SateYourHunger

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 Str...

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 ...

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. Whe...

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...

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

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 atten...

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

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

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 ...

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 ...

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

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...

After a good workout, we decided to give ourselves a treat.  Price : Value for money. A balanced diet with a portion of meat and vegetables is worth ordering. Quality : The beef was cooked with a huge portion of water spinach and broth. The beef was tender and succulent. The broth was delicious. The water spinach was cooked just right because the vegetables will usually turn yellow after prolonged cooking. Must try!! Store layout : The restaurant - Corner 28 at the second level has a more zen look. We love sitting along the glass windows so that we can look at the view of Main St, Flushing.  "The sliced tender beef stir-fried with water spinach. Eating it with steamed rice brought out the flavour. A balanced diet with at least two portions of vegetables." Where : Corner 28, 40-28 Main Street Tel : 718-886-6628 Website : http://www.corner28ny.com Overall rating: 3.5/5 View Larger Map

Price : Reasonably priced. Must share with at least two persons. Quality : The diced beef was cooked just nice. The beef was tender and the amount of sauce was just right. Together with the roasted peanuts and dried hot peppers, the whole dish was even more mouth-watering. You need to eat with rice to savour the taste. Must try. Store layout : Because of the dark tinted glass walls, you may not notice that this is a restaurant unless you are one of their regular customers. Lucky Joy Restaurant had a simple table arrangement with a little tint of the 70’s flavour, you will feel as if you are back in the old days. All of a sudden, I remembered an old movie, "Back to the Future".  "The diced beef with peanuts and hot peppers makes a good combination. You can just have it with steamed rice or eat it on its own." Where : Lucky Joy Restaurant, 41-10 Main Street  Tel : 718-539-2287 Website : NA Overall rating: 3.5/5

Enclaved in the tranquil 37th Ave, Joe's Shanghai is one of the longest running and popular Chinese restaurant in Flushing Queens. I happened to hear very good reviews from friends and decided to check out the place.  Price : Priced at around $8, you can have a decent meal for one. Quality : The presentation of the fried rice did not match the taste of the dish. The dish had ham, egg and prawn as part of their ingredients. It was salty. Nah, miss it. Forgettable. In the end, we drank lots of water and tea to quench our thirst. Store layout : A montage of pictures taken with famous celebrities will greet you when you enter the restaurant. The staff will hand you a queue number. The restaurant is always crowded and people will usually queue outside the restaurant. There are at least three rows of tables. Their staff understand English and are polite and attentive.   "the amount of fried rice is best shared with two persons." "although the ingre...

Enclaved in the tranquil 37th Ave, Joe's Shanghai is one of the longest running and popular Chinese restaurant in Flushing Queens. I happened to hear very good reviews from friends and decided to check out the place. Price : Expensive for a half of a scrawny and dry duck priced more than $10. I could have bought a fat and succulent duck from elsewhere. Quality : The name of this dish sounded very interesting at that time. ‘Crispy’ and ‘Pepper’ are the two keywords that attracted me to make such an order. When the dish was served, I was very disappointed. The duck was small like the size of a pigeon. The flesh was dry and there was no crispiness and pepper in or on the duck. All I could taste was salt and more salt. Forgettable dish. In the end, we drank lots of water and tea to quench our thirst. Store layout : A montage of pictures taken with famous celebrities will greet you when you enter the restaurant. The staff will hand you a queue number. The restaurant is ...

Enclaved in the tranquil 37th Ave, Joe's Shanghai is one of the longest running and popular Chinese restaurant in Flushing Queens. I happened to hear very good reviews from friends and decided to check out the place. Price : Expensive for only a few pieces of bacon and lots of preserved vegetables at around $12. Quality : The presentation was nice. The dish was very salty. The preserved vegetables and bacon were too salty. The only salvation was the steamed vegetables arranged around the dish as decorations. Nah, I don’t think you want to eat something that taste like a pile of salt. Very disappointing. In the end, we drank lots of water and tea to quench our thirst. Store layout : A montage of pictures taken with famous celebrities will greet you when you enter the restaurant. The staff will hand you a queue number. The restaurant is always crowded and people will usually queue outside the restaurant. There are at least three rows of tables. Their staff understand En...

I asked some of my friends living in Flushing on where to get the best steamed buns. They would say, “ Joe’s Shanghai ”. So, I made some preliminary research and found that this restaurant has received food reviews from the New York Times, Time Out Magazine Eat and Out, Travel and Leisure, Zagat Survey and even in the New York Magazine. Because of these great reviews, we decided to give a try and share our reviews. Price : There are two different prices for the steamed buns. If you were to order a regular pork steamed buns, it will cost around $5. However, if you were to order a crabmeat with pork meat steamed buns, it will cost around $7. There are eight pieces per order and is marginally expensive. We ordered both steamed buns to give it a try. Quality : The skin of the steamed buns was thin. Be careful when you eat the steamed buns. I almost scalded myself when I took a small bite. The hot broth in the steamed bun gushed out. The steamed buns must be dipped with the vin...

Pig trotters dishes are popular among the Chinese. In Southeast Asia, black vinegar pig trotters are perceived to be one of the staple foods for post-natal mothers during their confinement period. It was believed to make post-natal mothers to lactate. This time, we are not having black vinegar pig trotter but braised pig trotters. Price : Affordable. A plate of pig trotters costs around $6. It can be shared with at least two persons. Quality : Apparently, the restaurant used a leaner pig trotter. It is suitable for the health-conscious customers. The meat was soft and the sauce was fragrant. It makes you want to eat more. Do give it a try. Store layout : Located directly opposite of the Flushing Main Library, Chao Zhou Restaurant was very popular food joint. It is always crowded during the weekends. A simple arrangement of furniture made the restaurant neat and pleasant. You will be greeted by a Terracotta solder at the entrance.  "The lean pig trotters not ...

I always go ga-ga over dishes with black pepper. This time, without fail, I went berserk when I saw the key word ‘black pepper’ in the menu. We decided to give it a try and see how it differs from home. Price : Not your money's worth. It is priced more than $10. With that quality, I rather buy something else.  Quality : The beef was sliced at an angle that it was difficult to chew or cut the beef into smaller proportions. I had difficulty in swallowing the sliced beef. The sauce was below average. It did not give that ‘oomph’ feeling. I suggest you give this dish a miss.  Store layout : Located directly opposite of the Flushing Main Library, Chao Zhou Restaurant was very popular food joint. It was always crowded during the weekends. A simple arrangement of furniture made the restaurant neat and pleasant. You will be greeted by a Terracotta solder at the entrance. "The sizzling hot black pepper looks good only." Where : Chao Zhou Restaurant, ...