This cozy new Astoria Japanese restaurant serves 14 varieties of ramen, plus rice bowls, salads, and snacks. Several Yelpers and Foursquare users recommend the cold ramen dishes.

Bunker is one of the biggest dining surprises of the year. This is the new, no-frills Ridgewood Vietnamese restaurant from Eleven Madison Park veteran Jimmy Tu. He originally opened this storefront as a seafood supply company, but after the space was damaged by Hurricane Sandy, Tu decided to turn it into a restaurant. The menu includes Vietnamese favorites like banh mi, pho, and banh xeo, as well as dishes that you won't find at many of the city's more popular Vietnamese establishments. In her Hungry City review, Ligaya Mishan notes that Tu is serving "some of the best Vietnamese street-style food in New York." Make sure to try the shrimp chips. Note: The restaurant is not close to any subway trains (the nearest station is in Bushwick), so plan your travel accordingly. [Photo: Facebook]

In April, chef Michael Psilakis expanded his Greek hit MP Taverna to Astoria. The chef recently told the Times that he wanted to open in the neighborhood because, "It’s the center of Greek culture in New York.” The menu includes mezze, salads, burgers, and a number of lightly-prepared proteins, as well as things like a mixed grill plate and "Greek paella." The space has a tavern room downstairs with a long bar, plus a more formal upstairs dining room with plenty of tables for large parties.

The owners of Prince Noodle House in Flushing recently transformed the space into a Sichuan restaurant with a menu from Big Sister Zhu, a chef who earned something of a following among the Chinese food aficionados from her stints at food stalls in the area. In a recent positive review on Serious Eats, editor Max Falkowitz wrote: "Lao Cheng Du might be one of those restaurants where you have to order 'right' for best results, but it doesn't seem that hard to get something good." Falkowitz recommends the diced rabbit with red chili sauce and the spicy radish with peanuts and tofu. [Photo: Yelp]

At M. Wells Dinette, chef Hugue Dufour serves versions of classic bistro and diner dishes, as well as creations that don't easily fit into any category. The menu changes daily, but Dufour frequently offers a bone marrow & escargot tart, homemade terrines, and a version of Korean bibimbap topped with an oyster and raw egg. Make sure to order one of Bethany Costello's excellent pastries for dessert.