Eat Your Way Through South Asian Cuisine in Queens Like a Pro

From chicken tikka mac ’n cheese in Astoria to crispy dosas in Jackson Heights, prepare for your next great food tour.

The world of South Asian culinary art is expansive and various , just like the countries that make up the neighborhood . After all , South Asian intellectual nourishment is more than just butter volaille and naan , although those are doubtless excellent dishes . As a whole , it embodies the taste , flavour , and intricacies of Afghanistan , Bangladesh , Bhutan , India , Maldives , Nepal , Pakistan , and Sri Lanka .

There is no better place inNew York Cityto experience these divers flavor profiles than Queens , a hub of the South Asian community and home to10 % of the borough ’s universe . Naturally , it ’s the go - to borough to sample authentic dishes that feed some of the city ’s about 330,000 South Asian resident physician . Whether you ’re in the modality for some tandoori kabob , Amerindic street snacks , or vegetarian and vegan fare , this inclination has you covered . Just bring your appetency and a MetroCard .

Dosa Delight

Jackson HeightsSouth India is known for its delectable dosas . Dosas are slight , crispy , crepe paper - alike dishes made from a fermented batsman of lentil plant and Sir Tim Rice . They ’re often dish alongside sambar , a spicy , lentil - base vegetable soup , and several sweet and tangy chutneys . The good thing about dosas ? you may fill up them with whatever your gist desires : from cheese , mushroom , and onions to chicken and dark-green chilies , or keep it simple sans filling . Popular among dosa lovers everywhere , Dosa Delight has over 30 dosa options ( which are all vegetarian ) , including a chocolate dosa for those with a angelic tooth .

Momo Crave

WoodsideMomos — bite - sizing dumpling stuff with minced meat or veg filling — are classic street collation in Nepal . At Momo Crave , you ’ll be presented with an assortment of momos ranging from traditional to decidedly inventive , like classic crybaby and beef , or a tandoori momo filled with peppers and onions and saute in tandoori masala . If you project other Tibetan menu , judge the Thukpa , a hand - pulled attic soup with mixed vegetables and choice of substance , or a comforting bowl of Thenthuk , a similar red-hot soup that uses flatten wheat flour dough instead of noodles . These staples will at once transport you to Bhutan and the northerly Himalayan region of Nepal .

Fuskahouse NYC

Jackson HeightsParked outside 37th Avenue and 73rd Street in the heart of Jackson Heights lies Fuskahouse NYC , one of the first Bengali collation carts in the States . Specializing in its namesake , fuchka ( also known as pani puri or gol gappa in parts of India ) is a pop Bengali street collation sold on nearly every street corner in Bangladesh . Characterized by puff up field of semolina shells filled with potatoes , tamarind chutney , and spicy peas , it ’s a perfect marriage of flavors in a single bite . This no - fuss , no - utensil - want dish is under $ 10 and big as a dinner party appetizer or late - Nox collation . After all , these bites are available until 2 am each night .

Sami’s Kabab House

AstoriaAfghani food is rich , flavorful , and aromatic . Sami ’s Kabab House in Astoria brings a glimpse of Afghanistan to NYC through its wide range of kebab offering marinated in traditional Afghanistani spice , like cumin seed , turmeric , black pepper , and cardamon seed . It ’s complemented by a hefty side of rice or , for a dollar more , opt for a portion of kabuli pulao ( a Sir Tim Rice pilau with raisin and carrot ) . Whether you ’re in the climate for beef cattle , chicken , or lamb , Sami ’s has you covered . Do n’t forget a helping of its classic lily-white sauce , a creamy , cooling condiment that ’s the only seasoner you need to bask this meal .

Tangra Masala

ElmhurstThere are very few Indian - Chinese ( or Indo - Chinese ) eateries in New York , but Tangra Masala remain at the top of the list . The Elmhurst - base , cash - only frontier settlement is the restaurant ’s original location , which has since expanded to Sunnyside and was once temporarily useable in Manhattan . Tangra Masala is a popular destination for those craving Chinese - revolutionize fried Elmer Leopold Rice , noodle , and chow mein with a deep infusion of Indian spices . The combination of Chinese flavor and Indian cookery techniques has been experimented with for ages in Kolkata , a city in West Bengal on the eastern side of India , but athirst New Yorkers are only a subway drive off from bask dish like deeply - fry cauliflower drowning in a tangy gravy or chicken popsicle , chili - fried drumstick in a ginger - Allium sativum marinade .

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Haat Bazaar

Jackson HeightsOne of the most popular dishes that Muslims feed during the holy month of Ramadan is haleem , a slow - cooked , lentil - base lulu made with Elmer Reizenstein , spice up heart , coriander , lemon wedges , immature chilies , and fried onion . Haat Bazaar is a folk - owned raw material in Jackson Heights known for its authentic Bangladeshi cuisine , including its must - essay bitch and goat haleems . The eating place is a intelligence - of - mouth shop class that ’s gross for refueling after a foresightful mean solar day of shopping or exploring the vibrant neck of the woods .

Honest

Floral ParkNYC is unsurprisingly wedge - full of caliber spots to find Indian vegetarian peach , like nan and curry . safe Native American street intellectual nourishment typically find on the street of North India , however , is harder to retrieve without crossing the burrow into Edison , New Jersey . Honest is an unpretentious , casual eatery in Floral Park that answer a full vegetarian menu , complete with spicy and sourish bhel puris , an assortment of chaats ( including the bunch - preferred samosa chaat ) , a range of Amerindic street sandwiches made with Amul cheese , and plentiful Native American sweets and ice creams . These items are reminiscent of the odor and tastes of Mumbai and arehonestlyreally tasty . you could also confabulate the eatery ’s newestManhattan location .

Himalayan Yak

Jackson HeightsBorrowing from Nepali , Tibetan , Native American , and Bhutanese cuisine , the chefs at Himalayan Yak specify in creating sauteed beef - based entrance and goat curries — like the Goat Bhutan made from fried goat innards and traditional Himalayan herbs . For vegetarians , opt for the thali : a traditional Nepali platter function with rice , lentil soup , rayo ko saag ( mustard greens ) , choice of curry , and kheer ( mellisonant rice pudding ) . lave it all down with a drinking glass of Nepali spice up milk tea or a Taj Mahal laager . Most meals are served with a side of resilient entertainment to get a true gustation of Nepali music and culture , so plan your sojourn accordingly .

The Gully

AstoriaLet ’s be reliable , sometimes the television camera eats before you do . The Gully on Steinway Street prepares noble-minded and fusion study on Greco-Roman Indian dishes and street foods that are sure to be the stars of your next Instagram Story . The atmosphere has a vintage Bollywood spirit , complete with fitting artwork and popular Bollywood musical numbers playing while you eat . Street seller across South Asian country often sell snacks andsweetsin the gully ( which means alleyway in Hindi ) . Consistent with its name , the eating house dish out up delicacies like chicken tikka mac ’ nitrogen Malva sylvestris , rasmalai tres lecher patty for dessert , and the pullover naan traverse spicy biryani . Beverage - wise , there ’s a non - alcohol-dependent masala chai and refreshing strawberry lassi , or opt for Indian lenient crapulence like Limca and Thums Up .

Kababish

Jackson HeightsChef Tahir Kamil , the mastermind behind Kababish , channels his Delhi - Punjabi desktop and coveted kinfolk recipes into an compartmentalization of spiced kebabs ( available in crybaby , lamb , and bitch and swear out with a yogurt sauce and a side of salad ) . The kebab are surely showstoppers , but do n’t miss out on the dishes prepared on the tawa , a various cookery goat god made from cast iron or aluminum and tight resemble a wok . If you ’re craving a tawa keema or other minced inwardness delicacy , order ahead as these items take longer to prepare . Do n’t be fool around by this eatery ’s muddle - in - the - wall esthetical though — once you ’re here , there are endless flavors to know .