From The Peopling of New York City
The types of food that can be found in Flushing reflect this area's diversity. From Chinese food to Korean, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai, and more, an assortment of restaurants please both the taste buds and craving for variety. This section of our website will explore just a few restaurants that are good illustrations of diverse dining in Flushing.
AA Plaza
AA Plaza is located on 41st Avenue and Main Street. These are a series of windows where you can buy cheap Chinese food just under the LIRR tracks. It’s in a prime location for hungry people in transit, just between the 7 train and the LIRR station. These stalls serve noodles, spring rolls, rice, dumplings, scallion pancakes, and more. The food is cooked in a small kitchen and handed to you through a stall window, providing filling food if you’re on the go. These stalls boast deals like four steamed dumplings for $1.25 – and nothing on the menu is over $1.50 in price.
Golden Shopping Mall Food Court
The Golden Shopping Mall is located just off Main Street, on 41st Road. The entrance reads “Golden Shopping” on a busy Flushing Street, but going down the stairs immediately transports you to a completely different world. Stalls are crowded along a narrow corridor, and people sit at tables eating authentic Chinese foods in the warm underground atmosphere. This little enclave is another good display of cheap Chinese food that can be found in Flushing, located where no one would think to enter unless they already knew about it. On the menus you can find beef noodles, lamb burgers, oyster pancakes, spicy noodles, and soup dumplings, just to name a few items.
Chang Jiang Supermarket
On Kissena Boulevard you can find the Chang Jiang Supermarket. This is only one example of the huge variety of supermarkets found in Flushing – not only Chinese, but Korean markets are popular as well. These markets usually stock a combination of Asian foods and American brand names you’d expect to find in any New York supermarket. Signs written in Chinese advertise candies, dried fruits, nuts, and more. A tank of live seafood is right next to shelves of Hellman’s Mayo and Yoplait Yogurt, while fruits I’ve never even seen before are sitting next to packs of Wonderbread. Locals come here to shop for foods to prepare Asian dishes, as well as American brands they may need.
Sentosa Malaysian Cuisine
On Prince Street and 39th Avenue is Sentosa Malaysian Cuisine. This restaurant has sleek, modern décor, making it a comfortable place to sit and enjoy some Malaysian cuisine. Hainanese chicken rice, roti, curry, and rendang are among the foods you can find at Sentosa. Ingredients like coconut milk, pineapple, and combinations of spices and herbs are staples of Malaysian cuisine, and are used in many of the foods here.
Green Papaya Thai Cuisine
Also on Prince Street is Green Papaya Thai Cuisine. Thai food is another type of cuisine that can be found in Flushing, and Green Papaya is well-known for its reasonably priced quality Thai food. Hearty portions of pad thai, pineapple fried rice, curries and more keep locals talking about Green Papaya – I heard about this place from a Thai friend of mine. Thai food explores an assortment of flavors and ingredients different from those in Chinese or Malaysian food, adding to the diversity of available cuisine in Flushing.
Pho Vietnamese
Pho Vietnamese can be found right next to Green Papaya -- where Prince Street intersects with 38th Avenue. Pho is a Vietnamese beef and noodle soup, which Pho Vietnamese makes quite well. But that’s not the only tasty thing on the menu; various types of noodles, pork chops, spring rolls, sliced beef, and more are served. The service and atmosphere are not emphasized in this restaurant, but locals searching for good Vietnamese food like the quality food for cheap prices.
Tai Pan Bakery
Tea and desserts are easily accessible throughout Flushing. One example is Tai Pan Bakery, located on Main Street. Tai Pan Bakery has a few branches open, serving sweet breads, fresh cakes, buns filled with meat, and more. Bubble and milk tea are available and very popular here. Some specific items offered are egg tarts, custard buns, Japan puffs, and a variety of breads, muffins, brownies, pastries, cakes, and ice cream. The attractive and spacious inside of the bakery allows for sitting and enjoying treats, and I saw groups of people staying to enjoy the atmosphere.
American Foods
Of course, exploring the authentic Asian cuisine found in Flushing – ranging from Chinese to Korean, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai, and more – shouldn’t give the impression that Flushing is an isolated Asian enclave in New York City. It’s clear that American foods have their place in Flushing as well, judging by the Starbucks, KFC, McDonald’s, and pizzerias that can be found in the middle of busy Main Street. Yet this mix of various Asian foods with the American establishments expected in an American city makes Flushing all the more diverse, exciting, and interesting to explore.
