Tianjin

This is the best-​kept secret in Flushing’s Chinatown. It’s so good that I actually hesitate to write about it because I don’t want to increase the chances of them selling out of food before I get there! They do one thing only – soy sauce marinaded meats – and they do it exceptionally well. Saying «soy sauce marinaded» doesn’t do it justice. Whatever magic they work on the meat, it always comes out tender, succulent, and bursting with smoky flavor. They apply this method to all sorts of cuts of meat. We usually purchase a whole rabbit and a whole chicken, which they helpfully cut up for you when you order. I’m not a huge fan of rabbit, since I don’t like the gaminess of the meat, but even I have to admit it’s pretty tasty. The chicken though is my all-​time favorite. So delicate yet complex, and even the white meat is moist. In addition to those two, they also have pig trotters, beef tendon, duck wings, and more, all for fairly reasonable prices.
It’s very easy to miss this place, as it’s just a tiny takeout operation (located right next to the popular Fu Run), but give this place a visit and you will be richly rewarded. There’s no seating so prepare to bring your meats home with you, and don’t come too late at night or they might run out of what you want. That happened to us once, and we were devastated. My family is so addicted to the meats here that it’s a regular stop every time we come to Flushing, and it makes for a delicious week of meals after our trip.

Obscure little shop in Flushing that specializes in traditional slow-​cooked Chinese foods.
Hard to explain, but let me try: They use a special kind of broth to cook various foods. Some will call it soy sauce/​special marinade because of the color, but this does not do it justice. There are many different spices in the savory broth, and the food is slow cooked in this broth for many, many hours until it completely absorbs the succulent flavors.
I’ve enjoyed the tofu, boiled eggs and peanuts. My parents love the pig feet. If you get here late in the day, they may run out of the eggs or other popular items.
My one gripe is that the eggs are so tiny! I could finish one in two bites. I guess they shrink when they are cooked for so many hours, but my mom has also made the eggs at home, and they don’t shrink. Maybe it was just the one batch I had. It tasted a bit too salty, as well. That delicate balance of saltiness is hard to achieve in this kind of cooking.
Definitely worth a quick detour two blocks from Main Street!

I was introduced to this place by my boyfriend’s Taiwanese parents. They know where all the good hole-​in-​the-​walls are at. Everyone should know about this place. Instead of roasted meats, you can buy soy sauce marinated meats which is even better. The little whole chicken we bought was so juicy and tender. It tasted great even left in the fridge for a day and then microwaved. Will be back to buy more meat.

The meats they sell here are not smoked. They are all boiled in marinade that is just awesome. I usually pick up their pig ears and make a cold salad with hot pepper oil. My toddlers love their pig trotters!

This place has great smoked whole chicken. Very smokey, very good.

Tried their smoked rabbit meat here too. I know. It seems like animal cruelty! But it tastes as tender as dark chicken meat. If you are up for exotic treat, go for it!