|
Sandwich
King
88-10
Parsons Blvd., Jamaica
718-297-4686
Cuisine:
Hispanic
Hours:
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday and Sunday; 7 a.m. to midnight
Friday and Saturday
It
calls itself Sandwich King, but the small Hispanic restaurant on
Parsons Boulevard at 88th Avenue may rule in at least a couple more
categories.
The
restaurant’s South American specialties are what make it really
shine. Sandwich King may
have the best tacos on this part of Parsons Boulevard, in fact.
The
small but filling treats are prepared in a traditional, homestyle way
that won’t be familiar to people used to going to American
restaurants or—the taco gods forbid—places like Taco Bell.
These
tacos are soft shelled, don’t have any cheese and are heavy on
onions and other fresh chopped vegetables.
There’s little sauce to speak of.
The
chicken is homestyle, too; the shredded dark meat is sometimes still
attached to the bone, and you’ll have to do some sorting before
trying to chew. Steak is
another option.
The
reward for tackling this healthy $2.25 snack is an acquired taste that
can easily become a daily habit.
An
assortment of tamales made with chicken or ribs, some pupusas (a kind
of South American dumpling) and various South American soups round out
the starters.
For
a nice complete South American meal, try the affordable entrée menu
of grilled or stewed chicken or steak, served with a classic side of
rice and beans.
The
small restaurant with seating for less than 20 is a little like a
diner in atmosphere; all sorts of South American flags are hung on the
wall, a jukebox keeps the air pulsing, smoke from the grill fills the
room and many of the customers seem to be regulars.
Also
in that diner tradition, breakfast can be ordered all day long and
sandwiches and burgers form the core of the menu.
Prices
are typically lower than the chrome and neon diners most Americans are
used to seeing here.
A
great deal for breakfast is in the specials menu, which at its finest
offers two eggs any style, a side of meat, potatoes, toast and a
beverage for only four bucks. Sandwich
King is sure to give the nearby fast food burger chain a run for its
money.
Living
up to its name, the restaurant offers a slew of hot and cold
sandwiches, all under $5. The
BLT on toast, at $3, Philly cheese steak, at $5 and the $4.50 sausage,
pepper and onion hero are all great choices.
The
burger menu is basic but full of combinations; the most elaborate
concoction, the pizza burger with lettuce, tomato and fries, is only
$5.75 and a great choice.
For
a great side—or meal, depending on your appetite—try the
restaurant’s Wings of Fire, served with blue cheese.
Seven pieces are $4; 14 are $7 and 25 are $11.
With
a small Greek and salad menu, a selection of homemade South American
shakes made with tropical fruits and very friendly service, it’s
hard to go wrong with Sandwich King.
—
Shams
Tarek
|
