"On a bustling stretch of Starling Avenue in Parkchester, known locally as Bangla Bazaar, you’ll find Al Aqsa. This neighborhood staple is always busy, especially in the evenings and during Ramadan. Come any time of the day and their display counter trays are filled to the brim with freshly cooked Bangladeshi dishes like ruhi fish curry, beef tehari, and chili chicken, along with other regional classics like spicy chicken tikka masala and beef biryani. We’re usually tempted to order everything on sight, but don’t even get us started when a tray of steaming hot chicken samosas or potato samosas comes out of the kitchen. We can’t resist their crispy, flaky, perfectly-seasoned samosas and their cilantro mint chutney sauce. Basically everything on the menu is comforting and filling - and perfect for iftar - but we do suggest topping off a meal here with a cold mango lassi, which is what we all need for this upcoming hot Ramadan month." - Jiniya Azad, Tahirah Baksh, Sameen Choudhry
