The Best
Steamed Buns
TIANJIN GOU-BU-LI BUN:
(Popularly known as GBL)
135-28 40 th Road, Flushing, 886-2121
CUISINE: Chinese specialties featuring
famous steamed buns and delicious soups. Fresh seafood-on-ice buffet is recent addition.
HOURS: Open 7 days a week from 10am
until 10pm.
CREDIT CARDS: Cash only.
PARKING: Municipal parking lots
nearby.
Just a few doors off Flushing’s Main
Street in the middle of 40th Road’s "restaurant row" is the popular GBL
restaurant featuring steamed buns prepared the same way as has made them famous in
mainland China. Adding to this enticement are many specialties including some of the best
soups and noodles we have found anywhere. Now there is a fresh fish-on-ice buffet along
one wall of this spacious, two-level (a balcony), simply furnished but comfortable server
of authentic Chinese foods.
At the newly added daily seafood buffet,
make your choice from the ice-bedded items including crab claws, mussels, salmon, squid,
shrimp, and many other selections along with baby corn, several types of mushrooms, bamboo
shoots, bird’s eggs, taro, cellophane noodles and various greens (Chinese spinach
etc.). After making your selection from the buffet, choose your meat (pork, beef, chicken
or lamb) and your server will prepare a table-top hot pot where you can cook the mix to
your liking right at your table ($15.95).
Since GBL opened some 4 years ago, we have
enjoyed a number of dishes on the regular menu: a slightly spiced Shredded Pork &
Pickled Cabbage Soup is a special favorite ($2.95 for 2). The Hot and Sour Soup is another
rich and filling choice; specially on cold days but recommended for year round enjoyment.
GBL was originally established to promote
their steamed buns first created in China in 1858 and still made in the same manner and
with the same fillings. The most popular order is the combination of 8 steamed buns - two
each of beef, pork, shrimp and vegetable. You can often see them being made in the open
kitchen across the rear of the restaurant where everything is made to order. The noodles
are also made on the premises.
Some of the popular side dishes are the
5-spices boiled peanuts, the ginger spiced cucumber salad and the unusual seaweed with
minced garlic salad. Try them all and take some home to enjoy at another meal.
The menu also lists (in English) an
assortment of appetizers, soups, vegetable dishes as well as pork, chicken, beef and
seafood entrees with "warning flags" denoting the spicy ones. Why not try some
of the dishes you haven’t had before? While the server’s English may be limited,
they are pleasant, attentive and will get someone to explain what you want to know.
This is a handy spot to stop for lunch if
you are working or shopping in the area. (Some of our former favorites, Old Roma,
Stern’s restaurant and Woolworth’s Lunch Counter are no longer open.) Its also a
fun spot to stop in with a group of friends, sit around one of the large, round
"family" tables and let each member of your group share the interesting
offerings.
– J. Davis |
