Queens Boulevard might parade its Irish pubs like uniformed soldiers, but tucked between the pints and shamrocks lies Sunnyside's best-kept secret: a pocket of Middle Eastern culinary excellence that punches way above its weight. 🤯 Just a quick 15-minute ride from Grand Central on the 7 train lands you at stations where the scent of smoked eggplant and sizzling shawarma turns sidewalks into aromatic treasure maps. Forget the tourist traps—this is where New York's Turkish and Lebanese communities eat, and the flavors are as authentic as a grandmother's scolding. 🚇✨"

"### 🔥 Souk El Shater: The Shawarma Sanctuary

Don't let the narrow grocery-store facade fool you—Souk El Shater houses shawarma so transcendent, it could make a skeptic weep. 💧 Their beef shawarma, marinated in spices darker than a moonless desert night, stays miraculously juicy under the heat lamp, while the chicken version flirts with tenderness like a perfectly tuned oud string. For $3.50, grab it wrapped in pillowy pita with pickles and garlic sauce, or go big with the platter ($8.50) featuring:

  • Hummus smoother than a Dubai marble countertop

  • Babaganoush so creamy it whispers velvet secrets

  • A nuclear-green chili paste (the owner grins: "Some secrets I can't tell you") 🌶️

hidden-middle-eastern-gems-in-sunnyside-queens-image-0:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__newyork.seriouseats.com__assets_c__2013__09__20130925-souk-el-shater-shawarma-thumb-610x404-354730-57781206b8994762bb4afcbbe9468fc2.jpg)

Pro-tip: Scout their steam table for daily surprises. The molokhia stew ($8.50)—slippery greens stewed with chicken over rice—arrives like a forgotten potion, earthy and complex. And if you charm the staff? They might slide you raw kibbe, a forbidden-fruit rarity in NYC. With only four stools, take your haul to Gaslight Pub next door (three drafts for $10!), where their patio becomes your personal banquet hall. 🍻"

"### 🥄 Grill 43: Where Mezze Steals the Show (RIP)

Note: Grill 43 closed in late 2012, but its legend haunts Sunnyside foodies. This spot was a Trojan horse—unassuming grill-focused signage hiding mezze that outshone its kebabs. Their $13.95 mixed plate was a constellation of flavors:

Dip Description
Patlican Salatisi Baba ganoush stripped down—just smoke, olive oil, and eggplant purity ☁️
Ezme A tomato-chili relish so fiercely bright, it’s like a fire alarm for your tastebuds 🔥
Roasted Eggplant Garlic-slathered, humble yet profound as a desert monk’s prayer 🙏

:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__newyork.seriouseats.com__assets_c__2013__09__20130925-grill-43-menemen-thumb-610x404-354728-f9760829544046b8bf940218ab6b1717.jpg)

Breakfast was their stealth weapon—menemen ($5.95) scrambled eggs stained sunset-orange by tomatoes and peppers, weeping oil perfect for sopping with their crusty bread. A dish so homesick-Turkish, it felt like finding a secret garden in a concrete jungle. 🌅"

"### 🍖 Mangal Kebab: The Ocakbaşı Experience

Walk into Mangal Kebab and you’re in an ocakbaşı (Turkish for "fireside")—a temple to grilled meat. Skip the menu; locals eye the marinated meats like art critics at a gallery. Must-trys:

  • Adana Kebabs ($8-$12): Ground lamb reddened by chili, juicier than a monsoon-soaked date 🥩

  • Lamb Shank ($13): Braised until sticky-sweet, collapsing like a sandcastle at high tide 🏖️

  • Weekend-only brain soup—daring post-midnight tradition for the brave 💀

:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__newyork.seriouseats.com__assets_c__2013__09__20130917-mangal-kebab-lamb-shank-thumb-610x404-353156-26caa75df2d44781a5b7d6387e6a3304.jpg)

Dips are solid, but the meat’s the star—save eggplant cravings for Grill 43’s ghost. Open till 11 PM, it’s where night owls dissect kebab philosophy over embers. 🔥🦉"

"### 🍕 Turkish Grill: The Pide Paradox

Craving linen tablecloths? Turkish Grill delivers ambiance, but its pide ($10-$15) is the real headline. Calling it "Turkish pizza" is like calling a Ferrari a golf cart—this cheese-crusted boat is NYC’s best by default, a title as bittersweet as winning the hairiest knuckle contest. 🤷 Yet for homesick Anatolians, that crisp-chewy base and salty fillings hit like a surprise letter from home. 📬

:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__newyork.seriouseats.com__assets_c__2013__09__20130925-turkish-grill-pide-thumb-610x404-354734-a8a33c95f5004539bcc1cf997551d7e9.jpg)

Kebabs here play second fiddle—decent, but overshadowed by Souk’s shawarma or Mangal’s Adana. Come for the vibe, stay for the pide that almost makes you forget you’re not in Istanbul. Almost. 🌉"

"### ⚡ The Ultimate Sunnyside Food Crawl (2025 Edition)

Plan your attack like a flavor heist:

  1. Souk El Shater for shawarma wraps (eat standing, like a true connoisseur)

  2. Mangal Kebab for Adana kebabs (channel your inner carnivore)

  3. Turkish Grill for pide (sit down, pretend you’re by the Bosphorus)

  4. Gaslight Pub for cheap beers (smuggle in leftovers guilt-free)

And if dessert calls? Follow the sugar trail to sour cream doughnuts nearby. Sunnyside’s Middle Eastern strip proves that sometimes, the best adventures hide in plain sight—no passport required. 🌍🗽