Bangladeshi eatery Korai Kitchen earns prestigious 3-star rating from New York Times
The mother-daughter-run eatery, led by James Beard-nominated chef Nur-E Gulshan Rahman and her daughter Nur-E Farhana Rahman, was praised for its authentic Bangladeshi flavours, homely atmosphere, and cultural depth.
Korai Kitchen, a Bangladeshi restaurant in Jersey City, has earned a prestigious three-star review from The New York Times — a distinction granted to only about 29 restaurants in the past three decades.
The mother-daughter-run eatery, led by James Beard-nominated chef Nur-E Gulshan Rahman and her daughter Nur-E Farhana Rahman, was praised for its authentic Bangladeshi flavours, homely atmosphere, and cultural depth.
"We're incredibly honoured. We know how rare it is for The New York Times to give three stars, and for a Bangladeshi restaurant to join that small circle feels extra special, for our culture and our community," Farhana told NJ Advance Media.
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"It's also a wonderful moment of recognition for Jersey City, and we're proud to call this incredible, diverse city our home," she added.
Founded in 2018, Korai Kitchen began as a buffet-style restaurant serving homestyle Bangladeshi dishes. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it shifted to takeout and delivery before reintroducing limited dine-in service in 2024 with "Amma's Dawat," an eight-course, no-menu dining experience offered only on Friday and Saturday nights.
The New York Times review highlighted the restaurant's intimate setting and the cultural authenticity of eating with hands.
Gulshan Rahman was a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2024, and Korai Kitchen currently ranks No 10 on NJ.com's Jersey City dining guide. The pair also operate Hilsa Grocery, a Bangladeshi grocery store in Jersey City.
