"Hupo in Long Island City serves Sichuan food that compares with some of the best dishes in Flushing and Lower Manhattan. Full of hanging lanterns and wooden lattices, the welcoming restaurant is our go-to spot in the area for cumin lamb, mala dry pots, and mapo tofu topped with a handful of ground Sichuan peppercorn. Stop by with a date or a group for casual dinner and drinks—there’s a full bar, and with two dinings rooms, it’s easy to get a table." - neha talreja, hannah albertine, diana kuan