I was so excited about last week’s NY Times article called Finding Beijing in Flushing (which includes an interactive map and a printable “best food in flushing” cheatsheet) that I myself went over to Flushing, Queens (…which happens to be only 3 miles away) to try some of the food myself. For those of you who are Manhattanites, I wouldn’t poo-poo hiking out to Queens for what some consider the true Chinatown of NYC (take the 7 train out to Flushing or hop on the Port Washington line of the LIRR from Penn Station).

So, since the Olympics are in Beijing, and I got such pretty pictures of the food, I figured I’d give you my own (albeit, brief) food-tour of Flushing. Yum!

I had to start with my favorite drink. Bubble Tea can be made wrong, but they do it to perfection at Quickly (40-41 Kissena Blvd, pretty close to the train station). The taro (my favorite flavor — tastes a little like the milk at the bottom of your cereal bowl after Lucky Charms) milk tea with tapioca pearls cost only $2.50 (a good price for bubble tea)!

If you haven’t had Bubble Tea, those black balls above are the Boba, my favorite part of Bubble Tea. These little balls of tapioca are chewy, gummy-like, and nearly tasteless. They come up through a fat straw as you drink your tea and should be soft but not mushy.

Also near the train station is a little cart with meat on a stick. This stuff is seasoned to perfection and only $1 (cart on 41st near Kissena). The NY Times article recommends the lamb, and I agree!

These pork buns are everywhere in Flushing, mostly at bakeries. The sweet bread is steamed (there is also a baked version) with a BBQ-tasting pork mixture inside. Sounds weird? Tastes great!

While you’re in Flushing be sure to stop by some grocery or fruit stands. Not only do they have more eccentric fruits than are often available at your local grocery (lychee on left — don’t eat the shell, just the jelly-like stuff inside, and figs on right), but everything is much cheaper than the regular NYC prices (if you go a bit further from the train, they get cheaper)!

Finally, try some Asian desserts! (For this and other groceries, I went to the Hong Kong Supermarket on 37-11 Main St in Flushing, about a half of a dozen blocks from the train). I love the Milk Candies (right)!

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