The Migrant Kitchen - Upper West Side

This is a great place to grab a quick bite before watching a movie at the nearby AMC theatre! It's a fast casual place, with some seating inside. The workers were very friendly and it wasn't too busy when we visited on a Tuesday night. It seems like the empanadas are the most popular option, and they were very good. I got the lamb one, and it was both juicy and crispy. Previous empanadas I've had have on a drier side, so this was a nice surprise. They were $5, which seems a bit pricey tho, because they weren't very large. I also got the side of Mac and cheese because I was craving it, but I would skip it here. I appreciated that there was a lot of bread crumbs on top, which helped diversify the texture, but otherwise it was very bland. For $5, it was also not worth it. It seems like the bowls range around $15, which is also on the pricier side for bowls in the city, but they seemed solid. Overall, it was great as a quick bite. I would recommend the empanadas!

I love the Migrant Kitchen, namely because they have amazing, generously portioned bowls: we ordered the half roasted chicken bowl and the chorizo/halloumi bowl. Not only was it more than enough food, but the bowls come with perfect pairings. For example, the roasted chicken on came with sumac whip alongside potatos and just-sour-enough pickles. Despite how carb intensive it sounds, the pickles and sumac were just enough to cut through the decadent, brined chicken. Truly glorious. It doesn't feel stuffy in here as a food experience, and most of their containers are compostable via the NYC compost pickup (app-powered orange receptacles) outside. The staff was beyond friendly, and the self-service kiosks work like a dream. The only downside is probably that they don't have a restroom, but it's not a huge deal, especially if you decide to get your food to-go. There is both indoor and outdoor cafe-style seating. I would probably not want to go with a party larger than two if you're dining in (unless you're willing to push together some tables). Wonderful place, and I would dine again.

Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Experience: 4/5 Came here after a workout on the way home and enjoyed a chicken bowl. The service was quick, the veggies were good, but the chicken was a little dry on the inside. Overall, it was a good meal and well seasoned. I would go back because I also loved their outdoor seating when the weather is warm. The place is clean and efficient.

Great fusion spot for a quick bite. I've had the lamb torta and chicken shawarma and both were really good. Sandwiches packed with flavor and great portion sizes.

Cute little place, good for a quick bite. Wandered by here one afternoon and had a late lunch. My husband order a Chicken Empanada and I ordered the Slow Roasted Smoked Pork Bowl. Both were good for a light meal. There is a small sitting area inside and another small area out front.

After four years of eating vegetarian or pescatarian, I've mostly given up on ordering protein at salad spots and grain bowl joints, because the typical options -- steam-tray tofu, Impossible/Beyond ground beef, extra-well-done fish filets -- are usually tiresome and unenjoyable. At The Migrant Kitchen, I nonetheless surprised myself by ordering a salmon bowl, which then surprised me further by being straight-up delicious. We're talking about a juicy salmon steak with crisp skin and a za'atar spread, which had been added with precision to the salmon but not to anything else in the bowl, as if this were a table-service restaurant where the seafood was being plated with care. Everything else in this bowl, including al dente cauliflower and roasted potatoes sprinkled with sumac, was also impressive and didn't seem like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours on end, despite obviously not being the sort of stuff that is cooked to order. Also tried three of their empanadas (cheese, cheese with mushrooms/spinach, and vegan mushroom/spinach). The fillings were simple and solid, and the shells had a just-right Goldilocks vibe -- not too greasy and gutbomby, but also not too healthy. Side sauces (whipped garlic toum, herbed yogurt, salsa verde) were good, albeit unremarkable. Ultimately, I can't quite say that The Migrant Kitchen has made me forget four years of mediocre-protein trauma. But it's certainly started the healing process. P.S. The teenage cashier guy who rang me up was super friendly and helpful, which is not exactly an everyday occurrence at comparable takeout joints, and I hope he gets a raise.

This is a good place for a quick meal when you're out and about. I got the cauliflower wrap which was good, but not incredible. Without the sauce it would've been trouble. Very small and kind of dirty seating area, but the worker was very nice!

A worthy stop Upper West near Lincoln Center and the Latter-Day Saint Temple for some unique fast casual options melding Cafe Med with a LatAm menu. Empanadas were overcooked and inedible on the outside--but the filling was great. Hummus is best-in-class for this price point, according my New Yorker daughter. (Even beats Taim, but only in style, not flavor). Loved the lamb torta for its juicy, rich, and soothing qualities. (It's smaller than it looks somehow; was able to down it readily). And the salmon was another highlight. Friendly/helpful service and lots of seating. Location means you'll be nearby a lot.

Avocado toast was basically a small schmear of flavorless liquidy guac spread on what looked like an equally flavorless toasted (1 side) hamburger bun? Yikes. The side salad was slightly better. And if you get the food to stay or the food to go, it isn't gonna make a bit of difference. Everything is packaged in a shocking and wasteful amount of to go containers. I guess "fast casual" just means they get to pack it up fast and we casually just throw literally everything away. I mean at the very least, if I'm ordering the food to stay, don't put a plastic cover over the food that I have to peel off one second later, and then throw it in the garbage. It's insane! Are there any restaurants left that wash dishes and reuse them?

Interestingly enough they don't serve ketchup here. They will offer you their garlic whip for a dipping sauce for $3. Nevertheless the chicken sandwich was very juicy with just the right crunch.

This place intrigued me because I like that they support immigrant workers and that for every meal purchased they donate a meal to a person in need. I got the Za'atar Salmon -- I thought the salmon would be dry, as most salmon is in salad/casual eateries, but I decided to give it a try after seeing some good reviews about it. Glad to say that it did not disappoint! The salmon was cooked and seasoned perfectly and so were the potatoes. Everything was seasoned so well with the vinaigrette greens that I didn't even need the sauces it came with. How well the salmon was cooked was really impressive, and the potatoes were tender, cooked all the way through, and had slightly crispy skins. Everything tasted fresh as well. I'm interested in coming back to try their other items. This place seems great for both simple sit-down and to-go meals. The worker who took our order and brought out our food to our table was really amiable.

I really wanted to like this spot! I got the za'atar salmon bowl, which included salad and potatoes. The potatoes were really oily and the salmon was dry. I've heard great things about this spot, so I hope it was just a onetime error, but I'm afraid to try it again. Their menu looks great though!

I heard about the opening of The Migrant Kitchen's third location through various food blogs. This fast casual restaurant serves up Middle Eastern-Latin fare which I find very intriguing. The restaurant sits on the quiet corner of 67th and Columbus. There's a small sitting area inside and a lovely outdoor seating area in front. I stopped by for lunch and got the Smoked Salmon on Jerusalem Bread and three empanadas (sausage, egg and cheese, slow roasted lamb, and chicken tinga). The empanadas were all delicious, but my favorite has got to be the sausage, egg, and cheese empanada. The fillings were generous and tasted so good, it did not need the dipping sauce that came with it. The lamb empanada was filled to the brim with tasty roasted lamb--this was my second favorite item from my meal. I thought the chicken empanada was a tad too dry side, but it had a nice peppery kick to it. The smoked salmon on Jerusalem Bread is something I would probably order for breakfast (next time). It had light smoked salmon, bits of capers but could have used more red onions. The Jerusalem bread is similar to a bagel but denser. I liked the addition of the sesame seeds, but I think it would have been better if the bread was toasted, as it is very dense. Overall, a delightful lunch. Prices are on par with this neighborhood. Staff was very welcoming and patiently explained the menu to me. Will be back to try their bowls and baked items.

Came upon it by chance and stopped by for lunch. So happy to discover this gem - we ordered the lamb torta and half roasted chicken bowl and they were both delicious... fresh ingredients and very flavorful without being drowned. Their sumac whip sauce was surprisingly subtle and tasty. Can't wait to come back and try the tortas and empanadas. A great place to grab and go!

Love this place! I've come here a few times since moving to the Upper West Side. This place is casual with quick and efficient service. The lamb empanada with the Diablo Hot sauce is my favorite and I find myself ordering one each time I come here. I also really like the bowls they have on the menu. I've tried the salmon and the pork bowls which are both really tasty. I like that the avocado toast comes with a tomato cucumber salad to add some veggies to the dish. I thought the grilled cheese was so so compared to the other options on the menu that I have tried. Definitely worth a stop by if you're in the neighborhood!

Came here for a quick light lunch after watching a taping of the View just around the corner. This is a great spot for some yummy fusion bites! The service is great and quick, and the food did not disappoint! I ordered the regular (non-spicy) Crispy Chicken Sandwich which came with a hearty portion of juicy chicken and a side of well-seasoned potato wedges. The bun was slightly soggier than I wanted it to be, but overall very yummy and worth the price! Also, as a connoisseur of macaroni and cheese, I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to try a side of their Oaxacan Mac & Cheese, which was very cheesy and topped with some crispy bread crumbs. I was so excited to eat it but it was a little too hot so I had to let it cool to really enjoy it. I also tried my friend's chicken tinga and spinach and mushroom empanadas. Both were excellent as well! We shared a cucumber lemonade too which was quite refreshing on a warm fall day. I would definitely come back and recommend this place to all who enjoy Mediterranean and/or Latin American cuisines! Go Migrant Kitchen!

Wanted to try the chicken empanadas but they were out when we got there at 4pm. So instead had the lamb torta! It was a solid torta with tender lamb meat and the bread was nice and toasted. Loved the pickled jalapeños on the torta so I asked for more! The place feels a bit pricey but I split the torta with my cousin and it was a good mid day snack for the 2 of us! I love what they stand for/ their mission statement. I'll have to come back for the empanadas!

It was good enough but not great No need to go here instead of knocking another one off the list... I'm disappointed because the menu sounded fantastic... it just falls flat so I hade to add a bunch of flavorful ingredients to really enjoy it and correct the dryness

Empanadas here have wonderful dough - mostly soft with just a bit of crisp, and polite enough to disappear under the stuffings when it's no longer needed (but not a moment before). I enjoyed both my slow-cooked lamb and my spinach, mushroom, and cheese versions, and it made a light (very light) lunch. Go for a bowl or something larger if you're hungry. I wished the cucumber mint lemonade had been either cucumbery or minty rather than just lemony.

Food is interesting, but a bit bland. Menu much more promising than

New lunch place in the area! I had the lamb empanada and the mushroom cheese & spinach empanada with the grilled street corn. The flavors were there It was giving a Latin Mediterranean fusion vibe. I was expecting more of a Mexican flavor for the street corn it wasn't so much of that but not bad. I also had the mint lemonade.. heavier on the mint flavor than lemonade, not very sweet but refreshing. I liked the food I didn't try a lot so I can't give a 5 star rating. Service was pleasant and price point is relatively reasonable especially for this location.

I popped in here as I was in the area and it looked cute. They had a photo of their grilled cheese outside that drew me in. The menu had a good mix of salads, sandwiches and sides to choose from. I got the grilled cheese and a small side of the elote. The grilled cheese, unfortunately was nothing like it looked like on the photo and wasn't good at all and not edible. However, the elote was the redeeming dish and wasn't bad. The workers were all really nice and they had a good amount of seating, but unfortunately I don't know that I would come back here again based on the food.

The food is beyond amazing and has a bunch of options, everything just as good as the last. The service was super amazing, the man was kind, quick, and sweet. Place was clean, fast, and delicious. 100% recommend!

Had the hibiscus iced tea. The tea was pretty good, but most of the cup was ice. I was told this is what the manager dictates. Disappointing.

Went here after the Tamron Hall show was over and had the chicken empanada and a Latte. It was filling and delicious. I noticed a lot of young teens came in to eat.

Decent food. Quick service. Liked the sumac-roasted potatoes. Would have a quick lunch here again.

Yummy crispy fresh salad, fabulous empanadas, great for a fast fresh & healthy lunch. Simple comfortable seating. Friendly staff. Highly recommend!

Came back again to try their cauliflower wrap. I had such high expectations because their chorizo bowl is amazing but I was disappointed... it was so bland!! SKIP the cauliflower wrap. However, I went back a few days later for the chorizo bowl and some hummus again and it did not disappoint!

Updating my review after a much more positive experience and a very gracious offer by the business owner(s) to have me back at the restaurant on them. Since I wasn't all that happy with my chicken sandwich last time, I made sure to switch it up. This time I ordered 3 different empanadas - sausage egg and cheese, lamb, and chicken. Each one was amazing but I have to say the lamb was my favorite - super tender meat and packed with flavor. I tried the yogurt sauce, spicy orange sauce and mild green one and they were all spectacular additions to the empanada. I also went with the Mac and cheese since it was decent last time, this time it way significantly better though. The macaroni pieces were nice and al dente and the cheese was somehow more perfect than last time too. I'll definitely come back again and try their breakfast items as they look really good - I'm a big bagel guy and their bagels look perfect and one of them they serve with labneh which is also one of my favorite foods. Looking forward to trying it!

Had the lamb torta, the carnitas schwarma, and the street corn. Lamb was one-note, schwarma was bland and small, street corn was enjoyable but nothing worth going for. Overall: very overrated and overpriced. It sounds like the kind of fast causal flavorfulness-focused concept I'd love, but food was bland or one-note and way too expensive. If you were intrigued by this place and want alternatives: For Middle Eastern food, go to Hummus Place or a legit halal cart. For lamb go to Tengri Tagh Uyghur Cuisine. For Mexican go to Los Tacos No. 1. For Latin American bakery go to Salento.

Tasty food! Clean and peaceful environment! Friendly and quick service. A lot of choices for vegetarian dishes.Small and nicely designed space. Really liked the empanadas! I would definitely recommend this eatery!

Picked up some takeout from here a few nights ago and was extremely pleased. Food is fresh and flavorful. Sauces are amazing. Everyone working there is super kind. Will definitely be back!

Have only tried the chicken and lamb empanadas so far, which were delicious, but I'd like to spotlight the customer service. I was greeted warmly and given excellent service, as were the two other customers behind me, which I observed while waiting for my order. It's little things like that which matter in such a competitive environment, and now I can't wait to explore more of the menu. While I liked them both, I would recommend the chicken empanada over the lamb if you're only going to buy just one. Pair with the tomatillo salsa and you'll be very satisfied.

Okay. A bit cramped. Refused to let us use the bathroom even though we were customers here.

Can you say pan world or whatever??! Mediocre Empanadas, hummus and other weird sandwich options. I'm sorry this is not my kinda place and everything I tried was blah, no flavor, no passion. And the name is even offensive in a weird way. Not sure why anyone in New York City would visit this misguided fast casual attempt at global food.

I believe portion was small and pricey. Average, nothing to brag about. I just recall it didn't seem of good value.

I ordered Migrant Kitchen for delivery last night, completely forgetting that I've been here before. My first time, I ordered the pork. It was good, but had too much spice for me. Coupled with the high cost for the quantity, I didn't expect to come back. Yesterday while browsing Seamless, I saw a deal for $6 off and ordered the half chicken meal. I'm so glad I did! The chicken was mainly white meat with some brown meat toward the bottom. It came with a salad (greens, pickled onion, with dressing on the side) and fingerling potatoes. The potatoes were excellently seasoned. The chicken was juicy and cooked in a flavorful marinade. Even without the $6 off, I feel like this is worth it for the quantity I received. I couldn't even finish it, which is pretty rare for me. Lastly, I didn't feel like I was eating something too unhealthy- I didn't feel like crap after this meal. Highly recommend the chicken. I will be back.

Yummy hummus, corn, sumac potatoes and mushroom/spinach/cheese empanada. Would come back to try other veggie things.

I love the service and the healthier of the food. The chicken sandwich was delicious!!! And also they have the best water Pana Water!!

Flavorless empanadas. I finally tried the lamb empanada and chicken tinga empanada here -- both were pretty flavorless and even though the $4.50 price is affordable I was quite disappointed. The two sauces to add on top of the empanadas were "fine" but I would have preferred the protein to pack some flavor. This is a one and done for me.

Just tried this place for the first time - the workers were super nice and chill, the food was good and I liked the music they played! 10/10

I ate here for the first time. It's a cute little place. I ordered the half chicken bowl. I liked it. I thought it was very flavorful. Chicken tasted great. Potatoes were also really good. Everyone was nice and super friendly. Would I come back? Sure!

So many choices! Reasonably priced, delicious food near Lincoln Center. Nothing fancy but very friendly, helpful staff.

Great food and fair price considering its quality. It's a little gem in this part of UWS which has plenty of bad food spots. The staff is very attentive and kind we will come back soon!!

Small place but amazing food. The chicken and pork bowls are absolutely amazing. The customer service is also great and everyone there is extremely friendly. Great value for the price.

They're only open until four which is inconvenient. I had the brussels sprouts and they were really nasty. It is so much heavy sauce that it just becomes gross. The chili was fine but pretty boring and there's a better chili option right across the street at the vegan place. The hibiscus tea was horrible. The grilled street corn also had too much sauce. Everything has a kind of funny overly sweet taste and I just didn't like it much.