Joey Bats Cafe

409 W 15th St, New York, NY 10011, USA

New York City

Open

Visit Website +1 212-753-8812

Cuisines

Portuguese

Influencer Reviews1

Jon Barr

7/21/2024

View Profile

About

Joey Bats Cafe began as a stall at the Queens Night Market in 2015 and quickly gained popularity for its authentic Portuguese pastries. The founder, Joey Batista, has since expanded to several locations across New York City, including Grand Central and Chelsea Market. The cafe is best known for its pastel de nata (egg tarts) and unique offerings like the bifana sandwich.

The Visit

Joey Bats Cafe stands out at the Queens Night Market as a true success story, offering authentic Portuguese flavors rarely found elsewhere in New York. The reviewer and Greg start their food adventure here, savoring the massive, juicy bifana sandwich and the signature pastel de nata. The experience is marked by generous portions, affordable prices, and a sense of discovery, with the reviewer praising both the food's quality and the cafe's journey from humble beginnings to citywide fame.

What They Ate

Bifana (traditional Portuguese sandwich with marinated strips of pork on a house-made Portuguese roll)

Pastel de nata (Portuguese egg tart)

Quotes

"We're gonna start with Joey Bat's Cafe, I've actually covered them on the channel before, they've got a few different locations, but there's something unique here that you can't find anywhere else."

"They actually started off here in the night market years ago, and they've become a real success story."

"You are not gonna find a sandwich this big anywhere in New York for six bucks."

"I just cleanly bit through four different pieces of pork. That might be a personal record, it's so juicy, you just feel that gravy in every bite."

Our Reflection

Joey Bats Cafe embodies the spirit of culinary entrepreneurship at the Queens Night Market. The journey from a single stall to a mini-empire across New York City is a testament to the power of authentic flavors and community support. The bifana sandwich, overflowing with marinated pork and rich gravy, delivers a satisfying, memorable bite, while the pastel de nata impresses with its delicate balance of sweetness and spice. The reviewer's nostalgia for Joey Bats even while traveling abroad highlights the emotional connection great food can inspire.

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