Posts tagged chinese

Fresh Garlic Sauce: the secret condiment in the dumpling stall at the basement of the Golden Mall in Flushing. It was my first time seeing this…. I drenched my lamb + squash dumpling in it after adding their chili sauce —- saw god. Golden Mall, 41-28 Main St, Flushing

Fresh Garlic Sauce: the secret condiment in the dumpling stall at the basement of the Golden Mall in Flushing. It was my first time seeing this…. I drenched my lamb + squash dumpling in it after adding their chili sauce —- saw god.

Golden Mall, 41-28 Main St, Flushing

Get ready for Chinese New Year - This is what Main Street looks like. Flushing.

Get ready for Chinese New Year - This is what Main Street looks like. Flushing.

Rapunzel’s got nothing on the noodles at Biang! which stretch endlessly, as if the entire bowl were one continuous mile-long strand.  They’re fun, delicious, chewy, and the hand-torn edges catch bits of oil and sauce like spunky little pockets of flavor.  The name, Biang!, may be intended to mimic the sound of the hand-stretched noodles slapping the cutting board as they are formed, but “Biang!” should also pop-up like  a cartoon dialog box over your head as the spices hit your palate like a superhero’s punch.  The flavors and textures are intense, but ultimately very rewarding.  If you enjoyed the Xi’an stall in the Flushing underground food court, then savor a more comfortable dining experience with the same excellent dishes (that’s a lamb face salad above—and yes, that’s an eyeball), and a few special additions. Biang! * 41-10 Main Street, Flushing * http://www.biang-nyc.com/

Elmhurst Popeyes

Not the best photo, but here’s what a friend says about the Chinese: “It appears to be more of a phonetic transcription of Popeye into Chinese characters: the first character is a variant of the second one, both means “hundred” and pronounced in Mandarin as “bai” (or baak in Cantonese). The last character means “chicken”, pronounced “ji” in Mando and “gai” in Canto.”

You can peer all the way down the line at the Savor Fusion food court. Eight independent vendors, one communal kitchen.

You can peer all the way down the line at the Savor Fusion food court. Eight independent vendors, one communal kitchen.

The edamame potstickers at JJ’s Asian Fusion are some of the best in the city—little dumplings filled with pureed edamame beans, draped in a wasabi cream sauce with a drizzle of basil-infused olive oil.  For some crazy flavor fireworks, the bonito tataki is ridiculously delicious—seared tuna with a garlic pomegranate soy reduction, lime zest, and paprika.  Or for fusion at its finest, try the ahi-apple napoleon—a terrine of crisp apple chips, guacamole, wasabi aioli, tomato-yuzu puree, ahi tuna, and chopped spicy tuna with Peruvian aji amarillo.  JJ’s Asian Fusion, 37-05 31st Ave., Astoria, NY 11103; (718) 626-8888; http://www.jjsfusion.com/

The last thing you’d think to order at a Sichuan restaurant named Spicy and Tasty is the seemingly tame Egg and Scallion Fried Rice hidden away towards the back of the menu.  Which is why when the owner recommended the dish, we knew there had to be something good there. Lo and behold, she was right. The fried rice comes tinted green from fragrant scallion oil and speckled with bits of fried egg and fresh scallions. It was a perfect accompaniment for all the other spicy dishes we ordered. (Spicy and Tasty; 39-07 Prince Street, Flushing, Queens)

The last thing you’d think to order at a Sichuan restaurant named Spicy and Tasty is the seemingly tame Egg and Scallion Fried Rice hidden away towards the back of the menu.  Which is why when the owner recommended the dish, we knew there had to be something good there. Lo and behold, she was right. The fried rice comes tinted green from fragrant scallion oil and speckled with bits of fried egg and fresh scallions. It was a perfect accompaniment for all the other spicy dishes we ordered. (Spicy and Tasty; 39-07 Prince Street, Flushing, Queens)

Elmhurst has some good noodle shops, including Uncle Zhou’s on Broadway. The lamb with hand-drawn noodles is a big, brothy (if slightly greasy) bowl of tastiness. Good dumplings, too.

Elmhurst has some good noodle shops, including Uncle Zhou’s on Broadway. The lamb with hand-drawn noodles is a big, brothy (if slightly greasy) bowl of tastiness. Good dumplings, too.

Maybe I don’t get around to enough dim sum parlors, but this dish was new to me when I had it at East Ocean Palace in Forest Hills a while ago. Crab coated with puffed/fried rice. My mother-in-law was excited to see these on the menu, and these quickly made it onto my hit parade of dim sum items. 113-09 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills NY 11375 (near 76th Road; map); 718-268-1668

Maybe I don’t get around to enough dim sum parlors, but this dish was new to me when I had it at East Ocean Palace in Forest Hills a while ago. Crab coated with puffed/fried rice. My mother-in-law was excited to see these on the menu, and these quickly made it onto my hit parade of dim sum items. 113-09 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills NY 11375 (near 76th Road; map); 718-268-1668

Flickr / slice

Flushing summer 2010 - Corner of Roosevelt Ave. and Main St. If you’ve ever been to the busy part of Flushing, you’ve been on this corner. There seems to be a lot of people out on that day but it’s actually pretty light because it was a weekday. The weekends are packed.

No idea what this neon sign outside this Chinese ginseng shop on Broadway in Elmhurst says, but I heart it very much!

No idea what this neon sign outside this Chinese ginseng shop on Broadway in Elmhurst says, but I heart it very much!

Chestnuts King is one of the coolest street food vendors in downtown Flushing. The King, his Queen,and their chestnuts are from Tianjin. They are roasted whole over hot pebbles. His supply usually runs out come spring, so hop that 7 train soon.  41-40 Main Street, Flushing.

Chestnuts King is one of the coolest street food vendors in downtown Flushing. The King, his Queen,and their chestnuts are from Tianjin. They are roasted whole over hot pebbles. His supply usually runs out come spring, so hop that 7 train soon.  41-40 Main Street, Flushing.

Wheel of food fortune at the Great House Restaurant (4113 Kissena Blvd, Flushing NY) Come here with a huge group, and take note of address - this place has changed names on me before, but the food is still the same. 

Wheel of food fortune at the Great House Restaurant (4113 Kissena Blvd, Flushing NY) Come here with a huge group, and take note of address - this place has changed names on me before, but the food is still the same.