Our Chinese New Year Food Crawl (#CNYFC on twitter) was such a blast thanks to this great group of people! Special thanks to my co-hosts Amy Cao and Liza de Guia who make everything more fun! We really really didn’t like turning any one away, but logistically we just couldn’t handle a bigger group. I promised I would post the crawl info so you could all do the crawl too. Grab your own group: we’ve tested this path and it’s the yellow brick road to deliciousness!
*photo courtesy of Marc Matsumoto
The plan was to start at Dong Yi Feng (Jung Yi Fung) 135-29 37th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354, 11am sharp I told everyone! Yet, I was late!! In my defense, there was a gas leak so they closed down part of Main Street, right at 37th Ave where Dong Yi Feng is! I had no idea how to get there. As we circled and I panicked, we spotted a police officer who told me what was going on and that in addition to various streets, several businesses were closed. OK, now severe panic! I called Dong Yi Feng and they were indeed open, and that’s when I spotted Liza, Kat, and Brendan. We walked the very long way there together.
Dong Yi Feng
135-29 37th Ave
Flushing, NY 11354
Note that Dong Yi Feng has “Jung Yi Fung” on the sign outside. This is one of those annoying things you just deal with in Flushing — the poor translations and signs. The menus, business cards, and signs all say something slightly different. Once you’ve found it, all’s good, just enjoy the dim sum! I highly recommend the shrimp in rice noodles, shrimp and snow pea leaf dumplings, shrimp cake fried in tofu skin, clams in black bean sauce, roast pork buns (baked, steamed, and pastry versions), and you must end with egg tarts!
*photos courtesy of Marc Matsumoto
Hong Kong Supermarket
3711 Main Street
NY 11354
Our next planned stop was Hong Kong Supermarket 3711 Main Street, Flushing , NY 11354, a local market in the area where you can see the typical offerings of a Chinese Supermarket. I’m not the biggest fan of the fish department in this one, but everything else is good. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go because this was one of the businesses closed by the gas leak.
Apollo Bakery
13536 39th Ave
Flushing, NY 11354
I love Apollo Bakery 13536 39th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354, this teeny little bread shop. It doesn’t stock as many cakes and pastries as the big chains like Tai Pan and Fay Da but I really love the soft puffy breads. My favorites are the plain white sliced bread, extra thick, and the square pork floss bun with the flaky top.
Flushing Mall
133-31 39th Ave
Flushing, NY 11354
The Flushing Mall Food Court 133-31 39th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354 has several vendors, many worthy of tasting. Xi’an Famous Foods has been written about extensively for their Liang Pi, “cold skin” spicy noodles. The Lamb Face Salad is also out of this world!
*photo courtesy of Marc Matsumoto
Taiwanese food is still one of the more elusive foods, despite the rather large Taiwanese population in New York. Here, there is a popular vendor (I don’t think they have an English name) with many of the unique delicacies. Try Oyster Pancakes, Oyster Bean Thread Soup, Pork Chop Rice, and Stinky Tofu.
Don’t forget to slurp down some bubble teas, and in warmer weather, the Taiwanese Shaved Ice.
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
38-12 Prince Street,
Flushing NY 11354
Our last planned stop was Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao 38-12 Prince Street, Flushing, NY 11354. I was hoping that by afternoon, in between meal times, we could grab some seats. Alas, this restaurant just doesn’t have a down time. There is always a wait. You cannot miss the soup dumplings and the pan-fried pork buns though, so please go, preferably in a party of two.
Thinking on our toes, and because the weather was quite nice yesterday, we hopped over to a few window stops.
The Duck Window
Main Street and 40th Road
Flushing, NY 11354
Patrick and Marc suggested this duck window Main Street and 40th Road, Flushing, NY 11354 and it was a definite hit! They sell different duck themed things and most popular are the $1 duck buns. They are not true Peking Duck but who cares when it’s $1.
Pastry Window
Main Street between 40th Rd and 41st Avenue
Flushing, NY 11354
I don’t think this place has a name but between the Duck stall and the Dumpling Window, you might as well stop when you see the pile of sweet and savory pastries. I’m particularly fond of the daikon pastry ($1.25 each).
Dumpling Window
99 41st Avenue
Flushing, NY 11354
Our last stop, another window stop without an English name. At least they have some English on their menu now. Look for the red awning and some fried stuff sitting in the window. I recommend the small pork buns (4 for $1.25, such a steal!) and the hot and sour soup.
*photo courtesy of Marc Matsumoto
Follow conversations about #CNYFC on twitter and read Justin’s post on Just Cook NY. Let me know if anyone else writes a post!!
Chinese New Year Food Crawl Attendees:
- Adam Pasick (@adampasick)
- Alda Leung (@aldaleung)
- Allison Mark (@foodnatic)
- Amy Cao (@amyblogschow)
- Brendan Hayes (@fishguysnyc)
- Gary Reloj (@garyreloj)
- Jackie Gordon (@divathatateny)
- Jason Hembrey (@jlhv1)
- Jacquie Hembrey (@jacquielh)
- Jessica Binder (@foodmayhem)
- Justin Schwartz (@justcooknyc)
- Kat Popiel (@mamakitten)
- Kate Neuhaus (@khneuhaus)
- Keith Wagstaff (@kwagstaff)
- Ken Leung (@hungryrabbitnyc)
- Liz Matsumoto (@globalasianista)
- Liza de Guia (@skeeternyc)
- Marc Matsumoto (@norecipes)
- Mark Publico (@gastropublico)
- Mitche Rose
- Noel Cruz
- Patrick Chang (@appetiteforgood)
- Paul Lau (@paulingford)
- Sarah Mclellan (@sarahmclellanny)
- Ulla Kjarval (@nyculla)
This sounds so cool!! Do you do crawls like this often?
Happy Lunar New Year! Will you be accepting ‘red envelopes’ on your child’s behalf? 🙂
You’re right in my ‘hood, so i recognized all the nooks and corners you mentioned here, hehe. My mom just ate the daikon pastry you recommended; unfortunately, the one I bought had very little ‘stuff’ inside. That pastry was just $1 2 years ago. Inflation…
How fun! You’ve inspired me to organize my own Chinese New Year Food Crawl right here in Beijing! There are so many delicious foods around that you can get so complacent. Setting aside one day to simply sample and savor in succession is such a delightful idea.
Thank you!
Leah Chambers
@chambermader
this is great… and thanks for the link to my post. i’ll do the same for you on my site.
I have to go back for the stops I missed! When it warms up a little, I will hit up the duck, dumpling, and pastry windows. Great names, by the way 🙂
So jealous – everything looks AMAZING!
Sarah, this is our second crawl and we’re planning on doing them more.
Kim, I don’t know. I hadn’t even though about it. You know, I think the daikon pastry was $1 just several months ago. =(
Leah, the options in Beijing must be endless! What a feast!!
Thanks Justin!
Amy, I’ll happily go with you. Plus, we can go to Nan Xiang!!
Jessica, just grab a few friends and you can go on the crawl too.
HOW FABULOUS! I want to crawl with you, too!!
It was so wonderful! thanks so much for organizing it! I learned so much!
Gail, there will be more!
Ulla, so good to see you!
That looked like so much fun Jen! You’ve made me want to organize a “cupcake crawl” 🙂
Wow, so fun! Happy CNY!
What a fun & fabulous idea! Those duck buns look good!
soo much fun>
and even though I’m not a blogger, I’m an avid blog reader, and glad to be one, or else I wouldn’t have been able to meet all you lovely people.
I’ve got a few more pictures, which I was going to send you, but seems like you might not need it anymore.
-Alda
I would love to come on your next crawl!!!
Jennifer, I’m Jessica or Jess but that happens a lot so np.
happycao, I would still love to see the pictures!!
Sarah, I will try my best to figure out a way to increase our capacity!
I’d be much obliged for an invite to your next crawl as well. 🙂
Good Times! Thanks again for organizing such a fun and food-filled event
O man loved the crawl. We should do a Manhattan version 🙂 Im so hungry thinking about it now. I love chinese food, its by far my favorite food everrrrrrr. We need to find some more authentic taiwanese food 🙂 especially bawan!
Thanks Amy, Jess and Liza… o wait should I be thanking Chef Cruz? the “mastermind” behind the crawl haha
Jess you can have my baby gate anytime too.
Wow, that looks SO FUN!!! Sometimes I really wish I lived in NYC! At least I get to go once or twice a year and visit some of you folks. 🙂 Someday I will make it out to Flushing – the food looks incredible there!
Please let me know when you do the next food crawl in Flushing! Where is the best place to park?
Roxane, it may be a long time before another one in Flushing. We change up the theme for each crawl. If you’re headed to Flushing, parking can be quite a challenge, especially on weekends. The biggest municipal lot is bound by 37th and 39th Avenue, and 138th Street and Union Street. There are a few other smaller lots, one by 39th Avenue and Prince Street, and one on 41st Avenue, off of Main Street.
I missed it this year, hopefully I can make it for next years!
We stopped at many of the places on your list on Mother’s Day and enjoyed them. Thanks for sharing your favorites.
Roxanne, Happy Mother’s Day! Glad you enjoyed delicious food on your day.