Thanks to Sami’s, Astoria can claim some of NYC’s best Afghan food. Their lamb and beef kofta kebabs are worth traveling for, the borani banjan comes covered in yogurt that melts into a bed of fluffy seasoned rice, and the vinegary leek aushak is a must-order. (You can get a vegetarian version without the lamb gravy.) On most nights here, you’ll feel like you’ve been invited to a family function, with parties of four to eight sharing big plates of food while the waitstaff dances around toddlers to get to the tables. Come for a family or group dinner, order a variety of kebabs, and pretend that you don’t fully intend to bogart multiple orders of Afghan bread. They also have a second location in LIC.