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The Best Halal Eateries in Astoria, Queens

Shawarma
Shawarma | Photo by Slashio Photography on Unsplash

In a city of diverse diners like the Big Apple, many eateries cater to special diets. One such dietary need is halal, a Muslim law relating to meat preparation and the avoidance of swine. Of course, New York City’s halal food scene isn’t just for one group of eaters, as evidenced by its inclusion of Chinese, Indian, American, and other world cuisines. For when you’re craving something new, here are the best halal eateries in Astoria, Queens. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Namaste

Chicken Kabsa- Arabian biryani

Bring your halal date to Namaste, an Indian eatery where the décor is elegant, complete with dimmed lights, and the food is always delicious. Familiar dishes such as the popular chicken biryani and garlic naan are dependably delightful, while plates of tandoori wings and chili paneer whet your appetite for adventure—and amor.

Shawarmania

After years of white sauce-slurping, New York City’s shawarma obsession is still going strong. Nowhere is this more apparent than at Shawarmania, an Astoria eatery known as much for its long lines as for its tasty shawarma platters, featuring your choice of chicken, beef, or lamb over yellow rice, pita, and, of course, plenty of white sauce. Tip: Skip the crowds, and take advantage of the eatery’s standout delivery service, satisfying locals nearly as much as the food itself.

Halal Sandwich Shop

Lamb kebab skewers

At Halal Sandwich Shop, Middle Eastern mainstays are reimagined for the all-American eater. Here, hot hero sandwiches come filled with delicately spiced beef tagine and chicken kebab; a halal cheeseburger makes an appearance, and not-so-classic sandwich and soup combos feature robust Moroccan tomato and beef soup and lentils in a light onion broth.

Little Morocco

The service at Little Morocco is a treat in itself, bested only by the spot’s low prices and high-quality food. Legs of lamb fall off the bone here, and moist chicken kebabs are seasoned to perfection. And the vegetable sides? They threaten to steal the show. End your meal with a steaming cup of sweet Moroccan mint tea and even sweeter customer service, and you’ll have had a perfect dining experience, a rare find in New York City.

Boishakhi

Serving no frills, just flavor, Boishakhi brings a bite of Bangladesh to Astoria, Queens. Let a friendly staff guide you through the ordering process; you’ll have the chance to choose among recipes such as aromatic meat biryanis, Bengali-style fish, fan-favorite chicken samosas, and more.

Duzan

Shawarma wrap with garlic sauce and spices

Consider yourself warned: the shawarma sandwiches at Duzan may ruin you for street cart “cuisine” forever. Here, fluffy pitas come filled with chicken, beef, lamb or falafel, Duzan’s fan-favorite hummus, and the sauces of your choosing (tip: go with all of them), making for a super-sized sandwich that never tops $7 and always tops expectations.

King of Falafel & Shawarma

It isn’t an ordinary occurrence for a shawarma spot to earn shoutouts from The New York Times and New York City’s prestigious Vendy Awards. Then again, King of Falafel & Shawarma isn’t your ordinary Middle Eastern eatery. From humble beginnings as a roving food truck to a dining destination boasting two brick-and-mortar locations, the King has captivated locals with its unlimited white sauce, generous portions, and signature made-from-scratch halal meats over rice.

About the author

Splitting her time between Miami and New York, Julia is a writer currently based in Brooklyn. She enjoys foreign films, 70s cookbooks, and bad detective novels.

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