Aladdin Sweets & Restaurant

Last weekend was one of my closest gal pals birthdays. She didn’t want to do anything because of a variety of reasons… but in true Stephy fashion, I’m not good at letting people be sad and mopey on the day commemorating their release from their mother’s loins.
Naturally this meant a weekend of partying. Our Saturday was somewhat responsible and our Sunday was a boozy brunch at a restaurant in LIC that was an insane disappointment and fun brewery hangs… but I’ll get to that in another review…
Okay, okay — I bet I know what you’re thinking, «when is this chick going to get to Aladdin’s?!» — welp, now is a better time than ever :).
After Sunday’s boozy brunch, LIC flea market and local craft brewery escapades we were absolutely spent and wanting to hop on my rooftop to check out that night’s «Blood Moon» lunar eclipse (yep, it was that night) and so I demanded to spring for a can back to my apartment…
After we hopped into a cab that didn’t even have the light on (meaning that the poor guy was technically off of his shift) he mentioned really wanting tea and presumably being hungry… he offered my friend and I tea but we both gracefully declined. He hadn’t turned on the meter and I kept him chatting… he then commented on the meter being off and asking if he could stop somewhere to pick up some tea and noms (he didn’t say «noms» but GOD HOW I WISH HE WOULD HAVE, lol),
I shrugged and said okay as my friend made a terrified face and commented at how she hoped we didn’t get assaulted or raped… rape is never funny but this rando situation did feel like it could go 1 of 2 ways…1.) A thrilling Lifetime movie where sad things happen but the ladies emerge empowered and victorious or 2.) an SNL sketch where there’s a good samaritan and some funny cab passengers — thankfully it went the way of the latter option ^_​^.
My gal pal, our new cabbie friend and I ended up being brought here. He asked us again if we were good and we both said we were and didn’t want anything… even though I was starving because I hadn’t eaten much all day and my brunch burger was in a box because that afternoon’s LIC restaurant was stupid.
Once we all piled up back into this guy’s can he handed us over a bag that was just for us. My gal pal actually enjoyed her milky tea and we both enjoyed the ridiculously amazing biryani treats inside. There were chicken rolls, meat (and maybe potato? It was deeeelicious but hard to identify) samosas and these round things with pulled chicks inside… they were legit circle shaped empanadas (wheat shells, not corn).
Everything was so amazingly flavorful, amazing and came with some awesome sauces… especially a sweet tamarind sauce that I could have consumed straight out of the little plastic cup! I even brought back 2 samosas to my boyfriend and he loved them. After looking over some of the Yell reviews, all these samosas and yummy fried circle shaped patties were only $ 1 a piece, that’s freakin’ awesomepants!
Thank you so much random cab driver for introducing me to this place — I would absolutely return here again for some tasty fried biryani noms! #TwoThumbsUp *
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* Cab driver also ran into like 3 of his buddies here and drove us to my apartment for only $ 10 cuz he didn’t want to turn his meter on. Free food and a steep discount to be driven home? Only in Queens :’).

Aladdin is my go-​to late night biryani spot in Queens. They serve DELICIOUS goat biryani for $ 12 bucks and flavorful chicken rolls for $ 1 each, both two of my favorite things on the menu. The restaurant is semi-​modern, and the customer service is okay. It usually takes 10 minutes for the food to come out, and if you go towards closing, they will probably be out of the onions/​lime/​cucumber used to put on the biryani. But either way, the biryani is amazing and can stand on it’s own.
Great biryani, so go.
(4 stars only because the bathroom can be really gross at times.)

Goat biryani cost 12 dollars! The rice was soggy and the meat wasn’t cleaned properly. Inside of the restaurant smells like a toilet. Stay away!

I have no idea what was going on last night (was it Ramadan? Are Bangladeshis Muslims? I have questions!) but it was a mad house. They food was in silver trays laid out on a table. I had fried eggplants and chickpeas with hard boiled eggs. Both were cold (I suspected this so didn’t buy the meat dishes). Both were good but the chickpeas were too acidic– going to town on the vinegar I guess.

Always best. Specially the shamosa and lamb Beriyani is one of best in ny. I’ve tried Beriyani in so many places but I think they have one of best lamb Beriyani. but the price is little expensive compared to others $ 11.but it is worth it.

I was actually pretty blown away by this. The fresh samosas, both chicken and vegetarian were crispy, delicious and well-​balanced. The chai masala was authentic and had fresh spices. I also had some kind of meat patty that was delicious. Tea is a dollar, samosas are a dollar and a dollar fifty. The quality is miles away from the standard microwaved fare.

Aladdin cookies in the box look great. Then you take them home to find out they leave huge holes in the back… smh #disappointed #cheaters #rachet always trying to find ways to cheat people out of their money!

I can’t wait to keep discovering Bangladeshi food here. So far my favorites are the shutki, a spicy preparation of dried fish and fried onions that they sell in the sweets case (eat it with lots of plain rice), the chicken roast (again lots of fried onions=delicious), and dal ghosht. The sweets are good too. Veg stuff has been very plain. The guy that works there likes to entertain my interest in Bangladeshi food and will explain/​recommend things which I cherish becuase this place is otherwise a kind of rough and tumble cabbie fixture.

The place has potential to be 4 or 5 star but as one reviewer wrote, the quality of the main dishes is inconsistent and the customer service is perfunctory (note not bad just that they do only what they are supposed to do). There is no waiter service but families do go here and yes during it is a hangout for mostly men. I think one reason is they serve tea and from my research many of the Bangladeshi who migrated to this part of Queens came from a famous tea producing area.
Now the good about it is I love their samosas and beef patties — both flavorful, spicy and the beef pies tender. They do offer nice sweets but aside from their version of a cannoli (a crème filled pastry shell with shredded coconut that is very good) nothing really grabs me.
I have enjoyed it most when going early to get samosas, meat or specials to go. The restaurant seating area is clean but a little cold due to all the reflective surfaces.
So, good neighborhood take-​out spot. If you are visiting the neighborhood it is also worthwhile to grab a few things for a snack as they are inexpensive.

If the rest of the food is as toothsome and flavourful as the chicken samosas, sampled today, then we have a winner. Cheap and tasty.

Umm… why is this place listed under Pizza?
This is one of the few proper Bangladeshi restaurants in NY. It’s also close to my apt so I stop by here every now and then. There are some things here that are pretty good. My personal favorites are the liver samosas, chicken roll and chicken roast. These three things have been consistently good. The problem with the other dishes is that they are inconsistent. The curries, tehari and biryanis just about make the grade. I would rather make my own curry tbh.
I think if you keep it simple here, you can have a good meal. I ordered chapati roti here once and it was very good. The aloo bhorta (mashed potato) can be pretty decent as well. When they decide to be generous with the mustard oil, it has good flavor. Sometimes they skimp on it, and it ends up being dry. I’m not a fan of the daal here. They water it down way too much. It’s like daal lite.
I always get take out here but they do have plenty of seating. However, eat here at your own risk. They don’t really have a dedicated waiter as far as I could tell. Mostly people just sit, drink tea and talk about nothing. I would advise you to get carry out.

It is my most favorite Bangladeshi Restaurant in New York. There is an overwhelming consensus among my friends that this is the best Bangladeshi Restaurant in NYC. It has been serving the Bangladeshi community since the mid 90’s. I have been a customer from the very beginning. They are very consistant with their food. One of our favorite is their Kacchi Biriyani (it only shows up as a daily special once or twice a week, not part of the regular menu).
If you don’t know what Kacchi Biriyani is, it is an old Dhaka tradition of cooking Biriyani. Goat meat is marinated over-​night in yoghurt and spices than layer of rice is added topped with butter oil, milk, herbs, dried prunes & some other ingredients over the meat. Then it is slowly simmered for hours until the meat becomes so soft & tender that even a child can pick it off the bone effortlessly. This also makes the flavor of the meat and spices get soaked into the rice as it evaporates from the bottom meat layer and travels up through the top layer of rice. It is just wonderful.
Almost everything I tried their, I liked with the exception of few. Their curry is purely Bangladeshi style and delicious. I am not a big dessert person, but their sweets are pretty good. Try the Chamcham and sweet Bangladeshi style yoghurt. And if you are into hot caffeinated drinks, don’t forget to try their hot tea with milk.
And they are open till 2 am, thats always a good thing.

Everyone in the Bangali community knows about this place, and I feel that their food is far better than some other desi restaurants in Brooklyn, or even NY. I havent had their curries or biryani in a long time, So i cant comment… but their liver shingora (kolijar shingora) is quite good. The roll with sweetened butter (butterbon) is also good, not as good as youd get back home but pretty close! Roshmalai is good too.

good desi food at great prices. love the goat daal and the biryani. i’ve never actual sat down and ate here… have always ordered take out. but the place is clean.

The first Bangladeshi super restaurant in New York City. Located in Astoria, Queens– they have the best food you can imagine. Over the years they have cut portion sizes down as expenses increased but the quality has not gone down even a tad bit. Their sweet yogurt is awesome and Kachi-​Biryani is off the hook. The food is very well made. I am a bit mad that they have increased prices for the lesser portion sizes. Sweets are good though so enjoy! Some food are mediocre, some are down right bad and some are the best.
I have come here since I was a child. So my opinion may be biased since I am used to their cooking and long for it being so far away from it.

I come here to get my $ 1 Vegetable Samosas. This place has really big ones and the guy who runs it is really friendly.

If you like sweets, this is a good place, but otherwise there’s really nothing good to eat here. The iftar box is ok, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have nowhere else to it.
The staff is not that friendly either.

They are only getting four stars because their sweets rock. If you want to eat authentic Bengali sweets go here. My favorites are Chom choms, doi (yogurt) and rosh malai. Get a cup of chai while you are at it. The actual food is mediocre.

It’s actually bangladeshi food, with some indo-​pak terms for marketing purposes. you know how it is. The name of the restaurant has been taken from the original back in Bangladesh, which has a reputation as one of the best restaurant chains. They’re trying to be like a global chain, opening up in Queens? They’ve not succeeded in that department, bc so many things are wrong w this place. The menu is incomplete, they’re overpriced (for the portions they give), and they’re not consistent. One day the haleem’s good, the next it ain’t. They’re more reputable in the sweets department, and here they do not disappoint. Their gulab jamons, shondesh and rasgullahs are excellent. All I know is, when we happen to be in the neighborhood and get something from them, we’re never completely satisfied. Samosas and chai will hit the spot though.

I’ve only had the samosa’s here. They’re ok nothing out of the ordinary. I’ve never actually sat down and ate here.
Franky, the place creeps me out. Some evening only women go there with their families but most of the time there are a lot of South Asian men eating there.