Best of the Best in Central Queens
What this foodstroll is
Our favorite things to do, see, and eat in Central Queens.
Why this foodstroll works
Central Queens is home to one of NYC’s great cultural enclaves - the Latin section of Jackson Heights. It’s also located equidistant between Flushing Meadows Corona Park and LaGuardia Airport, so activities like The New York Hall of Science, Queens Zoo, Queens Museum, and airplane spotting can all be done in a single afternoon. But if all you do is visit the food spots, the vibrant street scenes along Roosevelt and 37th Avenues will make your trip worthwhile.
Strolling
Flushing Meadowns Corona Park and all its attractions are a 30 minute walk from the food spots, as is LaGuardia. As always, proper equipment is recommended, which in this case is strollers and scooters, especially if you intend to walk between the park, LaGuardia, and the food spots. No matter what, allow for some time to take in the neighborhood itself, and be sure to arrive hungry.
Jackson Heights is nearer the the West side of Corona Park, which includes the Zoo, Museum, and Hall of Science. The Unisphere, built to represent the theme of global interdependence for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, is a good place to start.
The Queens Zoo is small and can be walked in under an hour, and they have some really cool animals such as American Bison, Pumas, Andean Bears, and a Bald Eagle. If you’re willing to walk across to the east side of the park, the Botanical Garden is also a nice destination.
The Queens Museum is also small and makes for a great addition to any other Queens adventure. Admission to the museum is free, but donations are welcome. The Zoo, Museum, and New York Hall of Science are all within five minutes of each other.
Central Queens seems to have some variation of BBQ on every block. No matter what you’re doing, you won’t go hungry.
The Jackson Heights Historic District was developed from 1910-1950 and is one of the earliest neighborhoods to introduce “garden apartments”, six story block wide apartment complexes that focus on large interior courtyards. You can’t see the courtyards from the street, but the Georgian, Tudor, Gothic, Italian Renaissance, and Romanesque facades are on full display. For a particularly pleasant experience, stroll along 34th Avenue between 78th and 88th street, a section that is closed to traffic 7days/week.
Our affection for Queen’s street art scene is no secret, and Jackson Heights has some of our favorite. Nearly all of it reflects the integration and multiculturalism the borough is famous for.
The Louis Armstrong House in Corona, Queens was home to the "foremost genius of American jazz" for thirty years until his death in 1971. From outside it looks to be a normal early 20th century home, but it is also a museum, gifted to NYC in 1983 upon the death of Armstrong’s widow. You can schedule visits Thursday - Saturday in advance.
The best plane spotting in NYC is just a 20 minute walk from the food spots. It’s one of our favorite things to do in Central Queens. For more info check out Plane Spotting and Pakistani Food.
Food Spots
1. Urubamba
Urubamba is the best traditional Peruvian restaurant in Queens. It’s family friendly and they have plenty of indoor and outdoor dining.
Pulpo A La Parrilla is baby octopus alongside Choclo, or what Americans might imagine to be corn from Jack And The Beanstalk.
Tamal Criollo (tamale) is a classic Peruvian starter.
You can’t go wrong with anything in the Pescados Mariscos section of the menu, but the Pescado a lo Macho is our favorite.
Aside from ceviche, Lomo Saltado is as Peruvian as it gets. Why more cultures don’t use french fries to soak up excess meat drippings is something we can’t understand.
Seco de Cabrito con Frijoles is a goat stew with yucca, beans, and rice. Next to Lomo Saltado, it’s our second favorite non-seafood dish at Urubamba.
La Boina Roja has the best traditional Colombian food in the area, and since that area is NYC’s Little Colombia, it’s some of the best in the city.
The Bandeja Campesina, or Colombian plate, is a deal at $17. It includes pork belly, round steak, chorizo, rice, beans, avocado, a plantain, an egg, and salad.
The Filete de Robalo Costablanca is a family favorite. It’s a filet of sea bass and shrimp, smothered in white sauce, with plantains on the side.
If forced to choose, our favorite dish at La Boina would be the Churrasco de Pollo al Labrador. It’s perfectly barbecued boneless chicken legs, served with the classic Colombian treat - a cheese stuffed plantain.
Lengua, or tongue dishes, are popular items on the menu. The most traditional preparation is Lengua a la Criolla, or tongue served in criolla, the famous Colombian red sauce.
There isn’t much not to like at La Boina, and it always receives high praise from our kids.
La Nueva Bakery specializes in Colombian and Argentinian goodies. They fresh bake Alfajores, Milhojas, and many other traditional South American pastries and confections.
Two of our favorites are Alfajores de Maizena, an Argentinian alfajor made with dulce de leche, and Pasta Frola de Manzana, a South American type of Apple Pie often prepared with guava paste as well as fresh apples.
Transportation
Jackson Heights is served by the 7, E, F, M, and R lines at Roosevelt Ave – Jackson Heights. Two hour metered parking is possible Monday-Saturday in Jackson Heights and on Sundays meters are suspended, but finding a space can be competitive.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park can be easily walked to from the 7 line 111th Street stop. There is a dedicated parking lot at the Hall of Science for $6/day and several free parking lots scattered around the park including those that serve the Queens Museum and Queens Zoo.