Dera

This Pakistani restaurant in Jackson Heights is one of the best places to experience celebratory Pakistani food and culture in the whole city. And during Ramadan, it’s packed with locals and travelers all coming to break fast making the experience even more lively. They are known for their halwa poori, which is perfect for weekend brunch, but is also a great choice for breaking your fast. It contains two pieces of poori (fried puffed bread), savory chana, and sweet halwa. If you want a bite with meat, we recommend trying the nihari: stewed beef shank with tons of stew gravy that’s served with lemon on a wide plate that we’ve been tempted to lick clean before. You can also order some freshly-made naan instead though.