Queens continues to be one of New York City’s most dynamic food and retail destinations, and May is shaping up to be a particularly active month. From a major dim sum arrival in Long Island City to a Thai restaurant expanding its Queens footprint, to the return of the borough’s premier culinary showcase — here’s what’s opening and what’s worth knowing right now.
Dim Sum Palace Has Landed in Long Island City
Dim Sum Palace has officially opened in Long Island City, taking over the former Brooks 1890 space. The grand opening marks a significant addition to LIC’s increasingly robust dining scene — dim sum in this format tends to bring families, groups, and serious eaters, which is exactly the kind of anchor a neighborhood needs when it’s building a dining identity.
Dim sum is a meal format that rewards the adventurous — carts or tableside service, dumplings, sticky rice, turnip cakes, egg tarts, and dozens of other items that change by the hour. For Long Island City residents who have been making the trip to Flushing for a proper dim sum spread, having one closer to home is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade. The Brooks 1890 building has housed multiple concepts over the years; Dim Sum Palace looks like it could be one of the more durable bets.
Siam Thai Expands to a Second Queens Location at JACX&Co.
Siam Thai has opened a second Queens location at JACX&Co., the large mixed-use development in Long Island City. The restaurant brings its lineup of Thai classics — chicken satay, beef noodle soup, curries, and more — to one of the borough’s fastest-growing commercial corridors. JACX&Co. is becoming a legitimate dining hub, and Siam Thai’s expansion into the space is a signal that the development is starting to attract tenants with established local reputations rather than just national chains.
For Queens residents already familiar with Siam Thai from its first location, this second outpost means less travel for a reliable, authentic meal. For newcomers to the borough or the neighborhood, it’s a great starting point for exploring Thai cooking in a borough that has some of the best Southeast Asian food in the entire city.
Queens Taste 2026: A Culinary Showcase on May 12 in LIC
If you want a fast, festive survey of what Queens restaurants are putting on the table this year, Queens Taste 2026 is the event for you. It’s happening on Tuesday, May 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sound River Studios on the East River in Long Island City — and this year it’s moved to a new location that offers genuine waterfront energy alongside the food.
The event features a diverse lineup of Queens restaurants and food vendors including Addictive Wine + Tapas Bar, Althea’s Tropical Delights, Chef Papa Vietnamese Kitchen, Heritage Bread Pudding, Il Nonno, Jora Peruvian, London Lennie’s, Mayahuel Mexican Restaurant, and many others. It’s a single evening, but the sheer variety of cuisines represented captures what makes Queens the most food-diverse place in America. Tickets are available now — this event has historically sold out as the date approaches, so booking ahead is recommended.
Sound River Studios is accessible via the 7 train to Hunters Point Avenue or the Vernon Blvd–Jackson Ave stop, and the East River Ferry also serves the area.
What You Need to Know
- Dim Sum Palace is now open in Long Island City in the former Brooks 1890 space — a major dim sum destination for the North Queens waterfront area.
- Siam Thai has expanded to a second Queens location at JACX&Co. in LIC — reliable Thai classics, growing commercial hub.
- Queens Taste 2026 is May 12, 6–9 p.m. at Sound River Studios, Long Island City. Dozens of Queens restaurants, East River waterfront setting — get your tickets now.
- Long Island City is increasingly becoming the focal point for new Queens dining openings, with proximity to Manhattan transit making it attractive to operators.
- For more of Queens’ culinary geography, Flushing and Jackson Heights remain essential destinations — see our Jackson Heights and Flushing guide for where to eat while you explore.
Queens is on a roll in 2026 — and this is just what’s happening in the first two weeks of May. Stay tuned to Queens’ broader growth story as the borough continues to attract new investment, new businesses, and new residents.
