Punjabi Dhaba opened a new location on Hillside Avenue in Glen Oaks, Queens, on October 18, drawing more than 1,000 people to a community celebration, according to a statement from the restaurant.
The opening expands the family-run business from Richmond Hill to northeastern Queens. Owner Navdeep Singh said the new location carries forward the vision of his late father, Karnail Singh, and late uncle, Gurmit Singh, who founded the restaurant to share their family’s Punjabi cooking traditions with New Yorkers.
Both founders worked as taxi drivers and were active in the South Asian American community, according to the statement. Singh said they opened the original restaurant when he was six years old.
The restaurant serves traditional Indian vegetarian dishes and sweets, with family members continuing to prepare food using recipes passed down through generations, the statement noted. Singh is operating the new location with his cousin, mother and sisters.
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“My father and uncle opened Punjabi Dhaba with a vision of making every dish feel like it was home,” Singh said. “And today, twenty-five years later, every dish continues to tell a story of our rich Indian heritage. All food is cooked by our family members, and we use recipes passed down through generations. We are honored to open our new location to share the true taste of India and traditional Punjabi home cooking.”
The opening celebration featured a prayer, live music, a complimentary buffet, free soft-serve ice cream and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to the statement.
Joining Singh for the ribbon cutting were Rep. Tom Suozzi, Assemblymen Edward Braunstein and David Weprin, Arts4All Foundation founder Dr. Sumita SenGupta, District Leader-at-Large Hersh Parikh, Koshy Thomas and Harpreet Toor.
Suozzi highlighted the restaurant’s family ownership and role as a gathering place for residents.
“I am grateful to honor and support local businesses in our community,” he said. “Twenty-five years ago, the Singh family had a dream of bringing authentic Punjabi cuisine to New York, and today we celebrate the success of a family-run business opening a new location to continue to be a welcoming place for local families and members of the community to enjoy homemade meals.”
SenGupta pointed to the family’s involvement in the restaurant’s daily operations, from preparing dishes and sweets to filling and packaging orders.
“Local family-run businesses like Punjabi Dhaba serve an important role in growing our local economy and enriching our community,” she said.
She also congratulated Singh, Jasvir Kaur and the restaurant on their contributions to the community.
Braunstein welcomed the expansion, saying the Hillside Avenue location would provide another place for residents to gather for Indian food and celebrations.
Weprin presented the restaurant with a proclamation recognizing its contributions, according to the statement.
“What makes Queens great is the vibrant diversity of New Yorkers, who share their rich cultural heritage through opening local businesses that strengthen our community,” Weprin said. “From Richmond Hill to Hillside Avenue, Punjabi Dhaba is a staple in Queens and a household name for authenticity and excellence.”
