NYCReview
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Taste Good Malaysian Cuisine
Included In
There have only been two instances in which we were convinced we had telepathic powers. This first was when our best friend appeared from across the party, just in time to save us from a conversation with a Dogecoin peddler. The second was while eating the Singapore kari laksa at Taste Good.
A few spoonfuls into the creamy coconut milk broth, the essence of shrimp incepted our brains—suddenly giving us the ability to read minds. We knew exactly what everyone else was thinking, and we were thinking it too: this tastes so damn good.
We wouldn’t say no to our own Marvel franchise, but you don’t need superpowers to make the same assessment. This Malaysian restaurant in Elmhurst has a name that makes a promise, and it delivers on that promise every single time. Taste Good has anchored one of Queens' best food neighborhoods for around three decades, and it’s one of the city’s most reliably excellent places to share a meal.
photo credit: David A. Lee
Since Taste Good opened in the ’90s, a couple of chefs have come and gone, but the cracked yellow sign and cafeteria lighting are permanent features. No matter where you sit, you’ll still be “squeezing in,” and acutely aware of how many limbs you have. The menu hasn’t changed much—but, crucially, neither has their ability to cook outstanding food that renders the rest of these details irrelevant.
There are 198 dishes on the menu, and photos of the most popular ones are plastered on the walls. This makes the period of time after ordering particularly agonizing, because you’ll see several other things you wish you’d ordered instead. Thankfully, the pain is short-lived. Whether you’re there during the dinner rush or the 2pm lull, your food will arrive in a fraction of the time it took you to decide what to get.
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
And anyway, there's no need to torment yourself too much with what could have been. Every time we’ve strayed from our standard order here, we've just come out with a new standard order. That said, there are a few items you should try at least once: the mind-bending Singapore kari laksa, the chewy, flaky roti canai, and a Hainanese chicken that’s almost scandalously moist.
This place isn’t likely to make any big changes soon. It’s still cash-only and can be a pain for groups (come between lunch and dinner to secure a four-seater). If they do decide to make some upgrades, though, they can start with the name. Taste Good is just selling themselves short.
Food Rundown
photo credit: David A. Lee
Singapore Kari Laksa
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Hainanese Chicken
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Sizzling Bean Curd
photo credit: David A. Lee
Sizzling Pork Chops
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Abalone Mushroom w/House Tofu
photo credit: Sonal Shah