1. Cheburechnaya

For a change of pace, head to Rego Park, Queens to Cheburechnaya. This restaurant offers not only the regular Bukharian fare, but also serves it kosher. The food samples dishes from across the Central Asian region much like the other places on this list, including Ukrainian comforts such as borscht and stuffed cabbage and Middle Eastern familiars, like hummus and baklava. It’s worth the venture out into this outer borough area for the delicious Uzbek dining. We recommend house special, chebureki, empanada-like fried tarts stuffed with fennel-sparked cabbage or rich, gamy mutton.

Be sure to BYOB because as per Uzbek custom, no wine is served here, though the restaurant can open kosher wines for a per-bottle charge. In New York, many of these restaurants are bring your own alcohol (BYOB) establishments. The safe thing to do when going to these restaurants is to just ask before popping a beer open. Green Tea is common and so is black tea, which is usually served piping hot in small Central Asian tea cups.

Cheburechnaya (92-09 63rd Dr.QueensNY 11374)

In a cosmopolitan city like New York City you can virtually visit a region of the world by finding a restaurant that serves food and recreates the atmosphere of a far off place. Fortunately we have so many wonderful communities trying to make their first stake here. Many of those new immigrants are here serving the food of their homeland to make that transition easier for those groups who are hungry and ready to spend their hard earned first dollars on a good meal that reminds them of  home. Go out and take advantage of this to learn a little about a new region in your very own city, one dish at a time.

Next, check out NYC’s Ethnic Markets: Where to Get Asian Groceries  and NYC’s Micro Neighborhoods: Little Uzbekistan in Ditmas Park and Midwood.