YF Square

- 136-55 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11354

Flushing, Queens, stands as one of New York City’s most vibrant and authentic epicenters for Asian cuisine, and for good reason. The neighborhood is a treasure trove of culinary diversity, offering everything from sprawling, bustling basement food halls to smaller, more focused food courts that capture the essence of regional specialties. While places like the New World Mall Food Court draw massive crowds with their sheer size and variety, true local food lovers in New York often seek out the more concentrated gems that promise quality and authenticity without the overwhelming scale. One such destination that delivers on this promise is YF Square.

YF Square, located right in the heart of downtown Flushing, provides New Yorkers with an accessible and essential stop on any serious food tour of the area. It is characterized by its convenient location and its curated selection of vendors, making it a perfect spot for a quick, delicious, and deeply satisfying meal. While it may not boast the 30+ stalls of some of its larger neighbors, YF Square’s tenants are highly regarded and represent some of the most sought-after food experiences in Queens.

The location, 136-55 Roosevelt Ave, is a nexus of activity in Flushing, a bustling thoroughfare known for its constant stream of commuters and local shoppers. Food courts like YF Square are an indispensable part of the Flushing experience, serving up a diverse range of Asian street food, specialty dishes, and quick, affordable eats. For any New Yorker looking to dive into the city's best and most authentic Asian dining, YF Square is an integral part of the map.

YF Square’s prime address at 136-55 Roosevelt Ave in Flushing, NY 11354, positions it perfectly for maximum accessibility for Queens residents and visitors from across the boroughs. Situated near the intersection of Main Street, this location is a major hub of public transit, a key factor for New Yorkers navigating the city.

The convenience of the location cannot be overstated. The site is in immediate proximity to the final stop of the MTA 7 subway line, the Flushing-Main Street station, as well as the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station. This makes YF Square a straightforward destination from Manhattan and other parts of Queens and Long Island. Numerous MTA bus lines also terminate or pass through the Main Street intersection, dropping passengers just steps from the entrance. This robust public transportation access is crucial, as it allows locals to easily hop over for a weekday lunch or a weekend feast.

While Flushing is a densely packed neighborhood where street parking is notoriously difficult, the centralized location of YF Square on a major commercial street ensures that foot traffic is high and the spot is easy to find. For those who opt to drive, there are various public and private parking facilities nearby, though they are often busy. The true spirit of Flushing dining, and visiting YF Square, is best experienced by utilizing the excellent public transit options.

YF Square operates as a concentrated and highly popular Asian food court, a type of venue beloved by New Yorkers for its variety and efficiency. The core service is the provision of ready-to-eat, authentic ethnic food from several distinct vendors under one roof. Based on its well-known tenants and the nature of the location, the primary services include:

• Authentic Asian Quick-Service Dining: The food court format is designed for speed, affordability, and high-quality food, perfect for busy lunch rushes or a quick dinner.
• Diverse Culinary Offerings: The court hosts several distinct food stalls, specializing in different regional Asian cuisines. For instance, the location is associated with places serving specialties like fresh rice rolls and Northern Chinese pancakes.
• Takeout and To-Go Options: A major feature of all Flushing food courts, all vendors offer efficient takeout for customers who want to grab their meal and go.
• Individual Vendor Service: Each stall operates independently, allowing customers to mix and match items from different kitchens to create a customized meal.
• Specialty Dish Preparation: Stalls like Joe’s Steam Rice Roll are known for preparing dishes, such as Cantonese rice rolls, fresh to order, ensuring the highest quality.

YF Square’s distinction comes from the celebrated vendors it houses, which New York food writers and local enthusiasts frequently praise. These highlights make it a necessary stop for anyone seeking authentic flavors in Flushing:

• Home to Joe’s Steam Rice Roll: This is arguably YF Square’s most famous tenant. Joe’s is celebrated across New York City for its Cantonese-style steamed rice rolls (cheong fun), made with a delicate texture and filled with various ingredients like beef, shrimp, or pork. They are often hailed as some of the best in the city.
• Presence of The Pancake: Another notable establishment in the 136-55 Roosevelt Ave complex is The Pancake (Yang Ji Xian Jiao Bing), which brings authentic Guizhou-style flavors to Flushing. Their stuffed scallion pancakes are a crispy, flavorful treat that offers a unique regional Chinese dish.
• Compact Culinary Hub: Unlike the massive, labyrinthine food courts, YF Square provides a more focused experience with high-quality, specialized vendors, often resulting in shorter wait times and a less chaotic atmosphere than larger competitors.
• Accessibility to Key Flushing Attractions: Its location is central to a wider food ecosystem, situated directly across the street from major complexes like the Landmark Quest Mall and a short walk from the New World Mall and New York Food Court, making it an easy addition to a full Flushing food crawl.
• Authentic Regional Chinese Cuisine: The court’s offerings are not generalized Chinese-American fare, but rather specific, regional specialties (Cantonese and Guizhou/Northern Chinese) that provide a genuine taste of Asian street food culture right here in Queens.

When visiting YF Square, New York diners are encouraged to focus on the unique, high-quality offerings that have established the court's reputation. The true value here lies in the regional specialties that are difficult to find executed at this level elsewhere in the city.

The top choice for many visitors is unequivocally the Steam Rice Roll from Joe's. This Cantonese staple, with its silky, fresh-steamed rice noodle sheets and savory fillings, is an essential New York-Asian street food experience. Whether you choose the traditional shrimp, the beef, or a combination, the soft texture and flavorful soy sauce topping are a highlight.

Another must-try dish is the Stuffed Scallion Pancake from The Pancake. These Guizhou-style crispy pancakes are a departure from the typical scallion pancake found in most of New York. They are thick, crunchy, and stuffed with a variety of fillings, offering a comforting and satisfying meal that perfectly balances texture and savory spice.

Due to the concentrated nature of YF Square, the overall experience is one of efficiency and culinary focus. It’s a place where you can quickly secure some of Flushing’s most iconic dishes without getting lost in a basement crowd. For locals, YF Square represents a reliably excellent choice for satisfying a craving for authentic Asian comfort food. The combination of easy access and high-caliber food makes it a perpetual favorite for those in the know.

While the individual stalls within a food court like YF Square may maintain their own direct lines, the primary contact details for the building are generally as follows:

Address: 136-55 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11354, USA

Phone: Due to the nature of a multi-vendor food court, a single public-facing telephone number for YF Square is not typically available. For inquiries about specific stalls, it is best to search for the individual vendor’s phone number, such as Joe's Steam Rice Roll or The Pancake, to ensure direct communication.

The ongoing popularity of YF Square underscores its role as a key contributor to Flushing’s international reputation as a culinary destination. For New Yorkers eager to taste the most authentic, regional Asian dishes without leaving the city limits, YF Square offers a streamlined yet deeply satisfying experience. It is a necessary stop that captures the vibrant, diverse flavor of Queens dining.

YF Square

136-55 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11354, USA