nycgo / maps

Jackson Heights

New York’s South Asian population is scattered around the City, but Jackson Heights, in Queens, is a gathering point for the Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities to shop for groceries, grab a bite to eat or pick up the latest Bollywood DVD or sound track. Numerous grocery stores around the area import a variety of fresh and packaged foodstuffs that are necessary for the family’s favorite home-cooked dishes. (Plus, mango lovers know that these grocery stores are the best place to find ripe and hard-to-find varieties when they are in season.) The area is a delight for the senses and a great neighborhood for window (or actual) shopping. Clothing and jewelry stores—displaying ornate necklaces and earrings, salwar kameez outfits or magnificent bejeweled fabrics draped into saris—dot the streets, and delicious smells of curry, tandoori meats and freshly made sweets waft out of local restaurants.