Evelyn N.

pretty limited menu but was expecting yummy food since they prob specialize in the few entrees and was not disappointed. Would definitely come back for their drinks and French toasts. Would love to try their crispy fish cream corn over rice next time. The portion sizes are very generous and shareable! The self serve is only for utensils and clean up after you finish dining and they bring your order to your table.

Tee N.

YUM. I'm so sad i didn't go into this place sooner! I always see it driving by but so glad I had the chance to try it. Paid at the cash register, they accept Apple Pay. they deliver to your table. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Laid back place and authentic.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Iced milk tea had a strong tea flavor and not watered down. Steamed rice rolls and fish balls with turnip (actually could skip the turnip) had an abundance of sauce, was delicious. The spicy beef stew wasn't spicy spicy and just enough spice where it was tangy and enjoyable. The beef was very soft and the noodles were surprisingly flavored and soft. They even gave us some pickled garnish? On the side for the soup and it tasted perfect on top of the beef and noodles. Can't wait to try the other things on the menu.

Mei L.

Excellent Hong Kong restaurant. Self serving and very inexpensive, but food is great especially chicken and French toast.

Tiffany C.

My new favorite spot. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The moment you walk in, you'll feel transported back to a Hong Kong cafe--no frills, just good food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Went midday on a post holiday and it was full of people. It was so lively with every table conversing coupled with Chinese news channels playing in the background.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You grab a table, and order from the counter. They'll bring you your food but everything else is self-serve, so no tip. Staff were friendly. Food: it was amazing! The famous Scallion chicken was perfect. Each bite was succulent and juicy, complemented with the light scallion condiment and sweet soy sauce. It also comes with a side of radish soup. Everything about this dish was homey and delicious. The other dish I got was a fatty beef with tomato-based noodle soup and an onsen egg. Classic flavors. Can't go wrong with both dishes. Portions are pretty large and I see everyone taking some food to go.

Amy W.

My friends and I came here on a Saturday afternoon around 1pm and managed to get the last available table. The place has a hole in the wall vibe and it's self serve so you'll grab a table, order in the front counter and then grab all the plates and utensils you need. They do bring to food to your table. The portions are huge for its price. My favorite was the bolo Yau. It was so crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I love that they didn't overload the butter. I'll definitely come back.

Maggie L.

So glad to have been recommended Marathon Cafe! I'm a huge fan of HK style cha chaan tang. This spot isn't too far from me, which makes it even better! Not to mention, service is super friendly and food is simple, yet delish, exactly why I love HK-style grub! Their HK milk tea, sandwiches, cheung fun and fish balls, plus soupy entrees are all amazing. Gotta mention how LOADED their sandwiches are and how unique some items are on their menu - like the bolo bau burger, which I havent tried but will some day!

Jessica B.

My family has been raving about this place for awhile. I've been wanting to see what it's about! Came on a Saturday afternoon and it was buzzing! Luckily, we grabbed the last available table for 5 people before a huge swarm of people followed. They do not have a private parking lot but we found parking in the residential area behind it (on a slope). Upon walking in, the employees do help you find a table but once you get seated, you have to obtain your own plates, utensils, and napkins. That's why there's no tip required! They do bring the food out to your table though. They are known for their scallion chicken which is so fresh, soft, and flavorful. It also comes with radish soup that's very good. The peanut butter rice rolls with fish balls were decent, but I prefer curry fish balls. We also shared two other rice dishes - the baked pork chop and the corn fish. Both were very good and the portions are huge. We also got a pineapple Bun which comes with a thick slab of butter. The outside shell was not as crispy as I would want it to be. As for the drinks, they are known for their Hong Kong Style Milk Tea which is very strong. I thought the red bean ice was ok, a bit too liquidy for me. The honey Lemon is good. Will definitely be back for their yummy chicken!!

Stanley W.

Food is decent. I enjoyed the macaroni with egg and beef (beef is fatty but good) and the pork chop over rice. I wasn't a fan of their iced hk style milk tea. A bit too strong for me. Service is amazing. The host was engaging to customers and funny if you speak Cantonese. You order food, get your own utensils and sit down. Tips is not required for sitting down.

Yvonne C.

Ooooooooweeee! This is kinda like a hole in the wall spot located right on the corner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]You walk in and it smells like cat piss ngl.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] But the food? Absolutely delish!!! The chicken rice is to die for. I've had good chicken rice before but this? Out of this world. It was so good that I had to buy 2 more to go for my parents. The filet corn on rice was freshly made piping hot. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We got here when it just opened and it was already somewhat busy with takeout orders along with people seated ready to eat.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You order and pay in the front first and then they will bring you the food.

Sharon T.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]We've always been on short end of the stick during our attempts to dine here--it's usually packed during weekend lunch.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]But we finally dragged ourselves to beat the rush and it didn't disappoint.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's hard to find HK-style cha chan tangs in NYC, especially in Queens. [[HIGHLIGHT]]By no means is it fancy on the slightest but that's the true essence of cha chan tangs--no frills, quick, and a bit dingy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My family was surprised at the large portions and at such good prices (no more than $18 being the most expensive item) that we either couldn't even finish most of the food or had to force ourselves to. I didn't love that they serve the food in plastic containers but they probably do this, expecting people to not finish and take the rest to go. I had the Tomato Beef Macaroni Soup and it was perfect for the cold, rainy day we came in on. Generous portions of beef, too. Also had a pineapple bun with butter and they both were okay. Obviously, they don't make the drinks in true HK fashion with a pantyhose but it was good for what it was. The service was nice--family run and you pay first, though I think they were a bit overstimulated by our group of 4 (which isn't big to begin with) and made a few errors on our orders, so definitely not a place to bring a large group to. In my opinion, this place is worth the commute but they're opening a location in Flushing very soon so there's no reason to make the complex travel to Little Neck.

Tsz-Cheong C.

Located on the corner of a residential area. The Marathon Cafe is a sweet little taste of the "chaan tengs" of Hong Kong. The menu is simple offering traditional style Cantonese comfort food. Their Hong Kong-style milk tea is perfectly brewed, striking an ideal balance between strong black tea and creamy evaporated milk (They use the black and white brand evaporated milk which IMHO tastes the best) My favorite entrees here are: * Beef macaroni soup with egg. Delicate cuts of beef wth a savory and velvety delicious tomato based broth. * Pork cutlet in curry sauce - the chop is moist and smothered in yellow curry on a bed of rice with broccoli and carrots * Cream corn fish - fish fried perfectly and drenched in creamy corn sauce over a bed of rice * French toast - Coated in sweet and delicious peanut butter. The portions are generous, the flavors authentic, and the prices are remarkably fair for such a nice size portion. Parking is limited in the area, and if you park way up the hilly dead end street on Beechknoll Ave, be forewarned. The hilly street is not a challenge walking down, as Miley Cyrus sang "It's the climb" The trek up was invigorating, to say the least. Halfway there, you may question all your life choices, including why you didn't just order takeout. Who knew you would be signing up for an impromptu cardio workout as it may feel like a workout, all that's missing are volunteers offering up cups of water on the walk-up. Marathon cafe is definitely worth the extra cardio and make sure you don't skip leg day at the gym as the food is simply delicious!

Jamie Z.

This Hong Kong style cafe is a hidden gem located in Little Neck. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere provided a cozy, casual and clean feel as we took our first few steps through the front door.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The owner and staffs were friendly and welcoming. We've been here 2-3 times previously and loved how there were a variety of choices to choose from, whether you want rice & noodles dishes, eastern/western foods (with a twist of hk/chinese style by using bolo sweet bun as a bun for those burgers), toast and desserts, savory snacks (e.g. thick egg sandwiches, rice rolls w. fish balls and turnips), and there is a whole page of menu dedicated to the chef's choice. My boyfriend ordered the crispy pork chop & cheese in fresh tomato sauce over rice, while I've ordered the scallion chicken over rice and the hk style milk tea. I've tried my boyfriend's dish. The crispy pork chop was absolutely my favorite. It was super crispy and tender on the inside. The tomato sauce wasn't overpowering nor too strong and adds a little sweetness to the plain white rice. The scallion chicken was juicy but it was a bit more oily than what I'm used to at home. I finished the entire bowl, though so it was definitely still good! Lastly, I wanted to try their hot hk style milk tea. It didn't disappoint because I loved it so much and would recommend others to try it. Definitely coming back again to try different menu items.

Olivia S.

For no frills Cantonese breakfast/early lunch, Marathon Cafe is the way to go if you're in the area. I've been meaning to try this place for a while and after ordering a milk tea coffee from them for to-go in the summer, I just knew I had to come back. I finally had that opportunity a few weekends ago & it was well worth it. My girl friends order the bo lor bao burgers and I had ordered the garlic eggplant over rice. We also ordered the savory rice rolls to share. First of all, the portions were HUGE - totally unexpected, but at least you get your money's worth! Second, the dishes were flavorful - yum yum yum! I'm so glad we were able to go & now I look forward to dining here again with my friends in the area!