Where do you eat in Jackson Heights?

[AubWah]

I go to Rajbhog Sweets and Kabbabish.

[JungMann]

There is a new Indo-Pak cafeteria that opened up on 73rd Street between Broadway and 37th Ave that impressed me with its kebabs and samosas. Rather than the usual light, gingery masala I've gotten used to at Merit or Kabab King, I got some spicy, really hearty snacks to go with a good coriander chutney. The array of biryanis also caught my attention, with one dish featuring rarely seen black limes. I'll definitely have to return.

[AubWah]

Cool, I will check this out. Also interested to try the Korean place Joe DiStefano just wrote up on the Jackson Heights/ Smellhurst border

[Peter Cuce]

I wrote about that place Pajunia last week, predating Joe DiStefano :)

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/871230

[Jeffsayyes]

I went there the day it opened and didn't tell anyone about it.

[thenewlyweds]

Haven't eaten at La Fusta, but just wanted to give a little love to La Portena. Based on an old Robert Sietsema tip, we made a special trip from the UWS to have dinner here. Having read online reviews, we were a bit careful with our ordering -- stuffed meat, beef empanadas, split a skirt steak -- but it was really delightful, and the chimichurri sauce was as good as Chimichurri Grill's when it first opened (was that in Manhattan in the '90s?) The service was very attentive, and frankly, they were very pleased that we loved the food. Have heard that it's hit-and-miss, but it was a complete hit last nite.

[Jeffsayyes]

if we're talking steakhouses, you HAVE to talk about Chivito de Oro. I'd like to try la Nueva for meat too some time.

[AubWah]

what do you like to order at Chivito de Oro?

[Jeffsayyes]

I love short ribs... anywhere, but they are great here. Uruguayan has a lot of Italian dishes too, so you'd be good to get a pasta too. It's usually an occasion with people who've never been there before, so we always get the parillada (or other combo) for 1 (actually for 3) - which is a mix of various meats, sausages, sweetbreads. I'd love to explore the menu more and get an actual chivito de oro.

I also want to shout out Gauchito on Corona avenue. They do not get the attention they deserve, by far.

[JH Jill]

I recommend the entraña (skirt steak). I also love the cannelones alla Rossini. They are canneloni with spinach and chicken filling, I believe, with both red and bechamel sauces. If you order it with peceto (often pronounced pesheto), you'll get a slice of stuffed steak, a little like matambre. It's heavenly.

By the way, I've never gotten really good meat at Café La Nueva. Last I knew, the cooks were Colombian, and they haven't got quite the touch of most Uruguayans/Argentines at the grill, IMHO.

[AubWah]

Speaking of Colombia there's a riquisimo by 90th and Roosy that gave me the biggest plate of food I've ever had, like they were daring me to finish it. It was delicious, so I did. $8

[Humbucker]

Can you tell me more about this? Is the place called riquisimo?

[AubWah]

It's called Riquisimo Cafe Bakery Inc. 9004 37th Avenue.

It is a local hangout, some people just drink coffee and converse in Spanish. The food reminds me of Bogota

[Cheese Boy]

They might have a good Calentado and Bandeja Paisa there.

[AubWah]

Might? More like you could bet your house on it.

[BillyBob]

We like both la portena and la fusta, but for different things. the watercress, shrimp and lemon salad and skirt steak at la fusta are superb, makes me hungry just thinking about it. I prefer portena's shell steak and potatoes (the really really garlicky ones that are sliced, not the french fries, although they are good if you dont want the garlic taste coming back all night long). Their salad (I know, I know, salad at an Argentinian steak place? but, sometimes you just gotta have something remotely healthy) is definitely less tasty. Also, agree with the Chivito comments - I once ate a wonderful steak there that violated the sage rule of "never eat anything bigger than your head".

[chasamark]

Mehfil for Indian and they deliver !!! wonderful; and for carne try La Fusta, the Argentine steak house; sweetbreads are fabulous.

[Pookipichu]

LA FUSTA, cannot recommend it more. So much better than La Portena.

[JH Jill]

Not to be too picky, but La Fusta is Uruguayan (very similar). La Porteña is Argentine. I would also recommend La Fusta over La Porteña these days. But my Argentine friends prefer Porteña's chimichurri. But my go-to place is another Uruguayan spot, El Chivito d'Oro (37th Ave & 84th Street).

[DaveCook]

Several years ago, when an Argentine attorney friend took me to La Fusta and noted all the Argentine physicians at other tables -- directly across from the steakhouse is the trauma center of Elmhurst Hospital -- he gave me to believe that the restaurant was Argentinean. Their website, which confirms this, does say that the chef is skilled in both the Argentinean and Uruguayan culinary arts, a pronouncement that probably sounds more modest in the original Spanish.

Dave Cook
www.EatingInTranslation.com

[Mr Porkchop]

I once had a conversation with the son of the founder about boxing and our shared Armenian heritage. They are most definitely Argentine(-Armenian) though I'm sure the clientele is mixed. I had a Uruguayan cab driver who said La Fusta was his favorite. Personally, I also slightly prefer El Chivito, which does in fact advertise itself as Uruguayan. All that said, I've spent a cumulative few months between Argentina and Uruguay and never noticed an appreciable difference in the food. The wine on the otherhand...

[JH Jill]

I know that long ago it was Argentine because my Argentine friend had his wedding reception there, but I also remember either the manager of El Chivito or the owner of La Nueva, who is Armenian-Uruguayan, telling me a few years ago that the owners were Uruguayan. Either way, it has been good whenever I have gone, but El Chivito is my go-to place. However, we always drink Argentine wine. My friend recently bought a nice place in Mendoza, so I'll have to go check it out at the source.

[ChiefHDB]

Have you been to Tawa yet? That's been my go-to lately. Great momos and thali plates.

[AubWah]

No but I walked right passed it last night

[missmasala]

I'm a huge Tawa fan too, which is probably obvious, since I have posted a bit about it. Get the chicken kati roll. and the tea. it's definitely my go-to spot in JH these days as well.

[AubWah]

I will try it. So much interesting food in the vicinity it can be overwhelming. Just had my first experience with el sitio, what an amazing place

[Polecat]

i'll third Tawa and plug Phayul, my current favorite Tibetan and one of my favorite restaurants in the city right now.

Hope you got a Spanish coffee (cafe con leche) at El Sitio. If not, grab one next time.
P.

[AubWah]

I've been eyeing phayul. What do you order there?

[Polecat]

Off the top of my head, the beef soup with mountain vegetables and also a spicy tofu dish come to mind. I'll link you to my review for specific dish names and photos. Highly recommended:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/794972

[pynchoff]

I agree with Polecat. Phayul is my favorite spot in Jackson Heights these days. Recommend the Chili Chicken and the cheese soup.

[AubWah]

Sounds like a lot of people like this place. Maybe we should organize a Chowhound meal here?

[Peter Cuce]

Maybe I don't understand this place. I went a few weeks back, tried a few recommended dishes, found them pleasurable in a homey fashion but nothing particularly exciting. Nice people.

[JH Jill]

I also went a couple of weeks ago. One of my companions didn't want anything to spicy, and it was still a bit warm for much soup, but I wasn't blown away by it. It was fun, and I would try it again, but not that special. Both of my Tibetan colleagues frequent it, so I know it's pretty authentic though.

[missmasala]

I'm only a month late, but I would be into a chowhound meal here.

[AubWah]

not late at all, if someone would spearhead it my gf and i would be in

[el jefe]

The long gone "Broadway Sandwich Shop #7" was the best Cuban restaurant in Queens. I was hoping that El Sitio would be an acceptable replacement. It never got good reviews here on Chowhound and I haven't been there in a couple of years.
Aub, what did you have at El Sitio that was so amazing?

[AubWah]

I just always get a cuban and a sopa de mondongo. im no cuban sandwich expert, but i dip the sandwich in the soup and it tastes great

[el jefe]

I guess I'll have to recalibrate the "amazing" scale.

[AubWah]

its "amazing" for new york, and for $4