35 Best Restaurants in Queens, New York City

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.

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.  

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).

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.

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.