Thread by @gauravsabnis

Oooh I have found the perfect topic for today's long rambling morning thread! A distillation of the 12 Ramzans I've spent in #NYC trying out all kinds of #iftar food from around the globe.

Strap in, folks! This is gonna be a long one!

https://twitter.com/peeyuka/status/1510590862073413632

First of all, as a desi, it is important to remember that the "iftar food" concept in NYC isn't hyper-localized like in India. In Bombay, you head to Mohd Ali Road. In Pune, you head to Shivaji Market. But that, remember, is a result of how India has ghettoized Muslims.

New York City has over a million Muslims, roughly 12-15% of the city's population. And they are very diverse in terms of country origins and culinary traditions. And are spread out all over the city. So there is no one big iftar spot like @peeyuka or I grew up knowing.

I'll start off with subcontinental iftar spots first cos that's my people's food. 🤗

Jackson Heights is a big hub for it. Just take the train there in the evening and follow the crowds after sunset, lol. My favorites there are Dera, Kabab King for Pakistani deliciousness.

There are also some great Bangladeshi places there. Haat Bazar is one that comes to mind. Dhaka Garden is another one, but it's been a bit uneven over the years.

Oh, I should caveat this thread with the obligatory "dunno if pandemic has changed or closed these spots".

Astoria is another nabe with a lot of subcontinental iftar specials or buffets. I've only been to Boishakhi and Aladdin so far (both Bangladeshi) and they have been deeeelish! But that general area has a lot more such places I hope to try this year.

Staying with our bangabandhus, a relatively little known hub for this is Starling Avenue in the Bronx. Neerob and Al-Aqsa are always great. But like those places in Queens, here too, you can just walk around and try food from a bunch of different places. Iftar specials abound!

Within Brooklyn itself, @peeyuka, head over to Coney Island Avenue also known as Little Pakistan. I don't remember specific names and that nabe used to have a lot of churn even pre pandemic. But just go to that street, follow the crowds and the smells.

In Manhattan, there is no one such iftar hub, but the decades old downtown institution Pakistan Tea House, the midtown institutions Haandi & Lahori never disappoint.

Alright, that's the subcontinent for now.

There is so much more! So many other great iftars!

Imma go to Africa next. B&D Halal near Penn Station is another NYC institution where it feels like it's iftar every meal. Almost intimidatingly massive and varied menu. And so cheap. In general, B&D is my top recommendation when asked for recos near Penn Station.

The Soundview area in the Bronx is a place to go to for West African iftars. I also had a couple of favorites in Fordham Heights but alas, the pandemic took them (Ebe Ye Yie 😭😭). But it's got a lot of West African immigrants so in ramzan time, successors are bound to pop up.

Realizing that this is going to be a long multi hour maybe even multi-day thread. I've barely scratched the surface so far. 🫣

And I haven't even talked about the public iftars that also abound all over the city. Especially around the United Nations.

Also pandemic shut so many of my old faves. Including Chinese Halal! 😢

Just gonna drop a few favorites from all around the map before I have to get ready and head out.

Sami's in Queens for Afghan
The Uyghur spot in New World Mall in Flushing
Java in Brooklyn for Indonesian

Iftar options in the city also multiply and pop up every year as ramzan progresses, and it just started. Usually in a week or so, I hear of something new. And with the city back to almost fully normal, there should be a lot of new ones.

Will keep updating with the intel.

Oh 2 more additions that are proper daily public iftars not restaurants

- 96th street mosque UES
- NYU Islamic Center in the village

Oh and of course, remember that NYC is a city with literally a halal cart on every corner every night. They don't have iftar specials as such. But do not forget to wish the vendors if you stop by at iftar time. Or even sehri time if you're a 4AM riser and walker like me. 😍

This jogged a very #NYC pandemic memory if you'll indulge me. From May 2020. When I started the daily 4 AM walks but didn't venture beyond my immediate neighborhood.

My immediate neighborhood is Hospital Alley. I live between Bellevue & Beth Israel. And NYU Langone nearby.

So one May 2020 early morning, I found myself near Bellevue, which, you can imagine how it was when the city was the global epicenter of the pandemic. And it started pouring. I didn't have an umbrella. There was no shelter nearby. But there was a halal cart!

The vendor dude saw me and waved me over, signaling, yeah, you can take shelter here. Not wanting to be ungrateful, I ordered a gyro. While masked up and keeping my distance.

Him: Sorry? (Or so I thought)

Me: (confused) Sorry?

Him: You're Sorry?

Me: (very confused) What?

The masks were muffling our voices & the hard rain wasn't helping, so we both exchanged a few confused looks until I finally understood what he was saying.

Him: Your sehri?

Me: (remembering it's ramzan) Oh sehri! Yeah, I guess this is my sehri.

Him: Many sehri customers now

Our neighborhood is a rare one that didn't see many restaurant or food cart closures in the pandemic because, well, Hospital Alley. And healthcare workers have to eat.

With that memory, I will pause this thread for now. And update later. #NYC #iftar

Resuming this #NYC #Iftar thread with a note about how extremely common it is for there to be a public iftar in Manhattan that is either for free or a benefit for a good cause. It's not just the restaurant and food cart capital. It's also the home of the UN!

Just keep an eye on your local calendars or even just use eventbrite. You could literally have an iftar at a different public iftar party throughout the month.

Like I said, Muslims are 12-15% of the city and woven into our day to day lives. Ramzan is big

eventbrite.com/d/ny--new-york…

If you go to any of these events, it is the most welcoming, friendly, life affirming experience ever. And great food! When the hosts find out you came there just after reading about the event online, they are so thrilled! That's the whole point of these outreach events.

This New Jersey event coming Friday for example. It is free. They are inviting everyone. If you're in the area, RSVP and show up. You will have a fun fun evening! And great food!

Iftars in the greater NYC are a treasure hidden in plain sight. Just look.

eventbrite.com/e/interfaith-i…