10 Best Restaurants in Sunnyside and Woodside, New York City

If not for the pandemic, the folks behind this eatery with arguably the best restaurant name in NYC might still be slinging salteñas (like an empanada, but hand-braided and filled with a rich, savory stew) out of the food hall in Manhattan's Columbus Circle subway station. But now, they've claimed their brick-and-mortar shop out of their original prep kitchen in Sunnyside, with satisfying peanut soup, salad and grain bowls with barbecued meats or jackfruit, and fried chicken sandwiches, all which are best with dollops of llajua, their homemade Bolivian hot sauce. It's window-serve only, with a few outdoor picnic tables for seating in the front.

This quaint, plant-filled space is brighter and more stylish than your average dumpling-slinger in Queens. That makes sense when you look at the menu, which mixes creative takes on Himalayan classics like perfectly crimped momos (dumplings stuffed with meat or veggies) in a tomato and fenugreek sauce or thenthuk (pulled noodles), as well as American comfort food like buttermilk fried chicken, grass-fed beef burgers, and a kale salad with house-made ricotta. The cocktails are similar global standouts, employing ingredients like masala, tamarind, or tajin spice mix, and there are natural wines on the menu.

A long-beloved, cash-only Thai option, SriPraPhai (pronounced "see-PRA-pie") has a huge main menu as well as an equally expansive one for vegetarians. Although it's hard to go wrong, good bets include the crispy watercress salad, laab (ground pork salad with dry chili, mint, and lime juice), fried tamarind duck, kao-soy (curried egg noodles), or sautéed chicken with cashews and pineapple. If you go with a few people, order the delicately flavored whole steamed fish, but prepare your palate: your mouth might feel like a five-alarm fire by the time you're finished.

A neighborhood staple since opening in 2003, this corner café on Skillman Avenue serves up paninis, hearty soups, salads, and Irving Farm coffee in a lively, bustling environment. Their seasonal drinks are standout, with options like rose white mocha or toffee nut latte, and they have plenty of vegetarian dishes available on the menu, including miniquiches, homemade chili (a local favorite), and vegan burgers.

Goan cuisine is the specialty at this bare-bones yet comfortable restaurant, and many of the dishes served here employ its namesake ingredient in both sweet and savory formats. The Portuguese-inflected curries of the once-colonized region of Goa are brightly colored, bold in flavor and spice, and not quite like most of the Indian food in Queens. Try the Xacuti curry with fresh roasted coconut, or the smooth and silky fish curry.

With colorful bottles of Jarritos (a Mexican soft drink) lining the window and sepia-toned photographs adorning the yellow walls, this small, no-frills café named after the Mayan calendar serves Mexican breakfast all day, as well as an array of tacos, tortas (sandwiches), Mexican coffee (made with star anise, cinnamon, and piloncillo, or Mexican brown sugar), chilaquiles (a breakfast dish made with fried corn tortillas and eggs), and aqua frescas. You can also order beer, cocktails, or a michelada.

Expect to find beanie-clad locals and families alike at this spirited, rustic-industrial neighborhood bar. In addition to serving high-quality cocktails (all under $14) like the Fig & Bacon Old Fashioned and a variety of tap beer, this spacious spot packs a punch in the kitchen, too. Try bar snacks like the sweet yet spicy honey chili chicken wings or the giant pretzel with beer cheese and mustard, or go for something more refined like their Pat La Frieda NY Strip served with a peppercorn sauce and fries. For the best deal, grab a $4 Narragansett and a $10 order of fried pickles during their weekday happy hour.

One of an increasing number of artisanal pizza shops, Philomena's serves both squares and slices, Neapolitan and New York style. The squares are chewy and bouncy while the crust on those slices is crisp and nearly caramelized thanks to the 72-hour fermentation process behind the dough. You can't go wrong with a classic slice, but Philomena's does funky well; go for a broccoli rabe and chickpea puree slice, a fiori di zucca, or a "spicy Mikey," made with hot honey, soppressata, and mozzarella.

This tiny storefront in Sunnyside specializes in Salvadorian pupusas (flatbreads), which are made fresh daily, with either wheat or corn dough, stuffed with different fillings like meat, stretchy cheese, and veggies. Their chicharrón (pork rinds) taco is also not to be missed, and it's all best washed down with a fresh maracuya (passion fruit) juice.

This casual, convivial Filipino restaurant has been churning out classic island dishes like sisig (grilled mixed pork offal) and lumpia (pork-filled fried spring rolls) for over 15 years. Among a satisfying smattering of skewers and noodle dishes is also the impressive inihaw na panga (grilled tuna jaw) and tuna belly cooked any which way (your choice of either adobo, in coconut milk, or in a soup). Don't skip out on halo halo for dessert, the popular Filipino concoction that translate to "mixed" in Tagalog.