Overall Critic Rating: 9.6/10
As the school year approaches, Harrisites will soon be roaming the streets of Flushing after long school days, hanging out with friends, and spending time exploring the area. Finding delicious, high-quality food at a cheap price is often difficult. However, squeezed right next to a Dunkin Donuts is a small Chinese restaurant, serving comfort foods for a reasonable price and with decent portion sizes. Its name is Fu Yuan, and it can be found just a few steps away from the Flushing-Main St train station.
Though this spot is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, its vibrant blue awning, boldly labeled “Fu Yuan,” makes it easy to spot. Once you arrive, there will be a menu located on the glass window where you can decide what to order while waiting in line. The cashier was understanding and patient, as she waited for my friend and I to finalize what we wanted to order, with a few more people waiting behind us. Once we finished with the order, we waited for around 5 minutes.
Curry Fish Ball Rice Noodles
Rating: 9.1/10
We immersed ourselves in the aromas of Hong Kong with the curry fish ball ricenoodles for $5.50 in a medium size (listed as B2 on the menu). The rice noodles had a nice and soft texture to it. It was perfectly bouncy and felt very light. The flavorful curry and bouncy fish balls accompanied the light rice noodles. The entire dish was coated in sriracha, hot sauce, and soy sauce. These served as a true tribute to the vibrant flavors that define Hong Kong cuisine. Each mouthful of this dish was a journey through the bustling food stalls of the lively streets of Flushing. The price of $5.50 was reasonable for the portion size and strong flavors that the dish offered. I would highly recommend this to individuals who enjoy savory and spicy comfort foods. If you have a low spice tolerance, ask for less sriracha. Another important note: the dish usually includes peanut sauce, so if you are allergic, let the staff know when ordering
Roast Pork Rice Noodle Roll
Rating: 9.8/10
The roast pork in this rice roll, also called “char siu,”was perfectly tender with sweet notes.It was easy to chew and extremely moist. The rice noodles in this dish had a much silkier and thinner texture than the ones in the curry dish, dissolving in your mouth with every bite. The noodles were coated in a mildly spicy and flavorful sauce. Every single flavor and texture worked together to produce a comforting and satisfying meal. This dish is highly recommended to those who do not have a high spice tolerance but still want a kick to their food. To add on to the delightful flavors of the dish, the price is also great, as this is a size medium for $5.00. The portion is enough for two meals.
Fu Yuan has offered an authentic and delicious experience of Hong Kong-style street food. It is a great place to get grab-and-go food while roaming the busy streets of Flushing. The food here is highly affordable, but note that cards are only accepted for a $10 minimum, so be sure to bring cash just in case. While there may be long lines at times, the wait is well worth it.
