BEST FOODS in QUEENS NEW YORK | Astoria & Flushing Food Tour

Sep 21

BEST FOODS in QUEENS NEW YORK | Astoria & Flushing Food Tour

If you're like us, you believe that the best way to experience a new place is through its food. And let us tell you, if you're visiting New York City and only sticking to Manhattan, you're missing out on a world of flavor. We spent a day on a self-guided food tour through Queens, and it was one of the most delicious and diverse culinary adventures we've ever had. We’re so excited to share our journey with you, so you can follow in our footsteps and taste the incredible food Queens has to offer!

Astoria: A Slice of Greece in the Heart of Queens: Our food journey began in Astoria, a neighborhood famous for its incredible Greek food. Just a short train ride from Manhattan, we were immediately struck by the vibrant and diverse food scene. While we saw everything from Brazilian to Japanese, we had one mission: to find the best Greek food in town.

And we did find it! We ended up at the legendary Taverna Kyclades, a place so good that it's even been visited by George Clooney and Bill Murray! We went all out and ordered a feast of fresh seafood, including some of the best clams and calamari we've ever had. The star of the show, however, had to be the "Galaktoboureko" for dessert. Trust us, that famous Greek dessert is worth the trip alone!

After our incredible meal, we took a stroll through Astoria Park, which has stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. It was the perfect way to walk off our food coma and soak in the local atmosphere. We even stumbled upon a lively street fair celebrating the neighborhood's diversity, which was a wonderful surprise.

Flushing: A Flavorful Trip to a Bustling Chinatown: Next, we hopped on the 7 train and headed to Flushing, home to one of New York's most vibrant Chinatowns. Riding the train out there is an experience in itself. Even though it's a route we are used to, it's always fascinating to watch the crowd shift as you get closer to the end of the line, reflecting the incredible diversity of the borough.

Stepping off the train, the vibe in Flushing is absolutely amazing. It honestly feels like you just hopped on a flight and landed on a completely different continent in Asia. You are instantly surrounded by a wild amount of cafes, bustling restaurants, and energetic, crowded sidewalks. Just walking past the storefronts is enough to make you hungry, and the best part is that the dine-in prices here are so much better than what you typically find elsewhere in NYC.

The energy here is electric, and the food options are endless. We were on a quest for the perfect dumplings, and we were not disappointed. We found a spot where we got a free order of dumplings with our purchase which is a delicious and unexpected treat!

Of course, we couldn't leave Flushing without getting some bubble tea. We found a super popular spot and enjoyed a refreshing drink while exploring the bustling streets.

More Than Just Food: Parks, Markets, and Baseball: While our main goal was to eat our way through Queens, we also discovered some amazing spots along the way. We took a walk through Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which is even bigger than Central Park! It's home to the iconic Unisphere, the Queens Museum, and the Queens Zoo.

When you first enter the park, it has that classic, familiar vibe of a nicely regulated NYC public space. But then, all of a sudden, you find yourself walking right into the Queens Night Market. It is such a fascinating transition; one minute you're on a typical city park stroll, and the next you are completely immersed in an atmosphere that feels exactly like you've been transported to a vibrant street market in Southeast Asia. We timed our visit perfectly to catch this fantastic open-air market with food and art from all over the world. We couldn't resist trying the fried ice cream, which was the perfect sweet treat to end our night.

To top it all off, we ended our day with a Mets game at Citi Field, which is right next to the park. It was the perfect New York experience to cap off our incredible day in Queens.

Our Final Thoughts on the Queens Food Scene: We can't recommend a food tour of Queens enough. It's an amazing way to experience the incredible diversity of New York City and taste some of the most authentic and delicious food you'll ever find. We hope our adventure inspires you to explore this amazing borough for yourself.

Want to see all these spots in action? Go check out the full Queens adventure on our YouTube channel, and let us know what you think of the borough in the comments over there!