Authentic Chinese food in Queens for Lunar New Year a cure for homesickness

Helu Wang, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·3 min read

Having been born and raised in China, I often make trips to Flushing, Queens − home to one of the largest Chinese community outside Asia − looking for authentic Chinese food to cure my homesickness.

The drive (or train ride − when coming from the Hudson Valley, take the Metro North to Grand Central and hop on the 7 train) into the borough makes for a destination lunch, or day trip. Right now is the perfect time to go, the Lunar New Year is around the corner, after all.

Lunar New Year celebrates the start of another year on the lunar calendar, starting with the first new moon. The festival is widely celebrated across Asia and the world. This year we will ring in 2024's Year of the Dragon on Feb. 10.

The smell, taste and ambience of eateries in Flushing invoke memories of wrapping and sealing pork-filled dumplings when I was a child.
The smell, taste and ambience of eateries in Flushing invoke memories of wrapping and sealing pork-filled dumplings when I was a child.

Billions of people celebrate the holiday with plenty of different traditions, one of which is to have a feast with family and friends.

The smell, taste and ambience of eateries in Flushing invoke memories of my past − gathering 'round the hot pot, wrapping and sealing pork-filled dumplings, wishing for an auspicious start to another year.

Here are the top five restaurants on my list that are worth the trip. Happy New Year!

More: James Beard Foundation announces 2024 semi-finalists. Which NYC restaurants, chefs made the list?

The decor and atmosphere at Chong Qing Lao Zao makes the place seem hundreds of years old.
The decor and atmosphere at Chong Qing Lao Zao makes the place seem hundreds of years old.

Hot Pot at Chong Qing Lao Zao

Hot pot is the perfect winter meal. It's warm, and interactive — you make the meal yourself by dipping bits of thinly-sliced meat and vegetables into a roiling pot of broth,

At Chong Qing Lao Zao, a weathered wooden door leads to a two-level space that seems about hundreds of years old, including a water wheel, lanterns and sunken cauldrons. If you’re a spice lover, try the nine-grid red pot.

Otherwise, the dual-sided pot can be a good option so you can taste both flavors. Marbled beef, shrimp paste, ox aorta, stem lettuce, enoki mushrooms and milk mochi are must-tries. 37-04 Prince St., Flushing, learn more at chongqinglaozao.com.

Hot pot is the perfect winter meal. At Chong Qing Lao Zao, the place seems about hundreds of years old.
Hot pot is the perfect winter meal. At Chong Qing Lao Zao, the place seems about hundreds of years old.

Grill your own skewers at Ming Xing BBQ

Ming Xing is a charcoal barbecue place where you can grill your own skewers at the table. It reminds me of winter days in northeast China with friends and family converged around the grill.

Start with mixed vegetables in vinegar sauce or marinated potato shreds while you’re waiting for beef and lamb skewers to come along. For me, signature dishes include crispy sweet and sour pork slices, fried lamb with cumin and sweet potato in hot toffee. 35-14 Farrington St., Flushing, check out the menu online at bit.ly/429avpo.

DaXi Sichuan is good, and Michelin experts think so, too

Listed in the Michelin Guide, DaXi Sichuan features dishes with chili and peppercorn ranging from sauteed chicken to sliced beef in pickled vegetable soup and Tibet-style lamb with brown sugar rice cake. Also on the menu: eggplant with shredded pork, and sweet options like glutinous rice lotus root with osmanthus sauce. 136-20 Roosvelt Ave., Flushing, learn more at facebook.com/daxisichuan.

The interior of Che Li, a Chinese restaurant specializing in the cuisine of Shanghai and the surrounding Jiangnan region.
The interior of Che Li, a Chinese restaurant specializing in the cuisine of Shanghai and the surrounding Jiangnan region.

Che Li transports you to south of Yangtze River

The area south of the Yangtze River is famous for its waterside towns and fresh ingredients. You can get an authentic taste of the Jiangnan region by heading to Che Li, which specializes in Shanghai cuisine and its surrounding areas. Dine on Long-Jing shrimp, pork belly, sweet and sour crispy eel and hot stone braised rice in room decorated to look like an old Chinese village, with paper lanterns dangling here and there, and rice wine vessels set on shelves. 133-42 39th Ave., Suite 102, Queens, learn more at che-li.com.

A selection of dishes available at Che Li in Flushing.
A selection of dishes available at Che Li in Flushing.

Asian Jewels Seafood Restaurant is one of NYC's best dim sum spots

Branded as one of the best dim sum spots in New York City by the Michelin guide, Asian Jewels has large banquet halls, oversized round tables, bamboo plants and ornate chandeliers. Servers crisscross the room serving dim sum and dishes that are hard to find somewhere else: braised goose web with dried fish maw, sliced conch with chopped scallion topping and royal sea cucumber meat. 133-30 39th Ave., Queens, learn more at asianjewelsny.com.

Helu Wang covers development and real estate for The Journal News/lohud and USA Today Network. Reach her at hwang@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Chinese Lunar New Year: Head to Flushing, Queens for authentic feast