Mariscos El Submarino
Jackson Heights
My coworker, a native of Brooklyn, born and raised, has spent his entire life In New York City (basically apparently he was like in Russia for a second). He attended NYU, has friends residing in Queens, and currently resides in Greenpoint. Given his extensive knowledge of "the city," he's probably the only one who can suggest, "Let’s go get raw fish in Queens," and I would agree. Plus, this place is on the top 100 NYT list; I wasn't too concerned about the possibility of food poisoning.
Okay, I'm babbling, let's just move onto the review.
Mariscos El Submarino is located approximately 100 ft. from the 90th street subway station on the 7 line in Jackson Heights, along the Mexican strip. The spot is not exactly upscale, but it's definitely cleaner than its neighboring establishments. The interior resembles a poorly decorated pediatrician’s office, and the bathroom emits a strong smell of chemicals. However, the food is outstanding.
You absolutely have to start with the Aguachile Negro. It's a mixed ceviche of shrimp, octopus, and white fish, marinated in lime and various spices that I couldn’t name. It's topped with peeled cucumbers and avocado. It's honestly the best ceviche I've ever had; everything just melts in your mouth, including the octopus, which can often be chewy.
Next up is the El Delicioso, which I would describe as shrimp drenched in cheese and grilled in an extra-large corn tortilla. It's like a shrimp quesadilla, but somehow so much better.
After that, I'm not entirely sure. Everything my coworkers ordered looked amazing, but we're not the type of group to pick at each other's food, so I can't personally vouch for the other dishes. However, judging by the expressions on their faces, they were clearly delighted. I believe if you're up for a culinary adventure to Jackson Heights or if you're interested in doing a food tour of Queens, this place is a must-visit. It's simply delicious. One side note: it might be helpful to bring along a Spanish-speaking friend.
