Al-Aqsa Bakery & Restaurant
Middle Eastern restaurant · Bayridge ·
Palestinian eatery serving falafel, shawarma, and homemade pita
Palestinian eatery serving falafel, shawarma, and homemade pita
"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
"This counter-service spot in Bay Ridge has everything from foul mudammas and manakish covered in za’atar to kabab platters and, our go-to, Palestinian-style shawarma. You can get the shawarma inside a fluffy pita, but we prefer the laffa wrap with juicy, tender meat and crunchy pickles neatly packed inside. There are only a couple cramped tables inside that are usually occupied by regulars, but the wrap is easy to eat on the go if you feel like window shopping for Middle Eastern goods along 5th. The hummus is less portable, but grab some to take home anyway. It comes topped with bright green shatta and olive oil, and it looks like a gorgeous, mossy pond." - neha talreja, hannah albertine, matt tervooren
"This counter-service spot has everything from foul mudammas and kebab platters, to manakish covered in za’atar, and our go-to: Palestinian-style shawarma. You can get the shawarma inside a fluffy pita, but we prefer the laffa wrap, with juicy, tender meat and crunchy pickles neatly packed inside. There are only a couple of cramped tables, which are usually occupied, but the wrap is easy to eat on the go if you feel like window shopping for gold jewelry and Islamic fashion along 5th Ave." - neha talreja, willa moore, carina finn koeppicus
"At lower prices and with a lunch counter atmosphere, Al Aqsa specializes in pita or laffa sandwiches, tucked or rolled, respectively, and filled with chicken shawarma, falafel, or lamb shish kebab, slathered with a strong toum, a garlicky white sauce. Kofta, bread dips, pies in several variations, and even schnitzels round out the menu." - Robert Sietsema
"Twin shawarmas twirl in the window of this casual cafe — named after a mosque in Jerusalem — available freshly carved in a choice of sandwich formats. Some consider it one of the best shawarmas in town — don’t hesitate to go for a combination of the meats currently available, which may be chicken, beef, lamb, or a lamb-beef combination. Kofta kebab platter, fava bean stew, and a range of hand pies that runs to spinach, chicken, or hot dogs, round out the menu, and schnitzels are also available." - Robert Sietsema
