Tag: queens

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restauranting travel

Engeline’s Filipino Restaurant

Jumped on the bus in front of my apartment to head north to Woodside, Queens for some Filipino food at Engeline’s. The restaurant has a diner feel to it, with all-male waiters in white polo shirts and a bakery to the side. I almost picked this huge platter of food (Summer Bilao Special) with crab, clams, meats. But sadly I knew I’d get fat if I ate it by myself. So instead I settled with a plate of deep-fried pork belly (Lechon Kawali). It came with liver sauce, which tasted sweet like duck/plum sauce. It was delicious. Without the sauce, the pork belly had that fatty buttery taste. Some of the outer crispy lean parts were a little dry and chewy. But overall, really good.

And I got a Avocado Shake that Chowhounders were recommending. Sweet avocado & milk mixture with crushed ice. Sounds gross, but tastes great. It’s sweet. It’s green. It’s like the Filipino version of the Shamrock Shake.

Engeline’s Restaurant – 5828 Roosevelt Ave. Woodside, NY 11377

Categories
restauranting travel

Upi Jaya Indonesian

I went to Upi Jaya, the place Mar recommended for authentic Indonesian food. It’s a family run restaurant on a quiet street. Maybe quiet, but has some character –as I saw a man in front of me on the sidewalk stopped to turn his head as a girl walked by. Then he gave lip smacking smooch as he stared at her behind. I wonder if that has ever worked.

I went with the Nasi Rames Ayam Gulai (Curry Chicken) $7.50. Nothing too fancy, but I feel like it’s like eating someone’s ethnic mother’s home-cooking. The decor even seemed like how someone’s mother would decorate –like what they think looks nice. And like someone’s mother, no alcohol, but you can have soda.

Upi Jaya – 76-04 Woodside Ave. Elmhurst, NY 11373

Categories
chinese travel

Fish Balls on a Stick

Got this from the food cart in front of the New York Supermarket parking lot in Elmhurst. I wanted to get the fish balls with noodles, but they were out everything except the balls and ready to close shop. They put some kind of syrupy Asian barbecue sauce on it and I was ready to go. Not really good at all, but I should take into consideration that these were their last scraps and it was only $1. I still ate it all. I don’t know why. I think I felt I would be throwing away perfectly good food and money. Weird how the mind works.

Chinese Food Cart – Broadway (btwn Elmhurst & Whitney Ave) Elmhurst, NY 11373

Categories
chinese travel

Rice-n-Tea’s Chicken Feet

Hit up another Chinese spot in Elmhurst. Another pick and point place (3 items over rice w/ soup for $4.75). Then there’s a bakery on the right and congee, dim sum, bbq on the left. There was a good crowd in there. All different types of people, although all Asian.

I went with the chicken feet (Phoenix Talons) from the dim sum section for $2.75. Some chili sauce and I was ready to go. If you were wondering, it’s mostly soft stewed skin and some tendons you’re eating. I used to like this as a kid. Then I learned it was chicken feet and was disgusted. I’m not afraid anymore, now that I know what other stuff I’m putting in my mouth. The chicken feet were good here. I ate it all.

Rice-n-Tea Chinese Restaurant – 8274 Broadway. Elmhurst, NY 11373

Categories
chinese

House of Andy Inc’s Baked Pork Bun

This Chinese joint at the corner of Broadway and Justice Ave in Elmhurst. It’s a bakery and coffee shop in the front. In the back, hot food pick & point along with Chinese BBQ. I opted to try their baked goods –a baked barbecue pork bun that says Kam Bakery on the wrapper, which is possibly next door. I didn’t notice it when I was there though. Standard good baked bun $1.

House of Andy Inc – 86-22 Broadway (@ Justice Ave) Elmhurst, NY 11373

Categories
chinese travel

Lao Bei Fang Dumpling House

Took the trip out to Elmhurst, Queens for the first time to check out their Chinatown. I actually didn’t know there was a fourth NYC Chinatown until recently. It’s defintely a calmer setting than the others and doesn’t quite look like New York to me.  Thinking about it now, it’s probably because of the occasional parking lots.

I went for some Pork Fried Dumplings (4 for $1.25) at Lao Bei Fang Dumpling House. Pretty standard. Maybe a little bland, but the soy-vinegar sauce and the Frank’s RedHot-type sauce refilled in the Sriracha bottles did the job.

Everyone looked like they were eating noodle soup. When they finished, the customers would dump their leftovers into a bucket near the door, which was right next to me. It was halfway high.

Lao Bei Fang Dumpling House – 86-08 Whitney Ave. Elmhurst, NY 11373

More on my Elmhurst adventure to come.