Manhattan might be in a slumber on Christmas Day, but if you take the subway towards Queens and get off at the Flushing Main Street station some 20 minutes later, you will find yourself in an entirely different world. Thousands of people (mostly of Chinese and Korean descent) are out and about running errands, shopping, and celebrating the festive season by grabbing something to eat.
Today, Flushing, Queens is New York’s most populous Chinatown area. There are more grocery stores and supermarkets I have seen anywhere else in the city. And for Asian food lovers there are hundreds upon hundreds of restaurants everywhere you look: some on the main street, but others are hidden on a second floor or tucked away in the back of a basement. Plus, multiple large all-in-one malls (the kind you find in a crowded city in Asia) also offer an expansive selection of food court options.
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Places to explore in Flushing
- Project KE, a destination for anime and claw machine enthusiasts
- Fang Gourmet Tea, Chinese tea boutique offering traditional ceremonies and tastings
- ChoCho Hot Pot, unique all-you-can-eat experience for a flat fee
- Cuppa Tea, a small joint offering Hong Kong style tea & desserts
- Tai-Er, a restaurant chain known for their signature Chinese Sauerkraut Fish
- Matcha Cafe Maiko, matcha-inspired drinks and soft-serve
- I’Milky serves high quality bubble tea from Taiwan, crafted with natural ingredients and hand-picked tea leaves
- Xi’an Famous Foods, a chain offering Chinese classics
- New World Mall, a mall with a large Asian supermarket and an extensive food court
- Xing Fu Tang offering freshly made boba tea from Taiwan
- Teso Life, a quirky store for apothecary, stationery, and home goods
- Zen Ginseng, a store offering ginseng supplements made in Flushing
