Zebra Lounge 2

Zebra Lounge 2
136-11 38th Ave
Flushing, NY 11354
$$
Menu
Shabu Shabu Menu

You probably think its weird that I am writing about the food at a place mostly known for their KTV and bar. But because their menu is not limited to just bar snacks, the food at Zebra Lounge 2 is worth a mention. On top of alcohol absorbing appetizers, they have filling meals like noodles and rice.

Zebra Lounge’s small plates are mostly Taiwanese. Their Taiwanese popcorn chicken ($7.00) and spicy beef tendons ($10.00) are good. I also recommend the sauteed squid ($7.00) as the smell alone is worth it. They also have your usual american bar food like sliders, chicken fingers, and french fries.

The drink menu is extensive as well covering beers, wines, liquors, sakes, and non-alcoholic drinks. If choosing the latter, I don’t recommend any of their milk/bubble tea as it taste really watered down. But their smoothies and teas are decent.

For a more heartier meal, their Home Style Beef Noodle Soup hits the spot ($8.00). Don’t expect the quality of the authentic stuff but they do give you a huge portion and they don’t skimp out on the beef either. The beef noodle is significantly better than their other noodle soups like the Fried Pork Chop Noodle Soup which from what I heard is really bland.

What’s more awesome is just a few steps from the bar is the Shabu Shabu part of Zebra Lounge. Their prices are a few dollars more than Minnis Shabu Shabu and have less seating. However, the convenience factor makes up for it. For a restaurant that has a bar, KTV, lounge booths, and hot pot, its the ultimate hangout spot for Asians. Just stick a mahjong table in their and I will never leave.

Main Street Imperial Taiwanese Gourmet (Recommended)

Main Street Imperial Taiwanese Gourmet 北港台菜
5914 Main St
Flushing, NY 11355
$$

Deep down Main St. along the borderlines of southern Flushing lies Main Street Imperial Taiwanese Gourmet. Long names aside, this is one of the most legit Taiwanese Cuisines I ate at in Queens, let alone New York.

Several of their menu items are non-translated and displayed along the side of the wall. You will need a person who can read Chinese to get the best out of the restaurant.

Oyster Pancake 蚵仔煎

The Oyster Pancake here 蚵仔煎 ($5.95) is decent and cheap although a tad bland from lack of sauce.

Squid with Chinese Celery

Squid with Chinese Celery was one of the non-translated menu items. I couldn’t remember the Chinese name but it was delicious and cheap.

Three Cup Chicken 三杯雞

The Three Cup Chicken 三杯雞 ($8.95) had chunks of juicy and flavorful chicken. I recommend it and get something to soak up the sauce.

101 Taiwanese Cuisine – Closed

 101 Taiwanese Cuisine
135-11 40th Rd
Flushing, NY 11354
$$
Menu

101 Taiwanese is one of the few Taiwanese restaurants in Flushing that can hold large groups of people. Their interior is much more eye-catching compared to the smaller Taiwanese restaurants but 101 tries to stay true to authentic dishes.

Braised Pork Over Rice 滷肉飯

One staple that judges the quality of a Taiwanese restaurant is the Braised Pork Over Rice 滷肉飯 ($3.95). The lu rou fan here is great and has all the essential components-the fatty pork bits, pickled radish, and a whole stewed egg.

Oyster Pancake 廟口蚵仔煎

A Taiwanese meal is not complete without a side of Oyster Pancake 廟口蚵仔煎 ($6.95). Delicious and glutinous but they overdid it with the sauce.

Sauteed Spinach with Garlic 鮮蒜炒菠菜

Any type of green vegetable sauteed in garlic is a no-brainer when ordering. Tender and with a light garlic flavor, the Sauteed Spinach with Garlic 鮮蒜炒菠菜 ($8.95) is a safe vegetable choice.

Although pricer than the other Taiwanese places in the area, 101 Taiwanese is great for groups. One of their larger tables can fit over 10 people and they have private rooms in the back with KTV systems.

Szechuan Gourmet (Recommended)

Szechuan Gourmet
135-15 37th Ave
Flushing, NY 11354
$$
Menu

Spicy foods are not just about inflicting pain onto your tongue and throat. The best spicy foods uses the heat to amplify the flavors of the dish. Szechuan gourmet does just that and is a perfect representation of the spicy cuisine capital of China.

Sliced Pork Belly w. Chili-Garlic Soy 蒜泥白肉

The Sliced Pork Belly w. Chili-Garlic Soy 蒜泥白肉 ($6.50) is a must must order!! Quite possibly be one of the best things I ever ate. The sweet, savory, umami flavors of the sauce are soaked by the tender thin slices of pork. My eyes opened with shock when the first piece touched my tongue.

Thin Sliced Conch w. Roasted Chili Vinaigrette 紅油螺片

The Thin Sliced Conch w. Roasted Chili Vinaigrette 紅油螺片 ($11.95) was one of the more pricier appetizers but its fair for seafood. The fragrant chili oil provided a smoky flavor to the crispy slices of conch and its so good that you will be even rubbing the carrot slices with whatever oil is left at the end of the meal.

Braised Fish Filet w. Napa & Roasted Chili 水煮魚片

Spicy food seekers usually always order the Braised Fish Filet w. Napa & Roasted Chili 水煮魚片 ($14.95) when they come here. There’s a reason why this is one of their most popular dishes. Soft pieces of fish are cooked in an aromatic and numbing chili oil with a generous amount of nappa and bean sprouts. Eat at the right pace and the heat will be manageable.

Sliced Pork Belly w. Chili-Garlic Soy 蒜泥白肉

The Double Cooked Sliced Pork Belly w. Chili Leeks 成都回鍋肉 ($10.95) is another frequently ordered dish. This Szechuan staple is non-spicy for the not as bold eaters. The pork belly slices are packed with flavor and don’t be afraid to eat the leeks too.

Of course, a majority of their menu is really oily so don’t over-do it or you will get a hole in the stomach. However, there are few restaurants that make me wish I had 4 stomachs because one sitting is not enough to try their variety of dishes. If you get stuck, you can always refer to their top 10 list: Link

Nori Nori – Closed (Now Spring Shabu Shabu Buffet)

Nori Nori
136-20 38th Ave 2nd Fl
Flushing, NY 11354
$$$

Lunch
Monday–Friday: $17.95
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: $19.95

Dinner
Monday–Thursday: $29.95
Friday – Sunday & Holidays: $31.95

Being one of the first Japanese Buffets in Flushing, Nori Nori received a lot of hype at start-up. Now that a few years has passed since that grand opening, this buffet has shown to serve just average food at prices that are high for Flushing’s standards.

There is a limited selection of sashimi but an acceptible amount of rolls and nigiri. Expectantly, they lack flavor and occasionally you even get uni but these seemed discolored and lack the sweet oceany taste of sea urchin.

The weakest food type of the buffet are their hot dishes. On paper it sounds good (cod, short ribs, steamed clams, mussels, fried shrimp, stir fried flower crabs, crab cakes), but they are all over cooked. Any fish was cooked to the point of dryness, the crab was fried until the meat became strands of crab jerky, and the crab cakes was made with only shrimp and imitation crab.

The snow crabs are very salty as if they were boiled in a salt water bath. The raw shellfish were decent but gorging on buffet oysters and clams is a risky move.

I do like Nori Nori’s raw bar serving procedure. It is the first buffet that I saw that the cold seafood (snow crabs, raw oysters and clams) were not self-served. Instead, the shuckler serves only a couple of each to you at a time. This is vital in the Flushing buffet scene as people usually hoards all the seafood for themselves. This method at least help makes sure there’s enough for everyone. However, if you are going with a large group, you are going to get a lot of seafood between your party (with more to spare) anyways.