Everything you need to eat in Jackson Heights’ Little India

Patel Brothers (37-27 74th St.) is a one-stop-shop for Indian ingredients, spices, Dals and snacks. Whether you’re an expert Indian cook or just looking to try some Chakli (a crunchy spiral-shaped chickpea snack), this supermarket has it all. They call themselves the largest South Asian shop in the world, and until we find another store with a bigger variety of nan and ready to cook Indian dishes we can’t challenge that. ” data-id=”110687932″ data-link=”https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/141_image.png” class=”wp-image-1.10687932″/>
Photo Credit: Karina Shedrofsky

Jackson Diner (37-47 74th St.) has gained some notoriety over the years for their consistent Indian food, and we think their lunch buffet is definitely worth mentioning. For $11.95 from 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. eat as much goat curry, chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken and veggies as your stomach can handle– and it comes with a basket of freshly made, buttery naan for the table. Be sure to ask for the fresh dosa buffet special, which includes a made-to-order crepe with a potato, pea and nut filling. ” data-id=”110687958″ data-link=”https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/136_image.png” class=”wp-image-1.10687958″/>
Photo Credit: Karina Shedrofsky

Al-Naimat (37-03 74th St.) special, however, is their sweets. Try their gulab juman (honey balls) that are so moist they dissolve in your mouth, or their almond burfi, which has the texture of fudge but isn’t overpoweringly sweet. Sit down in their dining section or grab a box to go! ” data-id=”110687970″ data-link=”https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/142_image.png” class=”wp-image-1.10687970″/>
Photo Credit: Karina Shedrofsky

Photo Credit: Karina Shedrofsky

The Gola is extremely spicy, but somehow manages to maintain the flavors of the different spices that are mixed in. Gola Kebab is basically minced meat marinated in a laundry list of spices (our hunch: garam masala, coriander, cumin, all spice and more) and then fired up in their brick pizza oven. Despite your tendencies to dig right in, be careful not to eat the string they use to ensure the tender minced meat sticks to the skewer. Get a side of nan to temper the spice and don’t go light on the yogurt sauce. You’ll need both.

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Photo Credit: Karina Shedrofsky

Rajbhog Sweets and Snacks (7227 37th Ave.) for their Papri Chaat ($4.99). Though a pretty sizable snack, this dish is Indian fast food at it’s finest. The fried dough wafers that get soggier the longer you take to eat add the perfect crunch to the soft texture of the boiled potatoes and lentils. And the mix of chutneys and yogurt sauce creates a confusing mixture of sweet and spicy that changes with each bite you take. It is then topped with sev (small pieces of crunchy chickpea noodles) to add that extra crunch factor for when the wafers start to soak up the rest of the dish. ” data-id=”110688102″ data-link=”https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/139_image.png” class=”wp-image-1.10688102″/>
Photo Credit: Karina Shedrofsky

Amdo Kitchen sets up shop right off of Roosevelt Ave. –we got them on Jackson St.–, and somehow manages to create chewy pillows of juicy beef in the back of a truck. These dumplings ($5 for eight) are so juicy that the steamy liquids spill out after your first bite. Add a small dollop of their house made hot sauce for the complete Amdo Kitchen experience.

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Photo Credit: Karina Shedrofsky

All you Indian food lovers may have found your go-to spot for curry, tandoori and samosas by now.

The Indian strip on Second Ave. and the cluster around Murray Hill’s E. 28th St. and Lexington Ave. (namely Curry Hill) both have solid options, but we strongly urge you to find the inner adventurer in yourself and travel to Jackson Heights, Queens where Little India is the next best thing to visiting India for real.

To get there (73rd and 74th Streets between Roosevelt and 37th Avenues) you can take the 7 to 74th St-Broadway or the E, F, G, R, V to Jackson Heights- Roosevelt Ave. May seem like a trek, but again, way better than a 15-hour flight.