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    Sezam

    4.6 (16 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Sezam Photos

    SEZAM ATMOSPHERE

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    Cherylin L.

    Looking for a unique dining experience in Queens? Look no further than Sezam kosher , a kosher banquet restaurant in the heart of the city! With belly dancing every Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday. it's the perfect spot for an exciting night out. We had to try their viral Mega cheburek, a crispy, deep-fried turnover filled with savory minced Lamb-Beef and onions, it was absolutely delicious! Another must-try is the beef rice piloff, packed with tender meats, a whole garlic clove, and a boiled egg slice for extra flavor. Whether you're planning a small gathering or a large party, Sezam offers vibrant decor and a lively atmosphere that will make your night unforgettable. Follow @spinx17 for more NYC fun experiences!

    Lamb kebabs (top) and ribs (bottom)
    Andrew K.

    Admittedly, I was drawn in by the mega cheburek seen on social media (which isn't on the online menu but is available in the dine-in menu) and ultimately left full having had an excellent assortment of food. The menu is EXTENSIVE and a bit overwhelming if, like us, you're not so familiar with the cuisine. We started with the lagman soup. Ultimately, we probably didn't need this but the portion was great for two people and the flavoring of the broth lovely. Next came the mega cheburek. We donned our black latex gloves provided with the steak knife and went about tearing this thing up. The dough was lovely (crispy some places, softer others). The meat itself was not the most flavorful (probably our only negative) but the two sauces (one a creamier sauce and one a tomato-based sauce) really made up for this once you were comfortably rolling the cheburek and dipping and there was a TON of meat. This in itself probably would have been enough food. But alas, we also had ordered lamb kebabs (maybe the most delicious meat I had here and a great portion) and lamb ribs (also a really solid portion but a bit on the fattier side). We were given complimentary baklava, which was a super nice showing. This complimented overall the service we had, which was stellar from start to finish and super super nice. The decor is interesting and I can see it as an event hall, but also a nice little stop for dinner. Finally, I was really blown away by the pricing as everything was so much cheaper than I was used to for comparable food in the area. We ordered some plov to go and I am excited to eat this for lunch this week.

    Beef Pilaf
    Taras P.

    This place has been going viral online for their Giant Cheburek which is a deep-fried turnovers with a filling of ground or minced meat and onions. Common street food in Russia and surrounding countries. Also, their beef rice pilaf was amazing! I highly recommend getting it. It comes with an huge garlic clove, lots of meat and a boiled egg sliced in quarters. The best part is the food is very inexpensive in comparison to other restaurants. I think the prices will greatly go up as it becomes more popular.

    Lamb kabob
    Joseph L.

    Great place to dine at whether your party is small or large. The decor was vibrant and definitely stands out, every corner grabs your attention. The staff is very welcoming and accommodating. Food was the best part, everything was fresh and hot. I'll gladly come again anytime.

    Giant chubrek

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    2 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Delicious food people would love to have with family and friends also with good service Even de to enjoy at home too

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    1 year ago

    People are wonderful and the food is great! Amazing customer service! The bi est people!!

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    Ayat

    Ayat

    3.9
    (44 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    Been wanting to visit an Ayat location for some time now. Went with a party of 4. Traveled from…read moreManhattan. The food was great here. The Mansaf was phenomenal. The lamb dish was also great. The mixed grill and hummus too. Interior is inspiring, including rows of olive oil, the giant olive tree. Beautiful artwork. the gentleman wearing the Mexico jersey was very kind and took our order correctly, checked on us at accurate times. Might not return to this location but will try Ayat in different areas. I wish them all the success here.

    Delicious Palestinian food! This was my first time at this restaurant and I was not disappointed!…read moreThe staff is very kind, the place is very cute, and the food is great! Not to mention that you get a lot of food! My friend and I started off with the hummus, which was accompanied with some pita. I have no complaints- it was delicious! I would love to try the red pepper one next time! My friend ordered the watermelon salad for lunch which looked absolutely delicious as you can see in the pictures- the perfect dish for a hot summer day. I ordered the mixed platter that came with a salad, rice, different kinds of meats. I loved that I got to try a variety- I honestly couldn't pick a favorite because I enjoyed all of it. My dish was so big that I even had leftovers for dinner and lunch the next day. If you're looking for somewhere to eat in Astoria I definitely recommend this restaurant! My only complaint is that it was hot inside the restaurant. Not sure if their HVAC wasn't working that day but the warmth was not pleasant on a summer hot day.

    Photos
    Ayat
    Even my dog didn't want to eat it
    Even my dog didn't want to eat it
    Lamb Ouzi Royale

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    Lamb Ouzi Royale
    Levant

    Levant

    4.6
    (56 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    Even though we ordered delivery through DoorDash, Levant completely lived up to its stellar…read morereputation! We ordered the Mixed Fateer, and it was easily the highlight of the meal. It's kind of like a middle eastern quesadilla with cheese, vegetables, and meat but with a thinner bread layer that's crispy. The portion size of this was enormous--I'd honestly say it's enough for 5-6 people to share. Between the two of us, it stretched into 6-8 meals, and it reheated exceptionally well in the air fryer without losing its texture or flavor. We also ordered the beef shawarma platter and the chicken shawarma wrap (which was only around $13). I was pleasantly surprised by the chicken shawarma--it was flavorful, well-seasoned, and not overly dense or dry like shawarma can sometimes be. It ended up being one of the better wraps we've had! If you're debating whether this place travels well for delivery, I'd confidently say yes. The food maintained its quality remarkably well, which isn't always the case with Mediterranean food. That said, after this experience, I'm even more excited to visit the restaurant in person one day. One thing to keep in mind: the portions are generous and many of the dishes are quite hearty. If you're trying to eat lighter or are watching your calories, I'd recommend opting for one of their salads, like the fattoush, alongside your meal. Highly recommended whether you're ordering through DoorDash or dining in. We'll definitely be ordering again--and making a trip to Astoria to experience it fresh from the kitchen.

    Ordered: Mixed Feteer (~$25): filled with cheese, ground…read morebeef, sausage, pastrami, tomatoes, peppers, olives; with Levant sauce & white sauce Mix Grill (~$30): chicken kabab, lamb kabab, beef kofta with 2 sides (rice & fries) and pickles; with Levant sauce, garlic sauce, and white sauce Zaatar Manousheh (complimentary) Aya's take: Levant is located in the heart of Steinway and has become pretty popular for their Egyptian feteer, Lebanese bread, and mixed grill meats. It was #25 on The New York Times' 2026 list of the 100 Best Restaurants in New York City, and being Lebanese myself, I wanted to finally check it out. The service & hospitality is amazing; you can't beat Arab hospitality. As we were waiting for our food, one of the workers gave us a fresh Zaatar Manousheh. It was incredible! The zaatar was just as good as it is in Lebanon and the dough is fluffy, light, and super fresh. The Mix Grill was smaller than expected for ~$30. The meats were all tender, well-seasoned, and juicy. They have a few sauces to choose from and all were good. I would get the Levant sauce and white sauce again! If it was a sandwich, I would definitely get the garlic sauce again. There was so much rice and fries left compared to the amount of meat we got. It just felt like something was missing or it needed more protein. The Mixed Feteer was so satisfying! Everything here is freshly made and it's evident from the crispy feteer exterior to the cheese pull and steaming ingredients inside. The white sauce helps cut through some of the fat and the Levant sauce added a slight kick to it. Both were delicious! It's loaded with ingredients and easily shareable among 2-4 people. Although space is tight, I would recommend coming with friends or ordering to go so you can try more items since they have so many delicious options on the menu. There's so much I still want to try; I would absolutely come back!

    Photos
    Beautiful Lighting!
    Beautiful Lighting!
    Lotus Feteer. $23. Not too sweet even with the biscoff and powdered sugar. Excellent
    Lotus Feteer. $23. Not too sweet even with the biscoff and powdered sugar. Excellent
    Levant

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    Duzan

    Duzan

    4.1
    (806 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Duzan is a certified spot in Astoria. It is one of those places you can rely on for consistently…read moregood food without overthinking it. The portions are huge, everything is packed with flavor, and the quality stands out compared to your typical food truck. It is very no-frills, but that is part of the appeal. You are leaving full and satisfied every time. If you are torn on where to go and want something casual, this is an easy choice.

    Cuisine: 7 Service: 6…read moreDecor: 5 Value: 8 Overall: 7 With all the delicious options for food in Astoria, I am glad to see Duzan still succeeding after all these years. The food has always been freshly prepared, in large portions, and cooked quite well. I'm thankful that has not changed much. On my most recent visit, we got a Mix Grilled and Vegetarian Plate to share between four people. There was so much food that we did not have dessert next door as originally planned. Prices are higher nowadays, but you are receiving great value for what you pay. Both chicken shawarma and the beef kufta from the Mix Grilled tasted great, especially with the provided zesty white sauce. I also added hot sauce to mine, which made it more satisfying. The chicken kebab was not bad, it had a nice char, but slightly dry. All of the accompanying humus (a bit salty), salad, rice, and garlic pita were excellent too. For the Vegetarian Plate, though good, I would like the falafels to be fluffier. The best things I enjoyed on the plate was the fried eggplants and baba ghanosh. It also comes with cous cous, which was good. Fresh middle eastern cuisine, made with quality ingredients and care, this restaurant may not be my first choice in Astoria because it's not as sexy as some of the other offerings, but I'm glad that they are still around when I just want a quality meal at a reasonable price.

    Photos
    Order area, few tables to sit.... Will they ever finish their reno?
    Order area, few tables to sit.... Will they ever finish their reno?
    Chicken Shawarma Bowl
    Chicken Shawarma Bowl
    Tabouleh Salad

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    Tabouleh Salad
    Safir Mediterranean

    Safir Mediterranean

    4.6
    (151 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    Safir was an amazing experience. The food was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully…read moreprepared. The grilled octopus is a must-have, and the lahmacun and mixed grill were outstanding. The bread and bread-based dishes were light, fresh, and delicious. The staff made the experience even better--they were warm, attentive, and knowledgeable, taking the time to explain the dishes and make great recommendations. We left satisfied without feeling overly full. I highly recommend Safir and will definitely be back.

    My Turkish husband and I were meeting friends for drinks in LIC but we were super early so I…read moresuggested getting a quick bite at Safir, because we always like to try Turkish places and we hadn't been here yet. After our visit, I was left lamenting "why did we wait so long to come here?". We came in early on a Monday, before 6:00 and the place already had several tables full. We received a warm Turkish welcome and quickly settled in with menus. Our quick bit turned into mixed appetizer (hummus, babaghanoush, muhmmara, haydari and pink sultan), followed by sigara borek and lamacun. Everything was so good that we overate! I was full after the mezzes but the lamacun was so good...among the best we've had in the NYC area. Service was great too. Just a nice vibe with the friendly owners stopping by each table and saying hello. It was clear there were many regulars eating here and we anticipate more visits ourselves. They have some nice images of Istanbul on the wall and we were just in Turkey a few weeks ago so it felt like we were back there! This place is really a gem and I highly recommend it. Just make sure you bring your appetite because you will fill up when you eat here!

    Photos
    Safir Mediterranean
    Safir Mediterranean
    Safir Mediterranean

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    Sezam - mideastern - Updated July 2026

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