Flushing Queens Food Scene: A Quick Guide to NYC’s Biggest Chinatown
New York City is a food mecca, and the neighborhood of Flushing in Queens has become a hot spot for Asian cuisine. With the largest concentration of Chinese-born people in America, Flushing is home to hundreds of authentic and delicious Asian restaurants.
This quick guide will cover:
- Where Flushing is located & how to get there
- Interesting history in Flushing
- Our favorite restaurants in Flushing, Queens
Let’s look at them all below. 👇
Note: This article was written by a real human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸
Flushing Food Scene Podcast Episode
Want to hear more podcasts like this? Head here.
Flushing Neighborhood Overview & Location
Flushing is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens and is most easily accessible via the furthest stop on the 7 train.
It’s just east of Citi Field, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and LaGuardia Airport.
Flushing’s Demographics
Today, there are over 70,000 Chinese residents in Flushing, of whom more than 30,000 were born in China.
New York City has the largest population of Chinese people outside of China, and Flushing is seen as the epicenter of NYC’s Chinese culture.
Flushing has the highest population of Chinese-born people outside of China in the entire world, and roughly 70% of Flushing’s population is Asian.
History & Museums in Flushing
While we most often go to Flushing for the food experience, there are some unique historical homes and museums in the neighborhood.
Lewis Latimer House Museum
Lewis Latimer was an African American inventor who made improvements to the lightbulb, air conditioner, bathrooms on trains, and many other inventions and patents. His historical home has been turned into a museum, free for self-guided visits or guided tours for $15 (as of July 2026).
Bowne Museum
Bowne House is a family’s historical home built in 1661 in Flushing. The Bowne family fought for religious freedom in early America, abolition, and participated in the Underground Railroad.
The museum offers tours for $10 (as of July 2026).
The Flushing Queens Food Scene, Top Picks
Beyond the area’s history lies a bustling food scene with hundreds of options covering numerous Asian cuisines. Many restaurants on our favorites list are cash only, so plan accordingly.
While there are hundreds of food options, here are some of our favorite restaurants in Flushing:
- Nan Xian Soup Dumplings
- White Bear
- Peking Duck Sandwich Stall
- Happy Lamb Hot Pot
- Xing Fu Tang
- Chung Moo
- New World Mall
You can find all of these, with notes, in our handy Ramen, Sushi & Asian Food Google Maps list. Access this and dozens more curated lists for loads of cuisines and locations in NYC when you sign up for our newsletter.
Nan Xian Soup Dumplings
Nan Xiang has tasty dumplings & noodles. There are multiple Nan Xians in the city, but it’s still a strong option for a budget-friendly meal in Flushing.
Check out Nan Xian in Flushing here.
White Bear
White Bear is the textbook definition of a hole-in-the-wall, family-run delicious food joint in Queens.
Most people recommend getting the #6, which is pork wontons with hot sauce/chili oil. Delicious!
Peking Duck Sandwich Stall
The Peking Duck Bao at this restaurant is a go-to when we visit Flushing. You can order them to go, or sit down.
Check out Peking Duck Sandwich Stall here.
Happy Lamb Hot Pot
My buddy Harvey and I went here before a Mets game and had a top-notch meal. You can get unlimited hot pot for around $30, and they even have $15 pitchers of beer.
Check out Happy Lamb Hot Pot here.
Xing Fu Tang
Xing Fu Tang serves a variety of Taiwanese-style boba teas with their freshly made brown sugar boba.
Chung Moo
We initially visited Chung Moo as part of a Culinary Backstreets guided food tour in Flushing. The homemade kimchi & Duk Bok Ki Spicy (rice cake in spicy sauce) are must-try!
New World Mall
The New World Mall is a very popular spot in Flushing. This multi-story mall features hundreds of shops, 30+ stalls in the food court, and even an Asian supermarket.
It’s a perfect spot for groups who can’t decide on just one cuisine or restaurant.
Check out the New World Mall here.
Flushing Food Scene Recap + Next Steps
Getting to Flushing from Manhattan takes about 45 minutes, but it transports you into a completely new neighborhood with deep culture, history, and a vibrant food scene.
Want even more NYC insights? Sign up for our 100% free newsletter to access:
- Dozens of Google Maps lists arranged by cuisine and location
- 50+ page NYC Navigation Guide covering getting to & from airports, taking the subway & more
- Weekly insights on restaurants, upcoming events, and helpful NYC tips
Get started below. 👇
Devin Stagg
Recovering LinkedIn troll constantly toeing the line between excessive coffee intake and taking a nap. Excelled in startup culture until he realized that's just corporate code for being undervalued and overworked. Now searching for the meaning of work life, behind a microphone.
Plus, my Google Maps organizational skills are 2nd to none. 😜
