How to do a food tour of Queens, the most diverse place on earth

Just accept that you won't be able to do it all.

Sangjien Ben, owner of Lhasa Fast Food, the 2nd-oldest Tibetan restaurant in Queens (Photo Credit: Seung Lee)

There is no place in the world where more languages are spoken than Queens, New York. You can spend months and years eating your way through the various communities here—from Little Egypt in Astoria, to Thai Town in Elmhurst, to Little Manila in Woodside, to Little Colombia in Jackson Heights, to Murray Hill’s Koreatown… The options are endless.

So when British friends asked me to take them to Queens specifically to try some Mexican food, it was helpful. There are too many options, not just in terms of cuisines but in terms of geography. The best way forward is to pick one cuisine that’s an absolute must, then find other spots in that area to broaden your horizons.

Based on the request for Mexican food, I knew we’d be eating along the 7 train. I picked 3 spots I knew well, and decided to color in the rest with a mix of old stand-bys and places I wanted to scout. In total, we visited 9 spots representing 6 countries over the course of 4 hours. If you’ve never been to Queens, or if you’re looking for an itinerary for your next visit, this is a good place to start.

Stop #1 - Bolivian Llama Party 🇧🇴

Bolivian Llama Party is one of the few Bolivian restaurants in Queens. Run by 3 brothers, they’ve become well known for their salteñas, which are a type of baked empanada with a soup-y filling. The soup consistency is achieved by rendering down cow’s foot until it becomes a jelly-like aspic, which when mixed with the other fillings and baked, reverts back to a savory stew. Similar to how soup dumplings are made.

Address: 44-14 48th Ave, Sunnyside, NY 11377

What to order: Beef salteñas are a must ($6), but if you’re hungry get the chicharron de pollo sandwich (now called the BLP Broster, $12). It’s one of my favorite fried chicken sandwiches in New York. The Api Purple Corn Ice Cream ($12 for a pint), when available, is also very delicious.

What the Brits said: “This is like a Bolivian cornish pasty.”