Dining at Citi Field; Right off the 7 train is a food court that’s a gourmet paradise

Amanda P. Sidman, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Citi Field is more than a destination for baseball: it's a food-lover's heaven. From Shake Shack to Blue Smoke, it would be worth it just to go to snack.

But there are a few caveats. The lines are long, and the prices can be steep. That's why Queens locals in-the-know pick up their own takeout-friendly food before the game — mostly from the many nearby Flushing food courts.

Within walking distance of the stadium is the New World Mall Food Court, which sits on the bottom level of the mall at 40-21 Main St.
Bustling with locals and tourists, the stands have various takeout options that are easy to carry to the game.

Try, for example, the pork buns at a Taiwanese counter in the center of the court. Made with pork belly and a crushed peanut sauce, the buns (2 for $4.50) are delicious and filling.

If you're with a group, or just particularly hungry, pick up an order of pork and chive dumplings from Szechuan Cuisine nearby. But be careful — they've been simmered in hot oil and will need time to cool.

An order of chive pancakes from Tianjin Xiao Chi will do the trick, too: They are pan-fried and stuffed with chives and pork.

For sweet snacks, try the $1 pumpkin cake at Tianjin Foods and, on a hot day, the shaved ice at Snopo.

In the Golden Shopping Mall, at 41-28 Main St., pick up a $3 lamb burger from Xi'an Famous Foods, or a beef banh mi sandwich from Golden Vietnam bakery for around $4.

If you do opt for stadium snacks, we recommend Blue Smoke's $9 pulled pork sandwich on a brioche bun or the subs at Leo's Latticini/Mama's of Corona.

But when the season is over or you're opting for the more adventurous route, we suggest the short walk to the malls - some of the best-kept secrets of Flushing.