Flushing, NY - More Chinese than China.....

.....That's because I encounter more menus in English in China than I did in Flushing. OK, I'm only here for 1 night but that's my immediate impression after walking around and finally wandering into Szechuzn Gourmet for dinner. Yes, the English/Chinese menu in the window influenced my decision as well as the NY Times review also in the window. I completely discount anything the NYT has to say relating to news or politics, but their food reviews are pretty decent. And, I was the only non-Chinese person in the place.

First let me say that eating solo in a Chinese restaurant stinks. It's bad. It's disappointing. It's frustrating. But when traveling on biz, it's a fact of life. So, if there are any LTHers from NY out there that might want to meet me in the future, please email. I usually spend my last night of biz around LaGuardia. That's what got me to the Sheraton La Guardia here in Flushing.

I ordered three dishes, knowing there was no way I was going to finish them. But they sounded good. The food was delivered in authentic Chinese style with no pattern. The appetizer was served last. This was an appetizer of sliced cucumber in hot & sour sauce. This is NOT what we think of as "hot & sour" sauce. It had a fanastic spicy yet slightly sweet taste, of which I have never before partaken. When I asked what was in it, I was told "oil and peppers." English is not widely spoken or understood. The cool cucumbers with this sauce was absolutely perfect.

First out of the gate was the Enchanted Pork in Chef's Special Sauce of sliced bacon and garlic green. This was outstanding! Just a tad bit on the salty side but that didn't take away from the great flavor and tender sliced pork. This "main course" was served first.

Second was the vegetable - shredded potato with small green hot pepper. Not at all what I expected but very tasty. I'm still trying to figure out how under the vegetable selections they had listed minced pork with clear noodles and salted fish, diced chicken with bean curd. I love Chinese menus!

This is a great place that I would love to visit again with at least one other person or better, more. But if you visit, don't bring your American Express. Don't even bring MasterCard. They only take cash.

Szechuan Gourmet
135-15 37th Ave.
Flushing, NY
718-888-9388

I'll join you. Perhaps we can get Hammer, AnneVdV, and Uneknoweth to be there as well, and any other local LTH's. Nothing is as depressing as eating at Chinese restaurants alone - or with people who won't share!

Thanks, GAF. I'll definitely let you know when I'm back in the neighborhood.

I just came across this post as I was looking for a good Chinese place to eat tonight in New York - this is what happens when I slack on my LTH reading, I guess.

I, for one, am always up for Chinese. The next time you're in town, let us know.

A's BB:
AMAZING! if i recall correctly (this is across the street from a massage - er.. i mean, beauty parlour, a toy model/comics store?), this is possibly my FAVORITE restaurant in Flushing. they do a great 'strange rabbit' app, the chengdu 'bell' dumplings smothered in chili oil + szech peppercorn as well as an excellent minced garlic pork slices.

i've eaten here alone but obviously easier when you blend in. in fact, i've eaten at most of flushing restaurants by myself during the 2 yrs i was stationed there. for simplicity, you can go to the underground supermarket across from East Buffet (on Main), go to the back, look at the steamed table and select a coupla entrees for a $3 boxed take out. ditto to the bbq joint left of starbucks on Main. of course, this can be severely daunting if you don't speak the language.

from main, walk down on 41st Ave (around the corner from starbucks) there's the (in)famous fried buns + fried dumplings joint you can easily make a meal out of. again from main, walk down (east) 40th Rd (1 small block north of 41st Ave) and there's an rickety northern noodle shop, tho it may be gone by now tho, on the right side that serves many a solo diners.

on prince (right around the corner from szechuan gourmet) between 39th/38th, there's a noodle house that serves a decent niou rou mien and i FEEL like the restaurant is almost taiwanese. speaking of taiwanese, you have the Flushing Mall food court, which serves the ONLY mi-sua - thin rice noodle soup w/ pig intestines and/or oysters - & o-ah-jien sticky oyster/egg omelette (pardon my Taiwanese pinyin) in town and the mall is plenty condusive to single dining.

don't forget to go to roosevelt (southside of street between prince and main, next to ten ren) and find the tofu flower lady for dessert:


g'luck next time!

Tony C:

o-ah-jien sticky oyster/egg omelette

I really miss this dish. The taiwanese restaurants near my old job in Jersey did a great version of it -- is there anyone in Chicagoland serving it up???

Queijo,
indeed:
the food courts in the International Mall in Westmont
discussion about stinky tofu
earlier CH post reverb'd w/ mentions of Erik M ordering the oyster pancake
that said, i wouldn't bother w/ the drive. the entire food court is an experience in mediocrity. NOTHING (Taiwanese) tastes right in this food court from the extremely dry sliced beef in sesame bun, to the stuffed rice ball, to the oyster pancake to the chinese egg pancake/omelette... ugh..

Andy, next time you are in Flushing, you may want to go further west on Northern Blvd and try a Korean Barbecue Buffet called Picnic Garden. Just like any other buffet, load up you plate with goodies, but at this place, the meat and veggies are raw. A waiter places your food on a gas grill in the middle of your table and when cooked, wrap it in a lettuce leaf, add some garlic and bean paste, its great.