Knish Nosh

Established in 1952, but under new management since 2003, Knish Nosh is just as comforting as the (perfect) name suggests. The headliners at this homey Rego Park shop are obviously the dense, softball-sized knishes—which come in flavors from kasha to broccoli—but if you talk to the chef, Ana, she’ll tell you to try the pierogi. Heed her advice. The extra-wide dumplings are soft and springy, topped with sweet caramelized onions and just a spritz of black pepper. Order the brisket variety, and round out your meal with some borscht, kugel, stuffed cabbage, or chicken meatloaf. The refrigerated case up front is stuffed with such delicacies, and you’ll see neighborhood regulars coming in to stock up.

photo credit: Bryan Kim

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Food Rundown

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Potato Knish

Roughly the size of two adult fists, the potato knish at Knish Nosh is as dense as a bowling ball, with a slightly coarse, fluffy filling. Other than potato, there isn’t much going on in terms of flavor, but that’s why mustard was invented.

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Meat Knish

Don’t feel like eating a pound of pure potato? Weird, but fine. Try a meat knish instead. The typical potato filling is mixed with onion and ground brisket, which amp up the flavor. Once again, make use of your complimentary mustard packet.

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Brisket Pierogi

Knish Nosh’s pierogi vary in shape from half-moon to boomerang. Each one feels special and unique, with pillowy soft dough that tastes like it was made a few seconds ago. The caramelized onions on top do most of the heavy lifting, and they pair perfectly with the shredded brisket stuffed inside.

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Borscht

Nothing too complex here. This is just a simple, sweet, and mildly tangy borscht that’s absolutely packed with cabbage, with a few beans and carrot bits tossed in.

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Pastrami Sandwich

Knish Nosh serves sandwiches now. This is a relatively recent development—and the sandwiches are pretty good. The pastrami variety doesn’t compete with the one at Katz’s, but it's satisfying nonetheless.