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$ | Corona |
If you're looking for an authentic Queens experience, there are few as true as eating an Italian ice from the Lemon Ice King of Corona on a hot summer day. A neighborhood institution for more than 70 years, this place has dozens of flavors to dig into (just note there are no seats).
52--02 108th St., Queens, New York, 11368, USA
Known For
- Standard-setting cash-only treat
- Sugar-free options
- Flavors from chocolate to piña colada to bubble gum
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$$$ | Long Island City |
From the team that made Long Island City a dining destination with M. Wells Dinette inside MoMA PS1 comes this mecca devoted to meat. Once you find the door—go through the gate, then walk across the courtyard—settle in at a table in the industrial space, order a cocktail (the Lucky Foot features cognac and Meletti amaro), and choose from the rotating menu of decadent appetizers like beef and scallop tartare with yuba (dried tofu skin) or foie gras, and tender steak entrées like the Bavette with shiitake butter.
43–15 Crescent St., Queens, New York, 11101, USA
Known For
- Tartare
- Industrial flair
- Long-standing LIC presence
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues. No lunch
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$ | Astoria |
Colorful plates and kitschy trivets adorn the walls of the tiny café off 31st Ave, and ample seating on the covered patio makes it a great stopover for a delicious latte and cheese danish. They also have chocolate soufflé and gluten-free almond ricotta cake on the menu for a quick sweet treat.
31--05 33rd St., Queens, New York, 11106, USA
Known For
- Family-owned
- Covered (heated) patio
- Excellent lattes
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$$ | Astoria |
A hip, cozy place for pizza and small plates, all exposed brick and reclaimed wood, Milkflower certainly owes its popularity to Brooklyn mainstays like Roberta’s. Only here, you can actually get a table without a long wait, and what’s on offer is just as good, if not better. Neapolitan, 12-inch pies with charred crusts have playful names like “Chardie Sheen” and “Wu-Tang Clam,” and wood-fired veggies or tiger prawns are ideal accompaniments.
34--12 31st Ave., Queens, New York, 11106, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired pizzas with cute names
- Inventive vegetable small plates
- Good wine selection, including orange wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | Jackson Heights |
The multiyear winner of Jackson Heights's annual Momo Crawl, Nepali Bhanchha Ghar is an unassuming spot known for its jhol momo (juicy dumplings in a rich, tomato-y, chutney-esque broth) and other Nepalese fare. Also on hand are a spicy, crispy noodle dish that will remind you of packaged ramen (though in a good way), thali platters vibrant with fiery, colorful curries, and a special savory fried doughnut called sel roti, served with a spicy tomato chutney.
74--15 Roosevelt Ave., Queens, New York, 11372, USA
Known For
- Momos in jhol or soup
- Sel roti doughnuts
- Some very spicy dishes
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Jackson Heights |
Step through a doorway beneath a Himalayan eyebrow-threading sign, head up a twisting stairway, and pass through a beaded curtain to reach this cash-only restaurant serving cuisine that is a delicious culinary anomaly: namely, Tibetan Sichuan. The traditional Tibetan momos are worth trying, as is the beef-studded yak-cheese soup (if you're adventurous), but it's the fusion of the two cultures that produces exciting dishes like spicy blood sausage or tofu in a fiery chili sauce. If the original upstairs restaurant is full, head directly across the street to the newer, expanded digs.
37-65 74th St., Queens, New York, 11372, USA
Known For
- Unique fusion cuisine (cash only)
- Blood sausage
- Yak-cheese soup
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$$$ | Sunnyside |
One of an increasing number of artisanal pizza shops, Philomena's serves both squares and slices, Neapolitan- and New York–style. You can depend upon expert ingredients, thinly sliced and thickly layered. The squares are chewy and bouncy while the crust on those slices is crisp and nearly caramelized, but your best bet might be the 18-inch classic round pies, which provide more than enough crunchy, tomato-y gooeyness for a satisfying meal.
41--16 Queens Blvd., Queens, New York, 11104, USA
Known For
- Slices and squares
- Artisanal ingredients
- Caramelized crust
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$ | |
This small, mostly outdoor eatery feels more like a beach destination oasis than a New York City dining spot. For the perfect post-beach pit stop, order some Mexican-style street tacos (try the fried fish) and a cold cerveza, and bask in the chill surfer vibes as the sun goes down.
302 Beach 87th St., Queens, New York, 11693, USA
Known For
- Superior fish tacos
- Surfboards on the wall
- Summer-only hangout for surfers, locals, cool kids
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Oct.–Apr.
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$$$ | Astoria |
The unassuming location and simple decor belie the elevated Greek classics served at this, the neighborhood's current powerhouse of Hellenic eats. Fried calamari, red snapper, and grilled octopus make appearances on the menu, as do more out-of-the-ordinary dishes like "caviar dip" and swordfish kebabs. Lamb chops drip with juice, and grilled sardines are so fresh, you'd swear they were just pulled from the sea. Be prepared to wait for a table at peak times, as this restaurant doesn't take reservations. There's also a Manhattan outpost on 1st Avenue and 13th Street in the East Village.
36--01 Ditmars Blvd., Queens, New York, 11105, USA
Known For
- Most authentic Greek fare this side of the Acropolis
- Lamb chops
- No reservations
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$ | Rockaway Beach |
The northern side of the peninsula doesn't get nearly enough love, but Thai Rock is here to change that. The menu is pretty solid but standard, with your usual noodle dishes, spring rolls, and satays, but no matter: you're here for the cocktails at sunset, with views of Jamaica Bay and the Cross Bay Bridge, as well as the frequent live music (check the website for dates).
375 Beach 92nd St., Queens, New York, 11693, USA
Known For
- Solid Thai standards
- Good cocktails
- Jamaica Bay views
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$ | Woodside |
With colorful bottles of Jarritos (a Mexican soft drink) lining the window and sepia-toned photographs adorning the walls, this small, no-frills café named after the Mayan calendar serves Mexican breakfast all day, as well as an array of tacos, tortas (sandwiches), pulque (a traditional alcoholic beverage), chilaquiles (a breakfast dish made with fried corn tortillas and eggs), and aqua frescas. You can also order beer, cocktails, or a michelada to enjoy in the covered patio out front.
47--22 48th Ave., Queens, New York, 11377, USA
Known For
- Tacos
- Aqua frescas
- Mexican breakfast
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$$ | Sunnyside |
Expect to find beanie clad locals and families alike at this spirited, rustic-industrial neighborhood bar. In addition to serving high-quality cocktails (all under $14) like the Fig & Bacon Old Fashioned and seasonally rotated tap beer, this spacious spot packs a punch in the kitchen, too. Try the pillowy boa buns with honeyed pork, crispy Brussels sprouts, or deep-fried zucchini served with a garlicky cream cheese dipping sauce, as well as an array of flatbreads, well-portioned sides like panko bacon mac and cheese, and house-made blueberry pie for dessert.
43--02 43rd Ave., Queens, New York, 11104, USA
Known For
- High-quality cocktails
- Female-owned
- Bottled wine for under $45
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$$ | Woodside |
This casual, convivial Filipino restaurant has been churning out classic island dishes like sisig (grilled mixed pork offal) and lumpia (pork-filled fried spring rolls) for over 15 years. Among a satisfying smattering of skewers and noodle dishes is also the impressive inihaw na panga (grilled tuna jaw) and tuna belly cooked any which way (your choice of either adobo, in coconut milk, or in a soup).
49--10 Queens Blvd., Queens, New York, 11377, USA
Known For
- Classic Filipino cuisine with large portions
- Lumpia
- Tuna jaw
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$$ | Rockaway Beach |
If you need evidence that Rockaway is becoming hip, look no further than this sceney spot serving a mix of Russian and Central Asian specialties. There are juicy pelmeni (meat) and manti (spicy lamb) dumplings, lagman noodles, and savory filled pastries known as bichaki, plus the expected very good borscht. Pressed tin ceilings, exposed-brick walls, and menus written on blackboards give the place a decidedly Brooklyn vibe.
92--07 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Queens, New York, 11693, USA
Known For
- Solid Russian borscht
- Central Asian/Uzbek specialties
- Trendy vibe
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$ | Jackson Heights |
This straightforward local restaurant with an adorable name is a local alternative to the Bonchon chicken franchises—or, for that matter, the KFCs and Popeye’s—that proliferate in Manhattan. UFC serves organic, humanely raised birds from a farm it touts by name, fried crisp, spicy, and addictive with soy, garlic, or hot sauce. Other items on the menu will be familiar to Korean-style food lovers everywhere, but stick to the chicken, perhaps paired with one of the many craft beers on tap.
71--22 Roosevelt Ave., Queens, New York, 11372, USA
Known For
- Organic, humanely raised chicken
- Craft beer on tap
- Korean staples like bulgogi (barbecue beef)
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