"Asian Jewels, a cavernous, chandelier-bedazzled banquet hall across from the Tangram Mall in Flushing, serves excellent dim sum in easy walking distance from the 7 train. Your pot of chrysanthemum tea will be promptly refilled as you ooh and aah over the endless parade of well-executed dim sum staples circulating the dining rooms: delicate har gow, bouncy steamed fish balls, and tender chicken feet. Expect a lively atmosphere, with a dull roar of contented chit chat and conversations about the contents of every passing cart. Asian Jewels is a well-oiled machine, so don’t be deterred by the hungry crowd lingering in the lobby—just take a number and wait for it to be called. Even when they’re packed on weekends, you'll typically be seated in under 30 minutes, particularly if you don't mind sharing a table with another party. (The longest we've had to wait is an hour, and that was on the restaurant apocalypse that is Mother's Day.) photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Food Rundown Steamed Beef Ribs With Black Pepper Sauce We generally err on the side of seafood at Asian Jewels, but this juicy, gloriously peppery dish is a must-get. Note that there isn’t a ton of meat on these bones, so consider doubling up and save yourself an argument with your dining companions. Fried Shrimp Dumplings Do not leave Asian Jewels without consuming at least one order of these immaculately crispy, perfectly pleated pouches of sweet, bouncy shrimp. Fried Crispy Squid With Salt And Pepper Another top-tier highlight. Super crispy (all those little tentacles make for a lot of delicious surface area for frying) with loads of crunchy garlic. Steamed Rice Rolls With Twisted Cruller We've had mixed results with the zhaliang at Asian Jewels. When they aren’t the freshest, the cruller can be a little chewy. But when you spot the shrimp rice noodle rolls coming by, grab those without hesitation—they’re a sure thing. Seafood Pan-Fried Noodles Asian Jewels doesn’t just serve dim sum. Whether you’re coming for dinner or just want to supplement all the steamer baskets on your table with something more substantial, we love this dish. Enjoying the still-crispy noodles submerged in the light, slightly sweet sauce is a totally sublime textural experience." - Molly Fitzpatrick
