Regarded as the most diverse neighborhood in the entire country, Jackson Heights combines a worldly population with a strong neighborhood vibe. Reflecting its diversity is 37th Avenue which is truly a Main Street to the world. Within a few short blocks, you can snack on fresh hot Colombian buñuelos with your Thai coffee, treat yourself to an Indian mehndi design and pick up local produce from upstate New York at the farmer’s market. When it comes time to celebrate one of the many cultural events that take place in Jackson Heights, like the Diwali festival or the Queens Pride Parade, you can bet the whole community comes out to represent and support each other. The neighborhood is the site of America’s first planned garden community built in the 1910s and 20s, designed to be green, airy and opulent, often surrounding private gardens. These pre-war apartments have since been landmarked and now form the Jackson Heights Historic District.
Mexican & Colombian bakery with great tacos!
It may surprise some that this modest restaurant located under the train tracks between Jackson Heights and Elmhurst was recently awarded a Michelin Star. However, if you’ve ever eaten at Zabb Elee’s then you know it was well-deserved. Specializing in the bold and spicy flavors of Northeastern Thailand, the dishes here are fiery and intensely seasoned—a skillful blend of flavors that are at once salty, spicy and sour. We could recommend the beef salad or the duck larb or the grilled pork neck, but honestly everything on the menu is bangin. You literally can’t go wrong.
