Located in the heart of the East Village, Afandi Grill may look simple on the outside but the authentic Central Asian flavors on the inside are anything but. This Uzbek, halal and vegan spot combines culinary cultural influences (think Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China and many more) just like it’s namesake - the fictional Afandi who traveled the Silk Road to forge a tasting menu all his own.
Start with their crispy baked beef buns (chopped beef, onion and cumin with a signature tomato sauce) or the enticing vegan alternative (pumpkin, onion, aromatic Asian spices and sesame seeds). For mains, you certainly have options. Afandi crafts Xinjiang style, hand-pulled noodles paired with a variety of vegetables or beef. Choose from hearty rice bowls like their savory signature (fried and steamed rice with onion, carrots, mixed beef and lamb, chickpeas and quail’s egg) or an equally satisfying monster dumpling. As you probably guessed, these luscious fried or steamed dumplings are downright massive. Choose from the monster veggie (organic kale, spinach and spices) or beef (beef, caramelized onion and spices). And if you simply cannot make up your mind (we can't blame you), a half-and-half option is available.