Cuisine: 7 Service: 6…read moreDecor: 5 Value: 9 Overall: 7 I have not been to Li's Garden for over a decade. However, at my friend's urging, I have been here a couple of times over the last month. This dingy little restaurant apologizes to no one and stick to exactly who they are since opening. Though they are a Dongbei restaurant serving cuisine from the northeast region of China, their extensive menu also includes much options from all over the country. Szechuan and Hunan dishes are well represented. Though small, they managed to squeeze a handful of large round tables into the space. Knowing their portion sizes being enormous, I gathered a large group of nine people for our most recent visit. Here are my thoughts on each dish. Braised Donkey Meat (6/10) - Not sure if they imported this delicacy or sourced it locally. Very lean and some pieces were chewy. Had better in Beijing, but overall not my thing. Sliced Conch Meat w/ Oil & Scallion (8/10) - So much shredded scallions and cilantro really enhances this dish. Paired so well with the crunchy conch. Sliced Conch Meat w/ Chili Oil (8.5/10) - Even better than the non-spicy version. This is one of the best dishes I had in this restaurant and better than most versions around Flushing. Enoki Cucumber Salad (6.5/10) - Recommended by the waitress. I'm not a cucumber fan, but this was liked by others. Rice Noodle w/ Spinach (7/10) - Not a bad cold starter. Simple and clean. Braised Pig Face (7.5/10) - Dipped in some garlicky vinegar. This is the perfect pairing with some beer. Stir Fried Quail (7.5/10) - Somewhat annoying to eat because of the bones, but I liked this dish. That sweet finish is quite interesting. Stir Fried Pork Kidney (7/10) - Flavor was good, but this dish was overcooked slightly. Stewed Goose w/ Pickled Cabbage (7.5/10) - This was one of our centerpieces that needed a large group. Honestly the goose meat was nothing special, but the soup and cabbage were delightful. Sautéed Razor Clams w/ Young Chives (8.5/10) - Many people considered this the best dishes of the night. Along with the spicy conch, I would have to agree. Plump and tender razor clams stir fried together with young chives is fantastic. Sautéed Lamb Chops w/ Cumin (7.5/10) - Not as good as the version from Fu Run back in the days, but still quite delicious. Green Chili Pepper w/ Dry Bean Curd (7.5/10) - Simple yet satisfying. Good texture to the bean curd. I would prefer more heat though. starter. Stir Fried Eel w/ Chili Pepper (5/10) - Recommended by the waitress again. This time, not so liked by the group. Wasn't bad, just nothing special for the price. Deep Fried Shisamo (7/10) - If you like smelts, these are good and fried to a crisp with a spicy kick. Greedy Bullfrog (7.5/10) - If you like a hint of seafood flavor with your chicken in a spicy broth, then give this item a try. Honestly, tender and delicious. Braised Pig Knuckle in Brown Sauce (4/10) - Looked so inviting when it arrived at the table, but this was the biggest disappointments of the night. The meat was too lean and dry. Spicy Lamb Scorpion Pot (7.5/10) - Not sure why "scorpion" in the name, but none in sight. Wish there was a little more meat on the bones, but flavor was on point. Fried Eggs w/ Chopped Chinese Toon Leaves (6/10) - Not my cup of tea since I like my eggs super fluffy and airy. Some people did enjoy it though. In the end, we all thought that not too many dishes completely blew us away, but definitely a good solid place where we would gather for a very reasonably priced meal every once in a while.

Located on the quieter side of Flushing's Main Street, Li's Garden (李家园私房菜) is one of the…read moreneighborhood's most authentic Chinese places and just a stone's throw away from Queens Botanical Garden. When they're on point, they're a really quality spot but when they're off, they're really off. Their inconsistency has been frustrating because it's never a guarantee on what one will get. Despite the small interior, they've managed to bring in large round tables for groups and and a handful of four tops for medium sized groups. It is both dingy and divey, which is usually my kind of place. The bathrooms are a bit unsightly but certainly not surprising. There is usually one wall mounted air conditioner handling the ventilation, which still ends up being stuffy most of the time anyway. The food is mainly focused on northern specialties, but the menu spans into central Chinese with a smattering of Sichuan dishes. Like many uber authentic spots, their specials are scribbled on paper pinned along the wall and the menu has an extensive selection of so many items. Their sweet and sour pork (锅包肉) is definitely the real deal, which reminds me almost of the tang-soo yuk of Korean-Chinese cuisine and a complete departure from the starchy, syrupy, American-Chinese version. The fried yellow croaker (干炸小黄鱼) is surprisingly light, which is the case for their fried quail (爆炒鹌鹑). The cumin lamb (孜然羊排) is outstanding and is a must for anyone who enjoys lamb meat with a big kick. The rest of the food has been a crapshoot. The good news is that the portions are large and the prices are fair but some of the dishes are a little bit too oily for my taste. Presentation is on point and I'd recommend avoiding delivery / takeout since the in-dining experience is usually their best bet. The least surprising thing is the service is really tough at times. Speaking Mandarin is almost essential but even in doing so, I've been met with a lot of snappiness from the staff. It's always been one of their biggest challenges, especially on the phone. Li's has so much potential to be one of the upper echelon places if they just worked on their food execution and service. They've managed to stay afloat for the last decade plus, so I'm hoping things will improve sooner than later. __________ My photos: https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lis-garden-%E6%9D%8E%E5%AE%B6%E5%9B%AD%E7%A7%81%E6%88%BF%E8%8F%9C-flushing?userid=ysCBsXWPB-LAiewVS3jZfQ

3.75 Located on the corner of Bdway and Whitney Ave, nearby…read moretrain stop- Elmhurst Ave, meter street parking mostly. No frills. Attentive service. Restroom available. Good over rice deals, slightly lower price during their lunch hours. Tried a few, some hits and misses for us. Some picks which we liked are pork with bamboo shoots, beef with bittermelon, fried fish fillets, salty fish and chicken fried rice. Pork with scallion chilli was good, at less spicy level for me. Beef chow fun was ok. Three cup chicken wasn't for me, plain with slightly gingery flavor, need to have basil with each bite, small bone pieces (be careful); and Beef stew meat wasn't tender, tough and chewy. Have been here for larger family get togethers and enjoyed the food then as well.

I have been to these places 3-4 times. Food have always been good and certainly worth the money. It…read moreis fast and complimentary tea is wonderful. The mapo tofu we tried today wasnt able to match the perfect taste of the one we tried months ago. But it is still better than otner places.. One thing is for sure we will come back for more.

I decided to try this restaurant because of the options provided and the food looked great from…read moreother people's pictures. When I walked in, I saw signs that said $9.99 and to pay first. They only accept cash. They asked me if I was dining in or taking to go, and gave me a tray with a container with white rice. Since there were many food choices and everything looked appetizing, I took some time to decide what to get. I'm not sure if that annoyed the employees serving the food because I felt watched and judged. I felt like they gave me smaller portions than other people. The service was not the best, which is understandable, it's pretty cramped in the serving area. There were some tables and chairs but they got taken pretty quickly when I went, so I took my food to go. I opted for the soup. The food was okay, but it was nice to try this place once.

Recommend this place if you like affordable Chinese takeout and a variety of dishes that could fill…read moreyou up. Like how it's written outside, it's pretty straightforward -- 4 choices & a soup. Come here with my family for a super filling cheap eat once in a while when I'm in the Flushing area. The people adding the side dishes into your box are pretty attentive and I've never had a problem with getting the right choice. The side dishes are super flavorful and filling. It is takeout quality and the food is greasy, like other people mention. There are definitely better quality food out there. But then again, for people who can't afford to spend a lot for meals and want something decently yummy -- this is great, even a lifesaver. Portions are generous and resemblant of a Chinese meal at home with rice and sidedishes, a sense of normalcy despite turbulence. I embrace it and I think they're doing great. I personally think the meal is quite good when it comes together at the end. The rice helps to counterbalance the grease.

Don't be tricked by the looks for this spot got some great food. Lamb meat noodle soup was amazing…read more I heard the owners make the soup fresh from the morning. The next dish I rave is the sweet and sour crispy fish, "松鼠鱼", fried to the point where I basically eat the bones that are thin. There are many other great food, just gotta be willing to try it. For service, this place isn't that big, the staff very friendly.

We walked in & were seated immediately were grateful for the unexpected pot of tea we were given to…read moreenjoy while we read the rather extensive menu. Service was casual & pleasant enough considering our language barriers. The portions were much bigger than we anticipated for the reasonable prices. We had to ask for boxes because the leftovers were not going to waste! 1. The cumin crusted lamb was UNREAL. It must have been deep fried for the meat to be that succulent & the cumin seeds to be crisped but not scorched. I am OBSESSED with this dish & am going to try to recreate it at home. We ate the cold leftovers hours later and haven't stopped talking about this dish. 2. I LOVED the black fungus cold salad with cilantro & sesame oil & my husband who is not a fan of that mushroom normally was very impressed with this example. I have thought of this salad daily since eating it. 3. I ordered the pig ear and that was the one dish that was fine but nothing special...I just like the texture. We had no room to try some of the unique desserts but we will be back next time we're in the state!

This place is super hard to find, so travelers beware! I had to circle the block at least twice in…read moreorder to even find the entrance. It's really tucked away in an innocuous corridor-like space. Upon entering, there's the additional challenge of finding the right restaurant. There are multiple restaurants occupying the same space, and this one is kind of sandwiched in between two others. The concept is kind of reminiscent of a hawker food center, but there's a lot less space. You order, pay, and once they finish cooking your food, they put it on a tray for you to bring back to your seat. It definitely isn't the cleanest nor largest of spaces and I ended up having to share a small table with a neighboring grandfather. All good though, as most people are really just minding their own business and it's not too awkward. The fish balls are pretty delicious. Super simple, but they have a variety that they put in their soup. Sometimes, though, simple is best! Add on the super low price and it's definitely worth the try!

great prices, good food. very local hole in the wall spot. items comprise of mostly noodles with…read moreintestines/offal, homemade fuzhou fish balls, and veggies. prices are super darn great. no tax needed. there is siracha and soy sauce/vinegar stuff in the handoff section if you need just a little extra thing. ive come here a couple of times now and enjoy the food as this reminds me of what my parents made me when i was young! great portions, pricing and must try if you want some non oily soothing stuff!

Wow! Ocean Bay Seafood Restaurant is now open 10am everyday for dim sum! Yay! so happy because I…read morelove dim sum Definitely recommend Ocean Bay Seafood Restaurant to family and friends. We came for dim sum and stayed for lunch. I loved that the rice rolls were made only if someone ordered them. My fav is the shrimp rice roll. The shrimp rice crepe wrapped me in its warm embrace while the fresh shrimp was almost crunchy, steamed just right. The chicken feet will always be one of my favorite dishes, they marinate it well and it's usually very flavorful. Our seafood chow fun was very well made, fresh rice noodle with shrimp, scallops, squid and other seafood cooked just right. The chefs here are spot on every time in taste, texture and the degree to which everything should be cooked to perfection. It's always a joy to feast here for celebrations, family dinners and everything in-between. Two thumbs up! Ocean Bay Seafood Restaurant is definitely a hidden gem and consistently brings amazing comfort food to all who crave an exciting foodie adventure.

We stopped by Ocean Bay Restaurant for Sunday dim sum. The menu has all the typical dim sum…read morefavorites, and everything we ordered was satisfying. My favorite was the shrimp cheung fun--it's one of my go-to dim sum dishes, and this one did not disappoint. We also ordered from the menu the pan-fried noodles with beef, which came in a surprisingly large portion and was very tasty. Service was quick, and the food arrived without much wait. One thing to note is that the dining room feels a bit tight, especially with the traditional dim sum carts moving around the aisles. Parking was easy since there's free parking nearby, which is definitely a plus. Overall, while Ocean Bay wouldn't be my first choice for Sunday dim sum, it's a solid option if you're in the area or craving dim sum without a long wait.

This small Chinese takeout has the best takeout food in New York this small Chinese take out has…read morethe best food in New York. Every dish is always fresh and delicious. Located in Flushing Queen

Food is always fresh the service is great and they are very nice people. Been ordering from them…read moreover 10yrs!

This new restaurant on College Point at the corner of Maple has no English sign…read more Even the door way is confusing. While the entrance on College Point once you enter there is two doors; take the left door. Then inside you are faced with are steps going up and down. I took the wrong one and went up; you have to go down. Decro is minimal. The menu is at the cashier station. U was here for takeout today and the selections are standard and price are recentable. Today I ordered the meat with rice (Taiwanese style) and boiled dumplings. The dumplings were over cooked but good. The Taiwanese near & rice was a little dry but good. Over all I would return and try their special dishes that some customers were eating.

I went here for dinner on a weekday night, initially the restaurant was empty, which worried me…read more But while I was eating there were a few other customers that came here for dinner. Note, they have a C sanitary rating. I dined downstairs so I was more near the kitchen. Food arrived to the table nice and hot. Downstairs dining seemed a bit more darker than upstairs. We were given a starter small dish of pickles. We ordered: Mapo tofu- Not too spicy but just enough to give you a kick. Very aromatic and flavorful and I found 3 different types of spices/peppers used. Probably one of the top mapo tofu dishes I've had so far that I can tolerate, goes great with rice (this girl consumed 2 bowls of rice in one sitting) 5/5 Salt pepper squid- very crisp and very hot (temperature), proceed with utmost caution when eating. Good amount of seasoning 5/5 3 cup chicken- chicken was tender and flavorful 4/5 Scallion beef- pretty standard, a lot of red onions compared to scallions. Still an overall good dish 4/5 Shredded pork with bean curd- in addition to shredded pork and tofu it also comes with slices of celery mixed in. Decent dish 3/5 Despite the sanitary rating, the service was efficient and the food was good! Location is a bit out of the way for me, but if you're in the area it's worth a try.