Middle Eastern Feasts to Go in Sunnyside

Sunnyside’s El Shater, a dependable source for cheeses, olives, oils, and other Middle Eastern specialties, is also an under-the-radar destination for homey prepared foods to go, says MarcInSunnysideGardens. Spinach and potato pies are both great, he reports, and hummus is “seriously delicious.”

But the real don’t-miss orders are the rotating daily specials, Marc adds: “Usually two of them, usually with rice, and usually amazing.” A recent standout was lamb with eggplant, tomato, and rice, a heap of delicious food that worked out to around three meals for $6 (as always, your mileage may vary).

Widmark goes to El Shater for those savory pies as well as its labneh, the soft yogurt cheese—and, once in the neighborhood, takes a one-block stroll to Massis for one (or more) of its dozen or so kinds of feta.

El Shater [Sunnyside]
43-02 43rd Avenue (at 43rd Street), Sunnyside, Queens
718-392-2702

Massis [Sunnyside]
42-20 43rd Avenue (near 42nd Street), Sunnyside, Queens
718-729-3749

Board Link: Sunnyside’s least-discussed serious chow option