A Staycation in NYC's secret food neighborhood

A couple years ago, we ate our way through Manhattan’s legendary Chinatown. For the latest installment of The WeekEnder’s NYC Staycation series, we’re hopping on the subway and heading off on a delicious escape to the city’s second largest Chinatown. The destination: Flushing, Queens.

“I love Manhattan’s Chinatown. I grew up eating there, but Flushing is America’s greatest Chinatown. The reason: There are so many types of Chinese food represented,” says Joe DiStefano, a food expert and guide who has been called “The Culinary King of Queens.”

In Manhattan, you’ll mostly find Szechuan and Cantonese food. Flushing is a showcase for regional cuisine from all over China, not to mention Korea, India, and more. And while you’ll still discover mom-and-pop stalls hidden down alleyways, the neighborhood also has a new breed of glitzy malls with the kind of food halls and big-name restaurants that you’d find in Asia.

“It feels like a mini Hong Kong—chaotic yet exciting and very functional. It’s a unique ecosystem that is entirely different from the rest of New York City,” says Nigel Sielegar, a designer, professor, and chef from Indonesia who runs a cult-like stand called Moon Man at the Queens Night Market in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

Joe and Nigel are just two of the plugged-in locals who we are going to introduce you to in this food-themed issue of The WeekEnder. You’ll also meet Fufski Ren (a popular YouTuber) and Gordon Yu (who runs tours and hosts events with Eat Something New in Queens). These insiders will spill their secret addresses and show you how to navigate the Flushing food scene like a pro.

-Laura Begley Bloom, New York's Senior WeekEnder Writer

It’s not unusual to find a line at the Moon Man stand at the Queens Night Market, which runs on Saturday evenings from April through Halloween. People are waiting to try Nigel Sielegar’s kue pancong (ethereal coconut pancakes). But Nigel never set out to be a chef: This graphic designer who founded the award-winning agency, Corse Design Factory, also teaches at the School of Visual Arts. He was doing design work for the night market, then suggested that he’d like to run his own stand. “My mission was to bring my nostalgia for the street food that I grew up with to New York City,” says Nigel. What Nigel loves about Flushing: “I am obsessed with off-the-beaten-path places—the hidden spots where the locals go.”

Nurlan Uyghur - “Near the Queens Botanical Garden is this tiny restaurant with about eight tables. "Order the Kawap, the Pearl Noodles, and some Samsa."

Mr Zhang Noodle - “Among all the spicy noodle providers in Flushing, this spot in the New York Food Court gets the highest marks from me. It serves dishes like a spicy noodle with bamboo shoots and a three pepper beef noodle.”

Chong Qing Lao Zao - “For those who want to try hot pot, this is the place. Their broth is always fresh. There are tons of options for ingredients: You choose your own adventure.”

Ganesh Temple Canteen - “Anyone can go to this temple canteen and order the excellent Indian food—proof that you don’t need to be a Hindu to eat well. I recommend the dosa.”

La Mira Gelateria - “A small shop with interesting gelato flavors like lychee, green tea, and even cheese.”

Bearin Wheel Pie - “This small stall inside the Landmark Mall is run by a nice lady who’s always there every time I go. There are savory and sweet pies that are made to order—and they’re affordable.”

Leaf Bar & Lounge - “The people running this cocktail bar at the Hyatt Place are always friendly. There’s a nice deck, and the drinks are good. It is the perfect place to end the night.”

Raised in Shanghai, Gordon Yu is a real estate investor who lives in nearby Regal Park. But Flushing is his north star: You’ll find him eating here at least six times a week. He credits his mother—a dim sum expert in Shanghai—for inspiring his culinary passions. In his free time, he runs monthly food tours and events in Flushing with the Facebook group Eat Something New in Queens. Here, he shares his go-to spots.

Fish With You - “This is the first location in New York from a popular chain in the Szechuan province of China, and it’s my favorite restaurant in the neighborhood right now. They serve a sour and spicy sauerkraut fish soup with dried chili, peppercorn, tofu, and various vegetables like Napa cabbage, bean sprouts, and mushrooms. I’ve tried every flavor and the signature version is the best.”

Maxi’s Noodle - “Maxi’s is by far the restaurant that I go to the most in Flushing for their simple clean bowls of Cantonese-style wontons and dumplings. I add some chili sauce, and if I’m hungry enough, I’ll add noodles. They also sell frozen wontons and dumplings.”

Pan Bao 66 - “My favorite snack as a child in Shanghai was the soup dumpling. This stall in the New World Mall food court serves the pan-fried version, which is popular for breakfast. It comes as close as possible to what you have in Shanghai.”

He Nan Hui Mian - “This noodle shop from Henan on the quietest street in downtown Flushing is known for a lamb soup noodle in a white and milky broth. They also have a dry version: a lamb stir-fried noodle. I also recommend the excellent leek and pork dumplings and the burger, which looks like a hot pocket stuffed with lamb or pork.”

Main Street Imperial Taiwanese - “Where they shine is with the stir-fry dishes. You have to get the fly’s head, which is a dish made with Chinese chive flower and ground pork (no actual heads of flies). The shredded pork with bean curd and the sautéed pork kidneys in sesame oil are delicious. I also love the clams with basil, the three cup chicken, and the shredded beef with chili peppers.”

Sheng Jin - “A one-of-a-kind breakfast spot from Tianjin that’s known for tofu nao (a mild hot and sour soup with chunks of velvety tofu that means “tofu brain” in Chinese, though it has nothing to do with brain), rolling donkey (sweet dough stuffed with red bean paste and coated with peanut powder), and jian bing (an egg crepe with zesty sauce, toppings, and scallions).”

Yukun Shaobing - “In a small alleyway, Yukun Shaobing is a popular spot that serves an oven-baked pancake filled with various proteins. I really like #5 fish-flavored pork, #8 three fresh stuffing with meat, and #11 cumin lamb stuffing.”

The author of the best-selling guidebook, 111 Places in Queens That You Must Not Miss, Joe DiStefano is such an expert on the borough that he was nicknamed “The Culinary King of Queens.” When he’s not running private food tours in Flushing (and more), Joe documents his passion for the borough in articles for Grub Street, Eater, and his own web site, chopsticksandmarrow.com, as well as frequent and hunger-inducing posts on Instagram.

Soy Bean Chen Flower Shop - “One of the things I love most about downtown Flushing is discovering little street food places. There’s a gentleman who’s been selling tofu out of a window in front of a florist for 30 years. He does a sweet variety with ginger and a spicy variety with pickled vegetables, chili, and dried shrimp.”

Joe’s Steam Rice Rolls - “I grew up eating rice rolls. Most rice rolls in the U.S. are made with commercial rice flour as opposed to grinding dried rice with water to create a batter. At Joe’s, the texture is phenomenal, and you can watch the process.”

Tarim Uyghur Cuisine - ​​”A lot of people have not seen this style of cuisine. They do an awesome handmade hand-pulled noodle and another one with noodles diced into tiny chunks.”

Na Tart - “There are classic Chinese egg tarts in interesting flavors like durian with a bit of cherry in it and the Salty Boy, which has pork and seaweed.”

New Flushing Bakery - “This is the most utilitarian hole-in-the-wall Chinese bakery with a ledge where three people can stand or sit. They have coffee and around 15 different things: some buns, some egg tarts. My favorite thing to eat there is the coconut egg tart.”

Juqi - “At this high-end restaurant in the Tangram center, there’s an elaborate Peking duck with caviar on top, as well as a rice with pork dish that is set on the fire. The old-fashioned decor references the bygone days of Beijing with stone walls and private nooks that feel like bird cages.”

Royal Queen - “For dim sum, this spot on the top level of New World Mall is an excellent option.”

Jiang Nan - “Set in One Fulton Square, this restaurant has beautiful food from all over China. It’s perfect for Instagram, but it has substance—like pork neck smoked tableside and presented in a wooden box.”

Originally from China, Fufski Ren shares all kinds of food discoveries—from street food to Michelin three-star restaurants—on his YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok channels (@Fufski). “I have tried them all,” he says. Flushing is a favorite—no surprise. “It’s more up to date with the trends than Manhattan’s Chinatown,” says Fufski. “Whatever is popular in China, you can find in Flushing sooner than any other Chinatown.”

Szechuan House - “This old-school place serves unapologetically authentic dishes like pig brain, frog, and orange beef.”

Corner 28 - “Down an alleyway is this small restaurant. Their Chinese roasted charcuterie is top-notch, as well as the roast duck and the crispy roast pork.”

Shanghai You Garden - “There are noodles that are authentic to Shanghai, but the signature is the huge soup dumpling with a thin skin. You literally have to use a straw to eat it.”

Zhu Ji Dumpling Stall - “This restaurant is located at 40-52 Main St. The exterior of the restaurant doesn’t have an English name. They sell 20 or 30 kinds of dumplings, including a leek version that is box-shaped.”

Old Luo Yang - “They serve Henan food. A lot of restaurants have pre-made buns that they stuff, but here, the cumin-seasoned, meat-stuffed buns are made to order, and you can really taste the difference when they come straight off the wok.”

Here are some of our insiders’ picks for the best places to stay in Flushing.

For Instagrammers: Renaissance New York Flushing Hotel at Tangram - Calling all aviation buffs: You’ll love the views overlooking LaGuardia airport from the lobby and many of the rooms at this hotel in the glitzy Tangram center.

For nightowls: Hyatt Place Hotel at One Fulton Square - The Hyatt Place features an expansive rooftop craft cocktail bar (Leaf Bar & Lounge) and an outdoor garden with an indoor swimming pool located atop a tower with spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline.

For an affordable stay: One Boutique Hotel - For views of the area stretching from Corona all the way to Manhattan, check out this mod hotel and its dazzling rooftop bar.