2. Cafe Dushanbe

This Tajik gem, formerly known as Cafe Rokhat, serves up some of the best food outside of Tajikistan. Qurutob, a national dish of the country, comes served in a hubcap-size wooden bow with a Matterhorn-shaped mound of braised lamb, sweet peppers, and herbs, all settles atop some fatir, a type of flatbread. All the Tajik essentials are offered here, including sautéed shiitake, oyster, and button mushrooms for a side dish and a beef bourguignon inspired by French cooking.

Cafe Dushanbe (1788 Sheepshead Bay Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11235)