If you haven’t heard of Forsyth Fire Escape and its humble beginnings, you’re missing out!
Forsyth Fire Escape joins other pandemic victories like L’appartement 4F, as their once small operation, meant to bring the community together in a time of need, has grown to a sold out success every single month.
Founder Isabel Lee pulled inspiration from her roots in California and her and partner Luis Fernandez’s Chinese, Thai and Dominican cultures to create their brilliant burrito that is made with pernil, fried queso blanco, guacamole, and lemongrass chili crisp oil, all secured in a flavorful scallion pancake.
Forsyth Fire Escape started in 2021 by serving their small orders at the time via bucket down their fire escape.
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After word of mouth caught and business began to pick up, the pair received a cease and desist letter from their landlord, requiring that they terminate operations out of the apartment.
But the team persisted and luckily a local bodega offered the just booming business an opportunity to cook in their space. Forsyth Fire Escape now sells their burritos every Sunday for pickup through preorders that launch every first Monday of the month. The preorders have been known to sell out each month within the hour!
You can keep track of preorder launches on their Instagram here. Once open, eager eaters are encouraged to DM their order along with a date and time preference (Sundays 12-3pm) to the account where the order will be received if not already sold out.
But have no fear! If you miss out on one of their launches—because let’s be honest, you have to be pretty speedy—keep watch on their IG stories every Sunday as they’ll post any last minute available burritos that were never picked up.
In addition to their Chinatown/LES bodega location, Forsyth Fire Escape will be expanding to Chelsea by Summer 2022 at Olly Olly Market food hall for a six month residency.
Learn more about their story and other questions you may have at their website here.