Dua Kafe

Highly recommend going to Dua Kafe if you are looking for authentic Albanian food (confirmed by my Albanian friend lol). The space is small but welcoming and comfortable, decorated very nicely with Christmas lights and picture frames of celebrities that have been there. Our waiter was so kind and gave us great recommendations for food and drinks. Food wait time was slightly longer than normal, but completely worth it because you know they were making it fresh. The food was very flavorful and the drinks were strong but not overwhelming. We will absolutely return, thank you for having us!

The food was great, the owner was incredibly nice, and the ambience really made our dinner feel special. I’d recommend anyone who wants to try good food to come here and try some of their unique dishes! One member of our party had a cheese flambé that was delicious and memorable.

Amazing traditional Albanian food. Great vibe to this cozy location. And, the owner was so friendly and patient in explaining the restaurant, dishes. And, even recommended amazing spots to visit in Albania, complete with historical and geographical background.

Wow the food was DELICIOUS! We had the ground beef byrek and tave elbasani, they were both really really good. The food was fresy made to order (except for the byrek but that's pretty normal), the yoghurt in elbasani tasted like handmade yoghurt that my father used to make. Everything was superb, service was great. Would definitely come back

We had the most amazing time at Dua Kafe. The food was authentic and delicious and the tea was outstanding. We were also delighted to have met the wonderful owner who was full of passion and very kind. Highly recommend this hidden gem 💎 can't wait to come back!

Lovely Albanian restaurant. The food was delicious and amazing, typical traditional Albanian dishes but with a modern American twist. Most of their ingredients are brought from Albania which makes the taste even more authentic which is what i was looking for when i first went there. Their raki cocktail was good too. Definitely going back there.

Authentic Albanian cuisine, food was delicious. Lots of flavors, meat was cooked perfectly, lamb was so tender, seemed like you could have cut it with just looking at it. Fergese was amazing, although be careful, it comes too hot. Better put some on a plate and let it cool down a little bit. Spinach Burek wasn't seasoned good, no salt at all, unfortunately. Overall, good experience, would highly recommend.

Amazing food, fantastic experience and wonderful people. Dua Cafe is a one-of-a-kind gem offering the hometown experience of Albania, in New York. Anyone and everyone should come here to feel as at-home as i did :)

I never had Albanian food before. My doorman is Albanian and told me about this place. Wow it was amazing experience! This cozy restaurant didn't disappoint me! I can't tell it's authentic or not since I'd never had, but everything we ordered was delicious especially Tave Elbasani, the lamb was so tender with flavorful yoghurt sauce. I must come back for other dishes to try soon!

This was a good place for a long catch-up with a friend. I'd come back for the dessert (plums). That being said, the food was still solid, with good portion sizes. The octopus, which was $30, actually did come out with a generous amount of octopus which was nice. It just didn't feel distinguished enough to go back for. The service was quite slow. I didn't mind it as I had the time, but I can see this being a point of frustration for some.

Authentic quality Albanian cuisine with great service! I ordered the Tavë Elbasani, which had tender lamb pieces baked in a bowl with egg and yogurt. The bowl came out of the kitchen sizzling hot, and the egg was delicious and fluffy. The only point for improvement was that there were only a couple pieces of lamb in there though (although the pieces were tasty). $22 was a fair price for this dish. To drink, I got the Dhallë, which was exactly as advertised - a salty yogurt drink (pretty good). It came in a small glass bottle and was only $4. The owner is Albanian, which explains why the place is very authentic. He is super friendly and helpful and makes sure that all of his customers are being well taken care of. The restaurant itself is pretty small with some Albanian themed decor and music. There was only one other occupied table on a Saturday afternoon. Overall, Dua Kafe earns a very solid 4 stars from me for the delicious authentic food and great service. If you are interested in trying some Albanian food, then this should be at the top of your list!

This was my first time having Albanian food so definitely not an expert, but I really enjoyed my meal here. My friend and I ordered a spinach byrek combo and a tave elbasani to share. The restaurant wasn't busy but it seemed like there was just one busy guy doing all the serving, and the food took a while to come out, but it was hot and fresh when it did. The byrek was two slices of a flaky pie with spinach and cheese, served with fries and three small meat kebabs. The tave elbasani was a casserole made with lamb, yogurt, and baked egg that was super creamy and lamby-tasting (yummy to me but maybe not if you don't like lamb) and the more unique entree to me. We also got a little bucket of toasted bread strips that I think was for dipping in the lamb dish, at least that's how we enjoyed it. Overall a very filling and hearty meal, though the other entrees and appetizers were more pricey so I'm not sure I'd stray away from the two entrees I tried if I were to come again. I would be happy to come back to introduce others to Albanian food though!

Loved our dinner here--the food was incredible and tasted very home made. The server was kind and he made sure we ordered the best things on the menu. I would come back in a heartbeat.

This place is a hidden gem !! I would even give more stars if I could. After venturing through many Balkan restaurants in NYC, I have to say that by far, this spot has the BEST byrek. Don't let the small space fool you ! The interior was also very clean. They had nice Albanian music playing on their TV as well. My mom and I came here on a Friday night. We were seated right away and the owner was a very kind man. For our appetizer, we ordered the Ferges to share. Comes with pita bread on the side. This was a very delicious dish and I would definitely order this again. For our main course, we ordered the Byrek Combo, which comes with qebapa and fries. The byrek tasted so much like a home-cooked meal. Flaky dough and good amounts of filling. Everything was served hot and very fresh. Qebapa had the perfect amount of spices and fries were nice and crispy. Portions were great as well. For dessert, we ordered the Albanian baklava and I tried their Dua Kafé. The baklava was amazing !! It had the perfect moist texture and consistency. I really enjoyed the coffee too. I would highly recommend this place if you're looking for authentic Albanian food. A little on the pricier side, but you are paying for high quality. The owner even told us the coffee was on the house, which was much appreciated :D

Amazing place! Great food, perfect customer service. very cozy and warm ambient. Mediterranean, especially Albanian traditional food.

Had such a lovely experience at Dua Kafe. It was my first time trying Albanian food and upon reading the reviews, was excited to see what the place had to offer. I definitely left the place feeling warm, full, and so satisfied! If you're looking for a unique spot in the city with good food and nice vibes, do pay this spot a visit. We started out the meal with Fergese, which is a mix of peppers, tomato, onion and cottage cheese. It was served with warm bread and was a great way to start the meal. We then followed it with the octopus salad. It was a generous portion and the capers really mixed well with the flavors, delicious! Our main was the borek combo which came with fries and qebapa. Solid and filling main dish! It's generally hard for one to not like Borek, and the spinach filled one is a must have if you're a fan of boreks! Lastly, we ended the meal with the très lèches and Albanian coffee. The coffee is similar to what you'd get for a strong Turkish coffee. And the cake was a perfect way to end the meal, with a unique take on caramel to enrich it further. Lately, the decor of the place is great! With pictures all over one of the walls of Albania and its people. The choice of music also will not disappoint!

Delicious tasting Albanian food in the East Village! Everything tasted fresh and homemade. The presentation was even better. My only complaint is that the chicken got a bit dry and relied too much on a yogurt sauce to make it taste good. The owner, Bobian, is an incredibly nice and intelligent man who only wants the best for his customers. Between the pop music from Albania playing, and the upbeat atmosphere he creates, it is hard not to have fun here. It is a unique experience you will find hard pressed in the city. Bring your appetite and positive vibes here!

I just moved to the area and thought I would try out this quaint Albanian spot with a few friends for brunch. We loved the warm atmosphere and the presentation of the food and tea (served in an artisanal looking tea filter and beautiful china!!). The owner was so pleasant to talk to and we loved chatting with him about his recommendations, the history of the decor hanging around the restaurant and how much we enjoyed the food. I LOVED the spinach byrek and although I personally don't love cottage cheese, the rest of my party loved the fergese. The herbs in the tea (recommended by the owner) were so fresh -- can definitely see this being a regular spot near my new home!

Good ambiance. Service was top notch, there when you need it but not over bearing. Food was great, reminds me of Albania. Would recommend, good local spot. If you know you know.

Food is delicious and authentic, the server/ owner is super efficient and friendly. The best byrek next to my mom's. I have been here twice and will be a regular.

Cozy and quaint cafe serving traditional Albanian dishes. I loved it and will be back. Everything from the food to the Albanian coffee was fresh and flavorful. The kitchen was just opening around Noon on a Saturday so it was super quiet and easy to drop in. Only one server (with another cook in the back) so the food took a bit longer but he was very attentive, warm, and helpful with the menu. Great place for a brunch with a friend.

When you miss Albania go here! They have delicious traditional Albanian dishes and people are very nice. Place is a little small but they make you feel very comfortable!

Albania is a country whose cuisine is not well known. Sandwiched between the former Yugoslavia & Greece & always looking towards Italy, it's food is reminiscent of a Serbian style if I had to pick a neighbor. Exotic & charming little spot with slow service but delicious food. Ate: Whole branzino Grilled veg with yogurt dip Total $48 I got to try my friends sausage and potato bread and their breads come out on a little table- so rustic . Plus, garlic lovers this is your spot! My branzino and veg were super duper and a real culinary journey to a land we don't know very well.

We came for lunch this afternoon and I'm so glad we went here! It's so small that we were using google maps to find it and still managed to walk right past it lol My friend ordered Michelle's panini and I got the byrek combo, 1 spinach byrek with 3 beef skewers and fries. Neither of us had had Albanian food before and wow is it good. The beef was juicy and tender, byrek was soft, warm and flaky. It was somewhat like a thinner spanakopita. Plus, prices are quite fair for what you get. What a great little neighborhood place.

Had a great meal while listening to Alabamian cardi b Food was quite expensive but the experience was worth it

I wish i could give 10 stars to DuaKafe. Authentic Albanian food. I had a dinner with my friend last night, The Resturent is truly amazing, food was fresh and super tasty & service was great. Bobby the owner is a very nice guy. I'm 100% going back to Duakafe. A must try for everyone!!!!

This place is amazing. 1) The service is 10/10, probably the best service I ever got. 2) I got 2 dishes: qebapa with fli and tave kosi. If I have to recommend one if it is your first time getting Albanian food, try the qebapa with fli. 3) The ambiance of this place is 10/10 as well. They have pictures of famous Albanian personalities on the wall.

Superb, family-owned Albanian restaurant. Food is delicious, with fresh ingredients, many from the Balkans/Albania. Lucky to have an Albanian restaurant of this quality south of the Bronx. Albanian celebrities visit when they are in the U.S.! Please support them too.

Amazing and creative Albanian Cuisine in Manhattan! Warm hospitality and ambiance. Highly recommended!

Delicious spinach burek only at " Dua kafe" This place is so amazing and the staff is so nice.

The food was so good and owner and staff were so friendly and attentive! I really enjoyed the conversation we had with them!!

Loved the dining experience here! The five dishes we ordered were all super delicious. Appetizer wise, the cheese that gets lit on fire and the red pepper with cream were amazing and very exotic to me. For main, the flija (honey pancake) with qebepa tasted wonderful with the mix of savoury meat and honey dough that melted in our mouth. The coffee came with a beautiful cup which was a pleasant wrap of the satisfying meal. Service was friendly and fast.

My girlfriend took me here before work for lunch. Shes albanian and she highly recommends this place! U cant find alot of good albanian restaurants around and she said this spot is authentic and alot of famous albanian celebrities come here!!! She ordered a bunch of things for us to try and everything was so so good! The staff were so nice and friendly. Felt so cozy and very much like home.

Run, don't walk to this hidden gem. As a vegetarian, I was able to find very satisfying food like the Burek (spinach and cheese combo) and the appetizer, Fergese. My carnivore friend also enjoyed the Burek. The Burek has 4 slices and it's big for me. Pros: 1. Comprehensive menu 2. Fair prices 3. Great service - the owner is very hospitable 4. Location - it is away from the hustle and bustle of upper 14th street Con: 1. Stuffed tummy :-D I didn't have space for desert and coffee. I plan to make this place a regular spot and it should be on your list as well.

Service was friendly and food was absolutely amaaaazing!!! Octopus salad was delicious!! Highly recommend.

It's always a great feeling to be back at Dua kafe! Amazing service, Bobi the owner was on top of our table all the time and made us experience the true Albanian hospitality! Food is so delicious. We started with fli and qofte, second dish was lushnja salad with grilled veggies, than my fav dish kidneys with bread on the bottom, and my bf fav dish tave kosi. For dessert we got trilece is similar to ters lecces but it's prepared same like in albania. I really wanted to get the baklava with panda milk but we were so full lol. Hand sanitizer on the table with some fresh rosemary which did smell so nice, and the dividers between the tables made us enjoy our experience there in max. Thumbs up!!! lots of love for this place!

Food looks good and seems like it would be delicious however it was tasteless and bland. The bread is sad white bread, lamb dId not taste lIke anything and was over cooked. When we got the bill it was dOuble the amount we expected to pAy. Make sure you ask how much everything will cost! The sad Lamb chops was $35!!! We would not return

This place was amazing, recommended by an Albanian friend. The food, decor, and music are all authentic. We wanted to try everything on the menu, it all sounded so delicious. In the end settled for a small appetizer tripe soup, and two entrees. Byrek with spinach and qebapa, lamb mixed with egg, were hearty dishes and satisfying. For dessert highly highly recommend the baklava There are photos of famous people of Albanian descent on the wall, some of which are autographed! Dua Lipa, Ava Max, Regis Philbin, Rita Ora, etc. It's a small place with some indoor and outdoor seating. We went on a weekday evening and there were a total of 3 parties. A true hidden gem. Will definitely be back!

I came here about a month ago, but forgot to review. This cute cafe, unfortunately situated near a lot of L train construction, is not to be missed. If you didn't know, Dua means love and I believe this fits the name of the cafe perfectly. The cafe is decorated with pictures Albanian celebrities (..and George H.W Bush?). I ordered the qebapa with spinach burek, along with my friend. We waited about 30 minutes for our food, but we were entertained by the Albanian music videos on the TV in the cafe. Once our food came, everything was delicious! Everything tasted really fresh. I do wish that there was more white sauce that came with the dish, since I wanted to douse my burek with it out of habit,but the food was extremely good as it was. I was really stuffed at the end, even though I did not eat the whole day. Highly recommend if you never tried Albanian/Balkan food before!

This place is SO cute and fun! Came by with my family on a very, very cold December 23rd and they were so accomodating of our group of 6 in such a small and intimate space. The owner and waiter was so friendly and gracious, and gave excellent recommendations and service. I got the chunks of lamb in a cream sauce, and several of us got the full fish special - all of us had clean plates. Of course, we had to get both of the available flaming cheeses, which were great but got a little too singed. We had a great time and will definitely be coming back.

My first time trying Albanian food! Not only was the food amazing but I was especially impressed/touched with how personable the owner was. He spoke to us as if we were old friends of his which you just don't encounter often in the city. The place is tiny but cutely decorated like Albania. You might feel a bit cramped if it's crowded but it's not that big of a deal. We were advised to try the Albanian coffee which was made in a traditional type of Albanian coffee pot where the coffee is heated with a flame right at your table. Pretty cool little contraption! My friend had the spinach and cheese byrek/borek (kind of like a spanakopita) and the owner recommended she tried the baked pasta which was a special that day. She enjoyed her dishes and I agreed (as I obviously stole some bites =P). I had the meat byrek, eggs/sausages... loved it all! Even the sausages were very uniquely flavored. Loved trying a new cuisine and the hospitality of the owner. Have recommended it to others in the EV already.

Very happy about finding out this lovely new place serving Albanian food in my neighborhood. Everything was beyond my expectation and I am sure I will come back often. The space is rather limited but the owner was very creative to attend to the very detail - you will see small paintings of the street scenes of the neighborhoods in Albania where the owner grew up; you will also get to see the old violin he played long time ago; and let alone those photos of old celebrities in Albania. We were also largely satisfied with the food - they came with perfect portion and really reasonably priced given that it is in east village. Oh and of course they were all very tasty. Really recommended!

You regularly pass by this secret hole in the wall? Wondered what's a Byrek? Need a reason to step? This is a small cozy Cafe that offers one of the best and affordable breakfast and brunch dishes. You will feel like you've found a vacation home within your own neighborhood. The family ran business makes you feel so welcomed and the genuine hospitality is really second to none. I love coming here by myself to just unwind or take a friend and chat while we wait for the Belgium style coffee to brew. They have wonderful and filling Byrek (savory pies). Everything is homemade that morning. It's a calming and soothing experience that deserves the love of the East Village! You'll notice the shop right by a barber pole, you can't miss it!

I feel bad to leave a negative review, but we just didn't have a good lunch experience here. First, we had California omelette and vegetable omelette, both are flavorless. Me and my husband found really hard to enjoy. Second, the room was freezing, and the coffee flask has no cover so our coffee got cold extremely quick. Third, the table is way too small to manage our sitting positions. We just constantly kicked each other. Fourth, the service is a big miss. They took 20 minutes to prepare two omelettes when there were only me and my husband two customers in the store...And if I need something, I had to speak very loudly or walk closely to the kitchen. Because the music was too loud and the waitress is sort of cook as well so I really couldn't find someone in the dining room. This is actually our second time here. This time I wanted to give 1 star because I feel I really wasted my money on the food, but the first time here for me was ok, though they got wrong with my husband's order at that time lol. I don't know why there are so many 5 stars, but we probably will not come back unless we have to....

Not that many Albanian restaurants in nyc. They had outdoor seating. Ordered Ferguese, Kaçkavall cheese, and Spinach byrek. The Kackavall was the most different from what I had as an American, it was melted and flamed cheese came w bread. Albanian version of grilled cheese. Highly recommend the spinach byrek and Ferguese for vegetarians. If you want to try something very different from American culture then try Kackavall.

AMAZING! MAGICAL! We had such an amazing dinner here last night! I'd never had Albanian food and now I can't wait to back. Everything we ordered was incredible, healthy, high quality and incredibly delicious. Also, as my Albanian friend attested...authentic too! The food was so good I ordered extra to take home and have for breakfast and lunch the next day. We had: - Byrek - Sallate - Fërgesë - Tavë Kosi

I had the beef Byrek combo and a mocha coffee during lunch time. The Byrek could have used more beef filling, but was good nonetheless. The combo comes with 3 beef qebape which was my favorite part of the meal. They were very juicy and the cheese sauce on it was delicious. French fries were just ok. Mocha was just ok. Service was quite friendly.

Dua Kafe! Specialty Albanian coffee shop makes a debut in East Village. This rustic and cozy specialty coffee shop was the perfect New Year's Day recovery, serving home style byrek among other traditional Albanian dishes. This beautiful siphon coffee maker, (featuring a balancing shaft), was widely used in the late 1800s. It's elegant and practical for a perfect cup of hand craft coffee. Swipe and read for the most theatrical brewing experience - The alcohol burner under the tank heats up the water. As the water boils it transfers over to the carafe (which contains the coffee). Once all the water has boiled out of the tank into the coffee carafe, a vacuum develops in the water tank which draws the, now brewed, coffee out of the carafe back into the tank. You dispense the finished coffee from the tank into your cup!

I have ordered delivery from here twice via Seamless and both times ordered the Byrek Combo - served with 2 filo dough byrek and ACCORDING to the description on seamless, 3 Albanian sausages and air fries, however they never send the whole item and they ignored it when I asked them in the special instructions to please include all the described. - Update - menu on seamless is very confusing and incorrect but it was cleared up for me and now I understand, the food is amazing here and I'm glad they cleared that up for me.

Amazing food!!! Really enjoyed everything, it does not get anymore authentic then this, unless you are ready for that 13 hour flight to Europe, the staff were super attentive and polite, really great experience looking forward to going back soon!!

By far the best and most authentic Albanian food and cafe I have ever been to. The staff and owner are super friendly and very welcoming to anyone regardless of your ability to speak Albanian or not. Fantastic food and truly cultural decor. You'll fall in love the second you walk in!

Visited DuaKafe based on recommendation of a friend I am glad I did. I love this place. The food was cooked to perfection, the salad was so good and the place is beautiful! The staff was amazing.Everything was freshly made. You have to try this place. Can't wait to go again.

Excellent ambiance, very hospitable owner, unique abs hearty dishes, will be back many times

This hidden gem in the city has now been found. I wish I took more pictures of the food but when the food is this good you have no time for pictures. The service is great and the waiter was so patient with the million questions I had. The place is cozy with a great ambiance. If you're trying to experience other cuisine beyond the usual, this is it. I ended up eating my weight in bread and food. They've now gained a loyal follower

This was such a perfect experience. We thoroughly enjoyed our interactions with one of the owners, who so obviously loves the food and wants to share it. The food itself - my first experience with Albanian food - was delicious. We ordered Kaçkavall, fergese, spinach and beef byreks, and fried sardines. We barely had room, but finished it off with sugar plums and Albanian tres leches cake for dessert. Looking forward to coming back!

Very Good Food and Drinks. The host was excellent. We really enjoyed it. I especially Enjoyed the special Rakki they shared with us. -Nick

Idk why this place have so many 5 stars reviews First of all this place is extremely small and uncomfortable to sit and eat Food is not good too Very expensive and small also take forever to serve Definitely not to recommend this place to anyone It's just waste of money and time