There are places in the city that advertise as "Mongolian BBQ," but they really are only deli-type places that have a huge frying grill that can cooks in Mongolian style of bbq, but there is really no "feeling of Mongolia" about these places. What I suggest is take part i a Mongolian "Hot Pot." and without question the best place to go in the city is the Little Sheep Mongolian Hot, which is located in Flushing. This three year old restaurant is part of a very successful chain, twelve in total, most being in California. The restaurant is very clean, bustling,has some nice photos of Mongolia, and serves delicious "hot pot."
The "hot pot" comes with a very wide range of items to put into the steaming broth. Your first selection however, is which BROTH you want, you have four choices; (House Original Broth, House Spicy Broth, Sour Pickled Broth, or the most popular called the Half & Half or "Ying-Yang.") Then you select your MEAT, a staggering range of 31 meat items, from New Zealand Spring Lamb, to Japanese Kobe Beef, Pork Intestine, Pork Kidney. I went with the New Zealand Lamb. Then select SEAFOOD, 20 selections, such as Live Blue Crabs, or Duck Paws, Scallops - I decided upon the Tiger Shrimp. Then select the VEGETABLES, a choice of 22 items, I had the Napa Cabbage, and Baby Bok Choy, and lastly your selection of NOODLES, TOFU, MUSHROOMS - I decided on the Fresh Thick Noodles and the long beautifully shaped Enoki Mushrooms. Please note that Hot Pot is not endemic to Mongolia as it is very popular in China (especially Sichuan province) and in Taiwan.
Here is the close up of my broth, the "Half & Half." It is called this because the large bowl is divided between two types of broths - on the left side is the "Original," and the right in the "Spicy." This is a terrific combination as you get to taste the oh so flavorful original and the fire of the spicy. All the respective food items you select you put into the broth slowly, not all at once, and take out when they are cooked. You control the heat and boiling action of the broth at your own table. It is not only unusual and delicious, but lots of fun as well. If you go with a group you obviously can have many tastes. There is also a "Sauce Table" where you can select items such as green onions, hot oil, garlic, hot peppers, sesame sauce - these you put into a small cup which is used to pour the broth into.
Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot is a large, clean, and very efficient restaurant. It seats over 200 people, but service is quick and the staff is warm and very good at explaining the menu. I was disappointed that there were no Mongolians working at the restaurant (all Chinese) - though the owner of the restaurant is from Mongolia.
Though the Hot Pot is the star and the must try dish, the restaurant also has some other very delicious food items, such as: Mongolian Beef Pie, Pot Stickers, Pork Dumplings, Steamed Rolls, and the above Mongolian Grilled Lamb on Skewers - this had a distinct spicy bite with cumin which I liked very much.
Another aspect of the Little Sheep restaurant that I especially like are the photographs and indigenous instruments of Mongolia that adore the walls, which add to the atmosphere of the place.
Mongolian language lesson - "Hello" (sain baina uu) "Thank you" (bayarlla)
Interesting fact about Mongolia - Mongolia is the most sparsely populated country in the world with 4.3 people per square mile.
Address - 136-59 37th Avenue Flushing (Queens) (718) 762 - 8881