Queens Food Tour: Global Eats Walk in Corona & Jackson Heights

4.99

(145 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We were already halfway through a sweet concha from the Mexican bakery under the 7 train when I realized how much I’d underestimated Queens. The air smelled like fresh bread and car exhaust — it’s not fancy, but it’s real. Our guide, Carmen, waved us over to a tiny stand where tortillas were puffing up on a hot griddle. She told us the owner’s family still grows their own corn back in Puebla. I tried to say “gracias” with the right accent; probably didn’t nail it, but she smiled anyway.

Not far from Corona Plaza, we ducked into this little café that looked like nothing special from outside. Inside: walls covered in soccer posters and the sound of someone chopping cilantro behind the counter. We split a cemita — honestly massive — stuffed with milanesa and avocado, and Carmen explained how these sandwiches are kind of a big deal in Puebla. I got some of that smoky goat meat too (only on weekends), which was way more tender than I expected. There was just this mix of spice and something earthy… hard to describe unless you try it yourself.

The walk along Roosevelt Avenue felt like moving continents every block. Ecuadorian fruit stalls next to Argentinian pastries, then suddenly we’re at a Colombian spot where they pile everything—cheese, pineapple, potato chips—on top of a hot dog. It sounds wild but somehow works? A guy behind us laughed when I hesitated before taking a bite; he said “just go for it.” So yeah, I did.

I kept noticing little things: women selling tamales out of coolers, Buddhist temple bells somewhere off a side street, an old church turned into something new. The weather was sticky but not unbearable; people seemed used to weaving around each other here. By the time we ended up at the last café in Jackson Heights for coffee (needed it), my feet were tired but my head was buzzing with all those flavors and stories. Still think about that cemita sometimes.