. Customers watch as employees make the hot chocolate, adding to the appeal. The cinnamon bun was soft and chewy and was perfect for dipping in the hot chocolate. The drink itself was very rich and warm in the cold weather.

Overall, the Bryant Park Winter Village offers a plentiful variety of fun holiday food options, though the prices are definitely higher than a typical lunch. If you visit at a less busy time of day, it is easy to try multiple stands without waiting in long lines. For anyone looking to enjoy festive food and seasonal treats, the Winter Village is worth the stop, especially if you are already in the area to skate or shop.

Featured Image by Ellie Furman ’26

About the Contributors

Avery Quake, Co-Managing Editor, Head of Content

Avery is thrilled to return to the King Street Chronicle as co-managing editor and head of content in her last year at Sacred Heart Greenwich. She is very excited to implement the journalistic skills she has gained the last two years, and is eager to pass on that knowledge to the new staff writers. Outside of the newsroom, Avery leads the yearbook, is co-head of the Neighbor to Neighbor club, and also is on the sailing team.

Ellie Furman, Co-Managing Editor, Head of Media

Ellie is eager to return to the King Street Chronicle as co-managing editor and head of media. She is excited to implement everything she learned the last two years and improve as both an editor and writer. Ellie is the executive producer of her creative filmmaking class and is thrilled to use those skills in her work for the KSC. She is also the captain of the varsity tennis team and is a senior editor for the yearbook.