Etihad Park Adds Acclaimed Chef Ryan Bartlow to Culinary Lineup with New Signature Hot Dog Concept

The celebrated chef behind New York City’s Ernesto’s and Bartolo will introduce an original hot dog concept at New York City’s first ever soccer-specific stadium, adding to Etihad Park’s chef-led culinary program. 

New York City FC today announced that legendary chef and restaurateur Ryan Bartlow will develop a new signature hot dog concept exclusively for Etihad Park. Bartlow's concept will celebrate one of New York City's most iconic foods while reflecting the diversity, creativity, and excellence that define both the city and the Club's future home. Etihad Park's chef-led culinary programming continues to take shape with Ryan Bartlow. 

Known for Ernesto's, the lauded Lower East Side restaurant inspired by the Basque Country in Spain, and Bartolo, his recently opened Madrid-inspired taberna in the West Village, Bartlow has a reputation for honoring culinary traditions while reinterpreting them through a distinctly New York lens. His concept for Etihad Park will take a similar approach, creating an original hot dog menu inspired by the many cultures and neighborhoods that make New York one of the world's most diverse places in the world. 

"Our vision for the culinary experience at Etihad Park has always been to reflect our home, one of the most diverse cities in the world," said Brad Sims, CEO of New York City FC. "Ryan's talent is rooted in authenticity, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for the cultures that produce great food. His ability to draw inspiration from around the world while creating something unmistakably New York makes him an ideal partner as we continue building a stadium experience unlike any other." 

Bartlow's hot dog concept will join Marcus Samuelsson's previously announced signature burger concept as part of Etihad Park's broader food and beverage program, which brings together acclaimed chefs and local restaurants. Together, the concepts represent the stadium's commitment to celebrating New York City's multiculturalism through food that is both familiar and distinctly original. 

"New York has always been a city where cultures, traditions, and ideas come together to create something novel and exciting," said Ryan Bartlow. "That's the spirit behind this concept. Every New Yorker likes a good hot dog and I'm excited to serve one of the world's most beloved foods at the first ever soccer stadium in New York City." 

Bartlow trained in some of the world's most celebrated kitchens before spending formative years living, learning, and cooking in Spain's Basque Country. Since opening Ernesto's in 2019 and Bartolo in 2025, he has become one of New York City's most acclaimed chefs, earning praise for his ingredient-driven approach and thoughtful exploration of the Spanish diaspora's rich culinary traditions.  

“Ryan's approach perfectly complements the culinary experience we're creating at Etihad Park," said Tom Funk, Legends Global President of Hospitality. "Every concept we introduce is intended to give fans something memorable that they can't find anywhere else, but that feels undoubtedly New York." 

Located in Willets Point, Queens, Etihad Park will be the future home of New York City FC and is scheduled to open in 2027. The privately financed, 25,000-seat stadium will be New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium and the first fully electric outdoor sports stadium in the country. Designed as a year-round destination for sports, entertainment, food, and community programming, Etihad Park will anchor a broader redevelopment of Willets Point and create a new gathering place for New Yorkers and visitors alike.