"A short walk away from Flushing’s Main Street, Alley 41 offers a fantastic mapo and so much more. With little touches, like ornamental brickwork, that are supposed to recall a Chengdu alleyway, it’s a slightly upscale spot for tender cumin beef, thousand layer pancakes, and refreshing pork belly and cucumber rolls in a spicy garlic sauce. Come with a smaller group if you don’t want to wait too long for a table during prime dinner time—or share any more of those chili oil dumplings than you need to. " - neha talreja, bryan kim, will hartman, sonal shah, willa moore