Best cheap eats in Queens, NYen-ushttp://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756180MapBuilder.Net252736Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:03:45 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 75-07 Parsons Blvd @ 75 Ave. Afghan. "Right next door to the sublime New Kouchi Super Market—where you can get a postcard of Westerners lounging by a motel pool in Kabul—find savory kebabs, berry-laced rice polows, dumplings well stuffed with onions and meat, and the yogurt drink known as dogh." (Village Voice)40.726237 -73.81051840.726237-73.810518279736Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:35:49 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075629-19 Broadway, Astoria, NY  (718) 932-2240 "Concentrating on the cuisine of Cyprus, Aliada complements the regular Greek menu with Middle Eastern flourishes. The horitaki salad adds the stealth herb cilantro to the tossed combination of cucumbers, caper leaves, arugula, scallions, lettuce, black olives, feta, and tomatoes, and even the meatballs called keftedes feature cilantro. Other compelling specialties include mushrooms in wine sauce, a zucchini omelet, and free-form zucchini fritters that are much lighter than they have any right to be. Don’t miss the grilled lamb chops!" [Sietsema] 40.762729 -73.92666540.762729-73.926665252706Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:51:33 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 37-68 79th St between 37th & Roosevelt. Thai. "You've never tasted yum this good before...If pork salad doesn't turn you on, there are plenty of other exemplary yums, including a souped-up version of the standard green papaya salad improved with snake beans...No dish was a bigger hit on several visits than a pair of quail ($8.95), fried to a deep mahogany and gobbed with crunchy nuggets of caramelized garlic...The soups—like poh taek, an aimless farrago of seafood, including fake crab, in a salty broth—failed to impress, but the noodles ruled." (Village Voice)40.748022 -73.88701440.748022-73.887014276047Thu, 20 Jul 2006 15:46:24 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756Broadway at 34th Street, Astoria, Queens 11am - 8pm ('til 11pm on Fri., midnight on Sat.) Dishes: spiced chicken, shawarma, felafel sandwiches (in pita or hero) and platters, philly cheesesteak, shish kebab, kefta platter Prices: $3-$4 sandwiches, $4-$6 platters [Pushcart NYC] 40.7609 -73.92340.7609-73.923276054Thu, 20 Jul 2006 15:48:53 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756Astoria, Queens, 32nd Street and Broadway, NW corner Hours: 11am-6am Dishes: Kebabs, chicken and beef, kebab sandwiches Prices: Kebabs $2 each, Sandwiches in hero or pita $4 [Pushcart NYC] 40.7616 -73.924640.7616-73.9246252751Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:11:16 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 96-40 Queens Blvd @ 63rd Drive, Rego Park. "Jay Parker, the owner, is a throwback, a man who believes that pastrami is all about taste and texture. His sandwiches provide both, and are fabulous. Enjoy some of the deli's perfect crinkle-cut fries on the side, and after eating your sandwich, walk a few blocks east on Queens Boulevard to Andre's Hungarian Strudel and Pastries for a piece of the best apple strudel in New York. Sandwich $8.75" (NY Times) 40.730049 -73.86195740.730049-73.861957256591Wed, 05 Jul 2006 11:29:03 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 29-19 24th Ave @ 29th St. Czech beer garden. "the burgers and kielbasa they grill in the back are exactly the same quality level you'd get at a summer backyard party. They are not great and they are not awful, but then, when you go to a party like that you're not really expecting great food. You'd never say "There's a party at my friend Joe's house on Labor Day but lets stay away because the burgers are just average."" (Chowhound) (Village Voice, New Yorker, Chowhound)40.772189377026294 -73.9155220985412640.772189377026294-73.91552209854126252756Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:18:53 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 253-22 Northern Boulevard, Little Neck, Queens. Korean. "A short two blocks from the Long Island frontier lies this distinguished purveyor of Chinese food fabricated for Koreans. For greatest economy stick with the noodles, especially the first on the list: supple spaghetti with an inky, sweet bean sauce and tons of caramelized onions." (Village Voice) 40.770845 -73.73515940.770845-73.735159289454Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:26:53 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/207564414 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY; (631) 722-3931. famous homemade fruit pies (NY Times) 40.967153 -72.66098640.967153-72.660986414987Mon, 23 Oct 2006 21:37:48 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075637-10 11th Street, Long Island City. "Doing stupendous things with ground meat is a challenge, and nobody does it better than Bulgara. This obscurely located mehana (a Bulgarian bar-cum-clubhouse) occupies a former warehouse in a decrepit neighborhood, generating amazing ground-pork patties (kufte), skinny pork-and-beef sausages (kebache), and even skinnier all-pork sausages (karnache), all grilled over charcoal till they get stripy, ooze, and pop. Take your pick—they're all delicious. Or get the equally good egg-and-veggie scramble mellifluously monikered "mish-mash." (Village Voice Best of 2006) 40.759615 -73.94111340.759615-73.941113283021Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:10:27 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 Queens Blvd near 67th Ave. Central Asian. (Chowhound) 40.726966 -73.85373340.726966-73.853733252773Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:29:11 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 33-02 Broadway @ 33rd St, Astoria. Frappés. "Cafe Kolonaki, in Astoria, is one of New York's most authentic Greek cafes and a destination for lovers of the frappé, Greece's addictive national drink.   "Greeks drink frappés all day and all night when it's hot outside," said Stefanos Lintzeris, an owner of the cafe, which stocks special shakers and a kind of Nescafé instant coffeethat is made just for the frappé. Made from cold water, instant coffee and sugar, a frappé is distinguished by the thick mocha-colored foam at the top of the drink, produced by violent shaking. There is no milk in it, but a creamy foam is the mark of a well-made frappé. " ( NY Times) 40.761013 -73.92370640.761013-73.923706256628Wed, 05 Jul 2006 12:05:44 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756"The crabs are pretty good but I wouldn't call them Maryland style, even though they do. The seasonings are pretty light. They also have Cajun style,again, it's not really spicy. It's a nice place to hang and eat some decent crab and drink ice cold beer. It can be pricy. I think we paid $25.00 for two dozen." (Chowhound) 40.6714 -73.8430840.6714-73.84308289455Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:28:16 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075633705 North Road, Peconic; (631) 765-8042. "Its soft, lightly tangy chèvre ($7 for 4.8 ounces) was named best goat cheese by the American Cheese Society in 2005." (NY Times) 41.04915 -72.46176541.04915-72.461765252694Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:41:28 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 37-18 34th Ave @ 38th St. Bosnian. "The name translates as Sarajevo Fast Food, and this diminutive eatery dispenses delicious grilled-meat platters, savory pastries, and desserts. Cevapi are skinless homemade sausages the size of a shotgun shell made of lamb and beef—oniony, rubbery, and fatty enough to absorb the smoke. The list of grillables also includes lamb chops, trout, salmon, and variety meats like kidneys, liver, and especially delectable sweetbreads, served with freshly baked bread and chopped raw onions. But the surprise hit at our table was a special dessert called bosanska tufahija, a baked apple stuffed with walnut cream." (Village Voice) "Though the service was a bit reserved, we appreciated the pictorial menu (though it did take some of the adventure out of ordering). Not everything on the menu is worthy of note. One pleasurable possibility is an order of cevapi (5 for $5) – skinless grilled sausages with an oniony flavor, served with a red pepper spread and onions, as well as what seemed like freshly baked bread pre-slicked with oil. It makes a lovely sandwich. I’m sure the pljeskavica, which seemed like the same meat, would also be excellent – though, due to its enormous footprint (I struggle to describe its enormity, but it wouldn’t kindly share the plate, even on your mother’s biggest platter), it might require several people to demolish it. We should have gotten more grilled meats (I’m aiming at veal hearts and sweetbreads on my next visit), because I was less impressed with the potato burek – also available in meat and spinach varieties, among others (a portion appears to be about $6. It’s not because I hate pastry, or that it wouldn’t have been delicious coming out of the oven, it’s just that they microwaved it instead. (I think the people who came in to get takeaway burek probably are oven-heating it at home.) The stuffed cabbage ($7 for 5 pieces) met the same appliance before hitting our table" (TwentyADay)40.75422 -73.8802240.75422-73.88022320200Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:17:35 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075685-03 Whitney Avenue (Broadway), Elmhurst, Queens; (718) 424-4999. "Chao Thai reminded one companion of Sripraphai in Woodside, Queens,in the early days before it became the most celebrated Thai restaurant in the city: an unassuming neighborhood cafe playing to a predominantly Thai audience... And the food is resolutely authentic. The kitchen’s free hand with chilies and its facility for balancing sweet, sour and salty flavors distinguish it from its brethren west of the East River. Know that hot means hot when you’re ordering. And medium-hot means hot, too. Mild is not spoken at Chao Thai." (NY Times) "Just inside the door is an ancient Chinese knight in full regalia, but from that point on, this noodle shop is relentlessly modern. Reflecting the Chinese diaspora across Southeast Asia, the fare of has been zonked with flavors from diverse corners of the East. Home-style congees come with a bewildering array of pig parts, and the menu runs to an astonishing 500 items—there's something for everyone." (Village Voice) 40.741482 -73.88016740.741482-73.880167252747Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:09:32 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075692-09 63rd Dr @ Austin, Rego Park. Uzbek kebab. "Ladies who fur, young women who smoke, and dads holding diaper bags chatter in at least three languages while waiting on line. Young men in paper hats man the grill in the back of them room and svelte young waitresses sweep along gracefully with trays full of sizzling kebabs and heaps upon heaps of French fries topped with raw garlic." (Bridge & Tunnel Club) "In addition to solid renditions of the usual Uzbek fare, newcomer Cheburechnaya offers Siberian pelmeni soup, Ukrainian-style platters of pickled fish, and from the Middle East, a hummus ($3) that is wonderfully dense and garlicky and a baba ghanoush that is too heavy on the mayo for my taste. Rather than being narrow and clubby like the older cafés, the large and well-lit space affects a cosmopolitan air with its smartly clad waitresses, gleaming metal meat cases, and an open kitchen that flaunts a mile-long trench-shaped barbecue pit." (Village Voice) "At 10 p.m. waitresses at Cheburechnaya are still running between the kitchen and the dining room. Snatches of Russian, Hebrew, Uzbek, Farsi and Tajik can be heard, and babies are passed from lap to lap, bottles of Smirnoff from table to table.  "I have been making chebureks since I was 14 years old," said Isak Sionov, an owner of the restaurant, referring to the savory deep-fried pies that are its signature. "First in the Soviet Union, then in Uzbekistan, then in Israel, and now in Rego Park." (NY Times) also check out Twenty A Day's reviews here and here. 40.727617 -73.86415840.727617-73.864158279739Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:38:36 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075649-11 Roosevelt Ave, Queens, NY 11377 Sunnyside Phone: (718) 639-7280 "The portions of meat, all around $20, appeared larger than usual as they sizzled on the grill. The thin-sliced brisket competed with the thick-sliced marinated rib for our affection. The pan chan (tiny, free, appetizing dishes) were more profuse than usual, and the matronly waitress shared our bibimbap and blood-sausage soup into separate bowls. Everything rocked." [Sietsema]40.743313 -73.9159140.743313-73.91591252759Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:20:51 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756107-04 Corona Ave, Corona Heights, Queens. Hot heros. "Every sandwich, whether chicken, eggplant parmigiana or potato and egg, made with her husband's fresh mozzarella, is made to order. So you should call in your order or be prepared to wait 20 minutes to half an hour. "I cook here like I cook at home," Mrs. Capezza said. "My meatballs are made with freshly ground pork, bread crumbs, fresh basil and a little bit of imported Italian pecorino Romano cheese..." (NY Times) "Mr. Capezza at Corona Heights Pork Store makes his wonderful creamy mozzarella in the back, and when he cuts into it to make a hero, it's so fresh it spurts milk." (NY Times) 40.743502 -73.85599240.743502-73.855992252698Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:44:07 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 203-20 35th Ave @ 203rd St. Italian. (NY Daily News)40.766149 -73.78405240.766149-73.784052252763Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:22:30 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 29-01 Francis Lewis Blvd, Bayside. Bona fide neighborhood tavern. (NY Metro) 40.770463 -73.79294740.770463-73.792947252735Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:03:02 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 40-52 Main St between Roosevelt & 41st Ave. Dumpling stall. "The pot-sticker dumplings are superb at this modest stall, loaded with unctuous chopped beef and little snippets of green vegetable, and the flavorful hot-and-sour soup is a forest of lily buds, bamboo, and cloud ear mushrooms. Best of all: everything is 50 cents to two dollars. Note that it's located around the corner on 41st Avenue." (Village Voice)40.758736 -73.82988240.758736-73.829882252767Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:25:46 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075635-25 Steinway St. between 35th & 36th Ave. Egyptian. "Circumventing the city's anti-smoking laws, the Egyptian cafés up and down Steinway also provide cheap eats. Take note of the meat as you pass the rotisseries on the way to the tent out back that constitutes the dining room, where youcan fill yourself with fava bean foul, freek-stuffed pigeon, and the orchid root milk shake called saloop. Get your freek on." (Village Voice) 40.754588 -73.92232540.754588-73.922325252991Wed, 28 Jun 2006 11:27:00 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 36-18 Greenpoint Ave. Dive bar, cavernous ex-auto-repair shop. (NY Metro) 40.73756753107997 -73.9300918579101640.73756753107997-73.93009185791016252724Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:56:26 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756105-29 Metropolitan Ave @ 72nd Ave, Forest Hills. Old-fashioned ice cream parlor. "At Eddie's, founded in 1909 in Forest Hills, the fourth set of owners, Joe and Connie Citrano, and their son, Vito, preside over a gorgeous old-fashioned wooden counter, a 75-year-old refrigerator and an ancient, Bronx-made Emery Thompson ice cream machine that still churns out 20 flavors, most of them delicious. With its array of syrups, whipped cream and toppings still made on the premises, Eddie's provides its customers with a step back in time, and pretty good ice cream, too." (NY Times)  40.7101 -73.84773540.7101-73.847735305022Fri, 11 Aug 2006 12:27:14 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075691-06 43rd Avenue, 718-478-6245 Chilean 40.743235 -73.874440.743235-73.8744252707Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:51:55 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 84-02 37 Ave @ 84 St. Uruguayan parrillada. (TONY, OpenList)40.749783 -73.88228340.749783-73.882283256552Wed, 05 Jul 2006 10:53:27 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756Ecuadoran 40.757191 -73.86820540.757191-73.868205252995Wed, 28 Jun 2006 11:35:04 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 35-55 31st St between 35th & 36th Aves, Long Island City. Batidos. (NY Times) 40.75736758257757 -73.9292764663696340.75736758257757-73.92927646636963252734Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:01:51 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 43-37 162nd St between 43rd & 45th Ave. Salvadoran. "The pupusas ooze cheese and tangy loroco flowers at this splendid Salvadoran. Sit in the Formica dining room as twin TVs broadcast competing Spanish-language programs, and enjoy cilantro-laced chicken soup and an inspired chicharron de cerdo—crispy nuggets of pork served with planks of fried yuca." (Village Voice) 40.757855 -73.80413540.757855-73.804135256588Wed, 05 Jul 2006 11:27:51 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075624-02 31st St, Astoria. Greek fish tavern. "I've long been a fan but recently heard many comments of decline" (Chowhound) "I remember people 10 years ago saying that Elias Corner wasn't as good as it was 10 years before. Considering how long it's been going downhill and that it's not actually bad yet, it musta been something back in the day." (Chowhound) 40.77227062775331 -73.9153718948364340.77227062775331-73.915371894836431149401Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:47:48 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756Euro Shop, 42-07 Queens Blvd., Sunnyside, 718-786-6026 "Euro Shop, a small store whose window is decorated with the flag of the European Union has always intrigued us. Among other things it offers a half dozen types of paprika paste; a meat counter filled with bacon, sausages and pork crackling; and a plethora of Hungarian junk food. Now that we’ve had their homemade töpörtyüs pogácsa, Gothamist has even more reason to make the trip to this Hungarian deli in Sunnyside. Think of these golden, jagged-topped biscuits as Hungary’s answer to the prosciutto (aka lard) bread one finds at Faicco's Pork Store in the Village. Töpörtyüs pogácsa are somewhat denser, but no less delicious than that Italian specialty. They're riddled with little bits of pork crackling and have a peppery kick. Gothamist has been told that they're just thing with a cold beer, but we wouldn't know since ours were devoured within 20 minutes of leaving the store. If you're the baking type, try your hand at making your own with this recipe. As for us, we'll be getting our next Töpörtyüs pogácsa in Sunnyside. And next time we'll be having them with a beer." [Gothamist] 40.743328 -73.92231240.743328-73.922312252996Wed, 28 Jun 2006 11:37:43 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 41-01 Kissena Blvd between Roosevelt & 41st Ave, Flushing. South Chinese and Malaysian. "The $3.95 three-dishes-over-rice deal would be reason enough to go. The mainly south Chinese and Malaysian choices number around 30, and are rich in meat and seafood. But equally great is the charcuterie, among which the whole roast pig hanging in the window must be accounted a great triumph. Pig head available too." (Village Voice) 40.75866787224519 -73.8298416137695340.75866787224519-73.82984161376953252701Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:47:19 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 315 43rd Ave btween 21st St & 13th St. Punjabi, Sikh cabbie haunt. "Of the Sikh cabby hangs in this part of town, this is still the best and the best situated—in an aged streamlined diner. The lemony biryani tops the menu, though the Mughlai vegetable and meat curries are also way above average. Not easy to find, but you can do it!" (Village Voice)  (Hungry Cabbie) 40.74366 -73.8732840.74366-73.87328252757Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:19:49 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 259-07 Hillside Avenue, Floral Park. Tandoori. "Comically ensconced in a former diner, this tandoor specialist in far-off Floral Park turns out astonishing masala-rubbed lamb chops at bargain prices, and the dog-size $10 roast chicken is a shining star among rotisserie products." (Village Voice) 40.737279 -73.70903740.737279-73.709037459232Sat, 11 Nov 2006 18:58:55 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075641-82 Main Street, Flushing. Chinese, Sichuan, Guizhou, Islamic. review (Chowhound) floor plan (Chowhound) 1. Hand pulled noodles: La mien is the specialty at this stall way in back. Walk down the main long corridor and turn left, you will be directly facing it. Red sign with white characters. 2. Sichuan: One of the two stalls adjacent to the eating area. Go to the end of the first long corridor upon entering the building and the corridor turns to the left with the eating area to the right. This stall will be on your right after you turn left. There is no stall directly across the corridor from it. White sign with red characters. 3. Guizhou: This is the second stall adjacent to the eating area. It is the last stall on the right of the main long corridor when you enter the building. It looked like they specialize in beef and lamb noodle dishes. Red sign with white characters. 4. Islamic: Across from the Guizhou stall, it is the very last stall on the left of the first long corridor when you enter the building. This place looks fairly big; they may be using the space of two stalls. They also have a breakfast section on the menu. Yellow signs with black or blue letters. 5. Islamic: Going back to the opposite side of the corridor, next to the Guizhou stall, and closer to the front of the building, is another halal stall. They seem to be closed on Sundays. I think the sign was probably yellow with black or blue characters, but maybe it was red with white characters. 6, 7 and 8. The remaining three stalls in the front of the long corridor toward the front door of the building have lengthy general menus; maybe one or more had a Fujian bent. Two are on the side of the Guizhou and Muslim place, but nearer to the front of the building, and the other one is in the very beginning of the hallway of the building on the left as you enter the building; it is next to a stall that is not a food stall40.75589 -73.82869240.75589-73.828692557056Sun, 14 Jan 2007 13:12:50 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075636-58 Main St, Flushing "Probably the most decrepit of Flushing's food courts, the bi-level space disarmingly called "Food Court" is my favorite. Choose from among Thai, dumplings, bubble tea and bentos, organ-oriented Sichuan, and best of all, the counter called Canaan Taiwanese, where splendid pork and chicken dishes arrive over rice spritzed with chunky garlic sauce, accompanied by boiled white yam." (Village Voice) 40.762056 -73.83163440.762056-73.831634442239Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:40:52 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075675-18 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights, Queens 718-505-4083 "You've probably eaten Indian food made by Bangladeshis, but have you ever eaten real Bangladeshi food? Heavy on the heat and the mustard oil, it's an unforgettable experience. At Grameen, instead of the usual overcooked Punjabi vegetables, we have bhortas: coarse mashes of zucchini and eggplant, in which the rich vegetable colors and textures still predominate." (Village Voice) 40.748995 -73.89049640.748995-73.890496256613Wed, 05 Jul 2006 11:55:41 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756ja jang myun noodles in brown sauce40.756473 -73.76769340.756473-73.767693252733Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:01:29 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 36-35 Main St @ Northern Boulevard. Northern Chinese. "A dozen lamb dumplings for $3.95? Ten cumin-dusted lamb kebabs for $10? Everything depends on sheep at this bargain northern Chinese restaurant, where king of eats is the hot pot, a bubbling vessel divided in the middle to separate two dissimilar broths for self-boiling your veggies, meat, and bean curd." (Village Voice) 40.762393 -73.83142840.762393-73.831428252700Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:46:14 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075630-11 29th Street @ 30th Ave, Astoria, Queens, (718) 274-6936. "Great selection of Mexican products, and an inviting counter. Almost everything, whether tacos, tamales or roasted chicken or pork, is delicious. Try the refreshing aguas frescas, beverages flavored with fruit, herbs and spices." (NY Times) 40.7716 -73.8226240.7716-73.82262252703Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:50:32 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 72-20 Roosevelt Ave between 72th & Broadway. Tibetan. "Earlier this year, Tibetan Yak undertook a campaign of conquest, expanding their culinary borders to include Nepali and Indo-Chinese food. I'm pleased to report that the attempt was successful, and my friends and I have been digging the Nepalese sadeko gundruk, a pile of dehydrated, oil-soaked greens, providing many minutes of enjoyable chewing, and the ubiquitous Indo-Chinese fave chili chicken. But it's the new Tibetan stuff at the re-dubbed Himalayan Yak that's most compelling, including beef tongue sautéed with ginger and chiles (chayley) and a collection of thin beef sausages called gyuma. Luckily, the wobbly yellow substance called la phing remains a centerpiece of the menu." (Village Voice Best of 2006) "This place beats the pants off East Village Tibetan establishments, tickling our fancy with la phing, wobbly white bean jelly flavored with soy, vinegar, and chile paste; and shamdey, a rich lamb curry that marries Chinese and Indian flavors. Consistent with Buddhist teachings, half the menu is vegetarian." (Village Voice) 40.746522 -73.89319440.746522-73.8931941259241Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:52:39 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756Hot Pot City 40-33 Main Street, Flushing, Queens 718-886-3266 "70 items were available—an astonishing number compared with the other hot-pot places in town. The price was amazing, too: $24.95 per person for unlimited cookables, including tax and tip, with the caveat that you must stop ordering after two hours, though you can keep boiling what you still have on hand. For an additional $3, Hot Pot City throws in unlimited dim sum and all the beer you can drink, which arrives in foamy pitchers and tastes like Bud....At the end of both meals, sticky spatters coated the table and our clothes and dribbled in little rivulets down our chins—making Hot Pot City one of the messiest, and tastiest, meals we'd eaten in a long time." (Sietsema) 40.758899 -73.82967940.758899-73.829679252726Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:57:09 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075640-06 70th St, Woodside. Filipino barbecue joint. "As the story goes, American doughboys brought barbecue to the Philippines in the '40s. See what the Filipinos have done with it at this popular barbecue joint, and enjoy well-grilled kebabs of pork and chicken brushed with sweet barbecue sauce, or meaty and cheap steaks and pork chops done the same way. The upstairs features organ-meat delights like bopis, bulalo, and batchoy. Gesundheit!" (Village Voice) (Veal Cheeks)40.746159 -73.89553940.746159-73.895539252755Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:17:16 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756184-22 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, Queens, nr Kissena. Chinese/Indian. "Ganesh presides over a lacquered, red-draped interior at the best place specializing in Chinese with an Indian spin. Thus the rice remains basmati, though the menu relies heavily on soy sauce, ginger, and several forms of hot pepper. Order any lamb dish, or any of the dark concoctions on the menu preceded by the word "chilli."" (Village Voice)  40.739578 -73.7897540.739578-73.78975252709Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:52:34 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 37-25 74th St. All-you-can-eat Indian buffet. "One look in the window at the glistening buffet (lunch $6.95, dinner $7.50) with no crusty brown stuff around the edges of the steam-table receptacles might be enough to convince you this is Jackson Heights' best all-you-can-eat buffet. But one taste of the chicken makhani, or the meaty goat curry, will provide confirmation." (Village Voice)40.748285 -73.89149740.748285-73.891497256554Wed, 05 Jul 2006 10:55:03 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 40.73071 -73.86385240.73071-73.863852252696Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:42:51 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 28-09 Astoria Blvd between 28th and 29th Sts, Astoria. Italian & Eastern European comfort food. "The Istrian peninsula, in current day Croatia, was first Roman, then Byzantine, then Venetian, then Austro-Hungarian, then Italian, then Yugoslavian, before finally passing into the hands of the ethnic Croats who make up two-thirds of its population. There remains a very strong Italian influence, though, as can be seen in the signature specialties of Istrian cooking - fuzi and gnocchi." (Newsday)  Chowhound, TONY)40.76408 -73.88240.76408-73.882252727Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:57:52 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 64-05 Roosevelt Ave @ 64th St & 39th Ave. Salvadoran. "Named after an active volcano, the city's premier Salvadoran is more than your typical pupuseria. Culinary triumphs include elote tamales—husk-wrapped, studded with corn kernels, and light as soufflés. Don't miss salpicon, a salad of cold shredded beef, or the ambitious selection of stuffed vegetables, if only to answer the question: how the hell do you stuff a green bean." (Village Voice)40.746056 -73.89990340.746056-73.899903415001Mon, 23 Oct 2006 21:56:48 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075635-34 Farrington Street, Flushing, Queens. "Queens has long been the bastion of Korean joints specializing in the northern Chinese noodles called cha chiang mein. These noodles are made by hand, involving much noisy thwamping and thumping of the dough upon the metal prep surface. Hearing this being done while you wait, drooling, is your guarantee of fresh noodles. The best this year are found at Ja Gal Chi (English name: Oriental Restaurant), and they come smothered in a gelatinous black sauce of beans, pork, and onions (order "noodles with special brown sauce")." (Village Voice Best of 2006) 40.764007 -73.83178340.764007-73.831783252753Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:13:23 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756117-03 Hillside Ave, Richmond Hill. Ice cream parlor. "Jahn's, at 117-03 Hillside Avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens, is the last of a chain that started on Alexander Avenue in the Bronx in 1897. With its gas lamps, Tiffany shades and the original soda fountain encased in glass, it more closely resembles an Addams family museum than a Norman Rockwell ice cream parlor. But while the ice cream is no longer made on premises, you can still get an outrageous crowd-pleaser called the Kitchen Sink, which combines gallons of ice cream with whipped cream, strawberry and fudge toppings, nuts, maraschino cherries and bananas in a school-dance-size punch bowl. Igor Mikit, Jahn's owner, says no one has ever finished the confection alone, but at $38.65 with tax, it would make for a lovely child's birthday expedition, a delicious mess suitable for sharing." (NY Times) 40.700284 -73.832840.700284-73.8328252768Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:26:10 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/207562512 Steinway St, Astoria. Egyptian, kebobs. "The chef is from Alexandria, Egypt, and afficionados never touch the menu. Instead they ask what is currently available, or peek into the refrigerator case as they enter the microscopic dining room, decorated with a painted desert villagescape. Here are some of the things that I've enjoyed: incredible fava beans, finished with sautéed garlic; stuffed eggplant and zucchini; creamy basil gnocchi; vegetable couscous with a generous assortment of fresh produce; and milookhiyya, a soup made from an Egyptian herb that tastes something like new-mown hay." (Village Voice) "having returned from Kabab Café, I can attest that Ali is one of New York's star chefs...Since four of our party of six knew Ali El-Sayed (after eating at KC once every diner knows Ali), we were treated to Ali's revelations. Kabab Café has a menu, but in practice it doesn't count for much...If there is a chef's Believe-It-Or-Not, Chef Ali will surely receive the award for the most culinary miracles per square foot of kitchen. This is a tiny restaurant that no one who cares about the possibilities of cuisine can afford to pass. And Ali's Marsh Duck demands to be bronzed." (Veal Cheeks)40.76768 -73.91216740.76768-73.912167252705Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:51:13 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 71-34 Roosevelt between 72nd St & Broadway. Filipino. "This modest-looking but splendid café under the No. 7 tracks turns out the most compelling version of Filipino food in Queens and argues that the salty, bitter, sweet, and fishy cuisine deserves to become more popular. The oxtail stew thickened with peanut butter is especially tasty, and you'd be well advised to order anything featuring Uncle Bino's signature roast pig. " (Village Voice) 40.746406 -73.89397740.746406-73.893977252729Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:58:39 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756137-40 Northern Boulevard between College Pt & Parson Blvd. Tofu parlor. "Offered in 12 varieties picturesquely deposited in stone crocks, the soon doo boo at this new tofu parlor is stunning—soft, wobbly, off-white, capable of mediating and improving any flavors it comes in contact with. Fresh tofu with oysters or mixed veggies are the ways to go here." (Village Voice) 40.763203 -73.83000440.763203-73.830004252777Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:31:49 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 31-11 23rd Ave. Czech-expat bar w/food. Don't got to Zlata Praha, go to Koliba (Chowhound) "While the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden has become a bona fide tourist attraction, Koliba feels like the insular refuge of a Czech-expat crowd, elbow-to-elbow at the cozy bar. Enormous planks of chicken schnitzel, goulash served with sliced-bread “dumplings,”spaetzle in a tangy sheep’s-milk sauce—it’s not exactly the world’s lightest cuisine. Which is where the slightly bitter, palate-cleansing Pilsner comes in." (NY Mag)40.77625 -73.91581240.77625-73.915812359989Sun, 24 Sep 2006 22:09:51 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075669-02 Roosevelt Avenue (69th Street); (718) 898-1900 "This traditional Filipino restaurant offers dishes like chicken adobo: tender, primarily dark-meat chicken braised in garlic, bay, vinegar and soy. The sizzling sisig, minced raw onions and diced pork, is a relative of corned beef hash." (NY Times) 40.746185 -73.89608340.746185-73.896083252743Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:07:36 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 82-32 Baxter Ave, near Elmhurst hospital. Argentine grill. "Skip the mixed grill at this queen of Argentine meateries, unless you relish its heavy component of sweetbreads and blood sausage. Instead, order individual meats, all cooked over charcoal and loaded with flavor. Especially recommended are the beef short ribs or any of the vast selection of steaks and variety meats—calf liver alone is offered five different ways. There are plenty of Argentine-Italo pastas, including splendid homemade potato dumplings called noquis. La Fusta is located right across the street from Elmhurst Hospital, just in case you overindulge." (Village Voice) 40.746576 -73.8830840.746576-73.88308252710Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:52:57 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 74-25 37th Ave between 74th & 75th St. Argentine grill. "It’s no accident that a former butcher shop is now the city’s most beloved Argentine eatery. The proprietors combine an indefatigable love of beef with an insider’s knowledge of how to acquire it. The mixed grill is too huge to be negotiated; you’re better off cherry-picking the best cuts, including perfect skirt steak, well-grilled short ribs, and some of the loamiest blood sausage around. Homesick for Texas? You’ll find the breaded cutlet that bears the restaurant’s name is a dead ringer for chicken-fried steak. But bring your own gravy." (Village Voice) "This former butcher shop in Jackson Heights is where homesick Buenos Aireans (and insatiable carnivores of every nationality) congregate for serious beefsteaks. Waiters decked out like urban gauchos in Howdy Doody neckerchiefs and coin-studded gaucho belts that look like World Wrestling Federation trophies hustle about to a tango beat... Start with excellent hot, crusty empanadas stuffed with a spicy mixture of ground beef, chopped egg, olives, and onion and served with house-made chimichurri (the pureed-parsley steak sauce, which the restaurant bottles and sells). Then move on to the $18.95 mixed grill for one (actually more like two, maybe three): a feast of succulent garlicky pork sausages; hefty blood sausages; a rich, beefy-flavored skirt steak; tender short ribs; luscious sweetbreads; and subtly flavored tripe." (NY Metro) 40.749171 -73.89150940.749171-73.891509252762Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:22:04 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756103-07 Roosevelt Avenue, Corona, Queens, (718) 397-9362. "One room of this deli has been turned into an actual restaurant, with an extended menu. The tacos are carefully made and delicious." (NY Times) 40.750058 -73.86250440.750058-73.862504283034Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:20:43 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 87-52 168 St near Hillside Avenue, Jamaica, Queens. Guatemalan. "For the past three years Xelaju has been bringing native Guatemalan dishes to Jamaica. For recent Guatemalan immigrants who miss their native land and food,Xelaju brings patrons back home." (Queens Press) So-so report (Chowhound)40.71031250340588 -73.794822692871140.71031250340588-73.7948226928711415007Mon, 23 Oct 2006 22:04:58 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075686-06 Whitney Avenue, Elmhurst, Queens 'Though a colorful banner flaunts the hand-pulled noodles, they can't compete with the ones at Super Taste. Instead, go to Lao Bei Fangfor their wondrous dumplings. The plain chive-pork potstickers are served four for a dollar, which is one dumpling fewer than you get at the dollar dumpling stalls of the Lower East Side. But, oh, those dumplings! Bigger, glossier, dripping with fluids, these dumplings have twice the filling of their competitors. There are other remarkable choices, too, including one with a filling of Chinese celery and pork, and another flavored with fennel. The latter are called hui xiang, and I've heard they are all the rage in Beijing." ( Village Voice Best of 2006) 40.74154 -73.87892640.74154-73.878926252744Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:08:07 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075690-18 Corona Ave, Elmhurst. Avena, champu. (NY Times) 40.741573 -73.87464440.741573-73.874644252761Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:21:42 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 52-02 108th St., Corona, Queens. Italian ices. "One of the tastiest ways to beat the heat and humidity of an NYC summer is with a cool, sweet Italian ice. The Lemon Ice King of Corona has been serving some of the best from its corner counter for generations. The ice and the price is right, and the place has a vibe that works. Nothing fancy, just fruit- and chocolate-flavored ice served in paper cups. Grab your ice and stroll to the tiny, little nearby park for the local scene. There's a bocce court and plenty of Queens attitude." (About.com) "Realistic flavor despite the surreal color; although I admire the effort to include pieces of fruit, the feel of semifrozen berries in my mouth was curious at best." (Eating in Translation) (photo)40.743135 -73.85505740.743135-73.855057252760Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:21:16 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075646-02 104th St, Corona, Queens. Hot heros, homemade mozzarella. "the DeBenedittis family has been making serious hot heroes for years at Leo's Latticini, also known as Mama's. Marie DeBenedittis, one of three sisters running the place under the watchful eye of their octogenarian mother, makes hot meat sandwiches with superb gravy and homemade mozzarella. Tuesday through Saturday, Ms. DeBendittis roasts remarkably moist turkey breast, but Thursday is roast beef and roast pork day. The pork is so meaty and juicy it does not need gravy, but the properly salted gravy, combined with fresh mozzarella, makes for a terrific combination." (NY Times) 40.746218 -73.86001140.746218-73.860011252712Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:53:44 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 79-01 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights. Batidos. (NY Times) 40.747456 -73.8865440.747456-73.88654252997Wed, 28 Jun 2006 11:39:44 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 25-35 36th Ave @ 28th St. Brazilian. "This is no hash house, but an ambitious white-tablecloth bistro that offers tasty and voluminous renditions of Brazilian standards like shrimp muqueca and picanha (Cariocan churrasco), in addition to some French-leaning things like poached chicken breast in shallots and white wine." (Village Voice) 40.758960433915284 -73.9351987838745140.758960433915284-73.93519878387451557054Sun, 14 Jan 2007 13:09:04 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075675-19 Broadway between 75th and 76th Sts (718-424-9054) "This place sells the Indonesian-Cantonese-Thai fare of Malaysia’s Penang state. Lunch-sized curry noodle soups (squid for $5.25, shrimp for $5.50) are deliciously coconuty; sweet-and-sour asam laksa soup combines smoky mackerel, tamarind and pineapple for $5.50." (TONY) 40.746205 -73.88992140.746205-73.889921252993Wed, 28 Jun 2006 11:29:05 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 13-27 Jackson Ave between 47th Ave & 47th Rd. Classic Italian. "The homey, comfortable Manducatis, tucked away in a gritty, industrial corner of Long Island City, genuinely deserves the label "a find," and to be honest, we considered keeping it to ourselves. In truth, it's not exactly like we discovered the place. Manducatis has been the subject of stacks of almost reverential reviews.(James Beard) "Manducatis, which opened in Long Island City, Queens, in 1977, also has a formidable trove of wine...A $16 plate of spaghetti carbonara at Manducatis was enough for a hefty family of four. Manducatis charges $18.50 for two thick, juicy, first-rate pork chops smothered in scallions and red peppers. But its kitchen also performed unevenly. " (NY Times) "Behind the empty bar are the two large dining rooms of one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city, run by the same owners (the Cerbone familty) for the last 20 years. Its slightly out-of-the-way location and non-descript entrance only adds to the appeal. The cuisine is simple (there's nothing fancy on the menu) and for my taste, Manducatis is exactly what homemade Italian should be." (NY Bits) "Going to Manducatis (Latin for "you eat") is like going to a friend's house for dinner—except your friend is from Naples and really knows how to cook." (NY Metro) customer reviews (RealEats)40.74426574524173 -73.9493608474731440.74426574524173-73.94936084747314252745Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:08:25 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 46-20 Queens Blvd & 47 St. Turkish lunch counter. "Your doner kebab sandwich won't get mangled at this Turkish lunch counter, where the locals are sighing with relief at the departure of MOMA. Best kebab: adana, the one withonions and peppers folded into ground lamb." (Village Voice) 40.7413 -73.9044840.7413-73.90448256568Wed, 05 Jul 2006 11:18:20 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756kosher ice cream, unique flavors 40.727239 -73.8223840.727239-73.82238283020Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:07:57 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 83-17 Northern Boulevard, East Elmhurst. Columbian snacks. "mazorca is a favorite Colombian snack, a flame-singed ear of fresh corn smeared with mayo and grated cheese...giant communal plates of meat and seafood. One such is picada mixta mazorca ($18.25), an amazing square-foot haymow of meat randomized with lime wedges, lettuce, purple onions, sliced tomatoes, fibrous fried yuca, salty skin-on potatoes, and miniature masa cakes called arepitas. The meat roster includes grilled beefsteak, cumin-laced chorizo, pork ribs, and crispy pork skin.... In addition to such modest snacking choices as pork ribs, salchipapas, and arepas split and stuffed like sandwiches (pick avocado), there are a couple of more extravagant selections. Perro mixto ($4) designates a frankfurter bombed with so many toppings that dog and bun vanish. The oozing pile features ham, bacon, grated cheese, ketchup, green sauce, and—best idea of all—crumbled potato chips. You have no choice but to eat it with a fork. Not to be outdone, hamburger hawaiana ($5.50) puts the ham back in hamburger, stacking an oozing half-pound patty with lettuce, tomato, boiled ham, mozzarella, and pineapple salsa." (Village Voice) 40.755866 -73.88415340.755866-73.884153252728Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:58:11 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 44-10 48th Ave between 44th & 45th St. Bolivian. "Originally known as Rumi Hausi ("stone house" in Aymara), this restaurant miraculously transfers Bolivian cuisine to Sunnyside with every element intact, including tiny freeze-dried potatoes known as chuños. Sample a mutton and cabbage boiled dinner (thimpu); mock rabbit of heaped beef cutlets (falso conejo); or a combo platter named after the capital (plato paceño)." (Village Voice) 40.739339 -73.9210940.739339-73.92109252722Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:55:37 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 101-16 Queens Blvd @ 67 Rd, Forest Hills. Neighborhood Japanese. "Most patrons are greeted by name like old friends when they wander into this neighborhood Japanese, but one glance at the sushi counter reveals that the three busy chefs take their fish very seriously. We turned them loose on an omakase (chef's choice) one recent evening, and they worked magic, producing six courses of yellowtail, fluke, eel, snapper, and a showy carved apple of avocado stuffed with spicy tuna." (Village Voice)40.72647 -73.85230840.72647-73.852308283016Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:00:37 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 86-20 Whitney Ave. Indonesian. "Hopefully, you'll approve of the peanut sauce, because you're going to see it again and again. The rough-textured goo also lands on the collection of six grilled chicken satays ($6) and on gado-gado, a composed salad originated by the Betawi, as the indigenous inhabitants of the Jakarta area are called. Next to satays, gado-gado is probably Indonesia's most famous dish, and it has been embraced throughout the island chain and in neighboring Malaysia. Mie Jakarta's version is more rudimentary than the one found at New York's Malaysian cafes, consisting mainly of shredded lettuce, bean sprouts, bean curd, a boiled egg, and decorative shrimp crackers—but what could be more perfect? The same sauce recurs on batagor, spongy kingfish cakes broken into pieces and tossed into a similar salad. Batagor features a boiled egg, too, the one item incorporated into almost anything at Mie Jakarta. The most spectacular offering is ayam rica ($6.50), a quarter fried chicken paved with a coarse red coating that, upon closer inspection, turns out to be mainly pickled chiles....The heart of the menu, though, is a killer series of chicken noodle soups. The simplest (mie ayam Jakarta, $4) features small chicken tidbits in a tasty broth with an elusive trace of sweetness."  (Village Voice) 40.741567 -73.87884440.741567-73.878844252738Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:05:21 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 86-10 Whitney Ave @ Broadway. Indonesian. "This new off-price Sumatran café has helped to rewrite the book on Indonesian food, beginning with the signature island dish of beef rendang. Though not made with water buffalo, the meat is still unspeakably rich and coconut-sodden. Satays, too, are a revelation. The helter-skelter pile of diminutive brochettes of lamb, beef, or chicken are flung on top of longton—cubes of rice starch that are laved with a thin, briny peanut sauce. The menu also makes much of jackfruit, a vegetable that cooks up something like canned tuna." (Village Voice) Chowhound reviews (review 1, review 2, review 3) 40.741548 -73.87890340.741548-73.878903252739Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:05:54 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075677-05 Woodside Ave @ 77th St. Thai. "There's no denying the excellence of the yum nam sod at Mom Mam #1 Thai, a storefront so small that the cook has to push past the handful of diners to go downstairs whenever she needs supplies. The yum is a ground pork salad so piquant, you'll have to take a sip of water (or carry-in beer) between bites. The cooking is done on such a small and loving scale, that nearly everything is fab, including the city's best pad thai— insanely simple, bearing no sloppy sweet goop and enlivened with a quick squeeze of lime. And don't, whatever you do, miss the curry puffs." (Village Voice Best of 2006) A report that it may have gone downhill since a renovation. (Chowhound) 40.743759 -73.88781840.743759-73.887818252772Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:28:45 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075643-09 Broadway @ 43rd St. Albanian butcher shop. On the trouble of finding Albanian food in New York. "I stopped by Muncan, though, and got very very happy. A more or less Romanian (hard to tell exactly...give me a minute, I'll figure it out) butcher shop, and found a stellar selection of meats (like ten kinds of bacon and some wonderful hams) as well as extremely friendly staff. Seems they make boureks Saturdays only, and you've got to get there by 8am." (Jim Leff of Chowhound)40.757847 -73.91631340.757847-73.9163131149404Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:52:46 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756"...when I made my way to the back of Muncan Food Corp., a Romanian deli in my native Queens, which in itself is nothing less than a shrine to the pig, with long rows of sausages and smoked pigs feet hanging above a display case rife with such delicacies as lamb prosciutto, I stopped in my tracks when I saw a metal scoop perched atop a mountain of crisp, golden meaty nuggets. "What's that," I asked. The friendly counterman replied, "pork rinds," and offered a sample. The boys at Muncan Food Corp. can call them whatever they like. But what they're selling is rich, buttery chunks of fried pork belly sprinkled with coarse salt. These morsels combine all that's good about pork rinds and chicharrones, and are yet so much more,  shattering with greasy, porcine goodness in every mouthful. Muncan Food Corp. has three locations in Queens: 60-86 Myrtle Ave., Ridgewood, (718) 417-5095; 43-09 Broadway, Long Island City, (718) 278-8847; and 676 Seneca Ave., Ridgewood, (718) 418-2122.40.750816 -73.94140240.750816-73.9414021149405Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:03:16 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756"...when I made my way to the back of Muncan Food Corp., a Romanian deli in my native Queens, which in itself is nothing less than a shrine to the pig, with long rows of sausages and smoked pigs feet hanging above a display case rife with such delicacies as lamb prosciutto, I stopped in my tracks when I saw a metal scoop perched atop a mountain of crisp, golden meaty nuggets. "What's that," I asked. The friendly counterman replied, "pork rinds," and offered a sample. The boys at Muncan Food Corp. can call them whatever they like. But what they're selling is rich, buttery chunks of fried pork belly sprinkled with coarse salt. These morsels combine all that's good about pork rinds and chicharrones, and are yet so much more,  shattering with greasy, porcine goodness in every mouthful. Muncan Food Corp. has three locations in Queens: 60-86 Myrtle Ave., Ridgewood, (718) 417-5095; 43-09 Broadway, Long Island City, (718) 278-8847; and 676 Seneca Ave., Ridgewood, (718) 418-2122.40.703131 -73.90839240.703131-73.9083921149403Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:50:45 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756"...when I made my way to the back of Muncan Food Corp., a Romanian deli in my native Queens, which in itself is nothing less than a shrine to the pig, with long rows of sausages and smoked pigs feet hanging above a display case rife with such delicacies as lamb prosciutto, I stopped in my tracks when I saw a metal scoop perched atop a mountain of crisp, golden meaty nuggets. "What's that," I asked. The friendly counterman replied, "pork rinds," and offered a sample. The boys at Muncan Food Corp. can call them whatever they like. But what they're selling is rich, buttery chunks of fried pork belly sprinkled with coarse salt. These morsels combine all that's good about pork rinds and chicharrones, and are yet so much more,  shattering with greasy, porcine goodness in every mouthful. Muncan Food Corp. has three locations in Queens: 60-86 Myrtle Ave., Ridgewood, (718) 417-5095; 43-09 Broadway, Long Island City, (718) 278-8847; and 676 Seneca Ave., Ridgewood, (718) 418-2122.40.700609 -73.89509440.700609-73.895094252695Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:42:28 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 37-03 31st Ave @ 37 St. Brazilian bakery. "This hopping bakery is run by young Brazilians, for whom pizza and hamburgers constitute an obsession. Sit under wild art and enjoy an ideal bacon cheeseburger on a newly baked bun, but don't neglect their sweets either, including pudim (flan), various pastries overflowing with custard, and coconutsweet bread." (Village Voice) 40.75892 -73.8886240.75892-73.88862252765Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:24:48 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 25-51 Steinway St. between 25th & 28th Ave. Columbian. "Of the dozen or so empanada parlors to open recently this is my fave, turning out fried pies considerably lighter and less greasy than the competition. The oddest fillings include Greek (spinach and feta), cheeseburger (with American cheese), and "empanada de Elvis" (peanut butter and banana)." (Village Voice)40.766645 -73.91257140.766645-73.912571252776Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:30:19 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075626-18 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY.  Greek. CURRENTLY CLOSED, LOOKING FOR NEW LOCATION Located in a picturesque frame house on an obscure Astorian byway, this Greek mainland spot focuses on meat instead of fish, including grilled lamb chops and red-sauced meatballs. But don't let these exemplary vittles distract you from the equally excellent starters: battered salt cod with skordalia, oregano-dusted fries, and goat cheese sautéed in pungent olive oil." (Village Voice) 40.77628428997773 -73.9156079292297440.77628428997773-73.91560792922974442236Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:14:08 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 81-01 Roosevelt Ave @ 81 St.; 86-13 Roosevelt Ave.; 83-02 37th Ave. Colombian rotisseries. "Specialties at this mini-empire include marinated rotisserie-roasted chicken (as the name implies), plus other grilled meat and fish. Sigifredo Camargo runs these Queens family spots, which now total five, all featuring fresh home-cooking. The portions are generous—just like when mom cooks." (Village Voice)40.749685 -73.88318340.749685-73.883183252702Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:50:09 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 81-01 Roosevelt Ave @ 81 St.; 86-13 Roosevelt Ave.; 83-02 37th Ave. Colombian rotisseries. "Specialties at this mini-empire include marinated rotisserie-roasted chicken (as the name implies), plus other grilled meat and fish. Sigifredo Camargo runs these Queens family spots, which now total five, all featuring fresh home-cooking. The portions are generous—just like when mom cooks." (Village Voice) 40.747654 -73.88473640.747654-73.884736442235Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:12:45 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 81-01 Roosevelt Ave @ 81 St.; 86-13 Roosevelt Ave.; 83-02 37th Ave. Colombian rotisseries. "Specialties at this mini-empire include marinated rotisserie-roasted chicken (as the name implies), plus other grilled meat and fish. Sigifredo Camargo runs these Queens family spots, which now total five, all featuring fresh home-cooking. The portions are generous—just like when mom cooks." (Village Voice)40.748237 -73.87961240.748237-73.879612252713Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:54:06 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 71-04 35th Ave btwn 71st and 72nd Sts, Jackson Heights. Barbeque. "Good barbecue joints never die. The iconic Pearson’s has been reborn yet again as Ranger Texas Barbeque, with original pit master Angel still stoking the fires. A hefty, smoky brisket sandwich is $7, fries $2.50" (TONY) 40.750586 -73.89467240.750586-73.894672252746Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:08:48 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 46-04 Skillman Ave between 46th & 47th St. Romanian. "We embrace any cuisine that wraps pork sausage in smoky pork. Here the brilliant construction lounges in a red wine–spiked sauce beside mashed potatoes.  You can also be drugged with a delicious version of polenta; shreds of salty feta cover the cornmeal, along with five scoops of sour cream($4). You'll talk about it all the way home." (TONY) "I wasn't expecting a platter, let alone such a pretty spread, when I ordered ostropel de pui ($8.99), chicken stew with red garlic sauce." (NYFood) 40.74528 -73.9088640.74528-73.90886252766Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:25:27 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 24-25 Steinway St. Alexandrian seafood emporium. "It's better than Elias for several reasons: The fish is at least as good; I actually think it's fresher; they prepare it your choice of grilled, fried, or oven-cooked (my favorite; yummy sauce); they give you delicious homemade pitas with tahini for dipping; it's about 2/3 the price of Elias; AND they take credit cards!" (Chowhound) "they'll grill or oven-bake a fish of your choosing and bring it to you with pita, olives, and lemon -- it's fresh and wonderful stuff." (Chowhound) "No one is going to Sabry's, an Egyptian spot in Astoria, for its looks. They are going for fish. Whole fish are available baked and grilled. The waiters, if you prompt them, will encourage you to go with the baked option. Follow their lead. Baked or grilled, the fish are seasoned with lemon, oil and cumin, cooked quickly and expertly, and served without adornment, save a sprinkling of fresh herbs. The tagines are also excellent, as are the fried seafood combo and grilled octopus. Note that no alcohol is served or allowed in the restaurant." (NY Times) "Sagely, Sabry's sticks with seafood. Don't expect the usual range of Middle Eastern meze like tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, or foul—only one appetizer is regularly available." (Village Voice) 40.768567 -73.91097640.768567-73.910976252714Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:54:44 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075663-42 108th St between 63 Rd & 63 Dr, Forest Hills. Kosher Uzbeki, Bukharian. "On a Friday afternoon, a steady stream of locals shuffle in and out of a small storefront toting small bags of food that smell of fragrant roasted lamb. Salute is clearly the place to be. Despite a wall of gilt mirrors and the requisite pair of televisions perpetually tuned to Russian soap operas, it's cozy with just about ten tables and, at lunchtime, only one friendly waitress." (Bridge & Tunnel Club) "The jewel of the evening was lagman, a lamb and noodle soup, given surprising flavor by cilantro, cumin, and a sharp taste of anise... Also excellent was a "Asian Pilaf" (sometimes spelled Plov or Palov), a hearty mix of lamb, rice, carrots, chickpeas, and onions." (Veal Cheeks) "While shurpa—a thin broth of carrots, potatoes, and chickpeas—disappointed, the lagman was mind-blowing." (Village Voice) "the charcoal-grilled main event arrives on long, lethal blades after a parade of salads and spreads, best devoured with an order of puffy "national bread."" (NY Mag) audio by Matthew Goodman, author of the Food Maven column for The Forward (the Sterns) "With members of the community regularly traveling throughout Asia, Bukharian Jewish cooking gradually came to reflect the cuisines of other countries along the Silk Route. Dumplings and green tea came from China; tandoori bread and the filled turnovers called "samosas," from India. But the greatest culinary influence on the Bukharian kitchen was probably Persia, modern-day Iran. Pilaf, a delicate amalgam of rice and a combination of meats, fruits and vegetables, is both the brainchild and glory of the Persian kitchen. It has been reinterpreted by Bukharian Jews in scores of plofs, as they are known in Bukharian, itself a close relative of the Persian language Farsi....To sample Bukharian cuisine, take a stroll down "Bukharian Broadway," the stretch of 108th Street between 63rd Road and 67th Avenue in Rego Park." (Bukharian Jews) 40.733816 -73.8502240.733816-73.85022252741Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:06:56 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 82-53 Broadway @ Elmhurst. Korean-Chinese café. "This diner turned Korean-Chinese café fabricates some of the best noodles in Queens, which is a big compliment indeed. Demand "noodles with special brown Peking sauce," and find ecstasy in a bowl of square-cut, hand-thrown pasta gobbed with a sauce so inky it could almost double as engine grease. And don't miss the pork dumplings either." (Village Voice) 40.742068 -73.88108240.742068-73.881082283014Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:37:31 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 36-24 Union St. Korean bbq, bulgogi. "New Yorkers know that Korean barbeque can be had at any hour from any number of places on 32nd Street in Manhattan. Even though Little Korea is the real deal, sometimes I like to take in the full New York experience, so I drive out to Flushing where neither the proprietors nor the customers speak a word of English. Out there, my favorite 24 hour barbeque joint is called San Hai Jin Mi. For at least two days before it’s ready to hit the hot plate, their beef bulgogi “sleeps.” Using the international language of wild gesticulations and melodramic facial expressions, I found out that “sleeping” at San Hai Jin Mi means marinating in soy, sugar, garlic, rice wine, pepper, sesame oil, and scallions. As it cooks before my eyes, the heavenly scent is enough to put me to sleep where I sit. The beef comes out tender and extraordinarily tasty, and I always head home more than satisfied." (Hungry Cabbie)40.763423 -73.82816640.763423-73.828166252732Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:00:50 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 39-07 Prince St @ 39th. Malaysian. "The city's premier Malaysian relocated to Flushing a year ago, and its excellence continues unabated. Expect an onslaught of hot, tart, and sweet flavors, displayed in roti canai, skate bathed in a dozen different sauces, andthe inky chow fun known as capitan. Oh, capitan, my capitan! " (Village Voice) 40.759596 -73.83213340.759596-73.832133252748Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:10:03 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 64-47 108th St between 64th Rd & 65th Ave, Rego Park. Central Asian Jewish - Bukharan. "Sadly, the café called Beautiful Bukhara tanked last year. Happily, in its place has arisen Shalom, a kosher Uzbek establishment along the lines of the wonderful Salut, a few blocks north. Heaped with crushed garlic and parsley, the well-browned and glistening fries are killer, a perfect match for the bargain kebabs, of which lamb rib and ground meat lulya are my favorites. If you’re afraid of sharp objects, substitute the flattened and fried chicken tabaka. The humus, too, is distinguished, scooped with the round, crusty, seeded loaf called lepeshka, but the bulging manti dumplings are disappointingly thin-skinned." (Village Voice) 40.732105 -73.8489940.732105-73.84899256569Wed, 05 Jul 2006 11:18:38 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 40.727251 -73.8223840.727251-73.82238252730Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:59:24 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756135-32 40th Rd between Main & Prince Sts. Sichuan. "With its shifting use of multiple chiles, hurricane of garlic, intemperate admiration of fat, deployment of oddball ingredients, and emphasis on variety meats and animals more likely to be caught in a trap than purchased at the supermarket, Sichuan Dynasty is our most authentic yet." (Village Voice) "Pick and choose from the familiar (an estimable kung pao chicken) and the obscure (kidney with sesame oil), and splurge on the à la carte double-cooked pork." (NY Mag) "In the heart of Flushing's Chinatown, food doesn't come spiced for timid palates. If you're sensitive to heat, speak up before you chow down—or eat like a local and dig into authentically fiery dishes such as tender lamb with hot-pepper sauce and peppery ma-la shrimp. A $17 three-entrée special, which feeds three." (TONY)40.75884 -73.830240.75884-73.8302252752Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:13:04 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756118-06 Liberty Ave @ Lefferts, Richmond Hill. Guyanese and Trinidadian. "Under the A tracks in Richmond Hill lurks one of the city's most fascinating neighborhoods, and the anchor for the Guyanese and Trinidadian communities is Singh's, where you can snack on coconut-filled toolum, fish-stuffed bakes, and rotis presented as a "buss-up shot" (busted-up shirt)." (Village Voice) 40.685901 -73.82484940.685901-73.824849252754Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:16:24 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075641-10 149th Place, Murray Hill, 41 Ave/Barclay, Fresh Meadows, Queens. Korean BBQ. "Intended to restore male vigor, the selection of dishes at the rustic Sol Bawoo runs to pork belly with raw oysters, goat dishes (including the cryptic "goat meat special part"), and eelostill twitching, and cooked over a charcoal brazier in the center of your table. Or opt for the more conservative cuts of beef or pork. Wear a cowboy hat as you wield the tongs." (Village Voice)  40.762027 -73.81482540.762027-73.814825252731Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:59:53 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 37-09 Prince St between College Pt & Main St. Sichuan. "Flushing's best Sichuan, and maybe the entire city's, never stints on the fiery combos of green chiles, red-chile oil, dried chiles, and Sichuan peppercorns, and it's a cinch you're gonna leave with your tongue as red as a fire engine. Follow a cold appetizer of tendon or tripe with a fragrant plate of tea-smoked duck." (Village Voice) "the cold shredded chicken with spicy sauce appetizer remains god’s gift to those who like their food to promote endorphin release" (TwentyBucksaDay) what to order: Dan Dan Noodles and Enhanced Pork (Chowhound) 40.760509 -73.8325640.760509-73.83256252725Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:56:49 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756Thai. 64-13 39th Ave, Woodside. "In a city as varied and as disputatious as New York, to find unanimity on anything is as rare as coming upon a parking spot. Yet, as far as Thai restaurants are concerned, one name is on everyone's lips - even if that name is routinely garbled...Dinner at Sripraphai was not transformative, but it was powerfully good; an establishment easy to reach and easy to love." (Veal Cheeks) "Watch the No. 7 el rush by ablaze with light at this working-class canteen, for years the only authentic Thai restaurant in town, and the one we will always respect for teaching us how good Thai can be. Expect fiery curries, eggplants that look like miniature watermelons, and cases full of snack food. My fave: catfish in spicy sauce." (Village Voice) "By almost every measure the top Thai restaurant in town, Sripraphai dutifully goes through the paces for a Thai restaurant in New York. You can have your pad thai and your curries, and you can rest assured that this restaurant’s executions of them will be very fine. But you can also make less conventional choices like pickled barbecued pork, which has a bracing tartness." (NY Times) 40.74654 -73.89949440.74654-73.899494252771Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:28:20 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 31-14 Broadway @ Steinway St. Greek. "Cynics contend there’s no great Greek food left in Astoria. Today we encountered evidence to the contrary. After eyeballing the iced display of fish, we made our way into the spare skylit interior and noshed on a very garlicky skordalia and an abundant beet salad while waiting for our sea bass to cook. It arrived 20 minutes later, grilled over charcoal and singed on the edges, flooded with olive oil and herbs, every bite sweet, salty, and smoky. It was altogether the best grilled fish I've had in ages, visits to the ultra-pricey Estiatorio Milos in midtown included." (Village Voice) 40.761775 -73.92527640.761775-73.9252761259242Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:00:31 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756Stari Most 28-51 42nd Street Astoria, Queens "Stari Most was once a regular neighborhood tavern, an old-fashioned bar with a brass rail that runs along one side of the room, and seating at red-leather banquettes and couches on the periphery, all in pristine condition despite their age....The rudimentary menu is limited to grilled meats, salads, and bureks—the round, flaky pies of the Balkans. Foremost among viands is pljeskavica ($9), an onion-laced hamburger that the menu rather imprudently (and anachronistically) boasts as being "as big and round as a phonograph record." Really, it's more of a hubcap on a small imported car. Nevertheless, the patty is smoky and ultra-flavorful, especially when smeared with the trio of sides: a red-pepper paste called ajvar (pronounced "eye-var"), a homemade clabber of milk called kimek, and chopped white onions. But the show is almost stolen by the bun. Called lepinja, it's like a pocketless pita inflated with a bicycle pump....Despite the excellence of the burger and other flame-grilled meats, Stari Most's bureks sometimes taste reheated and a bit damp." (Sietsema) 40.763851 -73.91260840.763851-73.912608442257Sun, 05 Nov 2006 15:05:02 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075672-32 Broadway, Jackson Heights, Queens. 718-335-5544 "This worthy new restaurant—sporting a spiffy upstairs dining area with a view of the hubbub on the street—is a worthy successor to Tabaq 74, formerly the neighborhood's best Pakistani restaurant. The menu has doubled in size in the last couple of months, but goat curry is still king." (Village Voice) 40.747342 -73.89338740.747342-73.893387442252Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:52:26 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756102-03A Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, Queens. 718-830-0744 "I'm the first to admit there's not much diff between Tadjiki and Uzbeki food, and if you skip the chicken tabaka and other Russian dishes, you'll find the standard Central Asian dishes. Uniquenesses include golubzi, a duo of meat-stuffed vegetables, and cow-heart kebabs cooked over charcoal." (Village Voice)40.726177 -73.8512140.726177-73.85121557057Sun, 14 Jan 2007 13:17:03 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 76-05 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights "Named after a Pueblan town, this brightly lit Jackson Heights taquería excels at food of the region, including fine chicken enchiladas with chocolate mole, and the chile-laced beef soup called birria, garnished with fresh jalapeños, as if the dried chiles in the broth weren't hot enough." (Village Voice) 40.747159 -73.88941840.747159-73.889418442238Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:36:46 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075682-18 45th Avenue, Elmhurst, Queens 718-898-8001 "The name is a vast understatement at this homely Malaysian diner, where the good mood of the staff is contagious, much of the food is prepared as you watch, and the excellent dishes run from humble roti canai and stuffed tofu to grander creations like sambal assam shrimps and kang kong belacan." (Village Voice Top 100 Asian) 40.741493 -73.88257940.741493-73.882579283035Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:22:20 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 1075 Portion Rd, Farmingville. Portuguese. (NY Times, Chowhound) 40.835295 -73.06344340.835295-73.063443252704Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:50:53 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 37-38 72nd St. Just Indian breads - paratha. "This Jackson Heights institution's sole product is the stuffed flatbread called paratha, in many versions. Order, say, a “taza mix veggie paratha,” and the gals will slap it, pat it, and throw in on the griddle with mustard oil, which smokes like the devil, sending a haze through the L-shaped room. Turning and re-turning the flatbread, the baker finally pronounces it done. And as you hold the finished product in your trembling hands, every bite is heaven." (Village Voice) 40.747978 -73.89385540.747978-73.893855252711Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:53:22 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 NW corner, Roosevelt Ave & 79th St. Columbian. her schedule (myspace) "Jim Leff, who presides over chowhound.com and sometimes refers to himself as the Alpha Dog, has called the Arepa Lady "pretty much my signature 'find.' "...The Arepa Lady of Jackson Heights, Queens, rated a special report. Late on weekend evenings, Leff wrote, she grills the Colombian corn cakes called arepas at Seventy-ninth and Roosevelt Avenue. This is underneath the elevated tracks used by the No. 7 subway train." (New Yorker) "The arepa lady is the sweet little grandmother of the food vendor scene. Finding her is half the fun. Take the 7 train to 82nd Street - but only late on a Friday or Saturday night. She will be down underneath the subway tracks tending a grill of corn arepas. If you speak Spanish, you will be rewarded. She is the sweetest woman you have ever met. And her arepas are succulent -- crunchy on top, buttery, and oozing with cheese. A classic NYC experience!" (Vendy Award finalist) 40.7473 -73.886740.7473-73.8867252992Wed, 28 Jun 2006 11:27:19 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 50-12 Vernon Blvd @ 50th Ave. New American. "A fascinating French wine list is just one of the lures that might draw you, fish-like, to this neighborhood bistro, just one stop into Queens on the 7 train. An excellent bottle of Cahors washed down appetizers of pruney foie gras terrine, sautéed calamari curiously sided with diced beets, and specials like a beef-cheek ravioli; then we proceeded to a monkfish brochette, beef cheeks in dark gravy, and a duck-breast-and-leg combo hobbled somewhat by fresh pineapple. Though not everything swam, my pals and I conferred upon Tournesol a solid B for food and an A for ambience." (Village Voice)40.74273757130469 -73.9540386199951240.74273757130469-73.954038619995121259229Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:34:36 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075671-22 Roosevelt Avenue, near 72nd Street, Jackson Heights, Queens Korean fried chicken 718-205-6662 "In Queens, the whimsically named Unidentified Flying Chicken has touched down in Jackson Heights, offering similarly dependable chicken (sauces are soy-garlic and sweet-spicy) and sides that include sweet potato fries. The mood is warm and publike, and should become even more so once the liquor license comes through. UFC’s chicken is quite good, just a notch below Flushing’s Bon Chon..." (Chowhound) 40.746451 -73.8941240.746451-73.89412252740Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:06:26 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 76-04 Woodside Ave @ 76th St. Sumatran Indonesian. "Copping a Sumatran perspective rather than the expected Javanese one, Upi Jaya teaches us to appreciate the entire range of Indonesian cooking, including satays mounted on blocks of rice cake with not a speck of peanut sauce in sight and a version of rendang so dense and luscious it constitutes a new definition of beef." (Village Voice) 40.743312 -73.88865240.743312-73.888652252749Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:10:24 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 40.72628 -73.86464340.72628-73.864643252723Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:56:04 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756120-35 83rd Ave @ Lefferts Blvd, Kew Gardens. Uzbekistani. "The LifeSaver-shaped loaf, sprinkled with seeds and nicely browned, is whisked from the massive clay oven directly to your table piping hot. And that's only a prelude to an herb-rife lamb soup, a spicy carrot salad reeking of raw garlic, and other lesser delights that range from pickled green tomatoes to bone-in cooked-over-charcoal chicken kebabs." (Village Voice) "With members of the community regularly traveling throughout Asia, Bukharian Jewish cooking gradually came to reflect the cuisines of other countries along the Silk Route. Dumplings and green tea came from China; tandoori bread and the filled turnovers called "samosas," from India. But the greatest culinary influence on the Bukharian kitchen was probably Persia, modern-day Iran. Pilaf, a delicate amalgam of rice and a combination of meats, fruits and vegetables, is both the brainchild and glory of the Persian kitchen. It has been reinterpreted by Bukharian Jews in scores of plofs, as they are known in Bukharian, itself a close relative of the Persian language Farsi....To sample Bukharian cuisine, take a stroll down "Bukharian Broadway," the stretch of 108th Street between 63rd Road and 67th Avenue in Rego Park. Remember that from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday, these Sabbath-observing establishments are closed." (Bukharian Jews) 40.70326 -73.8548240.70326-73.85482252742Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:07:14 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 51-24 Roosevelt Ave between 43rd Ave & Queens Blvd. Working-class Indonesian. "Smaller than a breadbox, this working-class Indonesian is two narrow shelves along opposing walls and four barstools. Don't expect gringo-friendly satays. Instead find a small selection of set meals, a few snacks, and pleasant conversation with the regulars." (Village Voice) 40.743792 -73.91337440.743792-73.913374289456Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:31:03 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/2075628700 Main Road, Cutchogue; (631) 734-6441. "on Main Road heading west, in Cutchogue, is Wickham’s Fruit Farm, owned by the descendants of a family that settled there in the 17th century. The stand is known for its fruit, but the corn, tomatoes, jams, pies and doughnuts should not be ignored. This season’s pick-your-own blackberries, peaches and apples are yet to come." (NY Times) 41.011796 -72.48435941.011796-72.484359459233Sat, 11 Nov 2006 19:03:00 -0500http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756133-43 Roosevelt Ave, between College Point Blvd & Prince St, Fushing. Sichuan. "This is one of the three most authentic Sichuan places we’ve found in Flushing" (Chowhound) "Also known as Xiao La Jiao, this walk-down space is currently the city’s foremost Sichuan restaurant. From a simple bowl of soft bean curd strewn with toasted peanuts and doused with chile oil and Sichuan peppercorns, to three forms of dan dan noodles, to ambitious stir-fries of bullfrog, eel, and smoked bunny, the food approaches culinary nirvana, and the prices are substantially less than you’d pay at other Flushing Sichuans. Nor is the food limited to the Sichuan region: The chef’s specialties include lamb and beef dry-cooked with a rub of cumin and peppercorns, reflecting Muslim influence on northern Chinese cooking."  (Village Voice) summary, various reviews (Chowhound) Items to order at any of the three decent Sichuan places in Flushing (Chowhound): 1. pao cai (vegetarian), 2. liang fen (vegetarian), 3. dou maio (vegetarian), 4. mabodoufu (can be vegetarian), 5. dry string beans (can be vegetarian), 6. leng mian (can be vegetarian), 7. huo guo (only at Xiao La Jiao. can be vegetarian if the broth is vegetarian, would have to ask.), 8. boiled peanuts (vegetarian, but only found at the downstairs mini-mall, and watch out for the msg) 9. er duo, 10. fuqipeipian, 11. sliced pork stomach (Xiao La Jiao has a good version), 12. preserved duck (the downstairs mini-mall place on corner of Main and 41st has a good version). 40.758752 -73.83295740.758752-73.832957252708Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:52:14 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 71-28 Roosevelt Ave between 72nd & Broadway. Isaan Thai. "Zabb is the city's first out-of-the-closet Isaan Thai restaurant, featuring superior versions of things you've probably tried elsewhere—lush ground-meat (or catfish) salads like laab; soups floating curious combinations of pork, organ meats, and noodles; and dried-meat appetizers that seem like the world's best bar snacks." (Village Voice) 40.746403 -73.89399840.746403-73.893998283011Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:23:23 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 34-10 31 Ave, between 34 and 35 streets. Cypriot. Chowhounders that say no. 40.762985 -73.92099740.762985-73.920997252693Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:41:01 -0400http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/sonja/20756 28-48 31st St between Newtown & 30th Aves. Touristy Czech. "The days of abundance may be gone, but the cuisine lives on in a nearly unbelievable lunch special that offers three courses and coffee. Tripe soup makes a spectacular starter, with chewy hunks of honeycomb tripe foundering in the chocolate brown broth. Most of the eight entrees are sided by a dumpling the size of a slow-pitch softball, dotted with caramelized onions and sliced like white bread. Whichever you choose, fling these porous slabs in the gravy lake." (Village Voice) One Chowhounder says "I concur with the other posters that Koliba, and the Bohemian Hall (on a good day) are better options than Zlata Praha." Jim Leff says "It HAS gone downhill, but was pretty lousy even then." (Chowhound)40.767216643422564 -73.9212727546691940.767216643422564-73.92127275466919