4/5 spicy tuna roll- mild, has a distinct smell, unlike that of regular canned tuna but still…read morereally good 4/5 squid rolls- extremely mild, really good altho I find the squid a bit too chewy 4/5 kkaktugi- spicy, very fermented but not extremely so

Friday evening around 6:30p. Ordered takeout. Roughly a 15 minute wait. Food was alright. Wasn't…read morebad, but also nothing spectacular.

This appears to be a new concept for NYC with hanfu experience Chinese dining. You come here to see…read morepop-op dance performances (starting after 7pm) during your meal. There's an option to rent Chinese hanfu costumes to eat in. We arrived for a 6:30pm Friday reservation (very easy to do this either online or by calling). The performances started around 7:15 or so, and last for a few minutes at a time, with breaks in between. I recommend to request a table on the lower level in order to see. You order on an ipad, and some of the items come with options to specify spicy level and even "less oil" or "less salt" which we picked. After we submitted our order, a server came to our table to confirm about preparation preferences. We explained to her that we like our spice & oil levels toned down compared to typical Sichuan food (my family & I are Vietnamese) and she understood right away. I've never had a server in a Chinese restaurant ask questions like those before so it was a nice touch! *Garlic Flavor Grill Fish: This is served in a large heated platter and includes wide potato noodle, mushrooms, and other veggies. The garlic flavor goes so well with white rice. The fish was tasty but I will admit it contained a fair amount of bone. *Dry Pot Cauliflower: This came with pieces of pork and was quite delicious, with a slightly spicy Sichuan seasoning. *Sliced Pork: This was tossed with bell peppers, with typical Sichuan seasoning. The pork belly was very thinly sliced which gave it an almost crunchy texture after it had been stir-fried. Based on my preference, I would certainly not come here to eat all the time because it seemed to be a bit of a "novelty" experience, and pricier food than some places in Flushing. There were a fair number of non-Asian customers which says a lot about authenticity when you're in Flushing. However if you travel to Flushing this is a must-do experience at some point! I am especially impressed by the customer service where they ask customers if the need spice / oil toned down.

Really enjoyed this spot that my friend treated me to! Quaint and cozy, with seating that is…read moreintimate but spacious. We got to see some performances during dinner also, which were great. Food was delicious and lots of yummy spicy dishes. Definitely a 10/10!

I enjoyed my snack time in Star Cafe, Fresh Meadows. The chicken nuggets tasty, and the mango fruit…read moretea is incredibly refreshing.The handmade snowflake crisps from Star Cafe are amazing. I tried the cranberry and blueberry flavors, they are a perfect mix of chewy, crispy and sweet. I was so impressed that I grabbed a box for my friends to try too.

Staying at the Courtyard Mariott hotel while I'm in New York, and the Star Cafe is just a walk next…read moredoor! I saw it when I first got here and thought it'd be a nice place to go to, and I was right! I really liked the peaceful vibe of the small cafe, and the workers there were really nice people. I ordered the Taro Milk Tea, two Spam and Egg Onigiris, and some fries and onion rings. All the food tasted really good, and the prices were good as well!

I love this place. The desserts are innovative--every time I go, it transports me to Singapore. I…read morewish there were a place like this in Connecticut. We tried the mango sago, pistachio milk ball soup, brown sugar souppie (which is like Japanese pancakes), and the strawberry pudding jelly bowl. The sago and the pudding jelly were my favorites. Until next time!!

Jin Xi is a charming little spot in Flushing with Asian desserts and decently-priced lunch options…read more We were looking for a dessert spot that also had savory lunch options and Jin Xi came up in our search. We were particularly interested in their Lunch Combo Series, which is available from 11 am to 4 pm daily. There are two options to choose from - there is a designated list and you can choose one rice dish, one "syrup", and one drink. The other option is one souffle, sandwich, or appetizer, and one "syrup", and one drink. I was very confused with what the "syrup" options were at the time, but realized later it was a dessert We got: * Lunch Combo Series 1) - Thai Pork Neck Rice, Peach Gum Soup, Tangerine Peel Lemon Tea $14.95 - The Husband really enjoyed the pork neck with the purple rice. The broccoli was just steamed though, so there was nothing special there. And it also came with a corn salad. He thought the Peach Gum Soup was a bit different but liked it nonetheless. And the Tangerine Peel Lemon Tea was good too. * Lunch Combo Series 1) - Curry Fried Pork Rice, Pandan Pudding, Passion Fruit Tea - My fried pork with curry sauce was enjoyable too. I liked that it came with a purple rice, which was a nice touch. Mine also came with steamed broccoli and a corn salad. I do wish there was a bit more curry sauce though. The Pandan Pudding was yummy and I really enjoyed my Passion Fruit Tea. We found the Lunch Combo Series is a real great option since you get a main, dessert and a drink for less than $15! * Thai Spicy Coconut Cooking Pot, Beef Slices $14 - The Little Guy liked this dish, but it was spicier than he expected and thought there would be a stronger coconut milk taste to it. * Thai Pandan Pudding $9 - The Little Gal thought her dessert was pretty good. It's served with a white sauce that you'll need to pour over the dish. I think getting a few desserts and sharing them would be a great option here. Overall, we enjoyed our visit to Jin Xi. I know most people visit for their desserts, but their savory options are worth checking out too. The wait may seem a bit longer for their hot items as other Yelpers had mentioned since they use an electric stove instead of a gas one.

Finally, in a sea of bubble tea, I have my preferred drink option: limeade. I'm just more of a sour…read moreacidic refresher type of guy, so whenever my gf is in the mood for bubble tea, I'm left stranded with something thicker than what I'm in the mood for-- but not anymore! I made it a point to have their Crispy Pork Banh Mi before writing a review and while I thought I'd fall in love with it, it's good but not my taste. I was imagining more of a batter fried pork strips situation, a more westernized method of frying meats, but it was the style of pork chunks that's hyper crispy and puffy at the top and layered with gelatinous fat. It was tasty for what it was and not greasy, just not my cup of tea. It's a particular style of pork-- I'd google "heo quay" if you wanna see what I'm talking about. Also I've noticed it's popular with Hispanic males-- I think it has to do with the gristly fat texture. I guess we share that cultural preference. Yay world. I did however fall head over heels for their classic Banh mi. Heavy on the pate which I love, and a fluffy crispy bread, with the right meat-to-bread ratio. My gf took a bite not expecting much and her expression was pure surprise and delight. It's her favorite place to get a Banh mi for the bread now and I'd have to agree. It's a very reliable representation of what makes a Banh mi stand out from other sandwiches. And then there's the vempanadas. It's short for "Viet empanadas" and arguably what made them blow up. My mom made a lot of these growing up and my mom is regarded as the best cook out of like 8 kids and their children, so I like to think I have experience in this matter, and it's tastier than my mom's. To be fair, it's made fairly differently-- my mom makes it with a flakey filo-doughy crust and TBD has a softer more pliable dough-- think corn tortilla vs flour tortilla. I personally like flour tortillas more and you can fight me on that one. The filling is also more savory and rich than my mother's and the little quail egg inside is such welcomed treat. My mom's fillings are more meatball like and TBD's is pastier. Fun fact: this dish has origins tying it to France; the original dish is pate-chaud. If you google that too, you can see the evidence of a flakey texture. I will say, the first time I had it was more flavorful and I think the egg was missing the second time. And lastly I want to talk about the thing keeps me crawling back-- the ches (pudding soup). I've always had a disinterest in Vietnamese che growing up because my western palate always demanded MORE SUGAR but as I age, my tastes demand more subtlety. Che is a general term for a kind of dessert soup, with some sort of ingredient like a bean or jello as the focus and a sweetened liquid; I know "soup" is a bit of a turn off but it's really the closest English term we have. Think more like milk in cereal or melted ice cream. Is there a term for the milk in cereal? Anywho, the che ba mau is the most popular and beginner friendly, it's a mix of 3 sweet ingredients like mung bean, red bean, Pandan jelly in like coconut milk. If you're Filipino, it's the Vietnamese equivalent to Halo Halo. But what's cool about TBD is they have different kinds of lesser known ones I'm currently having fun exploring. There's a mung bean one with a thicker sweet cream on top-- reminds me pie filling. And right now I'm about to dig into a Pandan jelly, grass jelly, in coconut milk, peanuts, and shaved ice. It's a fun ass summer drink dessert. I highly recommend if you're looking for something different and refreshing this summer.

This a great place for some bahn mi. I've had the lemongrass beef one and the special…read more Lemongrass beef was flavorful but not enough beef in there for the price. Special is the traditional bahn mi and the sandwich was expected. Empanada and fried banana were good but not my cup of tea. There is a pandan grass jelly drink - a definite must! Everyone was friendly and service was pretty easy and fast. The place is small, kind of like a miniature food hall. They have a couple of seats in the front and more in the back, but I rather just take it to the park to eat or bring it home.

Excellent coffee in a lovely, clean atmosphere. Friendly staff, good condiments…read more I cannot stand bad coffee. This was what I needed!

Cute ambiance with lots of space, tables, and natural light. I loved that they have indoor &…read moreoutdoor space as well as books and games. The service was fine and there was a good selection of food and drinks. My husband got a small black coffee which he enjoyed. I ordered the Matcha Freddo. Unfortunately mine had a weak matcha flavor. I would return again to sit down and chat and perhaps order a dessert but I wouldn't order a matcha again as the flavor was too weak.

Excellent neighborhood cafe with fresh ingredients, well crafted drinks, friendly service, and…read moreamazing ambience. Breakfast omelette platters were a great value. Cold Brews were excellent. Iced Yuzu Peach Green Tea was also very refreshing. Will definitely go back to try the other items.

loveeee coming to this café. the service is great and the workers are always willing to customize…read moredrinks based on my preferences which i really appreciate. i usually stop by before or after my appts in bayside to catch up on reading, do some work, or just sit and draw with my coffee. my favorite drink on the menu is the strawberry matcha latte and i've also had them make me a matcha latte mixed with chai. that's my go-to drink but it isn't on the menu. the back room is beautiful!!! it's full of natural light and greenery in every corner. it's become my sanctuary to slow down & reset!

5 stars for me. Just go in and enjoy. I was more than satisfied with the food. I now have this…read moreplace pinned on my map.

I've been regularly going to Bukas since my review shortly after they opened, and they've…read moredefinitely worked out all the kinks since then! It remains as popular as ever, especially on weekends, but they're very efficient at keeping the line moving without losing the personal touch that makes Bukas such a great place. Even on a busy Saturday or Sunday morning when the line is out the door, I've never waited more than 10 minutes to get a drink. The drinks are as tasty as ever, particularly the iced ones. The bukas na is still my favorite, especially with the tultul salt scraped over the top straight from the block. It's a small personal touch that they've kept since opening and one of the things that makes the drinks at Bukas feel so special. The mangga street cold brew has also been a standout, with mango foam that tastes incredibly fresh and like real mango rather than artificial. It's great to see how much Bukas has grown while still keeping the same warmth and attention to detail that made me love it in the first place. It's easy to see why it continues to be such a neighborhood hit in Elmhurst!