Where to eat and drink in Flushing, Queens

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao has a diverse menu of Chinese fare, but let’s face it — you’re really only here to try the xiao long bao, or soup dumplings. They are arguably the most authentic in the city. Each basket comes with five or six dumplings that are churned out like clockwork by a trio of female chefs huddled together in the restaurant’s open kitchen. But don’t mistake their efficiency for carelessness: These xiao long bao are delicately wrapped, the dough just firm enough to hold everything together until your spoon tears it apart to reveal a steaming, soupy goodness of pork and crab, or vegetables.

During peak hours, you might be hard-pressed to find a seat, but if you’ve got the time, the food here is well worth the wait. If you’re not quite in the mood for dumplings, Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao also offers noodle soups, an array of seafood appetizers and rice cakes. (Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, 38-12 Prince St., Queens, 718-321-3838)” data-id=”112810269″ data-link=”https://amnewyork.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/20244_image.jpg” class=”wp-image-1.12810269″/>
Photo Credit: Esha Ray

Opened in 2015, The COOP is the place for Korean-fried chicken lovers to pig out just a block away from the 7 train. Their signature COOP wings, which are made fresh every morning, are double battered, double fried and come with two types of dipping sauces: spicy and soy garlic. The food here is a little more expensive than nearby lounges and bars but the menu variety and ambience make up for the price. The combination of metal, wood and brick gives the restaurant a chic, industrial sort of vibe, and you can order everything from truffle parmesan fries to spicy pork belly. If you’re daring, you might even try the beef intestine soup.

Wash it all down with an eccentric drink like the lychee cosmopolitan (vodka, triple sec, lime juice, lychee juice, cranberry juice) or the tai chi ginger margarita (ginger, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, sour mix, ginger ale). (The COOP Restaurant & Bar, 133-42 39th Ave. #103, Queens, 718-358-9333, thecoopnyc.com)” data-id=”112810274″ data-link=”https://amnewyork.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/20246_image.jpg” class=”wp-image-1.12810274″/>
Photo Credit: Esha Ray

Tucked away on the second floor of Main Street’s unassuming Golden Shopping Mall, across the hall from a barber shop, is some of the best lamb noodle soup you’ll find in the city. There’s no fancy décor here — just hearty broths filled with hand-pulled noodles, fatty meat and an array of vegetables that’s sure to leave you full and satisfied. Sit around for awhile and you’ll notice customers eventually ditch their spoons in favor of their own hands. It’s best you do the same: After all, the only proper way to enjoy lamb noodle soup is to slurp up every bite. (Lamb Noodle Soup, 41-28 Main St., Queens, lambnoodlesoup.com)” data-id=”112810308″ data-link=”https://amnewyork.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/20248_image.jpg” class=”wp-image-1.12810308″/>
Photo Credit: Esha Ray

PokéWave is one of the few places in downtown Flushing that offers something other than East Asian cuisine. The main draw is — yes, you guessed it — the poké bowls (pronounced po-kay), a Hawaiian raw fish salad that’s become New York’s latest food craze. Choose a pre-made bowl like the Big Island Poké, which includes tuna, scallions, cilantro and sesame seeds, or build your own. If you’re the health-conscious type, swap the rice base for zucchini noodles and the raw fish for tofu. The narrow space is simple yet bright and the cute “PokéWave” sign above the entrance is a cheery respite from the sea of shops that clutter Roosevelt Avenue. Sure, poké bowls go well with bottled water, but try a Hawaiian Sun Green Tea to get the full island effect. (PokéWave, 135-27 Roosevelt Ave., Queens, 917-868-1097)
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Photo Credit: Esha Ray

In the words of one server, Incredibowl is “Chipotle for Chinese food.” Walk up the counter and you’ll see why. Each bowl is prepared exactly to the customer’s liking, with an endless variety of meats, fish and vegetables to choose from. The result is a massive pot of food meant to be shared by the whole family or a group of friends with after-school munchies. If you’d like to heat things up, Incredibowl offers varying degrees of spiciness from “mildly spicy” to “very spicy.” But be warned — “mildly spicy” is actually quite enough heat for most spice-lovers; choose “very spicy,” and you might not be able to feel your tongue for the rest of the week.

Here’s a suggested combination if it’s your first time to Incredibowl: fatty beef, swai fish, fish tofu, enoki mushroom, bok choy, tofu skin, fried tofu, rice vermicelli and potatoes. Let us know how it tastes. (Incredibowl, 133-35 Roosevelt Ave., Queens, 917-365-2023)
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Photo Credit: Esha Ray

Photo Credit: Esha Ray

Flushing is Queens’ original Chinatown, a vibrant and bustling neighborhood located at the very end of the 7 train. There’s no shortage of Chinese eateries here, many of them cramped together on the third busiest intersection in New York City: Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue. But spend a little time walking around and you’ll find that there’s more diversity in Flushing’s cuisine than meets the eye.

Whether you’re the type of person who likes to sit down for a three-course meal or someone who’s more of the grab-and-go type, there’s something here for everyone to try.