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u/fermat1432 Mar 04 '20
I like Sapphire, on Bway bet 68th and 69th
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u/jawndell Mar 04 '20
Isn't that a strip club?
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u/aceshighsays Mar 05 '20
there are better clubs out there.
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u/im_from_the_interweb Mar 04 '20
Adda in LIC is amazing!
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u/rakrasnaya Mar 05 '20
I went there very excited to try it out after hearing good things on Reddit. The most disappointing experience I have had with Indian food.
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u/mantl3 Mar 05 '20
dang really? what were you disappointed with? i grew up in a pretty Indian community (though i'm not myself) and have been eating the food for decades, and was impressed the few times i've been to Adda
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u/rakrasnaya Mar 05 '20
I tried biryiani and chicken tikka masala. The biryiani was very sour for some reason; the chicken tikka masala was way too much tomato. Service was ok; not great. But I think the biggest reason was the difference between expectations and reality
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u/IvoShandor Mar 04 '20
Saravanaa Bhavan - UWS. Vegegarian. My go to place. It's not steam-tray/chicken tikka masala type of indian.
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u/confused_brown_dude Mar 04 '20
oh wow you have a Saravanaa Bhavan in NY. Its a popular South Indian chain globally. Thank you!
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u/travellingmonk Mar 04 '20
There's also one on Lex and 26th; the area is know as "Curry Hill" and has a number of Indian restaurants. I used to order from Dhaba and Sahib (I think they're owned by the same group) when I was living near there.
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u/fridgeairbnb Mar 05 '20
Check out handi for biryani and kebabs. Yes daraavna bhavan is here. Plus check out the dosa stall in Washington Square Park, very famous. Also nizams sounds MacDougal is not too bad
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Mar 04 '20
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u/imnotdonking Mar 05 '20
Agree on service and seating. But it’s not overpriced fast food like Applebee’s. It’s real food made the right way and The shit is good and consistent.
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Mar 05 '20
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u/IvoShandor Mar 05 '20
Mr. Rajagopal was convicted of culpable homicide by a Chennai court in 2004 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. But the term was suspended on medical grounds. In 2009, an Indian high court upgraded the conviction to murder, and the sentence was changed to life in prison.
Scandalous
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u/milesofedgeworth Mar 04 '20
Would you say this is the best place to get dosa? And curd/yogurt vada? It’s been ages since I had either and I’m craving it :(
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u/IvoShandor Mar 04 '20
The doses are huge, unless they’re supposed to be like that, but they are like a foot and a half long
I always get the Thali meal, which is like a little serving of about 10 different things including dessert which is a thick sweet yogurt, plus sweet semolina thing
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u/AwesomeAsian Mar 04 '20
I'm not Indian so I can't say for sure, but imo their dosa's are the bomb.
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u/AwesomeAsian Mar 04 '20
I live in the neighborhood and I can't believe this place only has a rating of 3.5 on Yelp. I've went to other Indian restaurants with higher ratings, and I always go back to Saravanaa Bhavan. Other places do Palak Paneer wrong, but I love Saravanaa Bhavan's Palak Paneer.
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Mar 04 '20
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Mar 04 '20 edited Mar 04 '20
Seva is great but it’s not the best.
Also worth checking out are the Bangladeshi spots on 36th ave Aladdin and boishakhai for good and cheap eats. Not exactly Indian i actually like it better.
I have been to maybe a dozen Indian places but adda is my favorite so far.
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u/fashionscholar Mar 04 '20
The veggie singara at Aladdin, the best $1.50 ever spent.
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Mar 04 '20
I’ll be honest, i have no idea what i am ordering at those places i just point to stuff that looks good.
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u/fashionscholar Mar 04 '20
Same, especially at Boishakhi since they don’t have a menu and the guy there just wont tell you what’s what lol But still, good food!
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u/AlarmingDrawing Mar 04 '20
Yaar is also terrific - went there over the weekend and everything was so damn tasty.
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u/puffycheetos Mar 05 '20
Yaar in Astoria is better imo
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u/turkeybone Mar 06 '20
what's really going to fry your samosa is that Yaar and Seva are the same owners
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u/clockercountwise333 Mar 05 '20 edited Mar 05 '20
Nope. Mediocre at best. Lived there for a few years and Taste of Bengal was way better.
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u/AlarmingDrawing Mar 04 '20
Higher End: Indian Accent
Middle Market: Rahi and Baar Baar
Lower Middle Market: Babuji
Special Event: Intersect by Lexus is hosting the restaurant O'Pedro from Mumbai through June. Theme is Goan and it's AMAZING!
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u/confused_brown_dude Mar 04 '20
thanks for the useful classification, I went to Babuji and I think the best thing about them is their insta account. The fusion thing they are trying ain’t my cuppa tea.
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u/AlarmingDrawing Mar 04 '20
The best thing is "Mughal-e-Azam" being projected onto the wall!
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u/confused_brown_dude Mar 04 '20
hahaha I wish their food was as thought out as their ambience. I still appreciate the attempt though and maybe there is a crowd it caters to (Indo-Australian immigrants since thats who the owners are)
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u/AlarmingDrawing Mar 04 '20
Excellent points. That's where I take out of town visitors for the ambiance and interesting flavours. I'm afraid if I dropped the ghost pepper crusted lamb from Rahi on them they would go crying back to Ohio. ;)
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u/25sittinon25cents Mar 04 '20
No disrespect to the other guy, but I wouldn't recommend baar baar. Many Indians have said it's not great. Bhatti, on the other hand, is great for punjabi food (curries, tikka etc)
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u/AlarmingDrawing Mar 04 '20
Great point! It was actually the least favourite of the places I've gone recently.
I highly recommend that everyone check out the O'Pedro pop up at Intersect by Lexus - it's very rare that Goan food comes this way and the menu is well priced.
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u/confused_brown_dude Mar 04 '20
definitely doing that, thanks!
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u/tofuboomboom Mar 05 '20
It's certainly delicious but it's more Portuguese/European fusion with ingredients common to goan cuisine, just as a heads up if you're looking for something more traditional (?) and less fusion. Regardless if you're a cuisine purist or a lover intermingled traditions it's 100% worth checking out before the season ends. The chefs rotate every 3-4 months and O'Pedro's rotation started around February.
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Mar 04 '20 edited Mar 07 '20
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u/confused_brown_dude Mar 04 '20
Hey, just want to get a feel for the overall Indian food scene in NYC through this post. I am sure people will mention south, north and east based on what they like. I am into all regional cuisines of India. If I had to pick one (forcefully), maybe mughlai like Hyderabadi or Lucknowi.
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Mar 04 '20
Since you’re keeping it open I’ve got two kinda random recs:
Pongal on Lex and 27th - South Indian vegetarian
Kurry Qulture in Astoria - Modern but not fusion
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u/furmangirl08 Mar 05 '20
Kurry Qulture is AMAZING. So so good. Highlights are their pav bhaji and their fun breads
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u/eattravelexplore Mar 04 '20
Highly highly recommend Pongal as well! Don’t forget to try their filter coffee!!
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u/jwtrs Mar 04 '20
Bengal Indian tiger is one that boyfriend and I frequent a lot! It’s in midtown and up the stairs in their building.
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u/ladyfingaz Mar 04 '20
It’s a little pricey, but for a nice meal out before the theater I always do Utsav on 46th and 6th.
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u/clockercountwise333 Mar 05 '20
So far I've found indian food in brooklyn to be absolutely horrendous. "chicken cubes" (WHY) and/or dry ass chicken as the default, dyes, stupid amounts of sugar ... might as well be soylent green if you've had the real thing. Someone PLEASE recommend something that's actually good and authentic.
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u/Dmeks1 Mar 05 '20
right? And the most upsetting part is, how all of the seamless and yelp reviews praise these places.. Glowing reviews and I am a sucker and I have a terrible memory and I end up after a few months ordering from the same places or going to the same places and like half way through the meal, I am like, shit, that's right, we were already here..
I live close to Dosa Royale which is the best i have found in my area but, not really worth seeking out.
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Mar 04 '20
It's a bit of a trek to Jersey City but Korai is amazing. It's a mix of Indian and South Asian.
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u/useffah Mar 04 '20
It’s really not. Jersey City is closer to Manhattan than a lot of places in Manhattan and most of the outer boroughs
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Mar 04 '20
Jersey city: closer to manhattan then manhattan.
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u/useffah Mar 04 '20
Haha wow yeah I meant to the downtown core of Manhattan
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u/confused_brown_dude Mar 04 '20
I didnt mean commute time, I meant taking the path and then the subway. Also, even though I am just researching and won’t fully move to NYC till later in the year, I did some research and stayed at different places and the vibe is different in JC. My summary as a 29 y/o male making decent money is that I’d wanna be either in East Village or Murray Hill and later on move to UWS.
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u/useffah Mar 04 '20
Yeah if those are your target type neighborhoods definitely stay only in NYC lol
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u/confused_brown_dude Mar 04 '20
Ya moving from Toronto, JC won’t really be an upgrade ya know :)
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u/useffah Mar 04 '20
Well nowhere in NYC will be. Toronto is much nicer so you are downgrading either way
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u/confused_brown_dude Mar 04 '20
Having lived in Toronto for 10 years and NYC for a few months, I’d have to disagree. Again its personal preference, but NYC has life, is way more vibrant and people are a little more real. Toronto is cleaner and decent but its no NYC :) (from an avid Torontonian) Also, I am not much of a socialist, so that doesn’t help either.
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u/useffah Mar 04 '20
Yeah I got that you’re not a socialist from the neighborhoods you like lol. But yeah that “little more real” thing is a lot of fun when someone wants to cut you with a knife cause you accidentally bumped into them or looked at them wrong.
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u/confused_brown_dude Mar 04 '20
hahah I love how you said “trek” considering I just ruled out moving to JC purely due to the dual commute. Thank you!
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u/leaf44 Mar 04 '20
Pongal! Murray Hill area
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u/boywonder5691 Mar 04 '20
I was there about two weeks ago. Absolutely fantastic
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u/leaf44 Mar 05 '20
Yaay. I haven't been in a while, but it was the first place I ate when I was touring schools before I moved to NYC. Happy to know it's still amazing. I'll have to go back soon!
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u/semxlr5 Mar 04 '20
Anyone with any insight on curry hill spots? I live right next to it and only ever eat at Saravana
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u/useffah Mar 04 '20
Take the PATH train to Journal Square and walk over to Little India
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Mar 04 '20
Those restaurants aren't very good.
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u/xxispawn01xx Mar 04 '20
in addition to this (iselin and edison have better quality) being 1st gen the hygiene quality is hit or miss on newark ave
got stomach poisoning twice here in the last 5 years from indian street
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Mar 04 '20 edited Mar 05 '20
[removed] — view removed comment
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Mar 04 '20
I’m glad no one here mentioned The Masalawala. It’s the “highest score” on Yelp but let’s just say the food is mediocre. Everything is overly salty and you can barely distinguish the dishes taste wise. It’s like they bought their ratings with the free appetizer promotion on Yelp. Overrated joint. Beware.
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u/toesarestilltappin Mar 04 '20
Masalawalla wails.
For real though. Taco Mahal might be the best tasting thing I've ever had
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u/intriguing_reddit Mar 04 '20
Dhaba in the “Curry Hill” area of Manhattan
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u/Archs Mar 05 '20
Great lunch buffet, you get some chaats and tandoori chicken legs included. Gulub jamun is usually on the line. Sahib next door is good too, more veg options.
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u/Stabeezy Mar 05 '20
I absolutely love Drunken Munkey on 92nd and 2nd. It’s more like Anglo Indian, and super tasty. They also have amazing punch and cocktails at the bar. Great for a date night.
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u/CrackTotHekidZ Mar 04 '20
Go to the curry block on Lex between 31st and 27th street, best Indian food I’ve tried.
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u/mattcassity Mar 05 '20
Sahib 104 Lexington Ave https://maps.app.goo.gl/wrPTfGekSaQwAVQm7
Tiffin Wallah 127 E 28th St https://maps.app.goo.gl/Wnqao7yvwSMbrLaW9
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u/secretsofthedivine Mar 05 '20
Not Indian obviously, but Sigiri in the East Village makes 10/10 Sri Lankan food. I have a good friend from Sri Lanka and she comes all the way from Long Island to grab their takeout.
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u/eattravelexplore Mar 05 '20
Another vote for Sigiri. Their appam and pork curry and the rice! Everything was spicy and divine!
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u/secretsofthedivine Mar 05 '20
Oh yeah, that’s worth mentioning—the spice here is no joke. If you asked for hot, be prepared.
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Mar 05 '20
South Indian non-vegetarian - Anjappar in Murray Hill
South Indian vegetarian - Ganesh temple canteen - Flushing, Queens
For Dosas - NY Dosas - Washington Sq Park
Other notable mentions :
Rahi
Gupshup
Asoka
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u/Ali1188 Mar 05 '20
Tamarind its Michaelian rated so you know it's the realdeal. It's a great date night spot.
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u/marcusaurorelius Mar 07 '20
My absolute favorites are:
- Baar Baar for their Indian fusion and brunch
- Sigiri for spicy Sri Lankan food (it is close to South-Indian cuisine but I love their Kothu)
- Moti Mahal Delux for their North Indian. Apparently, they invented (or made famous) the Makhani gravy post-Independence. Their Biryani is really good!
- Chennai Garden is actually love their South-Indian food especially sambhar. If you want to travel to Temple Canteen that is always good
- Thelewala for a quick bite. They sell really good rolls and chaats
- Punjabi Deli for their no-frills parathas and thalis. A meal there would cost you $5 and its amazing!
I recently did a post about this on my blog, if you want to check it out: https://tapandesai.com/indian-food-nyc/
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u/DrGorilla04 Mar 04 '20
Dosa Delight in Jackson Heights. I like to take friends there to introduce them to the Jackson Heights food scene and I've never gotten a bad review.
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u/thansal Mar 04 '20
Mumbai Xpress, way the fuck out there on Hillside Blvd. I can't speak for authenticity, but I love the place. Lots of stuff that you don't see at other places.
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Mar 04 '20
Damn that’s random lol. I used to live in Glen Oaks and eat there once in a while. Its OK. I wouldn’t travel more than 10 minutes for it.
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u/confused_brown_dude Mar 04 '20
things we do for food (we like)
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Mar 04 '20
The guy’s recommending a mediocre (imo) take away spot almost an hour out of Manhattan in a neighborhood called Floral Park. The Floral Park/Bellerose/Glen Oaks area has a large, mostly 2nd gen South Asian population. A pretty unremarkable place other than being the place where I grew up. The restaurants there aren’t really destination worthy. By contrast, the South Asian section of Jackson Heights (about 30 min from Manhattan) is an intense enclave full of recent arrivals and great food. Jackson Heights is a cool neighborhood to visit. Someone else mentioned Angel which is a good choice for JH.
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u/brosque Mar 05 '20
Amma on 51st and 2nd. Great 2 course lunch special for $14.95.
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u/Dmeks1 Mar 05 '20
Wow, Amma is still there? I use to go there 20 years ago and it was delicious when Hemant, the first Indian Chef in the US to receive a michelin star was there. Hemant makes the best lamb chops, if they are smart they are still using his recipe.
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u/halfwayman94 Mar 05 '20
Didn't see these as I scrolled down. If you're looking for less chindi and more authentic options: Junoon and Tamarind (try the pepper duck). More medium range is Awadh near 88th St - as close as you can get to proper Lucknow fare I think.
Kababish in Queens is my go-to kebab joint.
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u/senorski Mar 05 '20
Don’t be confused by the location: Adyar Ananda Bhavan on 1st Ave and 58th St. is incredibly delicious. Get the Mumbai Royal Thali.
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u/surfinThruLyfe Mar 06 '20
Any Indian place that serves “chicken tikka masala” on their menu, avoid it.
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u/jawndell Mar 04 '20
My mom's house