The popular California-based Asian supermarket chain, 99 Ranch Market, has continued its East Coast expansion with its first New York City location in Flushing, Queens — at the now-closed Hong Kong Supermarket at 37-11 Main Street between 37th and 38th avenues.
While the grocery store opened its doors in NYC in August, the Eat Up food court in the basement has been under construction. The vast majority of the stands fired up their kitchens over the…
The popular California-based Asian supermarket chain, 99 Ranch Market, has continued its East Coast expansion with its first New York City location in Flushing, Queens — at the now-closed Hong Kong Supermarket at 37-11 Main Street between 37th and 38th avenues.
While the grocery store opened its doors in NYC in August, the Eat Up food court in the basement has been under construction. The vast majority of the stands fired up their kitchens over the weekend of December 6th to churn out regional specialties from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The space was so packed with local families and friends that I had to hover over customers mid-departure to snag a free table on Saturday around 1 p.m.
A mix of old and new restaurants make up the 20 stalls, although three of the businesses, including Tandoor Samsa with Uyghur dishes, hadn’t opened yet. But still, there’s a big overlap in the food offering with that of neighboring food courts, such as Lanzhou-style hand-pulled noodle beef soup or steamed whole fish at New World Mall or Hong Kong milk tea at Tangram.
At 99 Ranch’s Eat Up food court, the noodles, drinks, and pork trotters are a cut above the rest for their respective quality and variety. In terms of vibes, the space continues the local trend towards modern and upscale: clean, sleek look; free Wi-Fi and outlets; and a heavier emphasis on customer service as most (though not all) of the operators speak English to be able to communicate with customers outside of the local Chinese diaspora. A worker at Herb Nook Lab explains the drinks and offers to remake beverages that are not up to the customers’ liking.
Here are Eater NY’s highlights of the food stands at 99 Ranch’s new Eat Up food court.
What to Eat at 99 Ranch’s Eat Up Food Court
Fat Potato Noodles: These noodles ($12 for classic option) are like a bounce house for your mouth. With a crystal-clear layer around a white core, these slippery strands are some of the prettiest, softest, and springiest I’ve ever had. The broth, though, is spicy yet bland. Bean sprouts, sausage, seaweed, and tofu skin add substance to the soup. Stall 7
Chopin Noodle House: This Lanzhou-style hand-pulled noodle spot offers six noodle types ranging in flatness and thickness. The broth in the traditional beef noodle soup ($12) is flavorful yet light and not oily. Stall 25
Master Hong Noodle House: Staffers roll out dough throughout the day to produce four different noodles: wheat, soybean, buckwheat, and spinach. My spinach noodles, served in a braised beef broth ($15), had a delightful buoyancy. Stall 9
Long Jiang Pork Feet Rice: The seasoning on the pork dishes is perfect — savory, smoky, fragrant. I love trotters; it’s the rich, jelly-like, fall-off-the-bone tender texture of tendon and skin, which is hard to achieve. The rice dish includes crunchy, tangy radish for texture and flavor counterpoints. Stall 5
**Yu Xiang Yuan: **This corner spot doesn’t display its English name, but the lit-up board showcases photos of various fish preparations: hot chile oil, grilled, steamed with soy sauce, and served in pickled vegetable soup. The delicate filets in scallion oil ($25) were excellent. The vegetable sides here pack a nice crunch and lots of flavor. Stall 21
Luo Xiao Du: The popular luosifen (snail noodle soup, $11) from satisfies those with a palate for super-funky flavors like stinky cheese or tofu. The broth really punches up with fermented bamboo and green beans. The egg fritter ($2.50), where egg is drizzled into a crispy disc in the deep fryer, is a nice touch as a topping. The snail, however, is hard to extract because it’s much smaller than escargot, and the vendor didn’t provide any tools; a toothpick would’ve been helpful. Stall 19
What to Drink at 99 Ranch’s Eat Up Food Court
Herb Nook Lab: These are high-quality tea drinks ($7) focused on seasonal fruits that are juiced on site. For this quarter, the apple is in the spotlight, and, from the jasmine tea to the optional cream on top, it imparts a lovely, subtle flavor. Stall 23
Laankee: This tea stall brews a strongly caffeinated, harmoniously flavored (not bitter), velvety-textured Hong Kong-style milk tea ($6). *Stall 22 *