Astoria’s International Halal Scene

*Clockwise from top left: OG Burger Box, Ample Hills, Andrew Bellucci’s Pizzeria, Marvel. All photos courtesy of Queens Together, except where indicated.*

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Welcome back to another Eats in Queens newsletter, a fun food tour idea, and a dive into the ever-expanding halal food scene in Astoria. Let’s get into it.

Recently, a friend told me that his family visiting from Morocco would love a food tour in my neighborhood of Astoria. His requests: It had to be halal-friendly and kid-friendly; they wanted to eat “American foods”; and they wished to visit Steinway Street because they’d seen all the Moroccan World Cup celebrations there on the news.

The tour, which traveled along 30th Avenue and Steinway, went like this: We sampled juices at Apple House Juice Bar, sandwiched between United Brothers Fruit Market and Elliniki Agora. We tried the Bulgarian feta and olives at Mediterranean Foods, then had onigiri and lemon cookies at Ten Ichi Mart. We tried a variety of ice creams at Ample Hills Creamery and Marvel (where I learned the plant-based soft serve is excellent). Next up were smash burgers and fries at OG Burger Box (100% halal), then garlic knots and three kinds of non-meat pizza slices at Andrew Bellucci’s Pizzeria. We visited the Moroccan and Egyptian markets up and down Steinway Street, with a final stop at Zyara Cafe for some cold drinks in the AC. By then, the family was thrilled and exhausted (and the kids were fast asleep in their strollers).

During the walk, I learned they’d gone to Sami’s Kabab House and (unsurprisingly) loved it. Afghan was a new cuisine for them, and they were eager to try more new-to-them foods during their stay in Queens. It got me thinking about how incredibly diverse the halal-friendly dining scene has become in Astoria–how they could include not only Middle Eastern, South Asian, and North African restaurants on their list, but also Thai, Korean, Mexican, Burmese, and so much more.

So today’s feature highlights five of the international Astoria halal options that have opened in 2026. Which one’s your favorite?

Housekeeping note: The Eats in Queens team is taking off the month of August. It’s time to recharge, travel, and be with family. I’m sure we will see some of you at dinner meetups, biking around town, or checking out new restaurants. Keep following the QT Instagram account for the latest restaurant news and all good things around Queens.
And as always, please forward this email to anyone you know who loves food and Queens (they can sign up here). Enjoy the rest of the summer, and we’ll see you soon. —Jonathan Forgash, Queens Together founder; edited by Laura Siciliano-Rosen, Eat Your World

The Diversity of Halal Food, in Astoria

Astoria has long been a destination for halal food. You probably know the OG restaurants like Kabab Cafe (Egyptian), Roti Boti (Pakistani), King of Falafel + Shawarma (Palestinian), Sabry’s Seafood (Egyptian), Sami’s Kabab House (Afghan), and Boishakhi (Bangladeshi). Did you know we also have halal restaurants showcasing foods from Algeria, India, Indonesia, Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Thailand, Tibet, Turkey, Vietnam, and Yemen? Not to mention the halal spots dedicated to burgers, pizza, and fried chicken. The options are seemingly endless, and new spots are opening all the time.

We’ll be rounding up the various international halal spots of Astoria on Instagram early next week, but in the meantime, here are five of the 100% halal places that opened in the neighborhood just this year.

Burmese Bites. You probably know them from the Queens Center Mall and the Queens Night Market. Well, they closed up the mall location and opened last week in Astoria, and the neighborhood can’t stop talking about it. We suggest trying the ngashint chaut sat (crispy spiced shredded eel), the pan thy kouk swear (Chinese-Muslim noodles), and the kyat thar palata appetizer (similar to roti canai). 38-01 31st Ave.

OG Burger Box. This is an all-American menu offering everything from burgers and hot dogs to wings and onion rings. You definitely want to try a double smash burger with cheese, fries, and a milkshake. Word is they are expanding in late August to include more Mediterranean foods, while keeping the burgers and most of the current items. 36-18 30th Ave.

Pizza Veloce. Owner and chef Benjamin Zwicker has 35 years of experience running Manhattan restaurant kitchens, and wanted to open up a shop in his own neighborhood. When we came by for lunch, there was a steady flow of teens and workers coming and going. We suggest the (beef) pepperoni slice and the (beef) sausage with broccoli rabe. 34-01 36th Ave.

Thai Niyom. One of the partners from Top Thai in Manhattan wanted a Thai halal spot in Astoria of his very own. The restaurant is in its soft opening stage; the grand opening will be in mid-August. Try the khao soi chicken noodle, the pad kee mao, and the grilled skirt steak with jaew sauce. Shout out to Muslim Foodies, who were at the table next to us during our lunch on opening day. We’re big fans! 30-78 Steinway St.

The Pho House. Vietnamese was not on our halal bingo card for 2026, but someone is onto something because this restaurant has been busy since day one. The night we went for dinner, the man seated next to us said this was his second visit that week. Try the beef pho, the crispy scallion pancake chicken wrap, or the spicy lemongrass soup. 32-05 36th Ave.