Restaurant in New York City, United States
Serious Cantonese noodles, no fuss required.
Maxi's Noodle in Flushing is the practical choice for serious Cantonese seafood and Hong Kong-style noodles in New York City. Walk-ins are easy, pricing is accessible, and the 7 train gets you there directly. Skip it if atmosphere is your priority; book it if the food is what matters.
Yes — if you are serious about Cantonese seafood and Hong Kong-style noodles, Maxi's Noodle at 135-11 38th Ave in Flushing is one of the clearest arguments for making the trip out to Queens. This is not a destination you stumble across; it is a place food-focused visitors to New York City seek out deliberately, and it rewards that effort. For the explorer who wants to eat the way locals in Flushing actually eat — not a sanitised midtown approximation , Maxi's belongs near the leading of the list.
Maxi's occupies a direct dining room format typical of Flushing's serious Cantonese restaurants: functional, busy, oriented around tables rather than atmosphere. Do not come expecting design flourishes or a curated interior. The room is built for throughput and conversation, not for Instagram. Seating is communal in feel, the tables are close, and the energy on a weekend morning tilts toward lively. If you want quiet and spare, this is the wrong room. If you want to feel like you are eating in a place that prioritises what is on the table over what surrounds it, this is exactly right.
The weekend service is where Maxi's earns its reputation. Flushing's dim sum and noodle houses draw serious weekend crowds, and Maxi's is no exception. Arriving early , before the late-morning rush , gives you the leading chance of a smooth experience and the full menu in play. The format suits solo diners, pairs, and small groups equally well; larger parties should plan around table availability rather than assuming walk-in flexibility on a Saturday or Sunday.
Reservations: Walk-ins accepted; no booking required for most visits, though weekend mornings move fast. Dress: Casual , there is no dress expectation here. Budget: Flushing's Cantonese restaurants sit at a fraction of the price of comparable quality in Manhattan; expect accessible pricing by any New York City standard. Getting there: The 7 train to Flushing-Main St is the practical choice from Manhattan. Booking difficulty: Easy.
For more options across the city, see our full New York City restaurants guide, or explore hotels, bars, wineries, and experiences in New York City.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maxi's Noodle | Easy | ||
| Le Bernardin | French, Seafood | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Atomix | Modern Korean, Korean | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Per Se | French, Contemporary | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Masa | Sushi, Japanese | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Eleven Madison Park | French, Vegan | $$$$ | Unknown |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Maxi's Noodle at 135-11 38th Ave runs a table-oriented dining room format standard for Flushing's serious Cantonese houses — bar seating is not a feature here. Solo diners typically get seated at shared or smaller tables without issue. If counter or bar dining is your preference, this isn't the format for it.
Walk-ins are accepted and no reservation is needed for most visits. The exception is weekend mornings, when the room fills quickly and waits are common. Arriving early on weekends — before 11am — is the practical move if you want to avoid a queue.
Yes. The table-based dining room at Maxi's suits groups reasonably well, and larger tables are typical of Flushing Cantonese restaurants designed around shared-plate eating. For bigger groups on weekends, arriving as a unit early is smarter than assuming walk-in space will be available on short notice.
Maxi's reputation is built on Cantonese seafood and Hong Kong-style noodles — order from those categories and you're in the right place. The weekend service is where the kitchen is at full stretch, so that's the better time to come if you want to try the broadest range. Specific dish availability is not fixed, so ask what's fresh when you arrive.
Yes — Flushing noodle houses are generally solo-friendly by format, and Maxi's is no different. A bowl of Hong Kong-style noodles works as a solo meal without the awkwardness of occupying a large table. Weekday visits are easier for solo diners than weekend mornings when the room runs at capacity.
Maxi's is a functional, no-frills Cantonese dining room in Flushing's 38th Ave corridor — come for the food, not the atmosphere. Walk-ins work fine on weekdays; weekends move fast so arrive early. It draws a local crowd that knows what it's ordering, so if you're unfamiliar with Hong Kong-style noodles or Cantonese seafood, ask the staff what's good that day rather than defaulting to the menu.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
