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Usually we go to Forest Hills Fishery on Austin St. We've never been disappointed and we buy from them 1-2 times per week. Their jumbo shrimp are great as is the salmon.
There is a seafood stand at the Jackson Heights farmers' market which has very good fish - good scallops too. However I think the market might be ending soon, I don't think they are there through the winter.
I have always had hit or miss luck with the fish markets in Flushing. One time we bought shrimp and it was great, the other time we thought it tasted like metal and threw out 2 pounds of shrimp. I'm always a little skeeved out by how low the prices are and it just seems too good to be true.
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Forest Hills Fishery
71-64 Austin St, Queens, NY 11375›16 Replies-
re: pellegrino31
EricMM
Nov 16, 2010 01:09 PM
The Asian markets are all very hit or miss when it comes to things like fish fillets and pre-frozen shrimp. Its best when shopping there to stick with things that clearly show their freshness, like whole fish (steak fish are also OK...they sell the heads separately, and you can get a good look at their quality from them), and, of course the live fish and shellfish. Forest Hills fishery can always be trusted for shrimp and high turnover fish like salmon and flounder (although I will never believe that their salmon is wild as they claim...for one thing, wild salmon is not available fresh year round...and it is never from the Atlantic, as they have told me). I once had an awful piece of monkfish though. When I mentioned it to the owner, (who knows that I know my seafood) he immediately gave me another piece for free...this one was very good. Another good place is London Lennie's, which has a retail counter. Very small selection, but excellent quality...the main place where I get salmon....its farm raised, but organic, from Ireland.
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London Lennie's
63-88 Woodhaven Blvd, Queens, NY 11374-
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re: diprey11
janie
Nov 17, 2010 06:50 AM
I thought Park's had a good selection, but the place was just so skeevy looking and smelled awful, and they just weren't very nice there that I was really turned off..and the prices were not inexpensive by any means. --that being said, I don't care for Forest Hills Fishery--the fish market on Lefferts in Kew Gardens was good for awhile, and then got not so good...there is a very nice fish market out on Willis Ave but it's very pricey--It really depends what you are looking for.
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re: pellegrino31
The Jackson Heights Farmers Market will go year round- and the fish guys from Montauk promise to be there-- go support them! I miss Marino's in Astoria, but I also have gotten good fish from the other large fish market on 30th ave in the 30's- There is also a Greek fish market around 36th Avenue and 33rd street that has a lot of whole fish at good prices.
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re: quentinC
dacoit
Nov 19, 2010 06:14 AM
According to the Farmer's Market website, confirmed by the vendors there I have spoked with:
Schedule: Sundays, June 6 through December 19, 8am-3pm
If the Montauk fish guys or others are planning to be selling their wares more or less year round somewhere else, that would be great to know.-
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re: cmk2008
Sometimes you have to circle a few times to find a spot, but never for long. It's totally worth the trip in the summer, and the fish is great, as is the turkey vendor that I've seen there. I haven't been in a few weeks, but we got turkey sausage there that was phenomenal.
I think I'm going to check it out tomorrow since my kid decided she likes fish.
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re: irishnyc
Ok here's the scoop on the Jackson Heights market-- it will run YEAR ROUND! There will be a break at christmas and new years, and the market will start up again January 9th-- some of the vendors won't be back till spring (when they actually have something to sell!) but fish and meat and some other will continue.
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re: irishnyc
Oh and the fish this week included Cod, monkfish, swordfish, lobsters hake flounder sea bass blue fish clams mussels bay scallops and sea scallops- I know I sound like a shill, but I really want these guys to be successful year round so I can get their fish for myself every week!
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re: quentinC
Thanks for the recommendation!
We went to the market on Sunday and bought swordfish. We grilled it and it was yummy! We also bought lots of veggies and apples.
It was nice to see DiPaola Turkey there too. We bought their sausage and ground turkey in Brooklyn.
Now we have great fish on Sunday too.
I'm so glad we went. Keep spreading the word!
(By the way, we did not have a problem parking)
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re: myclawyer
EricMM
Apr 30, 2008 03:31 PM
The reference for "dry" scallops was for dry-packed, not dried. Dry packed scallops are packed without liquid or additives that increase water retention. They used to be packed in bags, I don't know what now. Typical scallops are soaked in sodium tripolyphosphate or pyrophosphate, which causes them to absorb water, and they are packed in sealed plastic containers. They are awful and should be avoided...the texture is ruined, and usually the flavor too, becoming more bitter. The fish market on 63rd Drive is so-so...and definitely disappointing if you are a fan of Asian markets. Good for shrimp, but most of the fish doesn't look very fresh. You have to get there on the right day...I once saw a "baby salmon", easily distinguished because of a jaw deformity, being on sale for about 2 weeks. I think they get fish deliveries on Thursdays, lobsters on Sunday.
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janie
Apr 27, 2008 06:20 PM
Have you been to the fish market on Lefferts in Kew Gardens? Their fish often is very good, and their turnover is pretty good there. However their shrimp is hit or miss--and they don't have dry scallops, this is very difficult to find in Queens--I go to Citarella for them, as they are actually less expensive than a place in LI that was recommeneded to me. There's actually a pretty nice fish market in Rosyln, LI on Willis Ave but it's not Queens, so out of your boundaries. I've been to Marino's in Astoria, and I wasn't impressed. As far as the place on Austin, I think their prices are too high, and the stuff just isn't very fresh there. There's a new Glatt Kosher market about to open on Woodhaven Blvd in Rego Park, and I noticed it said fish on their sign, not sure what they will have, but I've often bought the best looking wild and farmed salmon and tilapia from kosher fish mongers, so this might be an option. I'll check the place out very soon. The other market which is closer to Natural on Austin sometimes has okay stuff, but they are expensive and have a very limited selection and inventory.
There are alot of places in Jamaica at Sutphin blvd, if you can take the crowds and the somewhat unsanitary looking presentations...but, there are some good buys there--
For shrimp, I've now gotten used to just getting the bags frozen with raw from Costco or Trader Joe's, because frankly most of the shrimp in the markets is frozen and they defrost it the same way. Unless you're buying maine shrimp or rock shrimp, or florida shrimp, most of it is frozen.--and it's less expensive from costco.
Please report back with your findings...thanks
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re: janie
EricMM
Apr 28, 2008 06:45 PM
I agree that dry scallops are hard to find in Queens...but Sushi Yasu carries them (dayboat) and the small place near Natural also has them. Both are expensive..around $17/lb, but both are equally excellent...I always have some raw, and to be good raw, they have to be the best. The ones from Sushi yasu are medium sized, the ones on Austin St. are very large, and frequently salmon colored (natural variation...they may not actually taste better, but psychologically its a bonus). I don't trust the scallops from Austin Fishery...they say dry dayboat, but they don't look like either.
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re: EricMM
chinatownmike
Apr 30, 2008 07:18 AM
Dried scallops can be found at the Hong Kong Supermarket at 37-11 Main Street as well as most of their other locations and at the New York Supermarket chain.
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Harlan
Apr 27, 2008 04:09 PM
If you're in Astoria, Marino's on 30th Ave. and about 37th St. is very good. Their hours, however, are terrible. They seem to not be interested in selling fish to people who work for a living. They close at 6pm every day, and are totally closed on Sundays. And their stock is pretty depleted on Saturdays.
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chefjellynow
Apr 27, 2008 06:39 AM
PARKS at willets point blvd and 149th will knock you out!
huge selection
always fresher than hmart nearby and not as dirty as the ones in downtown flushing
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re: chefjellynow
EricMM
Apr 27, 2008 08:45 AM
I also live in FH....actually, Rego Park, but near the FH boundary. In the neighborhood, there is Sushi Yasu on Yellowstone, small selection but always great quality. On Austin, there's Forest Hills Fishery....great for shrimp, high volume items like salmon (but I do not believe it is wild, even though they claim it is) and whole fish. I don't trust their fillets. Down Austin another block is a small but excellent fish market..pricey but everything is excellent quality. All are very friendly and knowledgeable. A quick subway ride to the Broadway stop in Elmhurst will bring you to the confluence of NY Market, Hong Kong market, and Topline. Forget friendly, and they may be knowledgable but I don't speak Chinese...and most of them don't speak English. But they are great for whole fish, live fish which include barramundi , cod, and blackfish beyond the usual Tilapia. Great shellfish and squid, and fantastic for lobster and dungeness crab. Avoid fillet's, but with whole fish you can immediately tell the quality...yeah, there are stinkers at these markets, but the fresh stuff is really fresh. If you can afford it, go for the spot prawns (also called coral shrimp or botan ebi) which are in season now...they average about $25/lb live, but they are worth it....taste more like very sweet lobster than shrimp.
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