Don't miss this hole in the wall! Fresh seafood, wrapped with vegetables and rice in a seaweed wrap is the most delightful combination for lunch. Service is fast, even though there's only one person behind the counter. Great food nice owner and decent prices. What more can you ask for? read more

A friend picked up a couple of these onigiri sandwiches and I can't believe there was a place like this in queens! The ingredients tasted so fresh and all of them tasted great. My favorite of the 4 was definitely the beef one but I would get all of the again in the future. Will definitely be checking this place out myself soon. read more

969 NYC Coffee - Soft Shell Crab, Salmon, Beef, Katsu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

4/5 food 2/5 service This is a quiet, cash-only spot. I came here to do some work, and get a small snack. I came in around 1:30 on a Tuesday afternoon. It was dead empty with the exception of one person waiting for their to-go order, and entire time I was sitting there eating and drinking, only three other customers came in. I walked up to the counter to see what the food options were (the onigiri is on display in a case, kinda like a deli shop), and the drink menu is up hanging up high in small print behind the counter. The cashier asked me immediately what I wanted and I told him I was still looking at the menu; he told me to call him over once I was ready so he didn't have to stand. Once I ordered, he asked me if I have cash and asked if they were cash only to which he said yes. Side note: if a shop is cash only, signs should be posted in multiple areas (on the door, at the counter, etc.), and this place did not have any signs. I got the salmon onigiri and a hot lemon ginger honey tea and it came to $8. The tea is from those pre-made jars that you can purchase at any Asian market. The onigiri was very tasty and the rice was very soft. One of the better ones I've had in NYC. After I ordered, I saw a "no laptops" sign tucked away in the corner. So there went my plans of working in a quiet shop, though I did hop on a zoom meeting for an hour on my phone. I made it work. This is a cute spot for grab-and-go, though the service could use improvement. And considering there are no customers, I don't know why there's no laptop rule. read more

Passed by here many times and always wanted to try it and finally did. It's very small so definitely a take to go place but there are some seats and tables in front. The owner was super friendly, welcoming and just the type of person that makes you want to visit again. Food: wanted to try their sushi but they ran out. The owner said he only makes a certain amount for the day and once they run out, he doesn't make more. I had the calamari sandwich and the pork sandwich. Both very tasty but a bit overpriced for my opinion. $10 for a pork sandwich seems a bit much. They really need to update the online menu because it says $5 on it so was quite shocked when I got there and saw the price. All in all, it is a nice place to visit with great staff and yummy food but with that price, won't be going as often as I would like. read more

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Came here given its growing popularity and it definitely lived up to expectations! Would recommend calling ahead of avoid a 20-30 minute wait (as the owners makes everything to order)! We got the shrimp and chicken sandwiches, and both were incredibly fresh and stuffed with lettuce, carrots, avocado, and katsu style meat preparation. The rice is perfect as well. So worth it! read more

969 NYC Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

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Cuisine: 7 Service: 9 Decor: 6 Value: 9 Overall: 8 If you know the owner Oda, then you will know why everyone in the neighborhood loves this place. You can come here for a beverage or a snack and find him always serving the customers with a smile. The claim to fame at this cafe is their Japanese style Onigirazu, a sanwich made with fried tempura, white rice, cheese and veggies, all wrapped up inside of toasted sheet of seaweed. Oda makes a bunch of them from all sorts of seafood to cuts of pork and chicken. Here are some thoughts on the ones I have tried so far. Scallop - Very tender. Wish the pieces were bigger. Oyster - My favorite. Crispy and slightly briny. Soft Shell Crab - Flavorful, but a bit too much batter. Fried Mackerel - So good and not fishy at all. Pork Katsu - Slightly dry. Not one of my favorites. If you are lucky enough to eat an onigirazu while it's fresh and the rice is warm, then most of the sandwiches are 7s and 8s, maybe even a 9. Unfortunately, they are often pre-made and sitting in the refrigerated counter. Once the rice cools and hardens, I would drop the score by a point or two. I also had the Shrimp Tempura Onigiri, which I wasn't a big fan because the shrimps were too small and batter was too heavy. Anyway, if you living in Jackson Heights and near 969 Cafe, then consider yourself lucky. This is a unique shop that is one of a kind in NYC. read more

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In my honest opinion, it's OK. The Instagram algorithm tipped me onto this place since it's nearby one of the Blink gyms I frequent, so I figured, why not? The place is small, felt packed with a number of people here, so the place does get good business. I left unsure of what I wanted to order because there was no menu for food, only coffee and tea, which I had no appetite for at the time. They didn't even have Iced Tea, just a few drinks kinda close to it. I had an idea for a sandwich but didn't know what they had because once again, the place had no food menu, so I just went with the Chicken Teriyaki onigiri. The onigiri itself is good but felt too light, it did not really fill me up at all, maybe I could've ordered something bigger but the place was already packed with customers and I didn't want to wait on more food so I just settled with it and an apple and grape fusion soda with no sugar. The drink...wasn't terrible, but I wouldn't want it again anytime soon. This place may be a hit with others but, it just wasn't it for me. Nothing bad about that, not everything is gonna be a home run and it's not even a knock on Japanese food as a while because I'm a fan of their style of food. It ISN'T for me for lack of better words. I wish this place the best of business, not sure if I'd return here but they'll be fine without me. read more

969 NYC Coffee - Chicken Teriyaki Onigiri and fusion soda. The onigiri, not amazing but decent. Wish I could say the same for the fusion soda. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

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My favorite onigiri place in NYC. The rice is soft and almost sweet and the ratio between rice and filling is great. If you eat there they have spicy mayo as well. Owner normally likes it if call in your order ahead of time especially if it's a big order. read more

Small locally owned shop that does onigiri and onigrizu or rice ball sandwiches. I can understand the confusion regarding how to order or how much anything costs. The moment I walked in the owner immediately asked me what I wanted and so I felt pressured to order right away. There is no menu- you really just look through the deli glass to see what he has available. I had an idea of what I wanted so I got the shrimp onigrizu. Paid, Packed it in my bag and stayed back for a minute to keep browsing (there was one person who was in the shop and so no it was not crowded) and the owner became concerned I needed something else or something was missing from my bag. So I can understand why some people can get put off by the service since you can't take a look at what's offered. I'm not one to linger at small shops but this just felt kinda weird? Despite this- this was a handy small meal to try in the neighborhood. I think my sandwich cost 9 dollars- again nothing is really clearly labeled... so that may bother some people as well. For the size of what I got, I think the price is kinda fair but it may not fill some people up. read more

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Ordered: Large Iced Matcha Latte (~$5) Beef Onigirazu (~$10) Moshi Sparkling Yuzu (~$3): white peach flavor Karamucho Chips (~$3): spicy curry flavor Aya's take: We stopped by for the very popular matcha & onigirazu. Let me cut to the chase - get the Beef Onigirazu. Not only is it filled with layers of ingredients that vary in flavor and texture which I enjoyed, the beef was plentiful and super tender. It's such a satisfying bite to have when you're not quite hungry enough for a full meal but have enough room for a snack. The Iced Matcha Latte was underwhelming for me, it tasted like a powdered, low-quality matcha to me. I would skip it. They have tons of Japanese snacks and drinks to choose from, as well. If you find yourself in Jackson Heights, definitely stop by and get the Onigirazu! read more

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We went there around 4:40pm on Sunday. The store was almost closed so there was only one small light on. However, the owner was very friendly and willing to make fresh 3 onigiraisu for us. Everything was so tasty. My daughter especially loved the oyster so much. I will try to revisit the store earlier so I can have more stuff to purchase. read more

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It's a nice spot with some interesting bites. I enjoyed the sushi sandwich. It was rice wrapped in seaweed with beef and american cheese.The matcha was bad, very bad. The person behind the counter threw the matcha into the cold water with milk. When we told him that's not normal he said it's the tea. Matcha is supposed to be dissolved in hot water and mixed with a specific brush. They don't make matcha properly here. The drink came out clumpy and was not the beautiful green a matcha drink is supposed to be. The iced coffee was okay, just watery without the buzz of caffeine. Mera's Tip: grab a quick bite read more

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They have variety of selections to choose from . I usually get their Chicken Katsu and Shrimp Tempura roll . During winter their Ginger Lemon Honey tea is a must . The owner is very nice and welcoming . I had ordered takeout so i only took the picture of the shop . read more

969 NYC Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

stopped by here during a queens food tour. we got a few orders of the onigiri (Salmon, Tuna, and Plum flavors) and I wasn't particularly impressed? I think the prices are decent and comparable to prices anywhere else but I wouldn't say that this is a store that I would go out of my way to spend at. The indoor seating seemed a bit limited when we were there but that's partially because our group was of decent size. there is a lot of water dripping from the ceiling near their entrance and it makes part of the walkway a bit slippery and a nuisance to get through. the service, however, is quite solid. I had nothing poor to say about the politeness of the employees and also the speed at which our orders were put out. read more

969 NYC Coffee - eating outside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

I've been to this spot twice over the years, most recently because I wanted to try their sandwiches. We got the soft shell crab, oyster, and shrimp sandwiches, and some of my friends got drinks. All of them were fried, which I loved lol, but my favorite / most standout was the soft shell crab. My friends found the oyster and shrimp ones a little too salty, which I did also feel but it didn't ruin things although I do think they added a bit too much salt. It was fun to try, but I'd probably not go back out of my way unless I was really in the mood for this type of food. I will note that there's no public bathroom for customers, which only makes it extra impressive how busy this tiny little place got when we were last here. Their credit card machine was also down when we went so we had to pay in cash. On another visit, I've tried their onigiri and enjoyed it and would probably get that next time. read more

969 NYC Coffee - Onigirazu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

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This small shop offers a variety of Onigiris (Japanese rice balls), sandwiches made from rice, Japanese snacks, and drinks at a reasonable price. This small shop is tucked right off the main road of Roosevelt Avenue. I had a Shrimp Tempura Rice Roll and a Soft Shell Crab Sandwich which were both delicious. It was perfectly seasoned, crunchy, and was fresh in taste. The Iced Matcha Latte was okay and could have used more matcha powder. It tasted mostly like milk with a small hint of matcha. I tried to order one of the specials that was up on the wall, and he told me that I should have told him sooner (I entered the store 3 minutes prior to ordering and was looking at the menu), which made me taken aback. He told me that before, he could have made it, and now, he couldn't. I assume he told me this because it was still early, and he was preparing the food in the back. There was no apology, and he was just blunt. So keep that in mind, and don't be too offended if he talks to you this way. In terms of service, I honestly feel like it depends on the owner's mood. He may be nice to certain people and not as warm and engaging to another. One tip would be to make sure you know what you want and don't take too much of his time, or else he may give you an attitude. read more

Coffee was good. I got a cortado. Limited seating inside and outside. Note that they don't take credit card for orders under $15.00, and they also don't provide a receipt when you pay with cash. Very limited parking near the coffee shop. Owner was nice. read more

A great pit stop in any Jackson Heights food crawl -- we stopped by for onigiris in the afternoon. A lot of the pre-made ones were already sold out, but they made some fresh! The Tuna Onigiri was delicious -- super light and plenty of fish filling. The store itself has some seating on the inside, but would probably just grab to-go. read more

969 NYC Coffee - Tuna - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

Came on a Friday morning at around 9:30am. There weren't a lot of onigirazu options left, but there there were still plenty of onigiri. Seemed like they were making more during the morning. There were some in the display with cheese and some without. I got a mackerel onigirazu without cheese. The mackerel onigirazu was better than I thought it would be. Although the rest of the toppings, cabbage, carrots, avocado, etc., were bland, the mackerel provide much needed salt. The fish was still crispy despite being left out. The rice was on the colder side too. It was less than $9. There's a $15 credit card minimum, so make sure to bring cash unless you plan to get a lot. There's a sign in the store that states it's better to call ahead 10-15 minutes to order. They might have more options if you do, and you'll get it fresh. Not sure if you can customize though. read more

969 NYC Coffee - Mackerel Onigirazu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

I came here on a rainy Saturday just before 11am & it was not busy. I asked the owner if he could make an extra tonkatsu onigiri & he said whatever is available is what you can order. I found that part weird because the shop opens up until 6pm. And if there is a menu w/ the different types of onigiri - one would think that customers can order what they want. I just ended up getting whatever was premade - 1 tonkatsu & 1 spicy chicken onigiri. It was good, but not the best onigiri I have had. I am just happy to try it because I have bookmarked this place for awhile & was in the Roosevelt Avenue area. read more

969 NYC Coffee - Tonkatsu onigiri & spicy chicken - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

Super cute and cozy place in Jackson heights. I first learned about this place from a FB page called Eat Something New in Queens and was I intrigued by their large onigiri sandwiches so I had this place bookmarked. I was around the area and was dying from the 94degree heat and knew i wanted a cold drink and my go tos are always matcha. To my surprise the matcha was actually really good quality for this size and only 4.5! The matcha was not grainy at all and was super smooth and earthy, not astringent at all. My bf got the matcha lemonade and it was nice and sour with matcha earthiness coming in later. Service was super quick and the wonder was very friendly and welcoming. Would love to come back to try their sandwiches. They also sell Japanese snacks, canned and bottled drinks as well as Mochi and ice cream too. Tip: bring cash! I don't think they take card read more

969 NYC Coffee - Iced Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

Very cute and delicious shop in Jackson heights! I had it once last year and have been craving for it, so hopped on the train for 40 min to have it again. The tonkatsu sandwich is amazing and have never had anything similar before. The rice is perfectly cooked and all the flavors blend super well together. The store also sold a drink called Moshi and it is delicious. I rarely get drinks at restaurants, and I immediately got a second bottle after the first bottle ran out. The owner also sold it cheaper than online, which I appreciated! The shop seems to just have one person owning it, but he is super nice and friendly :) Lastly, he made his owner spicy sauce to add on to the food. It is absolutely delicious. MUST ADD SPICY SAUCE. read more

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The service. We'll never know. The guy was too crabby and too busy to poor a cup of coffee. I don't understand how the one other customer got all the attention. Particularly since he called her from across the room to take her ahead of me. Someone should advise these small shop owners is the one true was to kill business is to make people regret making the choice to try something new by treating them like dirt. I won't go back and i'll tell everyoneI know to go to any of an endless number of choices. This hole in the wall will not be a stop on my Food tours. read more

The only person there taking orders, supposedly the owner. I came back for second time as the first time it was closed during open hours. The lights were off so I asked if it was still open, and got the nastiest attitude back, with sarcasm included. An owner should know how to treat customers, unless they are a racist, and only wants certain people to support them. Either way I did supper the old man by leaving. read more

969 NYC Coffee - Outside of the restaurant. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

Small one man show, great sandwiches I went for Oysters sandwich, they ran out but the own offered to make fresh one if I'm not in a rush, of course I waited, I specifically was going for that !! It was fresh and delicious, they also have variety of sandwiches and home made tea read more

969 NYC Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

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This is a hole in the wall spot run by Oda-san, the owner who does everything by himself. Oda-san is kind of like your quirky & warm Japanese uncle & makes most items to order. I recommend calling at least 15-20 minutes ahead of time to place your order to give him enough time to prepare. For larger orders, it might be safer to give him at least an hour heads up. I've ordered from Oda-san several times now & every time I go to pick up my food he's joke-y and cheerful. Oda-san remembers me every time I visit & we usually chit chat a bit in Japanese. He donates any tips since he said it makes him uncomfortable to take (there's no tipping culture in Japan). The standout unique offerings here are the onigirazu, which are kinda like onigiri (rice ball) sandwiches. The first time I called in around a weekday 5 pm & had no clue what to ask for & just asked for him to list out what he had on the menu. He was like I can make anything for you, like chicken, pork, salmon, shrimp etc. I believe I might have gotten the chicken & it was tasty with many fillings. There's such a big selection of onigirazu that I haven't gotten to try everything yet but I think the pork one tends to be a bit dry but tasty nevertheless. My favorite onigirazu so far is the soft shelled crab onigirazu. I only found out about it from Yelp comments & had to request it the next time I called. It's really delicious & flavorful, I believe it's a bit more expensive than the typical other offerings (by a dollar or two?). One onigirazu can definitely be filling and makes for a great meal. You can see a better picture of the soft shelled crab onigirazu if you click "all photos from this review." The shrimp tempura is also tasty & comes in a maki roll. I've heard he also has a bunch of other flavors like fried oyster onigirazu too. Maybe next time I go in I'll try to ask him to write down the offerings for me to share on Yelp but he carries most protein sources I think. As a tip, I'd say go in the morning if you want to ensure he has everything in stock since he does tend to run out of things later into the day. He mentioned to me that he starts prepping foods at 5 am. I had stopped by a couple times in the evenings and the display cases were always empty. The few times I stopped by in the morning, the display cases were filled with options (for the walk-ins if you go in the morning/around noon). But to ensure that you get the flavors you want I'd recommend calling in the morning. He also has a selection of Japanese snacks on the side and makes homemade pudding he sells as well. I personally haven't tried any of the drinks or other normal onigiris yet but I will definitely be coming back to try more of the menu. I definitely recommend supporting this local community gem! read more

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I've been here SO many times at this point, have tried almost everything on the menu. I love Oda, the owner. He is special and makes me day seeing him. Everything is delicious. The ambiance is quaint, and comfortable. There are a few spots for eating outside. Highly highly recommend! read more

Excellent spot for onigirazu (sandwich). There was a generous amount of filling, that eating one was enough. They are also made fresh and about 7 minute wait for one. But it's recommended to call ahead of time to avoid waiting. I ordered the pork and crab, which were such great fillings to have. The crab was in a soft shell which gave the sandwich a nice crunch. The owner was very friendly and honest about his recommendations. read more

969 NYC Coffee - Pork Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

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Great Japanese sandwiches in the Jackson Heights area. I ordered the shrimp sandwich and the shrimp katsu was seasoned very well and certainly the star of the sandwich. They also serve onigiri, matcha, coffee and have a variety of Japanese snacks. If you're a fan of Japanese food, highly recommend this place to try. Cheers read more

The oyster "rice sandwich" was new to me and it was really well done. Seasoned perfectly. Chicken Onigiri was average. Seaweed salade was prepackaged, I would've have taken it if I saw it was prepackaged. This was $2.50 Why 2 stars? Well, I dropped by to pick up to go for the stadium, all of the above came to $22 on my credit card. how? There was no prices, labeled anywhere, on the website its significantly less. read more

969 NYC Coffee - Oyster!... interesting. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

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After a long day of shopping in Jackson Heights, the kids were tired and we made a pitstop at 969 NYC Coffee. Almost walked by pass this place. Had no idea this place existed until I search my handy yelp app to find eateries and coffee shops in the vicinity. Wanted to try something different aside from the usual Dunkin Donuts. It was late in the afternoon and there were not much items left. Ordered a Small Matcha Latte. Owner said try first if like next time go for the large one. OMG!!! Will be back for a Large Match Latte. It was so delicious. Just the right amount of caffeine to keep me going for the rest of the afternoon. Got a Tuna Onigiri which was like the only one left. Nice out door dining area with a few tables and chairs. Will definitely be back to support this local business. It's like a diamond in the rough. Owner was really helpful and friendly. All tips are donated. read more

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My cousin brought back the fried oyster onigiri and soft shell crab onigiri for me to try and both of them were so delicious! Each bite was flavorful. I would love to visit the location to try the other onigiris! read more

969 NYC Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

This was such a cute find! We were just looking for another spot to get food in Jackson Heights and we found this on yelp. I don't see onigarzus served at too many places but this spot had several different options! We got the shrimp tempura and it was very affordable too. I loved all the goodies inside it and the rice was good as well. It looks like it's just a one man shop but there are plenty of options to choose from! I will be back to try more and probably have to check out a drink as well! read more

969 NYC Coffee - Shrimp Tempura onigirigarzu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

Food is absolutely amazing. The Oyster sandwich is the best! Service was quick and very friendly. The chef/owner was a character, super friendly and engaging. The place is small but cozy.. Its worth the trip. The Owner is very very engaging and funny. I will be going back for the katsu sandwiches next. Support small businesses! read more

Cute hole in the wall spot for a snack and a coffee...and maybe a bowl of ramen?! Stopped in here for a pre lunch snack - I had the oyster onigiri sandwich and my bf had a bowl of ramen! Only 1 person works here and he does everything. I really enjoyed my onigiri and my bf enjoyed the noodles as well. It's a nice spot that reminds you to slow down and take it in with a nice drink and snack. Will hopefully be back to try their drinks if I'm in the area! read more

969 NYC Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

Went there around 2pm. It's a small shop with not much to offer. The owner was rude and rushing us to order.

Small shop in Jackson Heights that's run buy one man. The sandwiches are delicious. Nicely executed sushi rice with a mix of veggies and a protein of your choice. The sandwiches are made upon order, and with only one guy doing everything, be prepared to wait a bit, especially if there are other customers ahead of you. The shop has a few other snack items for purchase. A couple of seats are located outside the shop, but it can sometimes smell like garbage on the streets of Jackson Heights. I would not come here expecting a place to dine in; be prepared to take it to go. read more

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I haven't been back here since I first moved to NYC and now I'm asking myself if I'm crazy for not coming back! Super quaint cozy no frills shop run by a sweet old japanese owner. He does everything! Cooking, register, and makes the drinks too. It does take a little time for him to prepare the food but it's worth the wait. I used to come here when I lived in Queens. I live in Brooklyn now but it is near the hair salon I go to so I decided to stop by. The quality is still amazing as I first remembered it. Prices are great and the food is very fresh. I'm definitely going to make a return now every time I get my hair done because I absolutely loved my fried oyster sandwich with avocado. The oysters were nice and crispy. The avocado was very fresh and he gave a generous amount. I loved the way they shaved the veggies very thin in the sandwich, it gave them a lighter refreshing taste that didn't overpower the other ingredients in the sandwich. I also got a vanilla latte with soy milk, the coffee tasted great. I'm also glad they had dairy alternatives like soy, oat, almond milk because I'm extremely lactose intolerant. read more

969 NYC Coffee - Fried oyster sandwich with avocado and soy milk vanilla latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

The sandwich here is pretty good, however I'm not sure I want to come back because of the owner's attitude. We came once when he had a lot of customers, and the owner basically yelled at the customers to wait and he said he would call them to take their order whenever he can. That time, I wanted sandwich but he mistook it for onigiri. The onigiri is pretty lame, I don't recommend. The place is quite small. read more

969 NYC Coffee - Beef sandwich Pork sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

It is a nice little coffee place, with two tables and stools to sit in. The server was friendly, he greeted us walking and leaving. We ordered two onigiris (they were heart shaped, we ordered chicken teriyaki flavor) for $3.50 each and shrimp sandwich for $8. They were messy to eat because they kept falling apart. Credit card is $15 minimum. Please note you cannot use your laptop during your stay. Next time, we would like to try the other sandwiches! read more