Queens’ dining landscape welcomed two new international restaurants this month, according to food industry editors tracking the borough’s restaurant openings.
Adda Ghor, a Bangladeshi street food restaurant in Jackson Heights, and Moroccan Bites by Siham in Astoria joined a curated list of the borough’s most exciting new dining destinations, according to restaurant industry analysts who focus on establishments open for six months or less.
The additions reflect Queens’ continued expansion as a destination for authentic international cuisine, with both restaurants joining neighborhoods already known for their diverse food scenes.
Moroccan Bites by Siham opened on Astoria’s Steinway Street, where chef and owner Siham Bourhane serves traditional Moroccan cuisine, according to the restaurant tracking. The establishment features chicken tagine with preserved lemon and lamb tagine prepared with either prunes or pears, combining sweet and savory flavors.
The restaurant also offers fish ball tagine, described as a rarity among Moroccan restaurants in the area. Bourhane serves the dishes in traditional Moroccan cups, plates, and earthenware tagines, with even the lighting fixtures imported from Morocco, according to the industry analysis.
Jackson Heights gained Adda Ghor, which specializes in Bangladeshi street food, adding to the neighborhood’s reputation as a hub for South Asian cuisine. The restaurant represents the latest addition to Jackson Heights’ diverse food corridor.
Meanwhile, Astoria’s dining scene expanded beyond these new additions with Mrs. Georgia, which brought Georgian cuisine to the neighborhood’s European dining landscape. The restaurant serves khinkali, described as massive, fist-sized pouches filled with hot, savory broth, priced between $14 and $16.
The Georgian restaurant offers khachapuri prepared five different ways, along with traditional walnut-based dishes including eggplant rolls with walnut filling and pomegranate seeds, and cold chicken in walnut sauce served according to Georgian tradition. The menu also features chakapuli, a lamb stew with tarragon.
Another recent addition to the borough’s dining options is Barkada Social Club, which serves modern interpretations of traditional Filipino dishes. The restaurant offers kare kare featuring pork belly with golden, crispy skin and a modified bagoong (shrimp paste) that’s less intense than typical preparations.
The establishment also serves ginataan, a rich coconut cream sauce served over pan-fried options, according to the restaurant analysis.
The March additions to Queens’ restaurant scene came as two other establishments were removed from tracking lists. Faarzi Nepali restaurant in Maspeth and Eaterniti in Elmhurst no longer appear among the borough’s newest dining destinations, according to the industry analysis.
The restaurant tracking focuses primarily on establishments that generate significant excitement, crowds, and industry buzz within their first six months of operation. The methodology includes on-site visits by food industry professionals who provide recommendations on menu items and dining experiences.
Queens’ restaurant scene continues to reflect the borough’s diverse population, with new establishments representing cuisines from Morocco, Bangladesh, Georgia, and the Philippines joining existing dining options across neighborhoods including Astoria, Jackson Heights, Maspeth, and Elmhurst.
The new restaurant openings contribute to Queens’ growing reputation as a destination for authentic international cuisine, with each establishment bringing traditional cooking methods and ingredients from their respective culinary traditions to New York diners.
