{"id":3662,"date":"2026-01-10T14:21:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T19:21:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T14:21:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T19:21:42","slug":"where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/","title":{"rendered":"Where NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Ate First: Queens Restaurants"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Explore the Queens dining spots where Mamdani Ate First during his debut week as NYC mayor. From local classics like Kabab King and Boishakhi to the vibrant Zaab Zaab, see how these eateries showcase the city\u2019s diversity and community spirit.<\/p>\n<p>New York City\u2019s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, made it a point to honor neighborhood restaurants, especially in Queens, right from his first days in office. The phrase where Mamdani Ate First quickly became a buzzword among local foodies and residents alike.<\/p>\n<p>From inauguration festivities to meals across bustling neighborhoods, Mamdani\u2019s dining choices early on make it clear: NYC\u2019s food culture is important to him.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Mamdani Ate First at Kabab King for Inauguration<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Rating:<\/strong> 3.6 Halal restaurant<br \/>\n<strong>Address:<\/strong> 76-04 Woodside Ave, Elmhurst, NY<\/p>\n<p>On January 1, as Mamdani was sworn in as the 112th mayor of New York City, he Ate First at Kabab King, a Jackson Heights staple. This 24-hour eatery is famous for South Asian comfort food like chicken curries, samosas, and biryani. For his inauguration, Kabab King\u2019s food was featured, with coffee provided by Qahwah House.<\/p>\n<p>Locals have long seen Kabab King as a community gathering place, open at all hours for both everyday meals and special occasions. Mamdani\u2019s decision to dine here reflects his ties to the Queens culinary scene.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Boishakhi: Bengali Delights in Astoria<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Rating:<\/strong> 4.3 Bangladeshi restaurant<br \/>\n<strong>Address:<\/strong> 29-14 36th Ave, Astoria, NY<\/p>\n<p>The following day, Mamdani Ate First at Boishakhi in Astoria, a favorite for authentic Bangladeshi fare like chicken roast and spicy potato bortha.<\/p>\n<p>Boishakhi offers more than just good food\u2014it\u2019s about community. Its canteen vibe and robust flavors embody the melting pot spirit of Queens. For Mamdani, it was a chance to highlight immigrant-run businesses at the heart of NYC\u2019s vibrant food life.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>End of Week Visit: Zaab Zaab<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Rating:<\/strong> 4.3 Thai restaurant<br \/>\n<strong>Address:<\/strong> 73-01 37th Rd, Jackson Heights, NY<\/p>\n<p>Later in the week, Mamdani Ate First at Zaab Zaab, a beloved Elmhurst Thai spot known for Northern Thai and Isan dishes. During his visit, he sampled duck larb, sticky rice, and grilled skewers.<\/p>\n<p>Zaab Zaab stands out for its bold Southeast Asian flavors and is a favorite for locals eager for authentic cuisine. It\u2019s a well-known destination among foodies, but still feels like a unique find among Queens\u2019 bustling food scene.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why Mamdani\u2019s Food Choices Matter<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Where Mamdani Ate First as mayor reflects his identity: a lifelong Queens resident connected to its diverse food landscape. These restaurant visits shine a light on eating spots vital to the city\u2019s character, even if they aren\u2019t national headlines.<\/p>\n<p>By celebrating local favorites, Mamdani draws attention to the real challenges facing these eateries, from rising operational costs to slim profit margins. New York City\u2019s food scene isn\u2019t just about trending hotspots\u2014it\u2019s about culture, community, and the unsung places that help keep the city running.<\/p>\n<p><a href='https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/'>NYC News Network<\/a> is your reliable destination for accurate, up-to-date stories on NYC food, culture, and city life.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Why does it matter where Mamdani Ate First as mayor?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>His restaurant choices reveal his priorities. Opting for Queens eateries, he showcased immigrant-led businesses and community staples rather than high-profile spots.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Which Queens restaurants did the mayor visit?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>His first stops included Kabab King in Jackson Heights, Boishakhi in Astoria, and Zaab Zaab in Elmhurst.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are these places costly?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No. All are casual, affordable choices frequented by locals looking for flavorful, satisfying food.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Can the public go to these restaurants?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Absolutely. Each spot is open and loved by longtime residents and new visitors alike.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why focus on Queens eateries?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Queens features unmatched culinary diversity. By eating there, Mamdani highlights the importance of supporting neighborhood businesses.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is Mamdani\u2019s food tour just for show?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Though it attracts attention, it also genuinely highlights hardworking eateries, especially after tough times for the industry.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What kinds of food did Mamdani enjoy?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>He tried South Asian, Bangladeshi, and Thai cuisine, demonstrating the vast food options <a href='https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queens'>Queens<\/a> offers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore the Queens dining spots where Mamdani Ate First during his debut week as NYC mayor. From local classics like Kabab King and Boishakhi to the vibrant Zaab Zaab, see [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-nyc-politics","category-mayor"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.4 (Yoast SEO v26.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Where NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Ate First: Queens Restaurants - NYC Political News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Where NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Ate First: Queens Restaurants\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore the Queens dining spots where Mamdani Ate First during his debut week as NYC mayor. From local classics like Kabab King and Boishakhi to the vibrant Zaab Zaab, see [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NYC Political News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-10T19:21:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sam Whitaker\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sam Whitaker\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/\",\"name\":\"Where NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Ate First: Queens Restaurants - NYC Political News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/01\/Mamdani-Ate-First.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-10T19:21:42+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/#\/schema\/person\/d7282ce768f17f80726e6d2aefdb1e88\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/01\/Mamdani-Ate-First.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/01\/Mamdani-Ate-First.jpg\",\"width\":800,\"height\":448},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Where NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Ate First: Queens Restaurants\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/\",\"name\":\"NYC Political News\",\"description\":\"Hyperlocal NYC Political News\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/#\/schema\/person\/d7282ce768f17f80726e6d2aefdb1e88\",\"name\":\"Sam Whitaker\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dabe44a0419db596bbdd8b541c820f0687802ff8f61b8bc5978811ac376865e0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dabe44a0419db596bbdd8b541c820f0687802ff8f61b8bc5978811ac376865e0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Sam Whitaker\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/author\/wpadmin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Where NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Ate First: Queens Restaurants - NYC Political News","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Where NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Ate First: Queens Restaurants","og_description":"Explore the Queens dining spots where Mamdani Ate First during his debut week as NYC mayor. From local classics like Kabab King and Boishakhi to the vibrant Zaab Zaab, see [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/","og_site_name":"NYC Political News","article_published_time":"2026-01-10T19:21:42+00:00","author":"Sam Whitaker","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sam Whitaker","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/","url":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/","name":"Where NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Ate First: Queens Restaurants - NYC Political News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/01\/Mamdani-Ate-First.jpg","datePublished":"2026-01-10T19:21:42+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/#\/schema\/person\/d7282ce768f17f80726e6d2aefdb1e88"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/01\/Mamdani-Ate-First.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/01\/Mamdani-Ate-First.jpg","width":800,"height":448},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/where-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-ate-first-queens-restaurants\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Where NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Ate First: Queens Restaurants"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/#website","url":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/","name":"NYC Political News","description":"Hyperlocal NYC Political News","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/#\/schema\/person\/d7282ce768f17f80726e6d2aefdb1e88","name":"Sam Whitaker","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dabe44a0419db596bbdd8b541c820f0687802ff8f61b8bc5978811ac376865e0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dabe44a0419db596bbdd8b541c820f0687802ff8f61b8bc5978811ac376865e0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Sam Whitaker"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com"],"url":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/author\/wpadmin\/"}]}},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3662\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/nycpolitics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}