I don't have a religion, but I find myself worshiping at Kabir's at least twice a week. Maybe it's the staff, maybe it's the tea, maybe it's the steady stream of other congregants, but something about Kabir's is conducive to ritual. This past summer, I found myself wandering into Kabir's for their iced coffee, easily the best in the neighborhood. A cashier behind the counter would always be asking one customer or another to fetch a bag of ice for her from the freezer where all the kulfis are kept. The conversation would always be in Bangla. One time the cashier asked me in English to do the same, but the manager immediately intercepted this level of familiarity and told the cashier to get the ice herself. I understood the manager's reasoning, her decision to shield her non-Bengali clientele from a lack of all-American "customer service," but I consequently felt more like a visitor than a "regular." So the next time I stopped by I joined the ice club on my own initiative, passing the bag without being asked, and have never looked back. Maybe I do have a religion. The religion of iced coffee, extra milk, no sugar; milk tea, extra milk, Domino on the side; as many cookies as a dollar will get you; one samosa, hold the ketchup. The religion of dunking your almond cookie in tea until the wet part can hardly sustain its own weight, as a fellow congregant looks on and says, "I like your Desi style."
(5)
Mahi M.
I love their Tea and somosas. But why is your tea $1.25??
(4)
Samad A.
Ive been coming to this place for years, no one can make better tea with milk in my opinion. I love the chicken samosas, and i recently started to eat some of there sandwiches which are really good. If you see any under the glass, try the chicken sandwich. There cakes are tasty at times too.
(5)
Polly H.
I had their samosas. Vegetable samosa with peas and potatoes and I think curry. It was mildly spicy! It's affordable and you can buy their food freshly made on the premises! It has no lines and has other fattening desserts inside, in case you were wondering. Awesome!
(4)
Joseph N.
It's okay. Gotten cream rolls a couple of times. Rude cashier but what's new.
(2)
grace g.
5 stars cuz you can get a whole pound of yummy sweet INDIAN DESSERTS for $5 per pound. Also carried Indian appetizers like various SAMOSAS. Tables and chairs in the back - 4 eat in. And they take credit cards! -1 star cuz they need to change the recipe for the sugary-tasting sweet frostings for their american cakes. If they did and announced it, they'd probably get more repeat customers for it. I would come back only for the indian desserts.
(4)
Daniel M.
Kabir's beat my expectations. Service is fast and very friendly. I left with much more than I came in asking for -- a sample cookie turned into a variety box, with a few samosas thrown in to sweeten the deal. For just $4-5 you can grab a really great lunch, perfect for picnicking or eating on the go. I've never left without something new thrown in on-the-house. These ladies know how to business and bring you back. My one complaint is that some of their hot items vary in spiciness depending on the day and time. Best to try a variety. Overall, a simple, fast and tasty introduction to Kensington's Bangladeshi offerings!
(4)
Kohinoor M.
The chai they serve here is one of the creamiest I've had. I absolutely love it. It's also quite strong.. So if you aren't a heavy tea drinker, it'll taste a bit too bitter. On my way home, I usually stop by for a chicken samosa or chicken kebab. Taste varies from day to day though. So that's the only bad part. Sometimes it has the right amount of spices while other times it's quite bland. The chicken sandwiches ( yes, I do eat chicken everything in there) are also quite good and very filling. For only I think $3.75 or 4 bucks. Another plus point - The staff is very friendly in there. Sometimes they add an extra kebab or samosa for free. yay! Also, this is a Bengali joint, not Indian. Just FYI :)
(4)
D S.
walked in not sure what to expect. friendly staff, asked for a cup of coffee and it was made with milk and sugar -- delicious but not what I asked for (went with it anyway) got a veggie samosa, tasted exactly how I thought it would which was enjoyable. she even threw in an extra for me which was awfully nice. tables in the back, kinda ramshackle, but a place to sit. for the price this place is great, $2 medium coffee and $1 samosa. not sure I would ever take a date here but it does it's job.
(4)
Lucy M.
I come here whenever I need a quick Indian snack such as a samosa or their delicious chicken kebabs which are more like chicken meatballs with Indian spices. Whenever I go there, I always get looks from the Indian/Bangladeshi locals who sit in the back of the bakery because they cannot believe there's an Asian in the shop. The ladies behind the counter are super friendly and whenever I ask them what something is they always offer me a free taste. Their vegetable samosas are quite good with a filling of potato, onions, and raw cashew which I really like. For $1, it is definitely a bargain especially since the counter ladies always give me something extra to try.
(4)
Wendy S.
One word, tasteless.
(1)
Sam B.
Even though this place is now a chain, quality of their food has stayed the same. They do have excellent bangali style teas, and pastries. My favorite is the chicken samosa...my family also gets the sweets which are almsot as authentic as you can get in NY. As another reviewer mentioned, their cakes arent that great though. Service is great which is a pleasant surprise in this neighborhood =)
(4)
Kiki R.
I pass by this place all the time when I'm with my bf, but I never tried any of their food without the help of YELP. I'm craving samosas and I decided to step inside for a bite. I ordered a vegetable and chicken samosas and they were both good. I did not like the chicken samosa because it tasted a little dry. The vegetable samosa was bigger in size than the chicken, but for the same price. I think I'll take the vegetable please! I also tried the fruit custard and it was very good as well. I thought it was creamy and had a very good milk consistency. They have tables in the back and it was a very relaxed environment. I think I will go back to try some more pastries. I unearthed a brilliant discovery in the Kensington area!
(4)
bridget e.
i believe that adding milk to black tea is barbaric. despite this, i was lured by the delightful fragrance of such. alas my hopes were dashed into smithereens. could someone kindly bottle up this fragrance perchance so that it could be released on bitter cold winter days and on elusive pancake odor days? i tried to get the ingredients for the "milk tea" and was told it was a secret recipe.she wouldn't divulge the type of tea either. i am convinced that it is tetley's british blend tea. unlike briana m., i think the vegetable samosas are better than the chicken. they are not the best bangla empanadas however and it is a travesty to package them with ketchup!
(3)
Briana M.
The samosas (I prefer the chicken to the vegetable) are pretty good (Though I think they give me ketchup with them because I am Caucasian? I'm sorry, that really sounds like a nasty combo), but I really just love their TEA! I don't know how people in Bangladesh make their tea but it is damn good. A richer milk? Longer steeping time? It baffles me. I just keep coming back for more, despite the inevitable heartburn that comes from eating a half dozen samosas.
(3)
MA S.
best milk tea in Kensington, and perhaps one of the best in New York City
(5)
Zinat M.
Go for the chai and samosa. It is the best veg samosa in town! The chicken samosa and roll are good too. They make bengali and indian sweets which are very well made by traditional standards. Their cakes and cookies are no match in comparison to french and italian baking, but they try.
(4)
Memon K.
best tea in the whole world!
(5)
Lindsey A.
Meh.... The cakes we got here were pretty bad. The frosting is insanely sweet, and the cake itself was pretty dry. The employees were very nice though..... maybe we'll try the somosas next time.
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Amanda L.
I don't have a religion, but I find myself worshiping at Kabir's at least twice a week. Maybe it's the staff, maybe it's the tea, maybe it's the steady stream of other congregants, but something about Kabir's is conducive to ritual. This past summer, I found myself wandering into Kabir's for their iced coffee, easily the best in the neighborhood. A cashier behind the counter would always be asking one customer or another to fetch a bag of ice for her from the freezer where all the kulfis are kept. The conversation would always be in Bangla. One time the cashier asked me in English to do the same, but the manager immediately intercepted this level of familiarity and told the cashier to get the ice herself. I understood the manager's reasoning, her decision to shield her non-Bengali clientele from a lack of all-American "customer service," but I consequently felt more like a visitor than a "regular." So the next time I stopped by I joined the ice club on my own initiative, passing the bag without being asked, and have never looked back. Maybe I do have a religion. The religion of iced coffee, extra milk, no sugar; milk tea, extra milk, Domino on the side; as many cookies as a dollar will get you; one samosa, hold the ketchup. The religion of dunking your almond cookie in tea until the wet part can hardly sustain its own weight, as a fellow congregant looks on and says, "I like your Desi style."
(5)Mahi M.
I love their Tea and somosas. But why is your tea $1.25??
(4)Samad A.
Ive been coming to this place for years, no one can make better tea with milk in my opinion. I love the chicken samosas, and i recently started to eat some of there sandwiches which are really good. If you see any under the glass, try the chicken sandwich. There cakes are tasty at times too.
(5)Polly H.
I had their samosas. Vegetable samosa with peas and potatoes and I think curry. It was mildly spicy! It's affordable and you can buy their food freshly made on the premises! It has no lines and has other fattening desserts inside, in case you were wondering. Awesome!
(4)Joseph N.
It's okay. Gotten cream rolls a couple of times. Rude cashier but what's new.
(2)grace g.
5 stars cuz you can get a whole pound of yummy sweet INDIAN DESSERTS for $5 per pound. Also carried Indian appetizers like various SAMOSAS. Tables and chairs in the back - 4 eat in. And they take credit cards! -1 star cuz they need to change the recipe for the sugary-tasting sweet frostings for their american cakes. If they did and announced it, they'd probably get more repeat customers for it. I would come back only for the indian desserts.
(4)Daniel M.
Kabir's beat my expectations. Service is fast and very friendly. I left with much more than I came in asking for -- a sample cookie turned into a variety box, with a few samosas thrown in to sweeten the deal. For just $4-5 you can grab a really great lunch, perfect for picnicking or eating on the go. I've never left without something new thrown in on-the-house. These ladies know how to business and bring you back. My one complaint is that some of their hot items vary in spiciness depending on the day and time. Best to try a variety. Overall, a simple, fast and tasty introduction to Kensington's Bangladeshi offerings!
(4)Kohinoor M.
The chai they serve here is one of the creamiest I've had. I absolutely love it. It's also quite strong.. So if you aren't a heavy tea drinker, it'll taste a bit too bitter. On my way home, I usually stop by for a chicken samosa or chicken kebab. Taste varies from day to day though. So that's the only bad part. Sometimes it has the right amount of spices while other times it's quite bland. The chicken sandwiches ( yes, I do eat chicken everything in there) are also quite good and very filling. For only I think $3.75 or 4 bucks. Another plus point - The staff is very friendly in there. Sometimes they add an extra kebab or samosa for free. yay! Also, this is a Bengali joint, not Indian. Just FYI :)
(4)D S.
walked in not sure what to expect. friendly staff, asked for a cup of coffee and it was made with milk and sugar -- delicious but not what I asked for (went with it anyway) got a veggie samosa, tasted exactly how I thought it would which was enjoyable. she even threw in an extra for me which was awfully nice. tables in the back, kinda ramshackle, but a place to sit. for the price this place is great, $2 medium coffee and $1 samosa. not sure I would ever take a date here but it does it's job.
(4)Lucy M.
I come here whenever I need a quick Indian snack such as a samosa or their delicious chicken kebabs which are more like chicken meatballs with Indian spices. Whenever I go there, I always get looks from the Indian/Bangladeshi locals who sit in the back of the bakery because they cannot believe there's an Asian in the shop. The ladies behind the counter are super friendly and whenever I ask them what something is they always offer me a free taste. Their vegetable samosas are quite good with a filling of potato, onions, and raw cashew which I really like. For $1, it is definitely a bargain especially since the counter ladies always give me something extra to try.
(4)Wendy S.
One word, tasteless.
(1)Sam B.
Even though this place is now a chain, quality of their food has stayed the same. They do have excellent bangali style teas, and pastries. My favorite is the chicken samosa...my family also gets the sweets which are almsot as authentic as you can get in NY. As another reviewer mentioned, their cakes arent that great though. Service is great which is a pleasant surprise in this neighborhood =)
(4)Kiki R.
I pass by this place all the time when I'm with my bf, but I never tried any of their food without the help of YELP. I'm craving samosas and I decided to step inside for a bite. I ordered a vegetable and chicken samosas and they were both good. I did not like the chicken samosa because it tasted a little dry. The vegetable samosa was bigger in size than the chicken, but for the same price. I think I'll take the vegetable please! I also tried the fruit custard and it was very good as well. I thought it was creamy and had a very good milk consistency. They have tables in the back and it was a very relaxed environment. I think I will go back to try some more pastries. I unearthed a brilliant discovery in the Kensington area!
(4)bridget e.
i believe that adding milk to black tea is barbaric. despite this, i was lured by the delightful fragrance of such. alas my hopes were dashed into smithereens. could someone kindly bottle up this fragrance perchance so that it could be released on bitter cold winter days and on elusive pancake odor days? i tried to get the ingredients for the "milk tea" and was told it was a secret recipe.she wouldn't divulge the type of tea either. i am convinced that it is tetley's british blend tea. unlike briana m., i think the vegetable samosas are better than the chicken. they are not the best bangla empanadas however and it is a travesty to package them with ketchup!
(3)Briana M.
The samosas (I prefer the chicken to the vegetable) are pretty good (Though I think they give me ketchup with them because I am Caucasian? I'm sorry, that really sounds like a nasty combo), but I really just love their TEA! I don't know how people in Bangladesh make their tea but it is damn good. A richer milk? Longer steeping time? It baffles me. I just keep coming back for more, despite the inevitable heartburn that comes from eating a half dozen samosas.
(3)MA S.
best milk tea in Kensington, and perhaps one of the best in New York City
(5)Zinat M.
Go for the chai and samosa. It is the best veg samosa in town! The chicken samosa and roll are good too. They make bengali and indian sweets which are very well made by traditional standards. Their cakes and cookies are no match in comparison to french and italian baking, but they try.
(4)Memon K.
best tea in the whole world!
(5)Lindsey A.
Meh.... The cakes we got here were pretty bad. The frosting is insanely sweet, and the cake itself was pretty dry. The employees were very nice though..... maybe we'll try the somosas next time.
(2)