The Massive New York Asian Market With An Entire Food Court Hidden Inside

Believe it or not, there are still places in New York where one building can handle a full grocery run and a cross-continent lunch in the same trip. It feels like a smart way to spend a Saturday in New York.

Below a giant Asian supermarket sits a basement packed with food stalls cooking hand-pulled noodles, dumplings, and Uyghur lamb skewers. Yes, all of it is underground, under a grocery store.

The building rises three stories of glass. Upstairs, shoppers fill carts with produce, seafood, and loose tea. Downstairs, dozens of vendors serve dishes from across China, along with Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese favorites.

The Food Court Is Downstairs, and It Is Seriously Big

Most malls stash a few pretzel stands near the escalator. New World Mall, in Flushing, Queens, puts an entire basement food court under its roof instead.

The mall opened in 2011 as a three-story glass building. It’s often called the largest indoor Asian mall in the Northeastern United States, and the basement is a big reason why.

Down there, rows of stalls line the space, each with its own specialty. The menus lean heavily Chinese, with dishes from many different regions of the country. You’ll also spot Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese options mixed into the lineup.

That variety is the whole point. One friend can grab noodle soup while another picks dumplings and a third goes for skewers. Everyone eats together, and nobody has to compromise on lunch.

Many stalls post English translations next to their native-language menus. That makes ordering far less stressful for first-timers. If a dish looks unfamiliar, pointing and asking is perfectly fine.

My advice is simple. Walk the full loop before you order anything. Some vendors serve similar dishes in their own styles, so a quick lap helps you choose wisely.

Hand-Pulled Noodles Deserve Your First Stop

Few things beat watching dough turn into noodles by hand. At New World Mall, hand-pulled noodles are one of the most talked-about reasons to head downstairs.

Lan Zhou Handmade Noodles is a longtime name in the food court. Its hand-pulled noodle soups come with choices like beef, seafood, oxtail, and spare ribs. That’s a lot of comfort packed into a single bowl.

Lanzhou-style noodles come from northwest China. The dough gets stretched and folded until it becomes long, chewy strands. It’s a skill that takes serious practice, and it’s fun to see in action.

Noodles show up at other stalls too. Spicy beef noodles and ramen-style soups appear across the food court, so you’ve got options. Comparing two bowls side by side is a pretty great way to spend an afternoon.

Here’s a smart move for groups. Order one noodle soup to share, then branch out to other stalls. Your table becomes a mini tasting menu without anyone spending all day in one line.

Grab extra napkins before you sit. Long noodles and broth have a way of splashing, and nobody wants soup on a fresh shirt.

Dumplings and Rice Rolls Come in More Styles Than You Expect

Pan-fried, steamed, stuffed with soup. The dumpling choices at New World Mall can make a simple order feel like a big decision.

Jung Hang Boon Sik, also listed as Joong Hang Boon Sik, is known for its fried dumplings. Fillings like shrimp, pork, and chive show up on the menu. Crispy bottoms and juicy centers are hard to argue with.

Soup dumplings also appear in the food court. They hold hot broth inside a thin wrapper, so take small bites. Burning your tongue on the first one is a rookie move.

Then there’s Joe’s Steam Rice Roll. Its shrimp rice rolls are made fresh, with thin sheets of rice batter steamed and rolled around the filling. Watching the process is half the fun.

Dumplings are perfect for sharing. Get an order or two for the table while everyone hunts for bigger dishes. They make a great warm-up act.

One tip helps a lot. Most food is cooked to order, so expect a short wait. Find a table first, then send one person to collect the goods.

Lamb Skewers and a Chinese Burger Are Calling Your Name

A burger in a Chinese food court? Absolutely, and it’s been around far longer than the American version.

Xi’an Cuisine serves roujiamo, often nicknamed the Chinese hamburger. It’s a flatbread bun stuffed with chopped, seasoned meat. The dish comes from Shaanxi province, where it’s a classic street food.

Not far off, Tarim Uyghur Food is known for its lamb skewers. Uyghur cooking comes from far western China. It brings bold seasoning and grilled meats that taste different from many other Chinese dishes.

Skewers are easy to snack on while you explore. Grab a few, then keep wandering past the other stalls. They’re basically fuel for the rest of your food tour.

The roujiamo is handy too. It’s sturdy, easy to hold, and great when tables are scarce. You can enjoy it without juggling a full bowl and chopsticks.

I love that these dishes sit beside noodles, dumplings, and Korean favorites. Few places let you jump between regions this fast. It’s like a geography lesson that happens to taste amazing.

Try one thing you’ve never heard of. Worst case, you’ve got a story.

Bring Cash and a Little Patience for the Lunch Rush

Seating here works a bit like musical chairs. When the food court fills up, sharing a table with strangers is pretty normal.

Weekends tend to be especially busy at New World Mall. A good strategy is grabbing seats before you start ordering. Leave one person to guard the table while others scout for food.

Payment deserves a heads-up. Many stalls have long been cash only, though more vendors now take cards and mobile pay. Carrying cash still keeps you from getting stuck at the counter.

Communication can take a little effort at some stalls. Not every cashier speaks fluent English, but many menus include translations. Pointing at a photo or menu line works just fine.

Food is mostly made to order, which is great for freshness. It also means you might wait a few minutes. Use that time to pick up a drink from a bubble tea counter.

The energy is loud, busy, and lively. If you like calm and quiet meals, aim for off-peak hours. If you enjoy a buzzing crowd, you’ll fit right in.

The Supermarket Upstairs Could Eat Your Whole Afternoon

Groceries might sound boring after a food court tour. Jmart Supermarket changes that pretty fast.

This anchor store at New World Mall covers about 45,000 square feet. It ranks among the bigger Asian grocery stores in Queens, and the selection shows it. Fresh produce, meats, seafood, sauces, and snacks fill the aisles.

Fruit lovers can find options that rarely show up at regular chain stores. There’s also a butcher area and a fresh seafood section. Home cooks can stock up for weeks of meals in one trip.

The snack aisle is dangerous in the best way. Asian cookies, candies, and drinks come in packaging you’ll want to photograph. Tea fans can browse green, jasmine, and oolong options in loose or bagged forms.

Bring reusable bags if you have them. You’ll likely leave with more than you planned, so extra carrying space helps.

I like stopping here after eating. You’ll know which flavors you loved downstairs. Then you can hunt for sauces or noodles to recreate them at home.

That’s a souvenir worth having in your pantry.

Shops And Dim Sum Keep The Fun Going Beyond The Food Court

Food might be the star, but the supporting cast is surprisingly strong. New World Mall packs dozens of shops onto its upper floors.

Stores sell fashion accessories, jewelry, home decor, and electronics. Clothing shops and beauty salons also share the space. Browsing makes a nice break between snacks.

The third floor houses a large dim sum restaurant and banquet hall. It’s a different style of eating from the stalls downstairs. Think sit-down tables and shared plates instead of trays and quick counters.

The upper floors offer more to explore after your meal, with fashion shops, jewelry stores, beauty services, and other businesses.

I believe that mix is what makes a visit stretch into half a day. You can eat, shop, and stock your kitchen without leaving one building. Rainy days suddenly feel a lot less gloomy.

Families and friend groups get the most out of it. Someone shops, someone eats, and everyone meets back up later. Just agree on a meeting spot first, because weak phone signal inside can make texting tricky.

Getting There Is Easier by Train Than by Car

Downtown Flushing is famously busy, and the mall sits right in the thick of it. You’ll find it at 136-20 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11354.

Public transit is the easiest choice for most people. The neighborhood is well served by subway and buses, so skipping the car saves plenty of stress. Roosevelt Avenue traffic can get heavy.

Driving is still possible. New World Mall has an underground parking garage with roughly 350 spots. Spending enough at Jmart can earn you validated parking for a set time.

The garage has a low ceiling and tight turns. Drivers with tall SUVs should take it slow. Watch out for pedestrians near the entrance, since the sidewalk stays crowded.

Hours are generous for a food trip. The mall is listed as open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. That gives you room for breakfast-time noodles or a late dinner.

My vote goes to the train. You can eat as much as you want and skip the parking puzzle. Plus, you’ll arrive ready to explore the rest of the neighborhood after.

Plan a Food Crawl That Covers Half of Asia

A smart game plan turns one visit into a feast. New World Mall rewards anyone who treats lunch like a tasting adventure.

Start with a group of friends, if possible. Each person picks a different stall, then everyone shares at the table. You’ll taste far more than a solo diner could manage.

Mix textures and styles for the best results. Pair a noodle soup with crispy dumplings, a few lamb skewers, and a rice roll. Finish with bubble tea from one of the drink counters.

Leave room to be curious. Stalls come and go over time, so the lineup can change between visits. That keeps every trip feeling a little new.

Bring cash, reusable bags, and a flexible attitude. The food court gets loud and busy, and that’s part of the charm. Patience pays off in dumplings.

I can’t think of many places in New York where one stop covers this much ground. Finish with a Jmart run so the flavors follow you home. Then start planning the next trip, because you definitely won’t try everything the first time.