Kafana

All 46 rated mentions, most helpful first

in:Where do folks suggest going for Slavic cuisine in NYC?33 pts
“Kafana, on Ave C in Manhattan, is quite good. Serbian food, generous portions.”
H2
in:What popular meals are missing in NYC?25 pts
replying to u/RadiantRazzmatazz: OP, Astoria has a number of Balkan restaurants. The Balkan mixed grill at Mimoza is my favorite, but Selo is also good. I’ve yet to try Ukus, Cevabdzinica Sarajevo, and the Rudar Club, but they all review well.
“the best and most authentic one is Kafana in the East Village.”
H2
in:What are some really good, somewhat under the radar restaurants in/around East village? 11 pts
“Kafana is a blast if you’re definitely not vegetation. The mixed grill (ostensibly for two but could feed four) is a lot of fun.”
H2
in:Ethnic Sausage recommendations - Ćevapi, Chorizo, etc. -5 pts
“Cevapi - kafana!”
H2
in:best porkchop in NYC?3 pts
“Kafana is a Serbian place that has a pretty great thick porkchop.”
H2
in:What’s one underrated NYC restaurant you always take out-of-towners to (that’s not super touristy)?3 pts
“Kafana, Serbian restaurant on Ave C in the East Village, for the mixed grill plate and the wine”
H2
in:Planning a small group dinner 1 pts
“As long as nobody is a a vegetarian, Kafana. Order five “Mixed Grills” - each is for two but honestly you’ll still have leftovers.”
H2
in:What are some really good, somewhat under the radar restaurants in/around East village? 1 pts
replying to u/Texas_Rockets: Mine are - Kafana: Serbian spot in alphabet city - tokuyamatcha & Onigirazu bar: onigiri spot in alphabet city. If you’ve had onigiri it’s not going to be the best you’ve ever had, but it’s good and it’s hard to find good onigiri here - little kirin: Vietnamese sandwich spot. But what they do really well is a Vietnamese style fried chicken sandwich on brioche. First and st marks. Fucking terrible atmosphere though. - c&b: idk how under the radar they are but they make probably my favorite breakfast sandwich in Manhattan. Chorizo egg and cheese on, I believe, brioche, and I’m usually not a chorizo guy.
“It took 30 minutes and was viciously overcooked and dry. Would not recommend.”
H2
in:What are cuisines/dishes that are most lacking in NYC?1 pts
“which is great but very expensive”
H2
in:Best meat plate in NYC?1 pts
replying to u/Turbo_Laser: Kafana
“Most of the time, everything on the Kafana mixed grill plate is fabulous (including the lettuce!). Sometimes the pork chop can be a little dry, but that's only once in a while.”
H2
in:30 Cuisines from Around the World in NYC1 pts
replying to u/Electronic_Ad_5563: Add Kafana to your list!! Simply delicious Serbian food
“Agree the cevapi at Kafana are better than Sarajevo.”
H2
in:What are some really good, somewhat under the radar restaurants in/around East village? 30 pts
“- Kafana: Serbian spot in alphabet city”
H1
in:Best high-end rowdy restaurant in NYC22 pts
“Kafana - Serbian restaurant in alphabet city”
H1
in:What fell off the NY Times list?16 pts
replying to u/tilds1: Restaurants on the 2024 list that did NOT make it to the 2025 list: * ABCV * Aquavit * Ayat * Blanca * Café Carmellini * Caleta 111 * CheLi * Ci Siamo * Clover Hill * Contento * Craft * Dirt Candy * Ernesto’s * Estela * Eulalie * Falafel Tanami * Forever Jerk * Foul Witch * Foxface Natural * Hainanese Chicken House (Note: 2025 list has "Hainan Chicken House") * Hakka Cuisine * Hav & Mar * Hyderabadi Zaiqa * I Sodi * Kafana * La Piraña Lechonera * Le Crocodile * Le Rock * Llama Inn * Lodi * M. Wells * Mapo Korean BBQ * Mark’s Off Madison * Mariscos El Submarino * Mercado Little Spain * Misi * Oiji Mi * Queens Night Market * Rezdôra * Shion 69 Leonard Street * Shopsin’s General Store * Vendors at Junction Boulevard * Wildair * Yoshino * Zum Stammtisch
“Che Li, Kafana, Le Crocodile, and Zum Stammtisch should be on the list, for me.”
H1
in:Any nicer German/Eastern European restaurants in NYC?14 pts
“Finally went last summer and it was excellent.”
H1
in:Where do folks suggest going for Slavic cuisine in NYC?13 pts
“Kafana on Avenue C for Serbian.”
H1
in:What’s an absolute gem of a place you don’t hear talked about very much in the city? 12 pts
“Kafana is consistently delicious and super affordable. One of my favorite off the radar spots!!”
H1
in:Last five months in NYC bucket list?? 10 pts
“it’s not as good there IMO but still hits the spot”
H1
in:Have you ever tried a dish at a restaurant in NYC that was so tasty you almost came back the next day—or even kept returning for it again and again?9 pts
H1
in:Where do folks suggest going for Slavic cuisine in NYC?9 pts
replying to u/Erazmuz: Kafana, on Ave C in Manhattan, is quite good. Serbian food, generous portions. I think they take card finally, but they were cash only for a while.
“Overall they were great though”
H1
in:Where do folks suggest going for Slavic cuisine in NYC?8 pts
“Kafana in EV for Serbian food.”
H1
in:Any nicer German/Eastern European restaurants in NYC?6 pts
replying to u/Raccoonspiritanimal: How does he feel about Serbia? There’s Kafana on Avenue C. Finally went last summer and it was excellent.
“That place rocks”
H1
in:What popular meals are missing in NYC?6 pts
replying to u/tstc111: I’m Balkan and imo, the best and most authentic one is Kafana in the East Village. Selo is okay, it depends on the day you go. Terasa in Williamsburg is just okay too, and Cevabdzinica Sarajevo is downright terrible with the worst meat I’ve ever had.
“Another vote for Kafana here.”
H1
in:Is there anywhere to get Romani food in the city?5 pts
“Kafana in Alphabet City (it's Serbian, but close enough)”
H1
in:Best meat plate in NYC?5 pts
“Kafana”
H1
in:30 Cuisines from Around the World in NYC5 pts
“Add Kafana to your list!! Simply delicious Serbian food”
H1
in:Best high-end rowdy restaurant in NYC4 pts
replying to u/reallyconfused_and: Kafana - Serbian restaurant in alphabet city
“Great suggestion”
H1
in:List of great restaurants with no michelin stars3 pts
“kafana”
H1
in:What’s the last spot you ate at that totally blew you away?3 pts
“In the last couple months I’ve done and would highly recommend: Frenchette, Cervos, Spicy Village, Great NY Noodletown, Eel Bar, Golden Hof, Thai Diner, Kafana and Lords.”
H1
in:Cuisines that are under the radar/less saturated in the city2 pts
“Kafana on Ave C. Serbian place with a fantastic wine list”
H1
in:What are some really good, somewhat under the radar restaurants in/around East village? 2 pts
replying to u/Texas_Rockets: Mine are - Kafana: Serbian spot in alphabet city - tokuyamatcha & Onigirazu bar: onigiri spot in alphabet city. If you’ve had onigiri it’s not going to be the best you’ve ever had, but it’s good and it’s hard to find good onigiri here - little kirin: Vietnamese sandwich spot. But what they do really well is a Vietnamese style fried chicken sandwich on brioche. First and st marks. Fucking terrible atmosphere though. - c&b: idk how under the radar they are but they make probably my favorite breakfast sandwich in Manhattan. Chorizo egg and cheese on, I believe, brioche, and I’m usually not a chorizo guy.
“Friday nights at Kafana go off if you’re in for some Balkan partying”
H1
in:I’m flying into JFK Thursday at 7pm & staying with a friend who lives in Stuytown who is busy until 10pm so I’m looking for dinner recommendations for myself. I plan to take a Lyft. I’ll have my carryon suitcase and backpack with me so am seeking recs where my luggage won’t be too in the way. 2 pts
“Kafana is a Serbian grill place that fucking slaps. Pretty quiet, I don't think luggage will be an issue.”
H1
in:Sought Bulgarian restaurant2 pts
“Kafana”
H1
in:Best, but unique, ethnic cuisine spots?2 pts
H1
in:NYC dinner recommendations1 pts
“Kafana”
H1
in:I’m going to start working in East Village. What are some must try places?1 pts
“Superiority Burger, Somtum Der, Soothr, Foxface Natural, Noreetuh, Tabetomo, Ho Foods, Szechuan Mountain House/ CheLi, Mokyo/Thursday Kitchen, Kafana, Hanoi House, Madame Vo, Shinn East, Mama Fina’s, MáLà Project, 7th Street Burger, C&B, La Cabra, 9th Street Espresso, Spicy Moon, Dim Sum Go Go, Ariari, Fiascheterria Pistoia, Rowdy Rooster, the burger at Virginia’s, Jiang’s Kitchen, Cafe Mogador, Veselka, Cafe Himalaya, Little Myanmar, Veeray Da Dhaba, Lhasa, Claud, Haile Ethiopian… probably some others”
H1
in:best eastern european/balkan food?1 pts
“Kafana (Serbian) in the LES”
H1
in:Is there a restaurant in NYC where, if voted “best in the city”, wouldn’t have every post about it being called “overrated trash” or “incredibly mid”?1 pts
“Its a Serbian Bistro place that serves lovely dishes.”
H1
in:Kaymak NYC1 pts
“If you're seeking it on a menu, try Kafana, the Serbian restaurant in the East Village.”
H1
in:Uncommon/underrated ethnic representations in the food scene in NYC?1 pts
“Serbian - Kafana”
H1
in:East village1 pts
“Dinners - Kafana, Fiaschetteria Pistoia, Carnitas Rameriez, Raku (udon), Virginias, Hanoi house, jazba, kanoyama”
H1
in:How many of you actually go to the places posted here?1 pts
replying to u/thatguy8856: I go to Overstory a lot and that gets posted here quite a bit, but my reasoning for going have nothing to do with reddit. In general don't really seek anything posted on here, unless its a specific thing I want to try and I see a thread on it. Something that doesn't really get coverage in other channels (say like Balkan food for example)
“always enjoy a meal at Kafana”
H1
in:Visiting from SF Bay Area, looking for food unique to NYC1 pts
“they have a great and reasonable wine list, all from the balkans”
H1
in:Where do folks suggest going for Slavic cuisine in NYC?1 pts
replying to u/Erazmuz: Kafana, on Ave C in Manhattan, is quite good. Serbian food, generous portions. I think they take card finally, but they were cash only for a while.
“Kafana is amazing”
H1
in:Where do folks suggest going for Slavic cuisine in NYC?1 pts
“Kafana on C!”
H1
in:Quintessential first time experience for fiance and I.-1 pts
“Excellent Serbian/Albanian and Georgian food”
H1