Around the World in Two Avenues
Feast in 8 different countries without leaving
32 JULY 2 0 1 8
FOOD + DRINK
your neighborhood
For New Yorkers who haven’t ventured
into Astoria in years (or at
all), the word brings to mind one
association: Greece. It makes
sense, of course — one third of
all Greek people who moved
to New York City in the 1980s
made the neighborhood their home, and
by the mid-90s, only slightly less than half
its population was Greek. But for those
who live here now, the area is a haven for
an entire international community — with
so many amazing different cultures represented,
sometimes just going out the
front door feels like a trip abroad.
In fact, Queens in general has more languages
spoken than anywhere in the world
— just between Astoria and Forest Hills you
can hear Greek, Filipino, Urdu, Indonesian,
Russian, Japanese and Lithuanian, among
many others, and even more rare dialects
like Chavacano, Waray-Waray, Minangkabau
and Bukharian.
And, where there are so many languages
and cultures present, you know there is delicious
food awaiting. Next time you have
FOMO from all of your friends who are
flying off to exotic locations this summer,
try taking a quick trip around the world
within our own borough! After you visit a
few of these restaurants, you’ll be feeling
like a jetsetter (minus the jet lag) in no time
— and they’re all between Broadway and
31st Avenue.
We’ll start off our journey in the Middle
East, then head to Central America, South
America, Asia and Europe. You won’t even
need a passport, just an open mind — and a
hearty appetite!
BY CLAIRE LEADEN
@CLAIRELEADEN @CLAIRELEADEN
MIDDLE EAST
PALESTINE & MORE
KING OF FALAFEL & SHAWARMA
(KOF), 30-15 BROADWAY
KOF has been a part of the neighborhood
for a while — since 2002 to be exact — but as a
street cart, where it was voted the No. 1 street
vendor in NYC. Luckily, it just made 31st Street
and Broadway its first brick-and-mortar home
two and a half years ago. The expanded menu
serves the same mission as the original: to
“replicate the taste of home” and share traditional
and “new interpretations of Palestinian
and Middle Eastern cuisine.” If you haven’t had
a falafel platter or sandwich, you must give it a
try — or, to change it up a bit, order the Za'atar
(“pizza” with Middle Eastern spice mixture) or
Kefta (Moroccan minced meat).