Uzbek cuisine may not be as familiar to New Yorkers, but once you're introduced to it, it's hard to forget and the food at Tandir Express is certainly memorable. Tandir Express is a nondescript restaurant devoid of frills and fanfare, but it's packed to the brim with flavor. The food here is quality, delicious, and very much a bang for your buck. You simply cannot avoid samsa when you eat Uzbek food and the samsa here is perfectly flaky and generously stuffed. The mantu is also stellar but be warned that the samsa and mantu are going to fill you up so get both if you are dining with a group. The shashlik here is tremendous and the chicken and lula kebabs I tried were melt-in-your-mouth tender and delicious. They unfortunately ran out of plov but my friends and I tried the layman and enjoyed it very much. The ambiance is non-existent, and that's ok considering the prices and emphasis is on quality food and not the setting. The service is a bit spotty but this isn't the place you come to for white-glove service a little patience and understanding is a must. Overall a great Uzbek dining experience and I would rate the food very highly. read more

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Incompetence: The lack of ability, skill, or qualification to perform a task correctly. A textbook example? This restaurant. Let's break it down: I placed an order for 1 shish kabob, 1 lagman, and 2 samsas. What did I receive? 1 shish kabob, 1 lagman, and 2 manti. A simple mistake? Absolutely not. A real order of manti comes with four pieces, but they sent me two. This wasn't an accident--it was a deliberate switch. They knew they were replacing my samsa with something else and tried to slide it past me, probably assuming that I, being just another clueless American, wouldn't know the difference. Well, surprise: I was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and I know my food better than they know how to run a business. And it only gets worse. When I tried calling to address the issue, whoever answered the phone pretended not to hear me. Then, after I called multiple times, they just stopped picking up. Let's be clear--this wasn't an oversight. This was cowardice and deception. They had every opportunity to do the right thing: - Call me and inform me they were out of samsa. - Offer me a substitute with my consent. - Apologize for the mix-up and make it right. Instead, they did none of the above and opted for the most dishonest, lazy, and disrespectful approach imaginable--swapping items without a word and then ghosting the customer when confronted. Running a restaurant requires basic integrity, competence, and customer service skills. These people? They fail on all counts. If you don't respect your customers, don't take accountability, and think deception is an acceptable business practice, you have no business running a restaurant. Period. If they handle something as simple as an order substitution with this level of dishonesty and avoidance, I shudder to think about what's going on in the kitchen. Are they swapping ingredients there too? Cutting corners with hygiene? Serving you whatever they feel like and hoping you don't notice? Final Verdict This restaurant is a masterclass in how NOT to run a business. Their dishonesty, refusal to take responsibility, and outright lack of basic ethics make them unworthy of your time or money. If you want real Uzbek food served with honesty, go somewhere else. If you want to be deceived, ignored, and insulted, then by all means, give them your business. read more

Had something to do in the area, I'm not from the area so I always make sure when I'm in the neighborhood I try food I can't get in other parts of Brooklyn. This was my first time trying Uzbek food, this is definitely a locals spot as most customer who came in seem to know the workers. It also is almost an all male environment, despite that I still receive good service, and everything was super delicious. The beef and lamb kabob had the smoky grilled flavor I loved and missed and the manti surprised me with how big they were. The manti with the sour cream and the kebab with the bread and slightly pickled onions 10/10. Although, I don't have any other Uzbek restaurants to compare to. read more

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The best Uzbek plov and samsa. Great service. Highly recommended. read more

I went here last night unplanned with three friends. We go out once a month to try different foods. Originally we planned to go to a Korean Uzbek place in another neighborhood, but it was closed when we arrived and we saw this restaurant on Yelp. I'm so glad we came here! At first we felt a little out of place being two white women and two East Asian men in a small restaurant that was 100% male, and appearing to also probably be 100% Uzbek, but the staff was so nice and we managed to get around language barriers pretty well. The food was so good and very reasonably priced, and we got to try a bunch of different dishes all for just over $20 for each of us, including tax and tip. When we left, a couple of the patrons said goodbye. I know nothing about Uzbek culture or cuisine, but this felt like a really authentic experience, and it was a lot of fun. read more

Urgut Tandir Express - Tea! - Uzbek Near Me - Kensington, New York

So today I called to place delivery order. My office little bit far from them so I called to ask if they can deliver-they said that yes they can but it will be extra $15 delivery charge,I agreed as there's nothing in my neighborhood,but this is a lot as for delivery. So I ordered according to google menu and asked to pay with card,girl told me that she'll call me back to get my card details as terminal is busy. Long story short-I called 2 times in a order to finalize the order and to pay but terminal was still busy,delivery guy came over with order without confirming anything and I ended up paying at the moment of picking up. When I checked at the price I realized that all dishes are double overprice comparing to online prices,I was supposed to pay $26 and I ended up paying $55,also my salad which was supposed to be $4 was charged $10! And they never gave it to me!!! I called them in a order to get the difference refunded,so they said that online prices are old (which is not mine concern!!!!) but they'll give me salad money back,who is never happened!!! So now I'm gonna call my bank and cancel the whole order!!!! read more

This place is an experience to say the least. No one really speaks English which is fine but know what you want because they can't describe much to you. I am the only woman ever in here. I love it though. We come for the amazing plov. It's fatty and warm and delicious. The carrots are so tender they melt. Come in the mornings for lunch before they run out. It's one of my favorite dishes in NYC. And the yogurt they serve with pickled vegetables is the thickest most delicious yogurt ever. We often order one to go. Overall a great place to groan a lunch you can't find many other places in NYC. read more

I have stopped here a few times and each time I have been blown away by the quailtiy and prices. The kebabs are freshly grilled, flavorful and tender. I am not familiar with Uzbeki food but what I tasted I thought was great. The spices added to the meat are subtler than those used with Turkish food. They remind me of Persian kebabs but with their own unique flavor. I have also tried the Tandir Samsa which is a spicy pastry with chopped meat, onions and parsley. It also was quite flavorful but the kebabs are what to come here for! As Kevin M wrote in his review, the clientele is like an Uzbeki Boy's club but today I did see a few females come in for takeout so maybe it is a cultural thing! I surmise this is a family business. Service is friendly but it is a small local restaurant that seems to be more geared to takeout. So if you are expecting Per Se (not that I have ever been to Per Se...) you might want to go elsewhere. That said, when I have eaten here it has been clean and there are several tables at which to sit and as I noted earlier, the food is fantastic! Oh yes, they do take credit cards and do not have a minimum which was nice today when I was short of cash. Prices are very reasonable. So, next time you are in the mood for a delicious and affordable meal of grilled meats (though they do also have other appetizers, soups, salads and desserts on the menu that I am sure taste wonderful), give Tandir Express a try! read more

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First time trying Uzbek food, owner was kind enough to guide me through what was on the menu. Not a fan of lamb, but I really enjoyed their manti! read more

Wow found this place to eat lunch around Brooklyn area i was visiting. Food is home cooked and excellent quality and good prices. Chef was super friendly and we had good talk about Uzbek food. Next time in NY we defiantly coming again. Thank You Tandir and keep up good work!!!! read more

Urgut Tandir Express - Rulet was A+++ You should try it :) - Uzbek Near Me - Kensington, New York

I would probably come back. Many times. This place is a great representation of Uzbek/Central Asian cuisine. We've tried multiple items on the menu: samsa, plov, kebab and the lagman. Everything was really tasty and well priced. For those saying that the food is a little bland, it is supposed to be bland, you, hot-sauce-addicts! Central Asian food celebrates the unique flavor of the ingredients in the dish and tries not to kill it with the extensive use of spices. Last, but not the least, when ordering kebab, follow my advice to get the real taste of the region. You can find transparent sauce of the table, which is simply put diluted vinegar. Sprinkle this vinegar over your kebab. Be generous. More. Now you got it, the most authentic taste of the kebabs! No pics unfortunately because I was so busy eating read more

1) the food is fucking bomb. Manti is best I've had in Brooklyn so far, and the Shurpa is very clean and not oily. 2) I was the only female in the packed room and was unfortunately ignored very intensely. Ended up live-typing my experience to diffuse frustration. See below. Waited a while to be acknowledged -- stood by my table and then eventually stood by the counter. only female in the packed place. I put my stuff down and stood there while the gentleman behind the counter walked out of the kitchen - and around me - multiple times to serve the men as their orders completed. It wasn't until I kept making steady eye contact and got super close to the counter that he took my order. I pointed to items on the menu - the Shurpa soup and the manti dumplings, and green tea. He asked if I wanted it to go, I said no. It's been 20 mins, and I've been served my soup, but not my tea or manti. All the other men have been served their entire meals, even the ones who arrived after me -- there is even one table with two pitchers of tea on their table while I have none. He offered a seat on my table to a man who asked him for seats. Didn't acknowledge me at all, just pulled the chair out and sat him there. That's cool, but since I'm already ruffled by the stark contrast in service, I added to my Bullshit Behavior list. The man that was just seated in front of me got served a complimentary bread and "welcome plate" and of pickles, tomatoes, veggies, sour cream, etc as soon as he sat. Not sure if the bread and veggies are a part of the plov platter (which looked magical but too big for one person), but I have not received a damn thing. Adding to my mounting frustration as I literally had to beg him for attention while the men here are getting served shit without saying a word. It has been a while since I've encountered this. I followed up on my manti and green tea two more times. He asked if I wanted it to go. NO, I want it with the soup I am eating right now. The manti is finally here and it is delicious. TFW you debate compromising your moral values in order to eat great food. Food is five star. Sexism is 0 stars. I guess 2 will have to do. read more

Dangerous Food. I had taken food out at around 8:00 pm. I had specifically told chef to make sure that he gives me fresh food. He told me that meat on the grill is fresh, and plov has been sitting in a pot for a whole day. He also told me that plov has not been held at safe temperatures. He gave me a brown paper bag with my food. He charged me and I paid him $20.00. When I got home, I discovered that this chef removed meat from the plov (rice was on the meat) and he grilled it. Bread and samsa also were not fresh. I called him. He told me that he did not have fresh food at the time when I came but he will have better food tomorrow morning. I felt obligated to write this review to protect customers. read more

This spot has superb service and yummy meals. The best spot in the area. The food came out quick and the prices are economical. Will definitely recommend this spot. read more

Manti, shashlik, samsa, ayran, lagman - everything you miss so much from your home country, they have it. And it's so delicious. The price is affordable. They are open till 11pm which is awesome! I stop there almost everyday for a juicy shashlik or manti. Love it so much. They have TV's inside, sometimes they play movies in Russian language, sometimes popular Russian tv shows, sometimes just music or sport. My favorite neighborhood gem. read more

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The guy over charged me told me the kabob was 3$ and charged 5$ for each . The food was ok Very very very greasy and blend . The server was nice beside that he lied about the prices read more

Urgut Tandir Express - Uzbek Near Me - Kensington, New York

great skewers. we ordered 3. beef and lamb was marinated well. the beef was not the most "beefy" in taste. we also got the a ribs skewer. between each rib they added a piece of fat. this made the ribs juicy and slid off the skewer with ease. i would definitely suggest the samsa (meat pastry). its baked and crispy with a savory and onionly center. we also got the shurpa. it was a meat soup. while the flavor was great, the chucks of veggies and mean were huge. i perfer smaller cubes. service was acceptable. we had to ask a few time for things. food was pretty cheap. all the stuff we ordered plus drinks came in at $27 read more

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The Food is real fresh and good. The chicken shishkabobs,tandir samsa and salads are my favorite. Everything is super fresh so be prepared to wait a few minuits for it to be prepared. But overall,the food is great and you dont feel fat after eating it. read more

The most amazing and delicious place in NY i ever had in my life! The food is home made style, affordable prices and friendly environment! Really recommend to try plov and rulet!! read more

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So good!!! Probably the best plov and best samsa in NYC and one of the top Uzbek restaurants. The draw is not the decor but the food. It's like a typical chaikhana (teahouse) in Uzbekistan, selling plov (rice pilaf with lamb meat), samsa (baked meat pastry, ancestor of samosa), kabab, and other classic dishes. Very affordable too, and much closer to Manhattan than other Uzbek restaurants, easy commute off the F or Q train. read more

Urgut Tandir Express - Plov - Uzbek Near Me - Kensington, New York

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I gave them another chance after over an hour wait on the previous order; well, wouldnt you know it, this time I waited 2 1/2 hours! I called to complain, the guy told me he dont have this nor that, blah... So, says food will be here soon.. Ahem. The food was pretty bland, old lamb kebabs, bad soup, and so on. Anyway, no more chances for them. Bye. read more

Always great stuff love their foodand services.its very traditional makes me feel like a home everytime I get in. read more

Urgut Tandir Express - Uzbek Near Me - Kensington, New York

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I ordered the dish but it was not ready until the end. meat is raw and terrible taste. good service but the kitchen is bad read more

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This was my first time having Uzbek food and I left very pleased. The staff is very friendly and the place is plain but clean and nicely informal. We started with the samsa which is similar to a meat knish or a samosa. It was very good. The " Greek salad" was like an Israeli salad with some feta and beef strips added and with it we had the Uzbek bread and beef and lamb shish kabobs. To drink we had the apricot kandor which was very refreshing. The food was delicious and very reasonably priced. My only disappointment is my home is 200 miles away and don't know how soon I can get back to Tandir! read more

Great food but terrible customer service. I placed my order online and it was never delivered to me. I called to check and they told me 3 minutes. I called again after 30 minutes passed and they never answered my call. I called few more times after that and my call was never answered!!! What a shame!!! Uzbek people need to learn that customer service in business is very important!!! How you treat customers trumps how good your food might be!!!! I am very upset and disappointed!!! read more

No complaint about the food, which was cheap and good. Service was bad. The guy manning the counter didn't speak English so he had to get someone else to help me order. I ordered one lamb kebab and some bread on the side. Bread didn't need cooking and the place wasn't crowded. It should've been quick but it ended up taking 30 minutes! What's worse is another customer who came in 10-15 minutes after me got his food before me. I had to complain (to the non-english speaking guy) to get my food. They were apologetic but that lack of attention warrants a free meal. read more

Customer services sucks. Many reasons to it. I have ordered beef kebab and waited for 20 minutes. Meanwhile someone else came in and the owner spoke with them in Uzbek language. Obviously he didn't realize that I understand Uzbek langauge. And they ordered beef kebab, way after I ordered it, probably everything they had in house on that moment. The owner then told me - "I am sorry, we have ran out of beef kebab" I will never come back to this place. Discrimination and Rasicm???? read more

I've was last here a year ago and I enjoyed it. This time the chicken was cooked but has no crust. The red onions it was served with were soggy like they had been sitting out. The "Fresh " salad seemed like it had been sitting a while in a very cold refrigerator. The bead was fresh and tasty. read more

Best food ever, plov was very delicious, I was there with my friend yesterday who's originally from plov nation, I never had that kind of food, it was kind of confusing if that food made in oven or steamed, but it was read more

Urgut Tandir Express - Uzbek Near Me - Kensington, New York

Great place, nice people, deliciouse foods and excellent service. I also like the picturs on the wall, they were historic and beautiful.

The customer service is terrible. They should train their employees to be more respectful. We must have waited for our tea for 40 minutes. Before we finished it the guy just took it away without saying a word. Food is ok, but they normally have about half of the menu available. read more

Grat place, great atmosphere and delicious foods. I was with my friends last night and we love the place we love the service... We tryed samsa and shurpa those foods was so deliciouse and was cheap.... Thank you. read more

Writing this review makes me extremely sad because it reminds me of the amazing food and since I live in Chicago, I won't be able to have it until the next time I come back to New York. Being Uzbek and having lived in Uzbekistan, I was very eager to try the tandir somsa. Before even coming into town, we knew that this was the only place that served tandir (stone fired) somsa. Sadly, there's no restaurant anywhere in the Chicagoland area that serves fresh tandir somsa so if the owner happens to read this, please come to Chicago. When I walked in, I noticed that my mother and I were the only females in the entire place but we were greeted immediately by the nice guy behind the counter. I already knew what I wanted (the lagman) and although it wasn't exactly like the one back in Uzbekistan, it was still very delicious. On top of the lagman, we got a bowl of sumalak which was also great. The chef came out before we left and greeted us politely in our language. Not knowing a lot of Uzbeks back home, it was very pleasing to have that interaction. We got the somsa to go but it was torturous to smell it all the way back to our hotel. The first bite was magical and I am still dreaming about it. This will definitely be my first stop the next time I am in New York. read more