A mural inside the Tong restaurant of two women being served traditional Bengali food by a man.
Tong, a small restaurant in Jamaica, Queens, attracts people from all over New York. It offers Bengali street food and nostalgic decor. Many of the South Asian young people who come to the restaurant are immigrants and others were born in the U.S. and want to connect with their heritage. Zakia Jui (20) a student at Queens Community College says, “I often come here with my best friend. It’s a cozy space and the food is amazing. We always order Doi Fuchka and ask for it to be made spicy. The heat from the green chilies and the sweetness of the yogurt is what makes the dish perfect.”
Tong started its journey in 2018 as a small cart in Jackson Heights. Later it expanded to the Bronx, Steinway Avenue, and other parts of Queens. The Jamaica spot is its first real store.
Naeem Khandaker the founder of Tong dreams of expanding Tong all over New York City and across the U. S. “It’s not easy to manage a restaurant. Carts are comparatively easier to maintain but I am happy to see the response,” he said about his restaurant’s popularity.
NurJahan Begum (40) who lives nearby on Sutphin Boulevard said, “I moved to New York for my kids. I miss home but now I come here often with my friends and enjoy Fuchka like I used to when I was young.” Similarly, Hassan Abbasi (45) a Pakistani immigrant and a father of two says, “I bring my kids here to show them what I did after school back in my home country. It is a way of introducing my childhood to my kids.”
A mural inside of Tong restaurant with blue flowers and a wood bordered windows that represents South Asian Houses during the spring.
Tong has a unique interior. The walls are covered in colorful, floor-to-ceiling murals depicting street vendors in Bangladesh. The counter is shaped like a Bangladeshi street cart with traditional accessories.
“The purpose behind this decor was to make people feel nostalgic,” Khandaker explained.
Fuchka is the restaurant’s best-selling dish. It is a crispy and light, bite-sized semolina shell stuffed with a mixture of mashed potato, and chickpeas spiced with paprika, chaat masala, black salt, and sliced green chilies. It has an intense, sweet, spicy, and sour flavor and is served with a side of tamarind sauce.
Dishes like Mango Vorta and Guava Vorta also have their own fanbase. These are pieces of mango and guava thinly sliced and mixed with a traditional spice called Kashondi, which is a fermented mustard paste mixed with coriander leaves, and green chili. The dish is tangy, spicy, and renowned for clearing people’s nasal passages.
Photo of the traditional Bengali dish Fuchka served with a side of tamarind sauce.
The Menu also has traditional Bangladeshi street foods like Chaap, Chatpati, JhalMuri. All of the dishes are served on colorful clay plates. The staff says they are working on some new dishes which will soon be introduced.
Tong is open every day from 2:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Series: Community
