Eat Your Way Around the World Along the 7 Train in Queens
Original article can be found on Eventbrite Rally
Everyone says NYC is a melting pot of cultures—and at the heart of the pot is Queens. Underneath the elevated 7 line sits a long row of eateries spanning cuisines from all over the world. If you’re itching to try all kinds of cuisines in the most authentic ways, hop on the 7 towards Flushing and here’s what you’ll find.
Krystal’s Café & Pastry Shop
6902 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, NY
You’ll find all the Filipino comfort dishes: pancit (stir-fried noodles), lechon kawali (deep fried pork belly), kaldereta (goat stewed in tomatoes), tapsilog (dried meat, garlic fried rice, egg) and of course, an abundance of white rice. Filipino TV plays on every screen and there’s karaoke upstairs. And as for the true test of authenticity—it’s always full of Filipinos, so you know it’s legit. Go for the weekend buffet upstairs to try a little bit of everything.
Tawa Food
37-38 72nd St, Jackson Heights, NY
I’d never had Nepalese before, so this seemed like the place to go, even if it took three trips to actually find the door. It’s the smallest restaurant I’ve ever been to—a tiny room with two little tables that shares its space with a roti shop (tip: eat those too). Don’t hesitate to ask questions, the sweet Nepalese lady who works there will be happy to recommend dishes. People come for the momo dumplings, but try the thali – a silver platter with your choice of meat (I went for the gamey goat) and about seven tiny side dishes, plus flatbread, rice, and small bowls of soup. Finish up with some roti sel, Nepal’s version of a doughnut, and wash it all down with a mango lassi.
Arepa Lady
77-02 Roosevelt Ave, Queens, NY
If you have never had an arepa, I would advise not coming here to try your first, for all arepas you try elsewhere after that could only be considered second-rate. The insanely popular late-night food cart finally spawned itself a brick-and-mortar spot (though the cart’s still around, and I’d advise making a late-night trek just for the experience). Freshly griddled arepas by an actual Arepa Lady are only $4 a pop, plus an extra $4 for meat. Try the arepa de chocolo (a fold-over arepa) with chorizo, sprinkled with queso fresco and piled with all the house-made condiments you desire (garlic mayo, pineapple sauce, the list goes on).
X’ian Famous Foods
41-28 Main St #36, Flushing, NY
Like the gold at the end of the rainbow, at the end of the 7 you’ll find NYC’s Chinese food mecca. Yes, this is a chain with multiple locations around the city, but the original location—located in the basement of the Golden Shopping Mall with no more than ten seats in a shared, cramped area—boasts a true hole-in-the-wall feel. Choose any of the dishes pictured on the wall (you will not regret the Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles) and watch the noodle lady stretch wads of chewy, pillowy hand-pulled noodles right in front of you before you dive in to your own bowl.
Ganesh Temple Canteen
45-57 Bowne St, Flushing, NY
A bit of a trek from the last 7 train stop, this is one of the most hidden eateries in the city, buried in the basement of an actual Hindu Temple. The spot is cafeteria style, complete with fluorescent lights and linoleum floors, but it’s where worshippers head directly after prayers. If you don’t know Indian food, well, here’s your chance to learn—the workers there are happy to explain dishes, but it’s honestly just more fun to order whatever and be happily surprised. Don’t leave without getting a dosa the size of your torso or an uttapam, which is kind of like an Indian flatbread pizza (the onion chili uttapam is good but they don’t skimp on that chili). I’m a spice-lover but also a spice wimp, so if you’re like me, order all the dishes regardless of their spice factor and park yourself next to the water cooler.