THE PLACE: Just off Bangladesh Street in Queens and amongst a sea of food carts advertising the same dishes and all claiming to be the “original”, Fuska House might be the one with the longest lines. It’s not technically the first of the carts selling a Bengali street snack called “fuska” but they have become one of the most beloved. Tong next door started their business just months before Fuska House. I’ve been visiting them both regularly for my new Jackson Heights food tours and I’ve been slowly working my way through their exciting menus.
THE MENU: Fuska is the namesake dish here and what everybody comes to try. They are pretty great – crunchy balls of fried semolina, stuffed with mashed chickpeas, mashed potatoes, red onions, cilantro and an addicting tamarind water. They come in a number of varieties, including the Bengali version that features shaved hard boiled egg. They’re crunchy, spicy, sweet, sour – just a punch of flavor and textures. But their menu goes a bit deeper…
THE DISH: I was attracted to the fruit chaats (spicy crunchy snacks of fruit and spices) and managed to try both the mango and the guava. Both are great – tossed with mustard oil, red chili, and crunchy seeds. I really loved both, but slightly preferred the Guava Chaat for its added texture. The underripe fruit provided a subtle hint of sweetness and the crunch from the green guava was extra special. This is a very spicy snack (not for the faint of heart), but it’s the kind of spice that is utterly addicting. Not sure if I thought eating more of the crunchy fire would help extinguish it, but I was pleased with each intense bite and couldn’t get enough of the funky, spicy flavors and sweet crisp textures. Price: $7
| FUSKA HOUSE |
| 7301 37th Avenue (between 73rd and 74th Street), Jackson Heights, Queens (646) 479-4912 |
| instagram.com/fuskahouse_nyc |
