Shingara / সিংগারা

Easily one of my favourite food joints in Brooklyn!

My wife and I live in Kensington – I'm from Bangladesh, and she's from Pakistan. Immersed in an oasis of South Asian restaurants, we make it a point to try a new spot every weekend. Thank God for this adorable family-owned and operated spot right in the heart of "Little Bangladesh" as I like to call it.

The white tile walls of the restaurant are sparkling, and the food counters are just big enough. It's one of those Goldie Locks types of places – nothing too big, nothing too small. It's just perfectly right in its size somewhere in the middle of the balance.

The aroma of fresh piaju, chotpoti, and chicken samosas hugs your olfactory bulb as soon as you enter – you're immediately greeted by Mahroof Bhai who manages the orders at the front. Right behind him is the magician, wizard, master chef, and one of the sweetest women you've ever met in your life. She's adorned in a typical Bangladeshi salwar kameez and dupatta covering hear head – her hands are wrist deep in chickpea batter, while her smiling face peers from behind the counter. She has an immediate sparkle in her eyes.

A sense of love and warmth overcomes me, and it's like I'm standing right in my mother's kitchen conversing with her. I call her "Chachi", which is how you address your mother's sister in Bangla. It's also a term you can use to address an elder woman that you revere and hold highly.

God bless this woman and her hands that create these delicious works o art. We got:

1. One order of Fuska
2. 2 orders of Piaju (onion fritters)
3. 2 orders of Chicken Samosas
4. 2 orders of shingaras

We were blown away by the falovours, textures, and spices – everything is made fresh to order, so you know only the best is served. Each item far exceed our expectations, but we must say the star of the food items was their Fuska with the homemade tamarind sauce. I haven't been back to Bangladesh since my parents and I moved to the United States in 1993, but the food brought me right back to the streets of my motherland. The chicken samosas get a well deserved honorable mention too. Crispy and light on the outside, it's just almost bursting at the creases from all of the chicken stuffing. Just one bite, and the world goes into slow motion. The chicken is marinated and cooked with traditional Bangladeshi spices and is nothing short of spectacular.

Do not miss out on this restaurants, my fellow Brooklynites! May God bless Chachi, Mahroof Bhai, and Shingara ❤️ thank you so much for your hospitality, warmth, love, and delicious morsels of food. Can't wait to be back and try more items on your menu.

As a person not accustomed to these flavours, the food served here is simply delicious. There is an iftar box served exclusively during Ramadan that includes a little variety of most things served there. I strongly suggest you give it a try. *chefs kiss* the employees here are very friendly, and their smiles are contagious 😁

I came in the afternoon around 2 and they were just opening. The hours are kind of erratic but I'm here to tell you it's so worth it. Very friendly ladies made the food right in front of me. I knew it was fresh so I didn't mind waiting. I tried chicken samosa, vegetable shingara and some fried vegetable fritters. Everything was delicious. It felt like a home cooked meal. Definitely try to catch them!

Fantastic food and fair prices - was welcomed warmly when I walked by and wanted to give it a try but didn't know what to order. I was offered plenty of help with navigating the menu and ended up taking home a range of dishes which all tasted fantastic!! While waiting for my food (no long wait) I was kindly offered a cup of milk tea. An absolutely great experience - will totally come again!!

Love the foods. And the crews are also very good. For a good business you need a good food, a warm reception and clean and tidy store. They have all these. This is a very good food shop for Bangladeshi community where you will get good quality Fuska, chotpoti, shingara, puri, piazu etc. So, don't delay try today.