QUEENS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CROWNS NUR THAI AS QUEENS’ BEST HALAL RESTAURANT

It is settled. On Friday, May 3, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in the Queens, announced Nur Thai as the winner of its inaugural Queens’ Best Halal Restaurant Competition. The announcement was made at the eatery’s second location in Astoria. There is also a location in Rego Park. The contest was held over the past several weeks, and asked foodies to nominate and vote for their favorite halal establishments from across the borough, with the modern Thai fusion eatery emerging as the winner. Within the food and beverage industry, halal refers to anything permissible to consume according to Muslim tradition and rules.
 
“The variety of halal cuisine offered in Queens brings people from across New York, as well as outside state lines, to our great borough,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “Congratulations to Sazzad Hossain and the entire team at Nur Thai on winning this competition. This recognition is a testament to their commitment to serving delicious food to our diverse population and I recommend everyone to try their amazing food.”

“Nestled in the heart of Astoria, Nur Thai is proud to be a part of this vibrant community, and we are thrilled to be awarded first place in the inaugural Queens’ Chamber ‘Best Halal Restaurant’ competition! This achievement is a testament to our team's exceptional quality and dedication to every dish we serve,” said Sazzad Hossain, Director and COO of the Amani Hospitality Group. “We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated staff, including our talented chefs, skilled waitstaff, and hardworking kitchen team, for their hard work and unwavering commitment to excellence. Their passion for bringing our customers authentic flavors and exceptional service truly sets us apart. We also thank our loyal guests and the supportive community for their trust and patronage. Their support has made this milestone possible.”
 
“The World’s Borough is the proud home of so many outstanding halal eateries across every community that serve incredible food while remaining in accordance with Muslim tradition and rules,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “But only one can be called the very best. Congratulations to Nur Thai on being named Queens’ best halal restaurant by the Queens Chamber of Commerce and I hope to meet all of you there for lunch someday soon.”
 
"As State Senator for a district representing people from all walks of life, it is wonderful to see the Queens Chamber of Commerce highlighting the wide range of halal restaurants that Queens has to offer. They are both increasing public knowledge on what halal food is and promoting local businesses. Congrats to Nur Thai!,” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez.
 
“We are lucky in Queens to be home to so many excellent halal restaurants, which makes Nur Thai’s win all the more significant. I want to wish the team at Nur Thai a huge congratulations, and thank the Queens Chamber of Commerce for putting together this competition to recognize halal establishments in the World’s Borough," said Assembly Member Zohran K. Mamdani.
 
"Congratulations, Nur Thai, on winning Best Halal Restaurant!" said Council Member Tiffany Cabán. "You deserve to be very proud of your contributions to the halal scene, local Muslim communities, the citywide restaurant landscape, and the neighborhood of Astoria. Especially now, with Queens' Muslim families experiencing so much grief and fear, it is vital that they have access to environments that foster togetherness and love. Nothing does that quite like great halal food!"
 
In total, more than a dozen establishments were nominated for this contest, spanning a variety of cuisines. After more than 1,500 were tallied Nur Thai was selected the winner. Over the past year, the Queens Chamber of Commerce has held several other “Best of Queens'' food competitions, including pizza, tacos, empanadas, bagels, and barbecue.
 
The top three eateries selected by the public were separated by a margin of 10 votes and include:
 

1. Nur Thai (34th Avenue, Astoria)
2. Mr Chang Halal Chinese (Steinway Street, Astoria)
3. Khalil Biryani House (Hillside Avenue, Jamaica)

 
In addition to earning the title of Queens’ Best Halal Restaurant, Nur Thai received a plaque and a complimentary year of membership to the Queens Chamber of Commerce. The second and third place winners also received certificates.

Press release available for download, below.

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