Flushing’s Chinese food scene is organized around regional cuisines in a way that Manhattan’s Chinatown is not. You can eat Cantonese dim sum on one block, Sichuan cold noodles on the next, and Xinjiang lamb skewers in the basement of a shopping mall across the street. The breadth of what’s available — the regional diversity, the authenticity, the price — makes Flushing the most significant Chinese food destination in the United States.
The Golden Shopping Mall Basement: Start Here
The basement of the Golden Shopping Mall at 41-28 Main Street is the most important cheap food destination in New York City. The stalls are cramped, the signage is mostly in Chinese, and the ordering process involves pointing at things. None of this is a problem. The Xinjiang lamb skewers — seasoned with cumin, chili flakes, and salt, cooked over charcoal — are among the best lamb preparations available in the New York metropolitan area. Order 6-8 minimum. The Sichuan cold noodles (usually labeled “cold sesame noodles” but they’re Sichuan-style — spicy, numbing, complex) are $5-7 and outstanding. Walk the entire basement before ordering to see all the options.
Dim Sum: The Traditional Cantonese Experience
Imperial Palace on Main Street is the largest and most traditional dim sum hall in Flushing — cart service, a large room, and a full selection of har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), char siu bao (BBQ pork buns), cheung fun (rice noodle rolls), turnip cake, and egg tarts. Arrive before 11am on weekends; the wait after noon can be 30-45 minutes. The per-plate prices run $4-8 for most items.
Soup Dumplings: The Shanghainese Specialty
Nan Xiang Dumpling House on 38th Avenue is the most famous soup dumpling restaurant in Flushing. The xiao long bao are properly made — thin skin, hot soup inside, pork filling that tastes of ginger and scallion. Order them with black vinegar and a small amount of ginger. The sheng jian bao (pan-fried pork buns) are also excellent. Budget $12-18 for a full meal for one.
Roast Meats: The Cantonese BBQ Tradition
The Cantonese BBQ shops on Main Street and in New World Mall serve roast duck, char siu (BBQ pork), and soy sauce chicken over rice at prices that make the equivalent in Manhattan’s Chinatown look expensive. The combination plate — a portion each of duck and BBQ pork over rice — runs $10-13 and is a complete meal.
What to Order at Each Meal
Breakfast: Congee (rice porridge) with various toppings from a congee specialist, or a soy milk and fried dough breakfast from a Shanghainese breakfast stall. Lunch: Dim sum at Imperial Palace (arrive before 11am) or a roast meat plate over rice. Afternoon snack: Golden Mall basement lamb skewers and Sichuan cold noodles. Dinner: Soup dumplings at Nan Xiang or a sit-down meal at one of the Main Street Sichuan or Fujianese restaurants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dim sum in Flushing?
Imperial Palace on Main Street is the most traditional Cantonese dim sum experience in Flushing, with cart service and a large room. For a smaller, more focused dim sum experience, Golden Palace and similar restaurants on Prince Street have excellent har gow and siu mai. Arrive before 11am on weekends for the shortest waits.
What is Golden Shopping Mall in Flushing?
The Golden Shopping Mall at 41-28 Main Street has a basement food court with stalls serving Xinjiang lamb skewers, Sichuan cold noodles, Shanghainese soup dumplings, and other regional Chinese specialties. It is one of the most important cheap food destinations in New York City.
What regional Chinese cuisines are available in Flushing?
Cantonese (dim sum, roast meats), Shanghainese (soup dumplings, pan-fried buns), Sichuan (cold noodles, mapo tofu, mouth-numbing spice), Fujianese (seafood-focused, lighter flavors), Xinjiang (lamb skewers, hand-pulled noodles, cumin-heavy), and Hunanese (similar to Sichuan but distinctly different spice profile). The breadth of regional Chinese food in Flushing is unmatched anywhere in the United States.
What should I order at Nan Xiang Dumpling House in Flushing?
The xiao long bao (soup dumplings) are the signature — thin-skinned, properly filled with pork and hot soup. Order 2-3 baskets minimum. The pan-fried pork buns (sheng jian bao) are also excellent. Arrive before noon on weekends or expect a 30-45 minute wait.
Also see: our Flushing neighborhood guide
Also see: our Queens food tour
