Jackson Heights: South Asian Food in Queens
A guide to Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Nepali food along 74th Street in Jackson Heights, plus Curry Hill in Manhattan, with what to order.
Jackson Heights, Queens is the center of South Asian food in New York, and 74th Street is its main artery. This guide covers what to eat there, how to order it, and where else in the city to go.
74th Street and the Neighborhood
Step off the 7 train at 74th Street and you land in the middle of it: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Nepali kitchens packed into a few blocks, alongside sweet shops, groceries, and sari stores. This is a real community anchor, not a food court version of one.
The range here is wide because the region is wide. A Bangladeshi kitchen cooks differently than a Punjabi one, and both sit near Nepali and Tibetan spots serving momos, the pleated dumplings you dip in spicy chutney. Try a plate of momos even if you came for something else.
What to Order
South Asian food covers a lot of ground. A few dishes are the best way in.
- Biryani: layered rice and meat cooked with whole spices. Hyderabadi and other regional styles differ, and this is often the dish a kitchen is proudest of.
- Dosa: a thin, crisp fermented rice-and-lentil crepe from South India, usually folded around spiced potato and served with sambar and chutney.
- Kebab: grilled and skewered meats, a Pakistani and North Indian strength. Seekh kebab and boti are good starting points.
- Chaat: the snack category, crunchy and tangy and sweet all at once. Order it fresh and eat it fast.
If you are new, get a biryani and a plate of chaat to split. That combination shows you the two poles of the cuisine.
Curry Hill in Manhattan
Manhattan has its own South Asian pocket, known as Curry Hill, along Lexington Avenue in the high 20s. It is smaller than Jackson Heights but easy to reach from Midtown, and it leans toward sit-down Indian restaurants and a few good vegetarian kitchens.
If you work in Manhattan and cannot get to Queens, this is the practical option for a proper meal.
How to Order
Rice dishes like biryani travel well and hold heat, so they are safe for delivery. Dosa does not, since the crisp goes soft in minutes, so eat it in the restaurant or pick it up close by. Kebabs are best fresh off the grill.
Portions are generous and prices are fair, especially in Jackson Heights. Ask about spice level honestly, since many kitchens will cook to your request rather than dumbing it down by default.
A Closing Note
Jackson Heights is one of the best eating neighborhoods in the whole city, South Asian or otherwise. Take the 7 train, walk 74th Street, and order more than you think you need. Use the listings above to find a kitchen near you.
Written by See The Five · kept current from the directory, last checked 2026-09-07