By now, you may have heard the buzz about Queens. You may have marveled at the gleaming new high rises and the pricey penthouses, at the influx of young professionals and the blossoming post-recession economy.

But talk to Amy Chan, a 42-year-old waitress, and she’ll tell you the flip side of that story.

In her neighborhood in Elmhurst, many Asian families live in crowded apartments and homes, and struggle to get by. Last summer, Ms. Chan lost her job at the Chinese restaurant where she had worked for five years.

It took her six months to find another one.

On the surface, this might seem confounding. Wasn’t it just a few months ago that Amy Chua of Tiger Mother fame was trumpeting her new book highlighting the impressive success of Asian-Americans? Haven’t recent reports pointed to more jobs, more construction and more opportunity in Queens?

Yes and yes. But if you dig below the surface, you’ll find that Ms. Chan’s story is yet another example of the complexities and challenges that have emerged during this unsettled economic recovery period.