The Ultimate Flushing Food Guide
- Mian Wei
- Jul 10, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 15, 2019
Y’all know how much I love Flushing. If I had to pick a single square block in NYC where I had to eat for the rest of my life, I’d probably pick Main St and Roosevelt in Flushing. Chinese food here is just so much better and cheaper than in Manhattan and you can also conveniently do your grocery shopping. Just remember to bring a buttload of cash!
There are now several food courts in Flushing but the largest is by far the New World Mall Food Court in the basement. This one is pretty easy to navigate even if you don’t know Chinese. There’s also NY Food Court about a block away, which is slightly smaller and has similar food but features HAPPY LEMON. Finally, if you’re not afraid of sketchy looking basements and homemade cardboard signs, there’s the Golden Shopping Mall Food Court, where you’ll find Tianjin Dumplings and the original Xi'an Famous Foods.
There is a lot of food at New World and it can be really hard to decide what to get. I still have trouble deciding and I come here all the time. I’d probably start with choosing what kind of carb I want (rice, noodles, dumplings, etc). I usually go with noodles and then after that, what type of noodle (flour, rice, thickness, texture) and go from there. A really solid bet is always the Sibling Potato Noodles stall, as both their potato noodles and their shaved flour noodles are excellent. You do need to make a $5 deposit for the bowl and tray though.
My other favorite is stall 28 (no English name, far right corner if you’re entering from escalators) which serves all kinds of delicious wide/flat noodles either dry (biang biang mian) or in soups (I love the lamb soup and the beef/oxtail soup). I also love the pickled snail rice noodles at the stall right next door in the same corner. There’s also super spicy thin noodles from Chong Qing Xiao Mian, but please note, if you’re at all sensitive to the spice, ask for mild or you will die. For a milder noodle soup, try Lanzhou Handmade Noodles. If you’re not in the mood for noodles, you can also get a dry hot pot bowl (also very spicy) or fish dumplings (again, no English name but the Chinese name is 魚餃子 and it’s located at the far left corner if you’re entering via escalator). New World has also the best and cheapest karaoke in the city at Real KTV, which is on the third floor of the mall.
In NY Food Court, you’ll find a lot of similarities to New World but it’s usually less hectic and easier to find seating if you’re in a larger group, so if you’re visiting during peak weekend hours, try this place. I love coming here mainly for the Happy Lemon. The salted cheese green tea is such a perfect way to soothe your mouth while eating spicy foods. Another highlight of this food court that New World doesn’t have is Liang Pi Wang that has the best cold noodles and Chinese crepes (jian bing) in Flushing. Rice noodles are great here and come in huge portions at the stall in the back right corner near the restrooms. They also have a great claypot rice casserole at the stall on your right just as you enter, as well as a very tasty fried chicken carcass dish from Western Spicy Chicken.
For a super authentic Chinese experience, head to Henan Feng Wei where it feels like you were literally transported to China. The small and crowded noodle shop has a Chinese-only menu so either go with a Chinese friend or if you don't have any, have a yelp picture of the dish you want to order ready. They specialize in wide flour noodles (Hui Mian) from the Henan province.
For more sit-down formal affairs (birthdays, large get-togethers), there are several restaurants in the downtown Flushing area that can accommodate larger groups. A great place to go with more people is Hot Space Grilled Fish, which serves a whole fish with your choice of sauce and sides. There are also great hot pot options including Spring Shabu Shabu (all you can eat for non-meat choices, meat ordered a la carte) and The Dolar Shop (featuring a Barbie in a waygu outfit a la Lady Gaga for a cute photo op).
If you're in the mood for spicy Szechuan, there are literally dozens of options, including Szechuan House and Hot Kitchen. Most of them are very small and cash only but if you want something with a nicer environment, head to Alley 41 where they do classic numbing dishes but in a classier setting. For the perfect Sunday brunch, head to Asian Jewel for the best dim sum in NYC.
If you walk east along Roosevelt Ave, you’ll find things get more and more Korean. About a mile down from New World, you’ll find the best Korean BBQ joints in NYC (Mapo, Hanjoo and Hahm Ji Bach are all very good).
After a filling BBQ, get some amazing shaved snow at Coffee Monster (so fluffy and flavorful). If you keep walking even further down Roosevelt towards Murray Hill, you’ll hit even more Korean spots and one in particular is worth the long trek. Get the kimchi rice with cheese in an iron pot at Yupdduk. It sounds weird but it’s unbelievable.
Finally, on your way back to the 7 train, stop by a few places for snacks, small dishes or tea. Joe's Steamed Rice Rolls is a classic and an Anthony Bourdain fave. Stop by Yi Fang (or if you're just dying to stand in a long line, Tiger Sugar) for a brown sugar roasted bubble tea. If your dessert stomach still isn't satisfied, head over to Prince Street Tea House for a fancy menu of delicious sweets. Or if you want something quick and cheap (and probably healthier), try the Flower Shop Tofu where you can get a bucket of tofu in either sweet or salty sauce for almost nothing.
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