Marathon Cafe
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OK, I'm finally ready to give my review! I moved to Little Neck earlier this year and have been coming to Marathon Cafe pretty often. I was ready to give it 5 stars after my first few visits, but I wanted to try as many dishes as possible before rushing a review. After several visits, I'd confidently give it 4.5 stars. Here's everything I've tried and what I'd recommend: Beef Macaroni with Egg: A million times YES!!! Believe the hype because it's every bit as good as everyone says! It's the ultimate comfort food. The cellentani pasta is an elite choice, cooked perfectly al dente and coated in a sweet, thick, tangy tomato sauce that's flavorful without being overly acidic. This is an absolute must order! Creamed Corn with Fried Fish: Don't knock it until you try it! The creamed corn is thick, smooth, and naturally sweet, while the fish is perfectly crispy without being overcooked. It sounds like an unusual combination, but somehow it works incredibly well together. Tom Yum Seafood Noodle Soup: The broth is tangy, slightly sweet, and very comforting. I personally would've liked it a bit spicier, but it was still delicious. It also comes with large shrimps and mussels. Rice Rolls with Fish Balls & Turnip: A Cantonese staple done right! The rice rolls are soft and bouncy, served with the perfect balance of peanut sauce and hoisin. The turnip is tender, and everything comes together really well. Bolo Yau (Pineapple Bun with Butter): The pineapple bun is warm, fluffy, and flaky. Honestly, it's delicious even on its own. The thick slab of butter melts quickly, which makes it a little too oily... Drinks: The iced Hong Kong milk tea and the red bean ice are classic Cantonese staples. You really can't come here without ordering one. What I wasn't crazy about: Lava French Toast: Too crunchy and slightly burnt. It tasted over caramelized, with just too much going on. Not for me! Thick Egg & Spam Sandwich: Nothing special. It was pretty bland, and honestly, it's something you could easily make at home. Not worth the $7. Scallion Chicken over Rice: I don't really understand the hype for this one... The poached chicken itself was a little bland and could've used a little more salt. The ginger scallion sauce usually makes this dish, but here it did the opposite. The scallions were chopped too thick instead of finely minced, so all I tasted was scallion, nothing else. :/ Fried Pork Chop & Cheese with Curry Sauce: It was just OK. I wasn't a fan of the curry sauce. What I would recommend instead is ordering the fried pork chop on the side with their pepper sauce. I paired them together myself, and it was much better! For now, I've tried everything that was on my list, but I'll definitely keep coming back for my favorites. One thing I really appreciate is how consistent they've been with every visit. The portions are generous for the price, and overall it's a place I'd highly recommend if you're looking for solid Hong Kong style comfort food.
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.
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. Laid back place and authentic. 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.
My new favorite spot. The moment you walk in, you'll feel transported back to a Hong Kong cafe--no frills, just good food. 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. 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.
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.
It's been opened for more than 3 years but it's my first time visiting. Plenty of street side residential parking. It's a small store on a side street. It's easily missed if you don't pay attention. There wasn't much pedestrian traffic either. Business is mainly depends on spread of words from returning customers. Right opposite from the cafe is Jmart Chinese grocery store which is convenient. Cafe closes 6 pm daily. Self service. No tips needed. Service: wait staff was very friendly. Food time was quick. Owners stopped by the table and started conversation. It was karaoke time when we walked in. Food: - their milk tea was highly recommended to us. So four of us tried the hot and cold milk tea and hot milk tea / coffee combo. All of them were very rich in flavor and smooth, exactly what a milk tea should be. $4.75 for a 12 oz hot milk tea is reasonable. - French toast with peanut butter: Love the syrup that it came with. It has a distinct refreshing flavor with delighted sweetness. Definitely different from other syrup from other places which is just pure sweetness. Owner told us the syrup was imported from England. Highly recommended! - turnip, fish ball, rice roll: 3 in one bowl. Portion is enough to share - scallion chicken: It was recommended to me also. It was indeed very tender and flavorful. $24 for half a chicken with one quart of soup. Conclusion: will definitely return. Even just stopping by to pick up a flavorful milk tea which is cheaper than a sugary bubble tea.
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!!
Excellent Hong Kong restaurant. Self serving and very inexpensive, but food is great especially chicken and French toast.
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!
Ooooooooweeee! This is kinda like a hole in the wall spot located right on the corner. You walk in and it smells like cat piss ngl. 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. We got here when it just opened and it was already somewhat busy with takeout orders along with people seated ready to eat. You order and pay in the front first and then they will bring you the food.
We've always been on short end of the stick during our attempts to dine here--it's usually packed during weekend lunch. But we finally dragged ourselves to beat the rush and it didn't disappoint. It's hard to find HK-style cha chan tangs in NYC, especially in Queens. 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. 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.
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!
This Hong Kong style cafe is a hidden gem located in Little Neck. The atmosphere provided a cozy, casual and clean feel as we took our first few steps through the front door. 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.
3 years ago
Parking is not so great. Don't expect plate settings, silver utensils and a grand entrance but dammm the food is good. This is one of those great finds that you want to it a secret. I ordered a few dishes and every serving was delicious. I have a bit of a sweet tooth so i recommend trying out their lava toast. Don't go this Saturday because I'll be going there again and don't want to until you finishing eating to get a seat. Thanks. read more
3 years ago
Very authentic Hong Kong style teahouse. We ordered beef macaroni with egg, Tom yum soup with rice noodles, and milk tea also. All the food was great and all the workers there were very friendly. Lots of street parking in that area. read more
Self service, very local with few tables and can be pack during lunch time. The lady is very nice, the decoration and everything is very unique and reminds me of Hong Kong. Their milk tea is not bad, not too sweet. The toast looks appealing, but really, really not sweet and maybe need to eat with syrup? (toasted bread with whipped cream in the center and cocoa powder on top) We ordered couple of dishes and we all thought they tasted below our expectations :( The bolo fish bun has few pieces of fried fish, I think the bun is overly toasted as seen in the pic. The fries is not salty and crispy enough. Overall the food does looks good, nice portion, but their flavor is not strong. read more
2 years ago
Great small Cantonese (HK style) cafe, service is quick and server is very friendly. Street parking is easy to find. Easy to read menu. Scallion chicken is one of the popular dish (meat is soft and moist) and I have no doubt about it. Beef stew noodle has the right amt of spicy, meat is tender and has big chucks of meat, HK milk tea hit the spot. I will come back to try other dishes next time. read more
4 years ago
Popped into this new neighborhood spot to have a snack and a bubble tea . Firstly , the interior is very clean and decor is super cute and kitschy .. a lot of personality and very welcoming . I chose the passion fruit bubble tea . Not too sweet but refreshing and very tasty . The owners are so sweet , nice and just very down to earth and helpful . As I was waiting for my tea , the owner told me about their other spot , Simple , which is located in Chinatown . Based on my experience here , I'll be checking out Simple as well . This place has some good options but they will be expanding their menu. Definitely recommend Marathon Cafe and I hope they do well in the neighborhood! 10/10 read more
I'm so happy this HK style cafe opened near us, the food was all very good! The classic HK milk tea was perfect, cheong fun (rice roll) fresh, and pork chop rice is just *chefs kiss*. We had the black pepper sauce on the side and finished the whole sauce cuz it's so flavorful and tasty. Volcano toast is quite heavy, could only take a few bites but that was delicious too. I hope this cute family owned business does well, they deserve it! read more
Such a great small scale cafe that churns out consistently good food! I tried this once when my husband picked up the bolo burger and katsu as takeout and was wowed by the flavorfullness. This past weekend we went to do dine in and it was a great experience. The inside is charming and feels nostalgic like things have been unchanged despite the times. There are clear regulars dining there even at off peak (read: 2:30 pm) dining hours. The staff greeted us warmly and answered all our questions and made recommendations without hesitation, reassuring us we would like this or that. And they were right! We tried the lemon coffee for the first time and my husband liked it so much, he tried to recreate it at home the next day! We ordered some dishes to share - bolo burger, egg and spam sandwich, and the pork knuckles over rice - which were crowd pleasers. The hk toast was the one underwhelming item, but it may be partially due to us letting it sit too long while we ate our savory dishes first, so it got soggy. We ended with the hokkaido egg tarts, which were miniature but a perfect size for dessert. Loved the variety of flavors, but would have been happy with just the original bc that was my fave! Will be coming back here for the friendly service and delicious hk cafe style food! read more
Business owner information
Mara L.
Thank you very much
3 years ago
2 years ago
Love this mom and pop feel HK restaurant cafe. It's self service so you can sit anywhere you'd like and order/pay at the register. Not much of decor but maybe that's the point-- the feed speaks for itself. They have a paper menu plus specials on the walls. I got the pork chop over rice (huge portion) and my husband got the beef tongue spaghetti. We also got red bean ice and I've Hokkaido cheesecake. Everything was delicious which is a sense of HK flavor. Will definitely return for their breakfast /noodle soups read more
Business owner information
Mara L.
Thank you very much
2 years ago
4 years ago
Truly Hong Kong style deliciousness! We came here for lunch and it was so good that I ordered take out for dinner as well! There were not a lot of selections on the menu but we enjoyed every item we ordered. I miss drinking HK style milk tea so much and I was so happy I could have one here! The beef tongue in black pepper sauce on spaghetti tasted just like what we had in HK. The fish in cream corn sauce over rice was our favorite too. We also had beef, onsen egg with macaroni in tomato soup and a French toast - both were very yummy. Will definitely come back again! read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
4 years ago
Saw this new place and wanted to try; it's definitely more of an Americanized Hong Kong restaurant. They don't have the usual Hong Kong dishes like tomato baked pork chop over rice, but it was still pretty good! The milk tea is approved by me! (Being from Hong Kong myself) Although it is on the sweeter side. They have good priced dishes with a big portion. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
The staff were incredibly friendly, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The dishes were delicious and affordable. A must-try for those craving authentic Hong Kong flavors without breaking the bank! read more
4 years ago
Very cute, casual restaurant. Perfect brunch place to enjoy with friends or family. They had a good size seating area but I got my food to go. Affordable price, good portion size and lots of variety to choose from! They take cash or credit. The person taking my order was very nice and welcoming and the service was quick! I even asked them to fill my coffee milk tea in my personal cup and they had no problem accommodating me! Definitely best Hong Kong cafe in the area! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
Great service! Awesome quality food! Lava toast was my favorite!!! Highly recommend this place! read more
4 years ago
My family and I had a great lunch at Marathon café. This is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood with Hong Kong style café,,, we had Hong Kong style, coffee, tea, and lemon, honey tea. The food that they served is fresh and large portions. We had Ahi tuna salad, creamy corn fish fillet over rice and pork chop cutlet over rice, and there were so many other items that we wanted to try but we have to wait till next time. I would recommend this place for the authentic Hong Kong style comfort foods. read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
Found out about this cafe recently and tried some of their entrees and drinks. A small selection of menu options but the food was good! The owners were really nice as well, will be coming back again! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
4 years ago
Such generous portions and an amazing staff & owner. Make sure to get the HK style milk tea. It tastes just like the ones from Hong Kong. Got the special beef tongue spaghetti and gyudon and the portions were huge. The flavors were also spot on. Make sure to stop by. It's so much more convenient than driving to flushing!! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
I was recommended this from my friends, and was very glad. This was a hole-in-the-wall, although very good. I was surprised to see how popular it was, as i had no idea this existed before. The food was amazing, my favorite was the sweet chili wings. The sauce was great. The reason this is a 4 star review is because of the service. The service was not the best, but not enough to bump it down to a 3 star. Would come again! read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
Delicious drinks, great food, good portion sizes and friendly service! Marathon Cafe is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. I especially liked their pork chop over rice (with gravy on top). Their chicken wings are pretty good too, and the wings themselves are nicely sized. Definitely recommend coming here for a casual lunch! read more
![Marathon Cafe - [From top left, clockwise] Egg sandwich, Bolo Burger, chicken wings, pork chop over rice. - Chicken Wings Near Me - Little Neck, New York](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/tOhX7SSeBfEsD5V7o7JaHw/348s.jpg "Marathon Cafe - [From top left, clockwise] Egg sandwich, Bolo Burger, chicken wings, pork chop over rice. - Chicken Wings Near Me - Little Neck, New York")
3 years ago
Food was great. The egg sandwich was big and came in a nice small box. Place was a bit small and service was great read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
This is the perfect place to go for a quick but delicious meal paired with a refreshing milk tea. The owners pay attention to quality and consistency to make sure you'll want to keep coming back. Enjoy! read more
4 years ago
Highly recommend to eat and drink Lava French Toast w/ Sweet Mascarpone Cream Chicken wings w sweet chili sauce and mozzarella cheese Salmon salad Hong Kong Style milk tea read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
More info about Marathon Cafe
46-19 Marathon Pkwy
Little Neck, NY 11362
Douglaston
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(929) 260-8887
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Marathon Cafe - chicken_wings - Updated September 2026
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