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Iced Milk Tea @ AA Plaza [Closed]

I have been observing that people love to drink iced milk tea during summer. Though I am not an avid fan for milk tea, I want to try and understand why they love it. Once I tried the Iced Milk Tea from AA Plaza , I finally understood. The rich cream and the tea fragrance could be extremely addictive. Price : Cheap! $1.25 for an iced milk tea. A good thirst-quencher. Quality : The milk tea was neither too sweet nor too thick. AA Plaza used evaporated milk instead of the sweetened condensed milk, just the way I would like it. It tasted so much like ‘Teh C’ aka tea with evaporated milk back home. Even though it was addictive, I still prefer green tea to milk tea. Store layout : A simple takeout stall beneath the Flushing LIRR station. The staff were quite friendly. The only problem was the queue. People would jump in the queue if you were not aggressive enough. Otherwise, you could have your orders taken within minutes.  Where : AA Plaza, 40-40 Main Street (Unde

Glazed and Marinated Chicken Wings @ Sago Café [Closed]

Bubble tea is not uncommon at Flushing, Queens. Bakeries, restaurants, cafes and even small food joints alike were selling bubble tea. Bubble tea is originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. I decided to try out one of the bubble tea joints – Sago Tea Café in the neighbourhood. Other than serving iced beverages, Sago Café also served food and snacks. Price : Fairly affordable for six pieces of chicken wings. Quality : Forgettable snack. (chicken wings). The chicken wings lacked flavour and undercooked. I suggest that you give it a miss.  Store layout : The store was strategically located diagonally across the Main Street Subway Station. There are two doors in Sago - the first door was the entrance and the other was an order window for takeouts. The cafe was always full of people during hot summers - who either dined in or ordered takeouts. You might have to wait if you craved for a cold drink at Sago Cafe. Though the staff were very efficient, they were also unfriendly and rude

Deep Fried Spicy Chicken Strips @ Sago Café [Closed]

Bubble tea is not uncommon at Flushing, Queens. Bakeries, restaurants, cafes and even small food joints alike were selling bubble tea. Bubble tea is originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. I decided to try out one of the bubble tea joints – Sago Tea Café in the neighbourhood. Other than serving iced beverages,  Sago Café  also served food and snacks. Price : Reasonably affordable.  Quality : The spicy chicken strips with lemon juice were tasty. It was a great snack to share with a group of your friends. Store layout : The store was strategically located diagonally across the Main Street Subway Station. There are two doors in Sago - the first door was the entrance and the other was an order window for takeouts. The cafe was always full of people during hot summers - who either dined in or ordered takeouts. You might have to wait if you craved for a cold drink at Sago Cafe. Though the staff were very efficient, they were also unfriendly and rude. Where : Sago Café, 39-

Asian Fusion Cuisine @ Mulan Restaurant

We hosted a group of our friends yesterday who came to Flushing for visit. We read great reviews about Mulan Restaurant and decided to host them there. Price : Affordable. It cost about $30 per person. Quality : We ordered ala carte instead of the pre-fixed lunch menu. We ordered the two dishes of small platter (pork belly and champagne chicken), Mulan Pepper Steak, Wu-Bsi Ribs, Chilean Sea Bass, Mushroom with Baby Bok Choy, Napolen Tofu and Fried Rice. Every dish was delicious. We enjoyed the ambience, service and the food. Thumbs up for Mulan. Store layout : We were intrigued by the modern and chic restaurant decor. The staff were very attentive and professional. It is located at the second level of Queens Crossing.  " Wu-Bsi Ribs were tender and flavoursome that every one enjoyed the ribs immensely." "A must try! Chilean Sea Bass was delicious. The fish had a crispy crust and the soft and tender inside." " Mulan Pepper Steak

Stir-fry Lobster with Garlic @ No.1 East Restaurant

While we were trying to find the famous lamb stew in Flushing, we ended up at No.1 East Restaurant instead. Apparently, this was the first restaurant we visited that offered combo meals. We chose a combo meal for two that comprised  stir-fry Lobster with Garlic , three-cup chicken , hot and sour soup , and Mapo Tofu . Price : The combo meal cost less than $40 for two. It was value for money as it included a lobster dish. Quality : The lobster was fresh and meaty. Fried with garlic, the lobster dish was then so-so. Store layout : The restaurant was located along Main Street right after the Flushing Public Library. It is a simple restaurant with attentive staff. We had a table beside the window, where we watched people busying whilst dining.  "The lobster tasted fresh and overall taste was so-so." Where : No.1 East Restaurant, 41-27 Main Street Tel : 718-460-8686 Website : NA Overall rating : 2.5/5

Three-Cup Chicken (三杯鸡) @ No. 1 East Restaurant

Originated from Jiangxi province of Southern China, the three-cup chicken (三杯鸡) is a popular in Taiwan. The three-cup chicken uses three cups of different sauces to cook the chicken. There are two versions to the origins of three-cup chicken. One, a sympathetic prison warden who cooked a dish with limited resources available before the execution of a national hero from the Song dynasty, Wen Tianxiang. Second, it involves a cook due to the lack of time used three cups of sauces and simmered it for a long time. At No. 1 East Restaurant, We chose a combo meal for two that comprised stir-fry Lobster with Garlic , three-cup chicken , hot and sour soup , and Mapo Tofu . Quality : The three-cup chicken (三杯鸡) was delicious. The chicken was fresh and the sauce was fragrant. The rice tasted more fragrant if you were to add the sauce to it.  Store layout : The restaurant was located along Main Street right after the Flushing Public Library. It is a simple restaurant with attentive

Mapo Tofu (Tofu with minced meat in Szechuan sauce) @ No. 1 East Restaurant

At No. 1 East Restaurant , We chose a combo meal for two that comprised stir-fry Lobster with Garlic , three-cup chicken , hot and sour soup , and Mapo Tofu . Quality : This is the best Mapo Tofu I ever ate at Flushing. The tofu was very soft and the Szechuan sauce was very spicy, not salty. It was very tasty and best eaten with steamed rice. Store layout : The restaurant was located along Main Street right after the Flushing Public Library. It was a simple restaurant with attentive staff. We had a table beside the window. We can watch people while dining.  "its simple restaurant decor and layout makes you feel as if you were back in the 70s" Where : No.1 East Restaurant, 41-27 Main Street Tel : 718-460-8686 Website : NA Overall rating : 4/5

Hot & Sour Soup @ No. 1 East Restaurant

At No. 1 East Restaurant , we chose a combo meal for two that comprised stir-fry Lobster with Garlic , three-cup chicken , hot and sour soup , and Mapo Tofu . Quality : The soup was delicious. The restaurant served a very generous portion of the hot and sour soup with a lot of bamboo shoots and mushrooms. One of the best and value-for-money hot and sour soups I had ever eaten in Flushing. Store layout : The restaurant was located along Main Street right after the Flushing Public Library. It was a simple restaurant with attentive staff. We had a table beside the window. We can watch people while dining.  "A prominent restaurant that you should not miss it while walking along Main Street."  Where : No.1 East Restaurant, 41-27 Main Street Tel : 718-460-8686 Website : NA Overall rating : 3.5/5 View Larger Map

Japanese Ramen @ Ajisen

Ajisen Ramen is a Japan-based chain of fast-food restaurants selling Japanese ramen noodle soup dishes. Ajisen Ramen has more than 120 stores located worldwide like United States, Southeast Asia countries such as Singapore, Australia and Canada. Price : Each dish cost less than $10 was very affordable. We ordered the Miso Ramen and Spicy Meat Ramen. Quality : I was a little disappointed with the ramen. The noodles seem to be slightly overdone. I prefer the ramen cooked in al dente style at one of its chain outlets back home. The broth was nice. Store layout : The restaurant located at Queens Crossing share the space with other restaurants like Sbarro, and Café Jojo. It has a see-through glass that customers can see how the chefs prepare the ramen. Since it is a franchise, I think, the staff were still very raw and needed time to get into momentum. The overall experience was so-so. One suggestion for the restaurant: instead of shouting the number on the receipt, the restau

Food Quest-cum-Flushing Freedom Mile @ Flushing, New York

There are so many food places to try in Flushing. However, I thought that it would be more fun if we were to combine both food quest and the Flushing Freedom Mile. For starters, we will take the Orange Trail. 1. St George’s Church Grab a Red Mango frozen yogurt before starting your walking tour in the scorching sun 2. Daniel Carter Beard Square 3. Former RKO Keith’s Theatre 4. Flushing Town Hall 5. Lewis Latimer House Have a meal, say, Bimbibap, at Namoodol Restaurant and; Grab Sweet Red Bean Fish at Han Ah Reum Mart 6. Flushing High School 7. State Armory Drop by West Udon Restaurant for the Potato Croquette with Tonkatsu Sauce Drop by Arirang Restaurant and try their Chicken with handmade noodles 8. Friends Meeting Place Green Trail  1. Site of Flushing Female Association School  Try Madina’s Afghanistan Mixed-meat over rice Grab Red Mango’s frozen yogurt to cool yourself under the scorching sun  2.

Shabu Shabu @ Pho32 and Shabu Restaurant [Closed]

Shabu Shabu (しゃぶしゃぶ) is a Japanese variant of hot pot. Price : Reasonably affordable. We paid less than $20 for the whole meal. Quality : The broth was simple and bland. When it cooked with the other food like beef, chicken, mushroom, fish cakes, cuttlefish cake, and vegetables, it tasted sweet and tasty. The beef and chicken were sliced thinly which cooked within a few strokes in the boiling broth. The sauces were delicious. Dipping the food into the hot sauce, it was simply marvelous. Love them all! Try shabu shabu! Store layout : Pho32 and Shabu Shabu  was located along Roosevelt Ave. We were greeted by polite and attractive staff who recommended us their popular dishes. The interior layout was neat and clean. Each table has two switches – the first was a bell to call for staff assistance and the second was a heat controller to adjust the electric stove.   "Look at the size of the hotpot and plates of food." Where : Pho32 & Shabu, 136-73 Roose

Grilled Chicken Vermicelli Bowl @ Pho32 and Shabu Restaurant [Closed]

Price : Priced less than $10, the dish was served with a bowl of soup. The portion was huge and value for money. Quality : The vermicelli was delicious! The dish has vegetables and grilled chicken with a special sauce, making it tasty and refreshing. Love it! Store layout :  Pho32 and Shabu Shabu was located along Roosevelt Ave. We were greeted by polite and attractive staff who recommended us their popular dishes. The interior layout was neat and clean. "Take a closer look, grilled chicken with lots of vegetables. Healthy diet." Where: Pho32 and Shabu Shabu, 136-73 Roosevelt Ave Tel: 718-460-6200 Website: NA Overall rating: 3.5/5

Blue Hawaii @ Sago Café [Closed]

Bubble tea is not uncommon at Flushing, Queens. You can see bakeries, restaurants, cafes and even small food joints are selling bubble tea. Bubble tea is originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. I decided to try out one of the bubble tea joints – Sago Tea Café . Price : Fairly affordable but maybe for the colour of the drink. Quality : You will be served with an ice-blended cordial drink. The drink was a little sweet but you will love the baby blue colour. Store layout : The store was strategically located diagonally across the Main Street Subway Station. There are two doors in Sago - the first door was the entrance and the other was an order window for takeouts. The cafe was always full of people during hot summers - who either dined in or ordered takeouts. You might have to wait if you craved for a cold drink at Sago Cafe. Though the staff were very efficient, they were also unfriendly and rude. "Such a cute color. Who can resist?" Where : Sago Café,

Authentic Mapo Tofu @ Lucky Joy Restaurant [Closed]

We decided to go tofu today as I had a strong craving for mapo tofu (tofu with minced meat in Szechuan sauce). We found a restaurant, Lucky Joy Restaurant , located along Main Street but were overshadowed by the newly renovated restaurants located nearby. Price : Affordable. I suggest that you share with at least three persons because the portion is huge. Quality : I loved this dish because it was spicy and most importantly, it had tofu. The tofu was fresh and nicely cut into small even cubes. The sauce tasted superbly well with steamed rice. You must try this dish. S tore layout : Because of the dark tinted glass walls, you may not notice the restaurant unless you scrutinised the entrance of every buildings you walk past. The restaurant had a simple layout with a little tint of the 70’s flavour. You would feel as if you were back in the 70’s.  "A huge plate of mapo tofu that was just nice for at least three persons." "Soft tofu with minced

Economical Rice (4 choices + 1 soup) @ Lunch Box

There are quite a number of economical rice outlets in Flushing, Queens. However, this new outlet - Lunch Box attracted our attention. Price : Priced at $4.75. You will have steamed rice, four choices of dishes and a bowl of soup. Value for money for one or two decent meals for the portion given was huge. Quality : The dishes were freshly cooked. I loved their sweet and sour pork, braised tofu and even their vegetables. However, some dishes may have stronger taste, such as being a little too salty, than the others. Otherwise, the whole range of dishes was sumptuous. You might want to give it a try. Store layout : The store was newly opened with bright fluorescent lights. Once you enter the restaurant, you will be served with polite staff. You have to pay before choosing your food. There are three rows of dishes arranged in the shape of a letter ‘U’. There are many different kinds of meat, vegetables, poultry and tofu and staple food such as noodles. You will be spoilt

Bar Lounge with Oriental Feel @ TMSK [Closed]

My friend and I found a bar lounge at the newly opened Queens Crossing Mall, Flushing Queens. Ms Yang Hui Shan, owner and former Taiwanese Golden Horse Award Winner, has a vision to create an ultra hip bar lounge made entirely out of colored glass. There was also a TMSK in Shanghai. China. There were excellent reviews from various websites, which made us give the lounge a try:  http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/shanghai/tou-ming-si-kao-tmsk-shanghai.htm http://www.yelp.com/biz/mulan-flushing#hrid:Q3MH2iHCVkZZ2eHfCX9ahg/query:tmsk Price : Affordable. We ordered a Volka Orange and Dry Martini at $18. Quality : The drinks tasted great. The glassware was so beautiful. Store layout : The lounge had a very chic, yet oriental theme. We loved the place very much that we would definitely come again to chill out.  "This was a bar counter. They looked very beautiful that created a chillax ambience... " "My friend's - Dry Martini with a twist o

FEATURE - Rice Noodle Roll : Comparison Chart

After trying out the different kinds of rice noodle rolls in Flushing, Queens, I thought that it was time to share my reviews by creating a comparison chart. My reviews were based on 5 variables: Texture Sauce - How good the sauce is Fill stomach - How full you are after having the rice noodle roll Affordability - How expensive the rice noodle roll Preference ranking  Variables Corner 28 AA Plaza New Pacific Chinese Cuisine Texture Soft Chewy Soft Sauce Average Above Average Excellent Fill stomach Yes Yes No Affordability Affordable Very Affordable Affordable Preference ranking 3 2 1

Shin Ramen with Fish Ball @ Sago Cafe [Closed]

Price : Approximately $6. Fairly expensive.  Quality : Shin Ramen with fish balls is served with egg in Sago Cafe 's broth, topped with scallion. In fact, it tasted more like cooking a packet of Shin Hot and Spicy ramen with egg and fish balls. The fish balls were stuffed with minced meat. If you like to have a high-class instant noodles, you may want to order this. Otherwise, you can cook it yourself at home. Forgettable. Store layout : The store was strategically located diagonally across the Main Street Subway Station. There are two doors in Sago - the first door was the entrance and the other was an order window for takeouts. The cafe was always full of people during hot summers - who either dined in or ordered takeouts. You might have to wait if you craved for a cold drink at Sago Cafe. Though the staff were very efficient, they were also unfriendly and rude. "This cafe was always crowded. If you were able to get a seat, you should also get a lottery ticke

Rice Noodle Roll @ AA Plaza [Closed]

I dropped by Flushing Library today to borrow some books. Along the way, I thought of trying the rice noodle roll at AA Plaza . As I was not aggressive enough, other customers cut into my queue. Sigh~ Price : Value for money. $1.25 for a tub of rice noodle roll. It could be eaten as a meal.   Quality : The serving was generous. I had it for lunch. The texture of the rice noodle roll was a little hard but it tasted delicious together with the sweet sauce. Something you should not fussed about when the food was cheap and good.  Store layout : A simple takeout stall beneath Flushing LIRR station. The staff were quite friendly. The only problem was the queue. People will cut queue if you were not aggressive enough. Otherwise, you can get the food within minutes.  "Remember AA Plaza. You will not miss the signage from afar." "Chewy rice noodle roll with sweet sauce and hot sauce. Yummy." Where : AA Plaza, 40-40 Main Street (West bound LIRR

Bimbibap @ Han Ah Reum Mart (Northen Blvd)

There are two Han Ah Reum marts in Flushing, Queens. We ordered a take-out today at the second supermarket after a strenuous workout.  Price : Priced at $7, you can have a decent meal for one or two.  Quality : The whole meal was indeed value for money. With generous portion of hot pepper sauce, the steamed rice and vegetables were so tasty. The fishcake-like soup was also delicious. As for the lettuce kimchi, it was good too. Overall, it was delicious! The crux of this meal was that it was vegetarian. There were different kinds of vegetables like lettuce, bean sprouts, etc. I think it would be great for those who go on diets. Must try! Store layout : The restaurant is part of Han Ah Reum Restaurant. Located in the supermarket, the restaurant is a simple set up. You have to make payment at the cashier and then hand the order to the staff located at the counter. A simple plank of wood hammered along the walls to serve as table with bar stool-like chairs.  "T

FEATURE - Frozen Yogurt : Comparison Chart

After trying out the two frozen yogurt dessert chains in Flushing, Queens, I made a comparison between the two popular froyo brands - Pinkberry and Red Mango . To make an objective comparison, I ordered the same toppings and size of the popular froyo. My evaluations were based on the following: Sweetness - How sweet the frozen yogurt was Almond - Quality of almond (slices/crushed) Cocoa chips - Quality of Cocoa chips Mango - Freshness of Mango slices Portion of toppings Affordability - Is it value for money Preference Ranking Frozen Yogurt (Small) Comparison Chart Variables Pinkberry Red Mango Sweetness Moderate Moderate Toppings: Almond Excellent Average Toppings: Cocoa chips Excellent Excellent Toppings: Mango Average Excellent Portion of Toppings Generous Generous Affordability Affordable Affordable Preference ranking