Jubian Marketplace — Review by Eater

The Dishes

The star of Jubian Marketplace is undoubtedly the Cheaper than a Subway Swipe burger, priced at just $2.90. This slider features 2.75 oz of ground beef made from a blend of short ribs and brisket sourced from their in-house whole animal butchery program, topped with onions, cheese, and local Jersey pickles on a Martin's potato slider roll. The burger became so popular that at peak times, the store was cooking 2,200 burgers daily.

The $5 rotisserie chicken program is their second signature item, brined for 48 hours in a simple water, salt, and sugar mixture, then seasoned with garlic powder, fennel powder, fennel seeds, rosemary, salt, onion powder, paprika, and citric acid. The result is juicy chicken that inspired the nickname of the Five Buck Club, inspired by Costco's offering but executed with exceptional care.

The sushi program showcases premium ingredients with the $4 omakase sampler featuring six pieces including salmon, scallop, and toro nigiri, plus unique fermented Korean items like menntiko (fermented okra) and jakar (fermented cuttlefish), both cave-aged from Korea. The chirashi bowl comes loaded with fluke, tuna, uni, ginger, salmon roll, masago, and sweet shrimp, decorated with wasabi. The upcoming kimpap offering combines Korean and barbecue elements with seasoned rice, nori, red leaf lettuce, salted cuttlefish, and pork belly, priced around $9.

The Experience

Jubian Marketplace operates as a full grocery store on the ground and lower floors with a cafe upstairs serving prepared foods. The atmosphere bridges the gap between a neighborhood grocery store and a culinary destination. The kitchen operates with impressive efficiency, with dedicated teams for rotisserie chicken preparation, sushi assembly, and deli items. The sushi program is intentionally released twice daily at 11:00 AM and 4:30 PM to manage demand. When the store went viral thanks to content creator coverage, customers lined up through the aisles, forcing the team to scale their operations dramatically.

Value and Pricing

The entire concept of Jubian Marketplace revolves around affordability without sacrificing quality. The $2.90 burger compares favorably to a New York subway fare, while the $5 rotisserie chicken matches Costco pricing but uses comparable quality to premium Brooklyn butcher shops. The $4 omakase sampler democratizes high-end sushi by removing the financial barrier to entry. Kimpap is priced at $9 compared to New York City's typical $12-15 range. The founder emphasizes transparency in pricing and sourcing rather than simply claiming to be the cheapest option.

Notable Moments

The burger is cheaper than a Subway Swipe. The omakase sampler is cheaper than the Ferry.

When I go to Costco and I get the $5 rotisserie chicken, I could easily get three meals out of it. So I thought for $5 that's just affordable for everyone.

I almost cried when that happened because I was just like I've never seen this before at a grocery store.

The founder's mission is deeply personal, driven by his experience growing up as a child of immigrants living paycheck to paycheck. He describes the struggle between business profitability and his ethical obligation to customers and team members who have supported the store's growth.

The Verdict

Jubian Marketplace succeeds in its mission to bridge the gap between culinary excellence and grocery store affordability. This is the place for budget-conscious New Yorkers who refuse to compromise on quality, families seeking substantial meals without breaking the bank, and food enthusiasts interested in high-quality ingredients sourced from trusted distributors. The store's whole animal butchery program, house-made prepared foods, and innovative Korean offerings make it a destination worth visiting even if you're not shopping for groceries. Expect occasional wait times during peak hours due to viral popularity, but the value proposition remains unmatched in the neighborhood.