Mama Lee's

​I was born and raised in Queens, NY.  My though parents though were originally from Taiwan and I identify myself as being Taiwanese American.  While I have not been back to Taiwan in many years, I still consider it my home country, rich with traditions and culture.  It is a part of who I am and is woven into the fabric of my identity and that of my children.  From Chinese New Year, to the Moon Day Festival, to the burning of incense when one passes and we honor the dead and the ancestors, all these traditions are ingrained in me.  On top of that, my paternal grandfather had a temple built in Chiayi, Taiwan.  I remember visiting it when I was about 20 and how overcome with emotion I became when I walked into the courtyard.  He had it built for the local farmers and residents, a place where they could go to worship and honor their ancestors.  Taiwan is a part of who I am and will continue to be.

My secret place is Mama Lee's restaurant in Bayside, NY.  They serve traditional Taiwanese cuisine and Mama Lee is there to make sure that you have ordered enough vegetables (fi you don't, she will bring you a dish).  Among my favorites are the turnip soup, the ground pork over rice with a soy sauce egg and of course the pepper chicken.

Mama Lee's:
213-12 48th Ave
Bayside, NY 11364

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