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$$ | Long Island City |
With Indian dance music on the speakers and tabloid pages papering the walls, Adda broadcasts a hip, fun vibe, though the trendy decor almost belies what comes to the table: authentic Indian favorites packed with freshly-ground spices that draw inspiration from Grandma's cookbook and Mumbai street-style fare. The Chacha’s lamb chops, marinated with garam masala spices and grilled to perfection in the clay oven are a must-try, as well as the flavorful halka phulka (snacks) like dahi batata puri, a delicately fried puff pastry meant to be eaten in one bite and filled with yogurt, chutneys, and baby potatoes. The garlic naan and black dal are also noteworthy as sides (and also to cool the palate).
31--31 Thomson Ave., Queens, New York, 11101, USA
Known For
- Exquisitely spiced food
- Authentic dishes
- Shareable plates
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | Jackson Heights |
The Arepa Lady, originally known for slinging cheesy, golden arepas (stuffed corn cakes) from her famed street-cart on Roosevelt Avenue has since established three stand-alone restaurants across New York City. The Jackson Heights location is the original “mother restaurant” and keeps to the classics like arepa de queso (freshly ground corn flour mixed with cheese) and arepa de choclo, served with your choice of meat. Try the popular chichiron (smoked pork belly) or Colombian chorizo (which is sliced, rather than ground up). Expect to find Manhattanites, locals, and tourists alike sipping sangria and margs while getting their fill of savory cakes at this charming eatery.
77--17 37th Ave., Queens, New York, 11372, USA
Known For
- Fresh arepas
- Chichiron
- Patacones (fried green plantains)
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$$ | Elmhurst |
There are plenty of great Thai restaurants in Elmhurst, but this oft-packed spot tops them all (in fact, it's opened a branch in Manhattan's Chelsea Market). Operating out of two side-by-side storefronts (you go wherever there's a table), Ayada serves fiery, flavorful Thai favorites, as well as some dishes you've probably never heard of before. A favorite appetizer is raw shrimp served with a slice of garlic, bitter melon, and chili paste that will knock your socks off. The e-sarn sausage (made with fermented meat) is served with sliced ginger and peanuts, and, for a table of four, the succulent whole fried fish is a bargain.
77--08 Woodside Ave., Queens, New York, 11373, USA
Known For
- Spicy options for whole fish
- Raw shrimp salad
- Foodie and local favorite means longish wait times for a table
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$ | Woodside |
This quaint, plant-filled space is brighter and more stylish than your average dumpling-slinger in Queens. That makes sense when you look at the menu, which mixes creative takes on Himalayan classics like perfectly crimped momos (dumplings stuffed with meat or veggies) in a tomato and fenugreek sauce or thenthuk (pulled noodles), as well as American comfort food like buttermilk fried chicken, grass-fed beef burgers, and kale salad. The cocktails are similar global standouts, employing ingredients like masala, tamarind, or tajin spice mix, and there are natural wines on the menu.
51--18 Skillman Ave., Queens, New York, 11377, USA
Known For
- Creative Himalayan dishes
- American comfort food
- Cute interior
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$$$ | Jackson Heights |
Uruguay is known throughout the world for serving up heaping mounds of high-quality meat and this Jackson Heights corner spot does it just right. With a wide variety of marinated meats to choose from (including beef tongue and blood sausage), all cooked right on the open grill, expect large portions and classic side options like tostones (fried green plantains) and yuca frita (fried yuca). Ask for the homemade chimichurri dipping sauce (a vinegary delight with basil and garlic) that pairs well with just about any dish, or try their empanadas (stuffed with juicy beef or chicken) and the signature Chivito al pan (a decadent steak sandwich topped with ham, bacon, and egg) for a quick hearty meal.
84--02 37th Ave., Queens, New York, 11372, USA
Known For
- Sizzling mounds of meat
- Large portions
- Parrillada (mixed-grill dishes)
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$$$ | Flushing |
Flushing has plenty of casual sit-down spots and street-style hawker stands, but Guan Fu is on another level, presenting legitimately tongue-tingling, lip-burning Sichuan dishes in an elegant, upscale environment. The mapo tofu, a staple of any good Sichuan restaurant, is impeccable over rice, and the boiled fish is a soupy symphony of spicy and sour flavors. What’s more, this restaurant pays homage to the classic Chinese American restaurants of old with its bamboo screens, elaborate metal serving ware, and two lion statues outside.
39-16 Prince St., Queens, New York, 11354, USA
Known For
- Upscale, elegant atmosphere
- "mala" numbing and spicy flavors
- Formal service, for Flushing
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$ | Woodside |
A long-beloved, cash-only Thai option, SriPraPhai (pronounced "see-PRA-pie") has a huge main menu as well as an equally expansive one for vegetarians. Although it's hard to go wrong, good bets include the crispy watercress salad, larb (ground pork salad with mint and lime juice), sautéed chicken with cashews and pineapple, kao-soy (curried egg noodles), or roast-duck green curry. If you go with a few people, order the delicately flavored whole steamed fish. But prepare your palate: your mouth might feel like a five-alarm fire by the time you're finished. In summer, the lovely back patio strung with lights somehow feels like a perfect setting for the spicy fare.
64--13 39th Ave., Queens, New York, 11377, USA
Known For
- Some of the top Thai in the Big Apple
- Charming seasonal backyard seating
- Notably spicy fare
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
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$ | Sunnyside |
A neighborhood staple since opening in 2003, this corner café on Skillman Avenue serves up paninis, hearty soups, salads, and Irving Farm coffee in a lively, bustling environment. Their seasonal drinks are standout, with options like rose white mocha or toffee nut latte, and they have plenty of vegetarian dishes available on the menu, including mini quiches, homemade chili (a local favorite), and vegan burgers.
49--22 Skillman Ave., Queens, New York, 11377, USA
Known For
- Homemade chili
- Vegan options
- Reasonably priced wine
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$ | Jackson Heights |
The truck that launched a foodie craze, Birria-Landia specializes in Mexican birria, a rich, tomato-y savory stew made with traditional goat or beef. Here, it's served folded into double-layered tacos, between two crispy ones with melted cheese called mulitas, or in a bowl in "consommé" form (also serving as a dip for those tacos). There will inevitably be a line, but that also means a number of other businesses have popped up along the block to service the line with candy, snacks, and traditional Mexican drinks like horchata. The fall-off-the-bone meat is best paired with a few slices of radish, some cilantro and a spicy sauce, and ferociously gobbled, standing up near the truck the moment it's handed to you out of the window.
77--99 Roosevelt Ave., Queens, New York, 11372, USA
Known For
- Authentic birria tacos
- Long lines
- Food truck
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Open after 5 pm
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$ | Sunnyside |
If not for the pandemic, the folks behind this young restaurant might still be slinging saltenas (like an empanada, but hand-braided and filled with a rich, savory stew) out of the food hall in Manhattan's Columbus Circle subway station. But now, they've moved away from the office crowds to serve the work-from-home masses, with satisfying peanut soup, salad and grain bowls with barbecued meats or jackfruit, and inspired ice creams with purple corn and cherimoya. It's window-serve only, with a few outdoor picnic tables for seating in the front, so if the weather's nice just look for a small crowd mingling outside the venue to find it.
44--14 48th Ave., Queens, New York, 11377, USA
Known For
- Saltenas
- Barbecue bowls
- Takeout only/outdoor seating
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$ | Jackson Heights |
With daily almuerzo (lunch) specials on the menu, as well as an assortment of fresh pastries, cakes, and savory baked goods, this classic panaderia has a homey vibe with festive, brightly-lit decor on the ceilings and Spanish guitar playing in the background. Try the buñuelos (cheese fritters), freshly squeezed juices, or the decadent tiramisu with a cup of Colombian coffee.
83--03 37th Ave, Queens, New York, 11372, USA
Known For
- Colombian lunch specials
- Excellent coffee
- An array of pastries and baked goods
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$$ | Sunnyside |
Goan cuisine is the specialty at this bare-bones yet comfortable restaurant, and many of the dishes served here employ its namesake ingredient in both sweet and savory formats. The Portuguese-inflected curries of the once-colonized region of Goa are brightly colored, bold in flavor and spice, and not quite like most of the Indian food in Queens. Try the Xacuti curry with fresh roasted coconut, or the smooth and silky fish curry.
43--45 43rd St., Queens, New York, 11104, USA
Known For
- Goan cuisine
- Spicy curries
- Xacuti with fresh coconut
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$$ | Long Island City |
Come for the tacos, stay for the margaritas: that's what a lot of local Long Island City folks do at this popular Mexican standout. The chef is from Chiapas, but expect pan-Mexican fare, with tacos crammed with slow-cooked beef tongue or rich chorizo, among other meat options; also worthy are refreshing fish ceviche and the tender meatballs wading in a spicy chipotle-tomato sauce.
5--48 49th Ave., Queens, New York, 11101, USA
Known For
- Different margaritas, including aguachile
- Michelin Star--rated cuisine
- Delicious mole
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$ | Flushing |
Originally a tiny stall in an underground mall, Helen You's restaurant has expanded to become a banquet-size space with a colorful accompanying cookbook. The gargantuan menu can seem overwhelming, but it's a thrilling testament to just how varied the definition of "dumpling" can be. Be sure to leave room for sweet dessert dumplings.
42-35 Main St., Queens, New York, 11355, USA
Known For
- Fried and steamed dumplings, from vegetarian options to all kinds of meat and seafood
- Dessert dumplings such as strawberry sesame
- Banquet-style space
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$ | Jackson Heights |
This snug Lebanese café caters to locals with its popular vegan platters, mixed kabobs for two (with kofta, chicken, and lamb), shawarmas, and more. Seating is limited, but if you can snag a seat at lunch or dinner time, you’re in for a treat. Try the mint lemonade and falafel sandwich, a house blend of chickpeas and fava beans, topped with turnip and pickles.
35--62 76th St., Queens, New York, 11372, USA
Known For
- Outstanding falafel and kabobs
- Friendly service
- Plenty of vegan options
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$$ | Flushing |
As diners have become more aware of regional Asian dishes, hot pot has come to play a large role in cuisines that are more like communal experiences. Here, the whole idea is to go with a group, and the practice of gathering around the broth and chatting as you dip sliced marbled meats, seafood, tofu, and veggies into it to cook, achieves the status of ritual. The boiling soup is split down the middle, and it’s advisable to get both spicy and mild options, so you can alternate between fiery and soothing flavors.
136--59 37th Ave., Queens, New York, 11354, USA
Known For
- Half-and-half spicy and mild broth
- High-quality meat
- Mongolian food
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$$ | Long Island City |
New York has seen a proliferation of food halls in the past few years, but few are as sleek and modern as this LIC space. Fitting for its borough, JACX&CO offers a wide range of global flavors from independent chefs, including refreshing, vegetable-forward Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare from taïm, pastries from a James Beard award-winning chef at Ghaya, and Cantonese-style barbecue with create-your-own-bowl rice and noodle dishes from Lotus + Cleaver. Industrial lighting, exposed brick, and a plant-filled seating area make for a tranquil vibe that’s a far cry from your average food court, and the stylish bar allows you to pair your nibbles with a well-crafted cocktail.
28–17 Jackson Ave., Queens, New York, 11101, USA
Known For
- Diverse selection
- Delicious pastries at Ghaya
- Cocktail bar
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$ | Flushing |
Even among the overwhelming options in Flushing, this counter stall inside a minimall still feels new and unique. It’s namesake dish is cheong fun, a squidgy, chewy, slippery rice-flour roll beloved in Hong Kong, and you can also order egg crepes known as jianbing or Chinese pancakes with your choice of meat topping. Joe's Signature rice roll, a heaping portion that could easily feed two, comes with beef, dried shrimp, pork, eggs, and veggies.
136--21 Roosevelt Ave., Queens, New York, 11354, USA
Known For
- Large portions
- Cheong fun rice rolls
- Jianbing crepes
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$$ | Astoria | Middle Eastern
Middle-Eastern restaurants are a dime a dozen in NYC, but Egyptian-Mediterranean spots are a rarer find, attracting celebrity chefs and TV personalities like Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern. This charming yet eccentric 16-seat café, which excels at interesting homestyle dishes, is a true hidden treasure. The menu changes nightly, but think of the fare here as Egyptian-accented comfort food: exceedingly tender lamb stuffed with pomegranate is always great. For the super adventurous eater, try the grilled lamb brain or lamb tongue. When it's available, the roasted goose in a saffron sauce is a must.
25-12 Steinway St., Queens, New York, 11103, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | Jackson Heights |
For freshly baked naan (Indian-style flatbread), grilled kebabs, and savory curries pop into this wee Jackson Heights take-out-only eatery churning out authentic Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi fare. Everything is made to order, so consider calling ahead to avoid a wait; it’s open late into the night.
70--64 Broadway, Queens, New York, 11372, USA
Known For
- All kinds of curries, including multiple goat options
- Long list of bread options
- Open until the early morning hours