Best Ethnic Eats in Queens

One of the best things about eating out in New York is the boundless number of cuisines to choose from.  You could eat a different dish at a different restaurant every night of the year.  Of all the boroughs, Queens is the largest and the most ethnically diverse, and while it's only a few miles wide, New Yorkers can eat as if they're anywhere in the  world.   There's Flushing’s wonderfully spicy Chinese food, Jackson Heights’ mole dishes and even Floral Park’s Indian-style seafood offerings.   

Chengdu Heaven

Address: Golden Mall, Stall 31, 41-28 Main St., Flushing

No phone
Who would have thought some of the best Sichuan is being made in a basement food stall?  But hey, in Queens, anything goes.  Chengdu Heaven’s dan dan noodles – a staple of the province where spicy food reigns supreme – is one of our all-time, favorite noodle dishes with expertly layered flavors and textures, like bouncy noodles, fresh crunchy scallions, pork and tongue-tingling chili oil.  Other great dishes include double-cooked pork and anything with offal, including the beef tripe in hot pepper sauce.   And if you're not sure what to order, check the pictures of menu items posted on the wall.


Taqueria Coatzingo

Address: 76-05 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights

Phone: (718) 424-1977

There are dozens of Mexican eateries under the 7 train, but none quite compare to Taqueria Coatzingo. The décor looks  a lot a rundown Caribbean resort, but there’s nothing kitschy about the south of the border cooking.   The carnitas and chorizo are excellent, but the best finds are often daily specials, usually hand-written on a piece of paper.  Our favorites are the mole poblano, stewed pork with cactus, ribs with tomato sauce and plenty more.

New Kerala Kitchen

Address: 267-05 Hillside Ave, Floral Park

Phone: (718) 470-6240

The Eastern edge of Queens is admittedly a bit of a schlepp, but at least we don’t have to travel all the way to India for such terrific biryanis and dosas.  New Kerala Kitchen specializes in the food of India’s coastal region, so there's lots of seafood options.  Try the chili fish, doused in hot sauce, or the King Fish curry.  And because the dining room is so large, New Kerala kitchen is perfect for groups venturing out to the city limits.


Hunan House

Address: 137-40 Northern Blvd, Flushing

Phone: (718) 353-1808

Hunan House is one of the city’s best and most legit Hunanese eateries.  If you're looking for the characteristic hot, sour & salty flavors that embody this province, you're in the right place.  This banquet-style restaurant prepares boldly flavored dishes, such as smoked bean curd with pickled red chilies and a sweet sauce.  We also love the garlicky, fried fish stomachs and ground pork belly steamed with rice and chilies, but nothing outdoes the lusciously fatty “braised pork Mao style,” a dish that the dictator just might bow down to.


Emerald Restaurant

Address: 97-04 Queens Blvd, Rego Park

Phone: (718) 275-2045

This  Eastern European/Russian eatery is always packed with locals, so you know it has to be good.  It's the ultimate destination for smoked fish, pickled veggies and rich meat dishes you can eat.  We recommend the kebabs, chops and surprisingly hearty blintzes stuffed with meat.  Keeping with the holy trinity of Eastern European food, everything's got lots of butter, cream and breading.


 Tortilleria Nixtamal

Address: 104-05 47th Ave, Corona

Phone: (718) 699-2434

When Mexico-native Fernando Ruiz moved to New York, he was so frustrated that he couldn't find the freshly made corn tortillas he grew up eating, so he opened his own tortilleria and made  them himself.   Ruiz grinds nixtamal (partially-cooked corn) into tortillas and masa for some exceptional tamales. Tortilleria Nixtamal’s products -- made by machines on display in the tiny Corona storefront -- are so good that he sells to restaurants all over New York.   We'd rather eat his chicken mole tamales and fresh fish tacos.

Renee’s Kitchenette

Address: 69-14 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights

Phone: (718)476-9002

Filipino barbecue is an underrated, underrepresented genre, but this Roosevelt Avenue eatery does it right.  The barbecue chicken here could go up against some of America's best, thanks to its juiciness and tangy flavor.  All of the pork dishes at Renee's are also worth trying, especially the longanisa sausages -- a cross between Chinese sausage and chorizo.


Himalayan Yak

Address: 72-20 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights

Phone: (718) 779-1119

With its serene music, gold vases and scenic paintings, the interior of this Tibetan restaurant is nearly as tranquil as a Buddhist temple.  Thankfully, the food is anything but tame.  We could easily make a meal of the  momos -- meat-stuffed steamed dumplings - - but then we'd miss out on the spicy fried potatoes and the other succulent offerings.  Himalayan Yak switches out cow for uses yak,  a buffalo-like animal that roams the Himalayas, and the results are superiorly tender and unique.

Los Arrieros

Address: 76-02 Roosevelt Avenue, Jackson Heights

Phone: (718) 898-3359

Prepare to walk out over-stuffed at this Colombian spot with ridiculously inexpensive and generous combination platters.  The Country Dish is only $10 and comes with an entire days worth of food -- grilled skirt steak, black beans & rice, chicharones, an arepa, avocado and a fried egg.  It's a heart attack on a plate, but what a way to go.

Bonne Saison

Address: 40-04 Bell Blvd, Bayside

Phone: (718) 224-6188

This unique spot is the love child of a Thai chef and a French chef who happen to be married to each other, but it's not exactly what you think.  Instead of fusing the two traditions,  the menu's features complex, Thai curry dishes, right alongside hearty bistro fare. Here's our ideal meal at Bonne Saison: an appetizer of the roasted duck rolls, the Chilean sea bass in a lobster peppercorn sauce, and profiteroles for dessert. When Asian and French food unite, great things can happen here.