7 Years of my favorite food/nightlife/shopping!
My Favorite South Asian Restaurants!!
My favorite foods that remind me of home!!
This is the BEST place to get a quick coffee & breakfast before you head out for the day! Lunch sandwiches, omelettes, and wrap are also amazing. Their ingredients are much fresher than other quick food places, you can really taste it!! It has a gorgeous backyard as well! Cindy and Ben are from Singapore and fantastic hosts. They have been open in this location for the past 34 years, a testament to their good hospitality and amazing food!!
C&B Luncheonette
983 Wyckoff AveThis is the BEST place to get a quick coffee & breakfast before you head out for the day! Lunch sandwiches, omelettes, and wrap are also amazing. Their ingredients are much fresher than other quick food places, you can really taste it!! It has a gorgeous backyard as well! Cindy and Ben are from Singapore and fantastic hosts. They have been open in this location for the past 34 years, a testament to their good hospitality and amazing food!!
Check out the basement of this department store for the largest cafeteria with foods from all across Asia!! All top notch!! Only the best vendors have stalls here!! You can get the best Lanzhou ramen, Bubble tea, Taiwanese fried popcorn chicken, Northern Chinese dumplings, Duck rice noodles, Tepanyaki, Rice burritos, Soup dumplings, all IN THE SAME PLACE!!
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New World Mall
136-20 Roosevelt AveCheck out the basement of this department store for the largest cafeteria with foods from all across Asia!! All top notch!! Only the best vendors have stalls here!! You can get the best Lanzhou ramen, Bubble tea, Taiwanese fried popcorn chicken, Northern Chinese dumplings, Duck rice noodles, Tepanyaki, Rice burritos, Soup dumplings, all IN THE SAME PLACE!!
Authentic Dim Sum, I frequently visit on Sunday mornings!
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Asian Jewels
133-30 39th AveAuthentic Dim Sum, I frequently visit on Sunday mornings!
They have 1 spicy beef noodle soups on the menu, and it happens to be the best I've ever had. As you know I grew up in Taiwan the land of beef noodles soups, so that's saying something!! Kulu did it right! Highly Recommend you take the Q58 out there, about 30min. But then also take a 10min walk from here to pick up some frozen buns at Yi Mei Bakery (see next restaurant in guidebook!!)
Kulu Desserts
86-55 BroadwayThey have 1 spicy beef noodle soups on the menu, and it happens to be the best I've ever had. As you know I grew up in Taiwan the land of beef noodles soups, so that's saying something!! Kulu did it right! Highly Recommend you take the Q58 out there, about 30min. But then also take a 10min walk from here to pick up some frozen buns at Yi Mei Bakery (see next restaurant in guidebook!!)
Authentic frozen buns! Roast pork seems to be the crowd favorite! I like the plain one too :P
Buy some extra when you visit for the house! They last forever and are a great snack after a quick steam!
YI MEI BAKERY
8124 BroadwayAuthentic frozen buns! Roast pork seems to be the crowd favorite! I like the plain one too :P
Buy some extra when you visit for the house! They last forever and are a great snack after a quick steam!
My favorite early breakfast in Chinatown!! Don't miss out on the traditional bakery plus dim sum in the back kitchen!!
Kamboat Bakery & Cafe
111 BoweryMy favorite early breakfast in Chinatown!! Don't miss out on the traditional bakery plus dim sum in the back kitchen!!
By FAR My favorite Filipino food!! Highly recommended! Lovely dine in atmosphere. Only locals eat here!
Kabayan Authentic
49-12 Queens BlvdBy FAR My favorite Filipino food!! Highly recommended! Lovely dine in atmosphere. Only locals eat here!
The best quick and authentic buffet-style Thai food I've had. They have 3 levels of spicyness, and I can only handle the first level (green). Good luck!! You won't be disappointed if you're looking for a quick lunch treat. Very tasty and authentic desserts too!
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Khao Kang
76-20 Woodside AveThe best quick and authentic buffet-style Thai food I've had. They have 3 levels of spicyness, and I can only handle the first level (green). Good luck!! You won't be disappointed if you're looking for a quick lunch treat. Very tasty and authentic desserts too!
Traditional Taiwanese Dishes like beef noodle soup and dumpling soups. Very authentic and simple. Pan-Fried Dumplings (Ask for "Guo Tieh") are THE BEST. They have a bucket of very tasty hard boiled tea eggs at the cash register just like every 7-Eleven in Taiwan. This is the real deal!!
QQ Café & Bakery
4257 Main StTraditional Taiwanese Dishes like beef noodle soup and dumpling soups. Very authentic and simple. Pan-Fried Dumplings (Ask for "Guo Tieh") are THE BEST. They have a bucket of very tasty hard boiled tea eggs at the cash register just like every 7-Eleven in Taiwan. This is the real deal!!
Quite possibly my favorite rice noodles place in the city. :) Great prices. Extremely fast service.
Niuddo牛道粉面
41-42 Main StQuite possibly my favorite rice noodles place in the city. :) Great prices. Extremely fast service.
Proper Taiwanese Bubble Tea. A million flavors. I typically choose a green tea base, but with 30% sugar!! (Yes you can specifically ask for different levels of sugar and ice).
Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea
44-68 21st StProper Taiwanese Bubble Tea. A million flavors. I typically choose a green tea base, but with 30% sugar!! (Yes you can specifically ask for different levels of sugar and ice).
Amazing hot pot or family style dishes with a whole SMASHING explosion of authentic Chinese spices and flavorings!! You won't be disappointed to experiment with a whole new palette!!
Good Harvest
133-42 39th AveAmazing hot pot or family style dishes with a whole SMASHING explosion of authentic Chinese spices and flavorings!! You won't be disappointed to experiment with a whole new palette!!
One of the oldest and most authentic Taiwanese restaurants, in the heart of the Elmhurst neighborhood in Queens!! Highly recommended. Only locals go here!
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Taiwanese Gourmet
8402 BroadwayOne of the oldest and most authentic Taiwanese restaurants, in the heart of the Elmhurst neighborhood in Queens!! Highly recommended. Only locals go here!
Phớ Bằng
4107 Kissena BlvdAuthentic Vietnamese Pho. Amazing.
The best gourmet dumplings in all of Flushing. Enough said. They have a full menu of traditional dishes, noodles, fried rice, and everything else you would expect at a Chinese restaurant!!
Dumpling Galaxy
42-35 Main StThe best gourmet dumplings in all of Flushing. Enough said. They have a full menu of traditional dishes, noodles, fried rice, and everything else you would expect at a Chinese restaurant!!
Contemporary upscale hot pot restaurant!! Still very reasonably priced though compared to Manhattan.
Niu Pot
42-35 Main StContemporary upscale hot pot restaurant!! Still very reasonably priced though compared to Manhattan.
Crowd favorite. Very particular flavor from the Xi'an province of China. Try their famously delicious flat and wide rice Chinese noodles. Highly recommended!!
Xi'an Famous Foods
41-10 Main StreetCrowd favorite. Very particular flavor from the Xi'an province of China. Try their famously delicious flat and wide rice Chinese noodles. Highly recommended!!
Klom Klorm
181 Wyckoff AveMy favorite neighborhood Thai 😍
This is a crowd favorite Filipino friend chicken restaurant! Highly recommend!!
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Jollibee
6229 Roosevelt AveThis is a crowd favorite Filipino friend chicken restaurant! Highly recommend!!
Budget friendly and delicious authentic Malaysian soups, noodles, and home made desserts!
Little House Café
90-19 Corona AvenueBudget friendly and delicious authentic Malaysian soups, noodles, and home made desserts!
5 Star Chinese gourmet restaurant. Highly recommend the Peking duck, probably the best in all of Manhattan!
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Philippe Chow
33 E 60th St5 Star Chinese gourmet restaurant. Highly recommend the Peking duck, probably the best in all of Manhattan!
Nightlife
These are my absolute favorite live music venues. I hope you visit at least one of them during your stay!!
Extremely eclectic music, always really great people, and amazing dancing, 3 separate spaces!
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Elsewhere
599 Johnson AveExtremely eclectic music, always really great people, and amazing dancing, 3 separate spaces!
Repurposed warehouse with an amazing array of art exhibits and dance parties!! The atmosphere is incredible, both indoor and outdoor spaces.
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Knockdown Center
52-19 Flushing AveRepurposed warehouse with an amazing array of art exhibits and dance parties!! The atmosphere is incredible, both indoor and outdoor spaces.
By far, the BEST little secret in our neighborhood. Mostly disco, but one of the best custom-designed sound system in a small intimate setting. Your ears will LOVE YOU even after 6 hours of dancing.
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Jupiter Disco
1237 Flushing AveBy far, the BEST little secret in our neighborhood. Mostly disco, but one of the best custom-designed sound system in a small intimate setting. Your ears will LOVE YOU even after 6 hours of dancing.
The largest warehouse party in North America. I helped build this space 5 years ago. Very proud of what it has become. Do yourself a favor and pay a visit.
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The Brooklyn Mirage
140 Stewart AveThe largest warehouse party in North America. I helped build this space 5 years ago. Very proud of what it has become. Do yourself a favor and pay a visit.
Beautiful indoor outdoor venue with amazing Sunday afternoon dance parties! 5 minute walk from us!
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Nowadays
56-06 Cooper AveBeautiful indoor outdoor venue with amazing Sunday afternoon dance parties! 5 minute walk from us!
An old steel shop repurposed to a world class stage!
I would recommend this venue for its indie rock concerts!!
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Brooklyn Steel
319 Frost StAn old steel shop repurposed to a world class stage!
I would recommend this venue for its indie rock concerts!!
As a personal quirk, I rarely visit bars. I do remember this place having some pretty tasty drinks though, and a speakeasy vibe!! In the heart of Chinatown!!
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Apotheke
9 Doyers StAs a personal quirk, I rarely visit bars. I do remember this place having some pretty tasty drinks though, and a speakeasy vibe!! In the heart of Chinatown!!
Grocery Stores near us
These are the grocery stores near us that I recommend! Billy's is very clean and does not get too crowded. Los Limones Deli is on our block and has a very small selection but enough to make a very good mid day snack!
This is a smaller grocery store also very close to us within walking distance. Very clean and quiet, and even has a bar in the front for a quick drink! The aisles are named after our neighborhood's streets! You can navigate here by taking the B26 bus and walking the final stretch.
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Billy's Marketplace
870 Cypress AveThis is a smaller grocery store also very close to us within walking distance. Very clean and quiet, and even has a bar in the front for a quick drink! The aisles are named after our neighborhood's streets! You can navigate here by taking the B26 bus and walking the final stretch.
The closest corner store to our building, on the corner of Irving Avenue and Halsey street. It has everything you need on short notice. Also has fresh milk, bread, produce, and fruits. Very convenient. Hot grill has great sandwiches. They also have many different kinds of beer.
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Los Limones Deli
1330 Halsey StThe closest corner store to our building, on the corner of Irving Avenue and Halsey street. It has everything you need on short notice. Also has fresh milk, bread, produce, and fruits. Very convenient. Hot grill has great sandwiches. They also have many different kinds of beer.
Parks
This is the centerpiece of the largest park in Queens, Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Take a ride on the Q58 to get there in about 45minutes. It's worth the trip on a lovely weather day. It is much less crowded and more quiet than Central Park in Manhattan.
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Unisphere
This is the centerpiece of the largest park in Queens, Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Take a ride on the Q58 to get there in about 45minutes. It's worth the trip on a lovely weather day. It is much less crowded and more quiet than Central Park in Manhattan.
Beautiful and quiet park a short 15min walk from us!! Highly recommended! It has a lot of tennis courts, baseball fields, and running paths!
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Highland Park
Jackie Robinson ParkwayBeautiful and quiet park a short 15min walk from us!! Highly recommended! It has a lot of tennis courts, baseball fields, and running paths!
Neighborhoods
This is the lesser known 'real' Chinatown of NYC. Distinctly different from the Manhattan Chinatown. Over here there are very few tourists but you can find food from every corner of East Asia and most definitely all of China. Dim Sum is truly authentic. The bubble teas cover the corners just like where I grew up in Taiwan. This is the real deal. Take a ride down the 7 train and get off at the final stop!
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Flushing
This is the lesser known 'real' Chinatown of NYC. Distinctly different from the Manhattan Chinatown. Over here there are very few tourists but you can find food from every corner of East Asia and most definitely all of China. Dim Sum is truly authentic. The bubble teas cover the corners just like where I grew up in Taiwan. This is the real deal. Take a ride down the 7 train and get off at the final stop!
Wonderful authentic Filipino and Thai cuisine and other south Asian foods! Very good neighborhood for pedestrians and budget-friendly as well! Ride the 7 train to experience the many different South Asian immigrant communities.
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Woodside
Wonderful authentic Filipino and Thai cuisine and other south Asian foods! Very good neighborhood for pedestrians and budget-friendly as well! Ride the 7 train to experience the many different South Asian immigrant communities.
Wonderful authentic Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi cuisine and other south Asian foods! Very good neighborhood for pedestrians and budget-friendly as well! Ride the 7 train to experience the many different South Asian immigrant communities.
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Jackson Heights
Wonderful authentic Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi cuisine and other south Asian foods! Very good neighborhood for pedestrians and budget-friendly as well! Ride the 7 train to experience the many different South Asian immigrant communities.
This is a Hispanic and Chinese (primarily Taiwanese) neighborhood! Wonderful cheap food, many Chinese grocery stores, and also very pedestrian friendly. Both the M and R trains stop here.
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Elmhurst
This is a Hispanic and Chinese (primarily Taiwanese) neighborhood! Wonderful cheap food, many Chinese grocery stores, and also very pedestrian friendly. Both the M and R trains stop here.
My Favorite Italian & Pizza restaurants!
These are my favorite Italian and Pizza Restaurants!! I have lived in NYC for 7 Years so I only recommend this list! :)
Very hearty and delicious authentic Italian pastas. Huge portions. Family business for many years. Feels very much like a home-recipe place!! High recommended for a dinner party!
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Joe's
6611 Forest AveVery hearty and delicious authentic Italian pastas. Huge portions. Family business for many years. Feels very much like a home-recipe place!! High recommended for a dinner party!
Top ranked gourmet pizza in NYC. People literally travel from all over NYC to come here for the lovely indoor warehouse dinner dining; it also has an awesome open deck seating as well for summertime fun!
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Houdini Kitchen Laboratory
1563 Decatur StTop ranked gourmet pizza in NYC. People literally travel from all over NYC to come here for the lovely indoor warehouse dinner dining; it also has an awesome open deck seating as well for summertime fun!
Gourmet pizza at its best in BedStuy. This is a short B26 bus ride away, about 15minutes. You can catch this bus in front of Kevin's Laundromat on the corner of Halsey Street and Irving avenue.
Excellent dine-in.
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Saraghina
350 Lewis AveGourmet pizza at its best in BedStuy. This is a short B26 bus ride away, about 15minutes. You can catch this bus in front of Kevin's Laundromat on the corner of Halsey Street and Irving avenue.
Excellent dine-in.
This is the original crowd favorite Roberta's that has now many locations in NYC. This place is hard to get a seat, so call for reservation early! This is also in the heart of a very fun and lively night life part of Bushwick!
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Roberta's
261 Moore StThis is the original crowd favorite Roberta's that has now many locations in NYC. This place is hard to get a seat, so call for reservation early! This is also in the heart of a very fun and lively night life part of Bushwick!
Another popular crowd favorite late night pizza place! Next to a very popular venue House of Yes. Definitely worth a visit if you end up at the neighborhood for a circus party!
Grab and Go!
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Artichoke Basille's Pizza
321 E 14th StAnother popular crowd favorite late night pizza place! Next to a very popular venue House of Yes. Definitely worth a visit if you end up at the neighborhood for a circus party!
Grab and Go!
BEST HOLE-IN-THE-WALL RESTAURANT - One of the newest additions to our neighborhood; small, but amazing menu. Literally EVERYTHING is exceptional. I don't think I've ever had pasta this good before. Highly recommended!! Call to reserve ahead of time because they are TINY!
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Nicandra's
264 Irving AveBEST HOLE-IN-THE-WALL RESTAURANT - One of the newest additions to our neighborhood; small, but amazing menu. Literally EVERYTHING is exceptional. I don't think I've ever had pasta this good before. Highly recommended!! Call to reserve ahead of time because they are TINY!
Best sicilian pizza!! Excellent dine in option as well as super fast delivery. High recommend this if you're craving good pizza. Short walk 5 min from us.
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Fazio's
709 Knickerbocker AveBest sicilian pizza!! Excellent dine in option as well as super fast delivery. High recommend this if you're craving good pizza. Short walk 5 min from us.
More Food!
If you like lobsters rolls this place is definitely worth a visit!!
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Red Hook Lobster Pound
284 Van Brunt StIf you like lobsters rolls this place is definitely worth a visit!!