Ask FNYCRR:

Dear FNYCRR,

Thanks again for answering my last question!

Could you please review this restaurant in Astoria called Indofunk’s Kitchen? I hear great things about it, but only from the owner/head chef/sole proprietor, so I think the reviews may be slightly biased.

Thanks,
Hsitas

Hello Hsitas,

Thanks for being a loyal reader and such an inquisitive little fellow. At the moment, we are on our annual Lent vacation/hiatus, so unfortunately we won’t be writing up any full length reviews until after Easter. However, we did visit Indofunk’s Kitchen last month and we had a mostly positive impression of this establishment’s take on modern, traditional Native American Indian cuisine.

First of all, the head chef is right to boast about his skills. The two burner kitchen is equipped with a traditional cooking vessel called a Firebird, which is similar to a wok, but has a sliding, extendable handle. We’re not sure what the handle does exactly, but it enabled the chef to do most of the cooking while standing in a completely different room. As he cooked with one hand, he schmoozed the patrons with the other. Amazing! He took great pride in informing us he is the only Firebird specialist in NYC.

Now the food, while not completely animal/dairy free, is mostly vegan. One of our guests was disappointed to find out the pitas (traditional Indian flatbread) included yeast, which is a living breathing organism. We politely asked if there is a vegan version, and the chef personally delivered a delightful flattened piece of charred satan (a whole wheat meat substitute).

Besides that obvious misstep, the rest of the meal was delicious. Our very favorite dish was the okra and spaghetti with extra curry powder. In fact, all Indofunk’s dishes include locally sourced curry powder from Whole Foods on the Bowery.

The ambiance is peaceful, as the tiny dining room is completely sound proof and enclosed.

In short, Young Hsitas, Everything you’ve heard is true. Indofunk’s Kitchen is the perfect choice for Astorians who like their food very Karam!*

* “Karam” is the American Indian word for mild.