5. Kips Bay and Rose Hill share Manhattan’s Little India
The border between Kips Bay and Rose Hill is often debated, with some maps showing the neighborhoods overlapping. The broad consensus, though, is that Kips Bay extends either to Third Avenue or Lexington Avenue, both of which are home to Manhattan’s Little India. Between 25th and 30th Streets, primarily along Lexington Avenue, are well over two dozen Indian restaurants and shops, as well as some from neighboring Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Though previously the center of Little Armenia, the area shifted in part due to Kalustyan’s, a Middle Eastern spice and food shop that now sells predominantly Indian products. Indian immigration to the area rapidly grew during the 1960s. By the 1980s, much of the Indian population moved to Queens due to cheaper rents, but the area’s Indian population quickly grew again during the early 2000s. Another area in New York City similar to Little India is “Curry Row” in the East Village along 1st and 2nd Avenues.
Among the top-rated Indian restaurants in Kips Bay/Rose Hill are Pippali, which specializes in South Indian fare; Taste From Everest, which fuses Indian and Nepali cooking; and Mughlai Indian Cuisine, which also has locations on West 55th Street and on 2nd Avenue. The area has plenty of vegetarian spots, such as Vatan, and Pongal. Hole-in-the-wall spots include Haandi, which has a large buffet table at the front and offers some Pakistani dishes, and Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant. Grocers such as Little India and New Foods of India offer a wide range of Indian spices, produce, and desserts as well.