If you don't live in New York, chances are you've never heard of the neighborhood "Sunnyside." Is a quiet area in Queens that's nestled in between Woodside and Long Island City with a population of approximately 50,000 people.
The area was once a rural hamlet comprised mostly of farms before being incorporated into Long Island City in the late 1800s. Things started changing with the completion of the Queensboro Bridge in 1909, which sparked the construction of homes and low-rises. Growth never went haywire, and Sunnyside has retained a community-centric charm.
Today, Sunnyside is still mostly residential, but it's still in New York. So you better believe there are some amazing eats to be had! I had a taste for some flavors of Latin America, so I called up a couple pals and asked them to meet me at the 40 St-Lowery St 7 Train stop with an empty belly for an evening of eats.
Let's dive into an epic Sunnyside, Queens food crawl!
Stop 1: Kaprichos for a Taste of Colombia
We kicked off our Sunnyside, Queens food crawl with a stop at Kaprichos for authentic Colombian bites. The mission was one of the loaded arepas. Arepas are round corn patties that are grilled and stuffed with all types of fillings. They are a popular street food in Colombia, and look like the Latin American sister to a stuffed pita.
We opted for the one filled with chicken, steak, and chicharron ($14) which was smothered in a cilantro aioli and rosada sauce. The arepa itself had a soft texture and a strong corn flavor, and the crunchy chicharron complemented the juicy chicken and steak beautifully.
The owner's wife was there, and she recommended their sweet cuban sandwich ($16). Pulled pork, cheese, pineapple sauce, pickles and plantains?! How could we say no! Thanks goodness she gave us her two cents because this sandwich was superb. The pork was mega tender, there was loads of cheese, and the plantain added an epic sweetness. It's one of those sandwiches that I'll be dreaming about for years to come.
There are very few Bolivian restaurants in NYC, and Bolivian Llama Party is perhaps the best. They're famous for their salteñas, which are baked empanadas filled with a juicy, meaty, stew-like filling. It's like a soup dumpling and empanada eloped in Bolivia and had a baby,
The dough is thick and ever so flakey with a subtle sweetness, and the filling is hearty with tender chunks of meat, an egg, and loads of veggies. Drizzle on some of the spicy green sauce and you've got a mind-blowing bite that's hard to forget. Plus, each saltena is only $6.25 a pop.
(These salteñas were one of my top bites of 2023. Get the scoop HERE!)
Ricas Papusas y Mas was the third and final stop of our Sunnyside, Queens food crawl. Papusas are thick griddle cakes that can be made with either cornmeal or rice flour. They are stuffed with a variety of fillings, and traditionally topped with a tomato sauce and curtido, which is a fermented cabbage relish. They are the national dish of El Salvador and a sensible $3.99 a pop. HOLY FRUGAL!
We explained to the woman at the register that it was our first time trying papusas. She recommended we try the "revueltas", which was filled with pork, cheese, and beans. After a drizzle of the tomato sauce/salsa and hefty dump of the curtido on top, we dove it. WOW was it tasty. The meat had a nice saltiness and juiciness which complemented the thick, slightly grainy dough. The curtido added a pop of acid and nice crunch, making for a delightful snack that I'm certain I'll have the pleasure of eating again. Plus, it was only $3.99!
This Sunnyside, Queens food crawl was a total success!
The food was delectable and affordable, and the people were outrageously nice. At each spot we were greeted with a smile and helpful attitude-- two qualities you don't always get in New York City.
It was another epic foodie adventure in NYC. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the 411 on adventures ahead.
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