Zen

Zen Fusion Cuisine 
79-28 Parsons Blvd 
Flushing, NY 11367

If you’re a fan of Kyoto Restaurant in Fresh Meadows, then you’ll definitely enjoy their newest competitor, Zen Fusion Cuisine. It’s the newest Asian fusion establishment in Queens and they’re only a block away from each other. Kyoto is one of my favorite local joint and has been around for years with plenty of loyal customers, so I like having another restaurant just like it. Both places carry a lengthy menu with similar dishes, serving Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine. 

Garden salad served with ginger dressing

Spicy maki combo - spicy salmon, spicy yellowtail, and spicy tuna

Cooked maki combo - shrimp tempura, eel with cucumber, and Boston roll

Shrimp tempura

Fried calamari

Green curry - eggplant, zucchini, peppers, asparagus, onion and basil with beef

Masaman curry - potato, zucchini, peppers, asparagus, onion and basil with chicken

Bo Luc Lac - stir fried steak cubes

Ca Chien - crispy fried whole Sea Bass

Thai twin lobsters

Pineapple fried rice with chicken

Yaki stir fried noodle with shrimp

The interior is trendy with a nice vibe, comparable to restaurants located in the city. It’s always nice to have a few good options in the local area when I really need a quick sushi fix, some sizzling hot beef, or even some Thai ice tea; Zen is definitely a place with a good variety. The food was all presented beautifully and the service was excellent. This isn't the best fusion restaurant ever, but it would definitely be the go-to-spot, if and when you don’t feel like cooking dinner.

Mickey’s rating: 7/10 
Price range: $$

A Taste of Northern Chinese Style Cuisine

House of Orient 
46-09 Kissena Blvd 
Flushing, NY 11355

I’ve past by this restaurant many times without ever giving it a second glance. Perhaps it’s because BCD Tofu House was replaced by this place, and the bitterness just lingered on... but let me tell you, this place was uhhh-mazing! House of Orient serves Northern Chinese style cuisine, strongly influenced by Muslim cuisine. Evidently, lamb is their specialty, where cumin and hot peppers are used liberally in every dish. If you like spicy food packed with bold flavors, this place is it!

Fresh leek and pork pancake

Steamed lamb dumplings

Country style shredded pork with vegetables

Cumin lamb

Sauteed hot peppers with fried pig intestines

Stewed sour cabbage with pork belly and vermicelli in hotpot

Potato, eggplant and hot peppers

Fried pork with sweet and sour sauce

Mongolia style lamb chops

I highly recommend this restaurant for big groups since everything is family style. This is also a great place to bring your picky Asian parents for special occasions. They will love this place because it's quick, delicious, and reasonably cheap. We had 13 people, and the bill came out to $104. That’s less than $10 a person! I will definitely come back here more frequently to try all the other dishes on the menu. Thanks Tony for recommending this place! :)

Mickey's rating: 9/10 
Price range: $