Bundu Khan Kabab House (Queens)

Rating:

Quality, Taste, Cleanliness, Environment, Price , & Staff

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Positive:  Great combination of lacha paratha (bread) and fresh naan with gola kababs, bihari kababs, and boneless chicken tikka.  

Negative:  Inconsistent food taste, especially the gola kababs, like many other Pakistani restaurants.

Overall: The best BBQ Pakistani food in the NJ/NY area.

Revisit:  Yes,  I have visited there often and will continue to do so; their food tastes better than other places even on a bad day.

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UPDATED ON 2/25/2012

Bundu Khan is still inconsistent in the food they have, but the naan and paratha are always delicious.  Their bihari kababs and boneless chicken tikka were excellent on this visit but their gola kababs were too spicy and a bit salty.  It would be so much more satisfying if they were more consistent. With all that said I still believe they still have the best all around Pakistani bbq food in the region.

FROM JANUARY 9, 2012

Craving good pakistani kababs and paratha?

Bundu Khan, no relation to popular restaurant in Pakistan with same name or the restaurant in Houston with the same name, is a clean and small quick bite restaurant located on Union Tpke in Glen Oaks, NY. The walls are painted bright green with large photographs of food hanging on the walls; despite the description, this all works very well for the restaurant and gives it a nice feel. They also have a large screen TV playing various indian movies on a given day.  It can accommodate four families of four people but not more.  Most people seem to order or take out.

There are usually the same three people working at the restaurant in the front end:  the owner, his wife, and a female worker.  From what I hear, they have been working together for a very long time when the owner had another well known Pakistani restaurants in Long Island which he later sold.  That restaurant (Kababchi) by the way, has dwindled in quality after the current owner of Bundu Khan left to start up a new restaurant.

Nonetheless the food at his new restaurant is delicious.  Yes, it is like other typical Desi restaurants, where the taste is inconsistent because of the large amount of different spices that are put in and the intricacy that is involved.  On the back end he has several Mexican cooks who do most of the work.  I enjoy their lacha paratha, naan, boneless chicken tikka, and gola kababs.  I have tried their bihari kababs but think they are mediocre.  The gola kababs can be very delicious at times, melting in your mouth, while you eat the crispy lacha paratha (no this paratha is not the typical flaky one from the Pakistan based restaurant or the one in Houston, but its still damn good).  The gola kabab used to be very spicy but the owner managed to make the spice less but now the problem is cooking – sometimes its burnt and other times its perfect.  They need to get this right soon otherwise they’ll lose me as a customer for sure. They do have some delicacies as well, including Magas Nihari (Nihari with brain in it).  I haven’t tried it and don’t plan on it.  I have heard its decent though, but of course cannot compare to the one you find in Pakistan.

Despite the inconsistencies, they have the best BBQ Pakistani food around and their food still tastes better than other restaurants on a bad day.

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Related articles

• Kabab Paradise (Central & Northern NJ) (halalfoodcritic.wordpress.com)
• Bakhtar Halal Kababs (Queens) (halalfoodcritic.wordpress.com)

Shake Shack (Manhattan)

Rating: 

Quality, Taste, Cleanliness, , Environment, Price , & Staff

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Positive: Unique Mushroom burger with crinkle cut french fries and thick, creamy shakes

Negative: Aside from being very busy with long wait times, there is only one item on the menu that actually doesn’t have meat.

Overall: Try it once, and you would have officially eaten the best Mushroom burger ever!

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tired of eating vegetarian burgers and salads while hanging out at a non-halal restaurant?

Well…Look no further because there is a vegetarian burger that actually tastes better than meat! If you don’t believe me why don’t you go and try it yourself at one of many Shake Shack’s  Manhattan restaurants.  You won’t regret it!

Most of their locations are in Manhattan and very busy throughout the day (especially during lunch and dinner times).  The best way to get a seat is to split up with your group; one guy orders for everyone and the others find a table.  Despite being busy the workers are overall pretty nice and welcoming.  They also try their best to clean tables quickly in between customers.  The inside decor is like a typical burger joint filled to capacity by hungry New Yorkers. One interesting thing is that each Shake Shack restaurant has a different environ which you would not normally see other restaurants  do.

Since you can, regrettably, only eat one item on the menu you can try many different combinations to “change it up” when eating at their restaurant. You can have 2 burgers, 1 burger + fries, or 1 burger + fries + shake.  Whatever the case, just have a bite of the mouth-watering portabella mushroom burger filled with muester and chedder cheese and topped with their signature Shacksauce and your life will never be same again.  You would have experienced the best gourmet vegetarian burger you will ever eat.

The shakes are also thick, creamy, and very filling.  If you are shake fanatic you’ll definitely enjoy their shakes.  I personally don’t think the shakes are good enough to name your restaurant after them, but some people do like them alot.  The thick, crinkle cut fries are also different from what you would eat at McDonalds or Burger King.  Overall you need to try the ‘Shroom burger at least once.  (But I guarantee that you wouldn’t have any problem eating it again)!

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Sushi Samba (Manhattan)

Rating: 

Quality, Taste, Cleanliness, Environment, Price, & Staff

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Positive: Delicious and unique “samba” sushi rolls as well as exotic virgin cocktails.

Negative: Crowded on weekends and even on some weeknights. More expensive than the average sushi place.

Overall: A must eat restaurant for Sushi lovers

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Looking for exotiC sushi rolls IN a fun atmosphere?

Go to Sushi Samba in Manhattan! This is a high-end, more expensive than normal sushi restaurant which blends Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian tastes into its exotic rolls.

This is definitely my top sushi place, mainly because of the unique “Samba” rolls it offers.  I haven’t seen similar items on menus at other sushi restaurants. (they also have regular sushi rolls by the way) My all time favorite is the El Topo roll which has mozzarella cheese, crispy onions, and jalapeno. This roll is too delicious. The mozzarella really adds to it. I go to this restaurant just for this roll because there is none other like it. I also recommend the Samba 7 roll for people that love lobster, and the Rainbow Dragon roll for mango lovers. And of course you can never go wrong with Shrimp Tempura and Spicy Tuna Rolls. From the appetizers, I usually get Edamame.  I used to get the Crispy Calamari but to my disappointment it is no longer on the menu.  I also recommend the taquitos and Tiger shrimp. For those of you that do not like sushi, you can try the tasty Crispy Red Snapper as well.

I also love going to Sushi Samba for the four exotic virgin cocktails they offer. My favorites are the Watermelon Mojo and Berry Smash. They are very refreshing and smooth.  Great drinks to have while waiting for your food and eating your appetizers.

They have multiple locations throughout the city.  I personally like going to the 7th Avenue location because it is bigger and more “happening”.

If you have a big group then lunch may be a better option as it is less crowded then.  But then you’d miss out on their vibrant ambiance best experienced in the evening.  I also recommend making reservations before going as the restaurant is usually packed on weekends and, at times, on weeknights as well.  I’ve never had problems with their service either.  All in all, this is a must eat restaurant for sushi lovers!

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