Whether you’re celebrating solo, feeding a crowd or just don’t feel like spending all day in the kitchen, these spots in the city are preparing holiday favorites with sazón. Here are some immigrant- or BIPOC-owned small businesses where you can place an order now for a Thanksgiving feast you’ll be thankful for.
Chick’n Rotonda (Queens)
Address: 64-58 Dry Harbor Road, Middle Village in Queens
Perfect for: Families or anyone who wants a hearty Filipino Thanksgiving spread without lifting a finger
The short food story: Chick’n Rotonda is chef-owner Prince Torre’s comeback tale. It’s his mission to make Filipino comfort food as everyday as American fast-casual fare. Torre immigrated from the city of Aklan in the Philippines at 16 and once struggled to even make rice. But after culinary school and restaurant gigs across the city, a job working with rotisserie chicken brought him back to the flavors of lechon manok, the spit-roasted chicken he grew up with.
Torre opened his first restaurant in late 2019, only to have it shuttered by the pandemic. Then, in 2021, he spotted a small storefront in Middle Village and took a chance: Chick’n Rotonda was born. Today, Torre serves Filipino staples like lechon manok, lumpia, kale la-ing and calamansi desserts.
“Our mission is to normalize Filipino food,” he told Epicenter NYC in a previous interview. “We want people to taste what we feel at home.”
What to order:
- Thanksgiving Feast A ($149): a well-rounded spread for smaller gatherings.
- Lechon manok galantina (relleno): Stuffed Filipino spit-roasted rotisserie chicken; comes with cranberry sauce and lechon manok sauce on the side.
- Pork BBQ (10 pieces)
- Seafood palabok: Filipino noodle dish topped with a savory shrimp-based orange sauce and seafood such as shrimp, squid and mussels, plus eggs and fresh garnishes.
- Fresh lumpia (10 pieces): Filipino spring roll made of sautéed vegetables and sometimes meat or shrimp; it’s wrapped in a soft crepe-like wrapper and served with a sweet, garlicky peanut sauce.
- Thanksgiving Feast B ($180): perfect for bigger appetites (suggested: good for six people)
- One-third of a lechon belly roll
- Chicken BBQ (10 pieces)
- Seafood palabok
- Fresh Lumpia (10 pieces)
- Thanksgiving Feast C ($165) – also for six people
- Beef kare-kare: Filipino stew made with tender beef and vegetables cooked in a rich, savory peanut sauce and typically served with shrimp paste.
- Lechon manok galantina (relleno)
- Fresh lumpia (10 pieces)
You can also order these dishes solo:
- lechon manok galantina ($40)
- Kare-kare full tray ($80): bone-in beef, beef tripe and steamed vegetables in peanut sauce with a side of shrimp paste.
- Kare-kare full tray of beef and oxtail ($120)
Order by: Nov. 26
Pickup: Nov. 27
Where to order: https://www.chicknrotonda.com
Black Rican Vegan (Brooklyn)
Address: 2123 Caton Avenue in Brooklyn
Perfect for: Vegans and anyone who wants Puerto Rican comfort food without the meat.
The short food story: Black Rican Vegan’s founder, Lyana Blount, is known for turning beloved Puerto Rican classics into plant-based masterpieces. She started the business to get PR-inspired dishes to neighbors during the pandemic lockdown, but orders soon came pouring in from as far as Florida. The mission has since turned to getting healthy Puerto Rican food into food deserts across the city, including through her cookbook.
“When something is not accessible,” Blount told Epicenter in a previous interview, people tend to think it’s only for certain people. She said that the thinking might be that, “Well, white people are the only ones who eat vegan food, and it’s probably bland and boring and it’s not for me” — something she hoped Black Rican Vegan would help change.
This Thanksgiving, she’s showing love to those working the holiday or just craving cozy homemade plates made by someone other than themselves.
What to order:
- Sofrito (16 oz, $12): The aromatic base of nearly every Puerto Rican dish. This fresh, no-salt blend of garlic, peppers, cilantro, cilantro and tomatoes will instantly upgrade your cooking.
Update: Since first researching holiday order options, the options below have sold out. However, we’re listing them below so you can still consider them for upcoming holiday orders.
- Pasteles (half dozen, $40): These are a Puerto Rican holiday staple: think of them like tamales’ Caribbean cousins. They’re made from a masa of grated root vegetables and green bananas, filled with savory vegan goodness, then wrapped in banana leaves. Available in Guineo (green banana) or Yuca versions.
- Vegan Coquito (750 ml, $35): A creamy coconut-based holiday drink affectionately known as Puerto Rican eggnog, just without the dairy. Made with coconut and soy milks and spices, it’s pure holiday cheer in a bottle.
- Flancocho Vegan ($65): A mashup of two classic desserts — flan and chocolate cake — layered into one decadent, melt-in-your-mouth creation.
Order by: Nov. 18.
Pickup Nov. 25 or 26 from 3 to 8 p.m.
Where to order: https://www.blackricanvegan.com/catering#IVBRGb
Melba’s (Manhattan)
Address: 161 Lenox Ave., 118th Street in Harlem
Perfect for: Anyone craving comfort food.
The short food story: Beloved by celebs and neighbors alike, Melba’s is known for its Southern food and hospitality. Founded by its namesake, Melba Wilson, the restaurant has long been a Harlem gathering spot for anyone seeking Southern classics like fried chicken and waffles and mac and cheese done right. Melba’s brings that spirit of hospitality to holiday catering for Thanksgiving, one of its busiest times of the year.
What to order:
- A la carte half pans (each serves 10–12 people)
Turkey (white meat only), gravy and cranberry sauce ($95)
Turkey (white and dark meat), gravy and cranberry sauce ($95)
Maple glazed ham ($85)
Brioche stuffing ($65)
Cornbread ($65) - Dessert (each serves 8–10 people)
Grandma’s sweet potato pie ($45)
Red velvet layer cake ($55)
Yellow chocolate cake ($55)
Coconut pineapple ($55)
Carrot cake ($65) - Extra sides (each serves 10–12 people)
Peas and rice ($60)
Tres mac and cheese ($80)
Low Country collard greens ($75)
Garlic mashed potatoes ($65)
ASAP yams ($75)
Southern Caesar salad ($65)
Order by: Nov. 21
Pickup:
Wednesday 11/26: 3–4 p.m.
Thursday 11/27: 10–11 a.m.
Note: No delivery available on 11/27.
Where to order: Email events@melbasrestaurant.com
Lloyd’s Carrot Cake (Manhattan)
Address: 1565 Lexington Avenue in East Harlem
Perfect for: Anyone who thinks Thanksgiving dessert should go beyond pie.
The short food story: Lloyd’s Carrot Cake is a New York institution, a bakery turning out legendary cakes for decades. Lines wrap around the block every holiday season.
After the death of his mother Betty in 2020, Brandon Adams stepped in to carry forward the legacy she and his father Lloyd had built over more than 30 years. He’s stayed committed to the labor-intensive craft that defines Lloyd’s, from grinding thousands of pounds of fresh carrots to safeguarding the family’s original recipes. “Every cake is an artist and a product,” he told Epicenter in a previous interview.
In 2023, that dedication was honored in a profound way: the City Council named the Riverdale block where their shop in the Bronx is located Betty and Lloyd Way.
What to order:
- Classic Carrot Cake: Moist, perfectly spiced and topped with that thick layer of cream cheese frosting that dreams are made of.
- Other favorites: Red velvet, pineapple and coconut cakes.
Order by: ASAP — if years-long history repeats itself, they will sell out well before Thanksgiving!
Where to order: lloydscarrotcake.com/eastharlem
