Astoria's food scene reflects the many communities that call this part of Queens home. For anyone exploring Middle Eastern food in Astoria, Steinway Street is an important place to start. Middle Eastern dining has an established presence in the neighborhood, alongside markets, bakeries, cafes, and other local businesses. NYC Tourism also recognizes Middle Eastern cuisine as part of Astoria's broader food identity.
Middle Eastern food, however, is not one cuisine. Cooking traditions vary across countries, regions, and communities. Depending on what you try, your meal might include kababs, shawarma, falafel, hummus, kofta, mezze, grilled meats, breads, rice dishes, vegetables, or sweets.
Whether you live in Astoria or are visiting Queens, this guide will help you understand some popular dishes and decide what you may want to order next.
Why Astoria Is a Great Place to Explore Middle Eastern Food
Astoria's multicultural dining scene makes it easy to experience food as part of the neighborhood itself. Steinway Street is especially connected with Middle Eastern businesses, where restaurants, cafes, bakeries, markets, and shops contribute to the character of the area.
One section of Steinway Street, between Astoria Boulevard and 28th Avenue, is officially designated Little Egypt by New York City.
But the experience is not limited to those blocks. Middle Eastern food and businesses can be found elsewhere along Steinway Street and around Astoria.
For visitors, stopping for food can be as much a part of exploring the neighborhood as walking its streets. For locals, it provides an opportunity to become more familiar with dishes from different regional traditions. Here are some of the Middle Eastern foods worth knowing before you order.
Popular Middle Eastern Foods to Try in Astoria
Kababs — Charred, Seasoned and Grilled
Kababs cover a broad family of grilled and roasted meat preparations found across the Middle East and neighboring regions. There is no single kabab recipe. Some are made with chunks of meat threaded onto skewers, while others use seasoned ground meat shaped before grilling.
Chicken, lamb, and beef are common choices, though the meat, spices, herbs, and marinades depend on the style being prepared. Grilling over high heat can create browned or lightly charred edges while keeping the center flavorful.
A kabab meal may come with rice, flatbread, vegetables, salad, sauces, or other sides. That combination makes kababs a good starting point for anyone looking for Middle Eastern grilled food in Astoria, especially if you enjoy freshly cooked meat with bold seasoning.
Shawarma — Slow-Roasted Meat with Layers of Flavor
Shawarma gets its distinctive cooking style from meat stacked on a vertical rotating spit. As the outside cooks and browns, thin pieces are sliced from the surface for serving. Chicken, lamb, beef, or combinations of meat may be used depending on the regional tradition and recipe.
Shawarma can be served inside flatbread for an easy handheld meal or plated with sides. Pickled vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic-based sauces, tahini, and other accompaniments may be included.
Because the meat cooks gradually on the rotating spit, each serving can combine seasoned interior meat with browned outer edges.
Kofta — Seasoned Ground Meat Done Different Ways
Kofta is another dish that varies considerably across Middle Eastern cuisines. It is generally made from ground meat mixed with herbs, onions, spices, or other seasonings.
Beef and lamb are common, although recipes differ by country and household. The mixture may be formed around skewers, shaped into longer pieces or patties, grilled over heat, baked, or prepared using another cooking method.
Grilled kofta is especially appealing if you like the flavor of seasoned ground meat with a charred exterior. It may be served with rice, bread, salad, vegetables, or dips depending on the meal. Lebanese kafta, for example, commonly combines ground meat with herbs, onion, and spices.
Falafel — Crisp, Herb-Filled and Meat-Free
Falafel offers a meat-free option without giving up texture or seasoning. It is typically made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or a regional combination of legumes, mixed with herbs and spices before being shaped and fried.
Recipes vary geographically, which is why one falafel may taste or look different from another.
The outside develops a crisp texture while the center stays softer and herb-filled. Falafel can be served on a plate or tucked into bread with vegetables, pickles, tahini, salad, or sauces.
It works well for a casual lunch, a quick meal, or part of a larger spread of shared dishes.
Hummus — More Than Just a Side Dish
Hummus is built around chickpeas and tahini, with ingredients such as lemon juice and garlic commonly added. Olive oil, herbs, spices, pine nuts, meat, or other garnishes may appear depending on the preparation.
Texture matters too. Some hummus is very smooth and creamy, while other versions may be thicker or finished with different toppings.
Rather than treating hummus only as something on the side, enjoy it with fresh bread or as one part of a larger meal. It also pairs naturally with vegetables, falafel, grilled meats, and other dishes.
Mezze — A Meal Made for Sharing
Mezze is not one specific dish. It refers to a style of eating built around an assortment of smaller plates, common across parts of the Middle East, eastern Mediterranean, and neighboring regions.
A mezze spread might include hummus, baba ghanoush, salads, olives, stuffed grape leaves, bread, dips, vegetables, and small hot dishes. The exact selection changes according to the cuisine and restaurant.
Part of the appeal is being able to taste several foods in the same meal. Mezze also works well when dining with family or friends because dishes can be placed in the center of the table and shared rather than everyone ordering a completely separate plate.
Baba Ghanoush and Other Eggplant Dishes
For something smoky and vegetable-focused, look for baba ghanoush and related eggplant preparations.
Eggplant is roasted or charred until tender, which can give the dish its recognizable smoky character. Tahini and seasonings may be added depending on the regional style. Baba ghanoush commonly appears alongside other dips and small plates in a mezze spread.
It is often eaten with flatbread and works well beside grilled meat, salads, or other shared dishes. If you enjoy hummus but want a different flavor and texture, an eggplant-based dish is worth adding to the table.
Rice, Bread and Grilled Vegetables Complete the Meal
Middle Eastern meals are not only about grilled meat. Rice, bread, vegetables, salads, pickles, herbs, and sauces can be just as important to the overall plate.
Rice preparations vary widely, while different flatbreads can be used for scooping dips, wrapping meat, or eating alongside the meal. Tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplant, and other vegetables may be served fresh, pickled, roasted, or grilled.
These accompaniments can add acidity, freshness, texture, or a lighter contrast to richly seasoned meats. A good spread may combine several of these elements, giving you different flavors in each bite instead of relying on one main dish alone.
Explore Middle Eastern Food Around Steinway Street
Steinway Street is one of Astoria's main commercial corridors and an important area for exploring the neighborhood's Middle Eastern food culture. Walking the street, you'll find the kind of mix that makes a food neighborhood interesting: markets, bakeries, cafes, restaurants, shops, and other local businesses. NYC Tourism highlights this stretch for its food and Middle Eastern community presence.
For geographic accuracy, Little Egypt officially refers to Steinway Street between Astoria Boulevard and 28th Avenue.
Middle Eastern businesses are not limited to those designated blocks, however. Continue along Steinway Street and you'll find food and community activity beyond Little Egypt itself.
Rather than rushing through, walk the area and pay attention to the bakeries, markets, aromas, menus, and everyday neighborhood life around you.
Middle Eastern Food for Lunch, Dinner and Late-Night Cravings
The dish you choose can depend on the type of meal you want.
Kababs with rice or bread work well when you're looking for something filling. Falafel or a wrap can suit a more casual lunch, while mezze gives a group several dishes to share. Grilled meats are an easy choice for dinner, especially when paired with vegetables, rice, bread, and sauces.
Astoria also has options for people eating later at night. Ya Habibi Kabab & Karahi stays open until 2:00 AM Sunday through Thursday and 3:00 AM Friday and Saturday, making its grilled dishes and kababs available well after a typical dinner hour.
Restaurant hours can change, so checking before a late-night visit is always useful.
Try Kababs and Karahi at Ya Habibi Kabab & Karahi
If the kababs and grilled dishes in this guide have made you hungry, Ya Habibi Kabab & Karahi offers a place to continue exploring those flavors on Steinway Street.
Located at 25-79 Steinway St, Astoria, NY 11103, Ya Habibi is a Middle Eastern restaurant serving freshly prepared kababs, grilled meats, karahi, and other flavorful dishes. Food is prepared daily with aromatic spices and ingredients chosen to deliver satisfying grilled and cooked flavors.
You can dine in when you want to sit down for a full meal or choose takeout when you would rather eat at home.
Karahi deserves its own explanation because it should not be labeled as a traditional Middle Eastern dish. Karahi has South Asian roots and is especially associated with Pakistani cooking. The name also refers to the deep, rounded pan in which the dish is prepared. Pakistani karahi commonly features meat cooked with ingredients such as tomatoes, ginger, garlic, chiles, and spices, although recipes vary.
Ya Habibi's menu therefore brings its Middle Eastern kabab and grilled-food focus together with a South Asian karahi tradition.
Late-night diners have another reason to keep the restaurant in mind. Ya Habibi is open 12:00 PM–2:00 AM Sunday through Thursday and 12:00 PM–3:00 AM Friday and Saturday.
Stop by Ya Habibi Kabab & Karahi on Steinway Street for freshly prepared kababs, grilled dishes, and karahi, or order takeout for your next meal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Middle Eastern Food in Astoria
What Middle Eastern foods should I try in Astoria?
Start with kababs, shawarma, kofta, falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, and mezze. Rice dishes, flatbreads, salads, grilled vegetables, and regional specialties can help you experience more than one side of Middle Eastern cooking.
Where is Little Egypt in Astoria?
New York City officially designates the section of Steinway Street between Astoria Boulevard and 28th Avenue as Little Egypt. Middle Eastern businesses and food can also be found beyond those specific blocks.
Is Middle Eastern food always spicy?
No. Spices can provide aroma, warmth, and depth without making a dish hot. The amount of chile heat varies widely by cuisine, recipe, and restaurant, so Middle Eastern food should not automatically be described as spicy.
What is the difference between kabab and shawarma?
Kabab refers broadly to different grilled or roasted meat preparations. Shawarma uses seasoned meat stacked and cooked on a vertical rotating spit, with thin pieces sliced from the browned exterior as it cooks.
Is falafel a Middle Eastern food?
Yes. Falafel is widely associated with Middle Eastern food traditions, but recipes vary across the region. Some versions rely on chickpeas, while others use fava beans or different combinations of legumes, herbs, and seasonings.
What should I order if I like grilled meat?
Kababs and grilled kofta are good places to start. Depending on the menu, you can choose chicken, beef, lamb, or other grilled preparations and pair them with rice, bread, vegetables, salads, or sauces.
Where can I get kababs in Astoria?
Ya Habibi Kabab & Karahi at 25-79 Steinway St, Astoria, NY 11103 serves freshly prepared kababs and grilled meat dishes. Stop in for a sit-down meal or order takeout.
Can I get late-night Middle Eastern food in Astoria?
Yes, although hours vary by restaurant. Ya Habibi Kabab & Karahi is open until 2:00 AM Sunday–Thursday and 3:00 AM Friday–Saturday, making it an option for a later kabab or grilled meal.
Does Ya Habibi serve karahi?
Yes. Ya Habibi serves karahi alongside its kababs and grilled dishes. Karahi comes from South Asian culinary traditions and is particularly associated with Pakistani cooking, so it is distinct from the restaurant's Middle Eastern grilled-food offerings.
