"Jackson Heights, Queens, is lined with similar South Asian spots, with piles of spices and to-go containers in every window, this one stands out. It's where Mamdani often ate during his historic campaign. It's also where he was recorded eating biryani with his hands, a moment his opponents tried to spin as proof of barbarism. Inside, I counted three other people doing the same. Nobody seemed particularly injured."
"A wall-mounted TV played election coverage, the sound barely audible over the clatter of trays. When it seemed an announcement was coming, the cooks drifted out to join the patrons. Then: Mamdani wins. A loud cheer erupted. It was quick and definitive. And after a few seconds, everyone went back to their kebabs. The applause felt more like punctuation than the wild elation of adoring fans."
Zohran Mamdani won an election and patrons at Kabab King in Jackson Heights reacted with a brief, collective cheer before returning to their meals. Kabab King is a fluorescent-lit, late-night biryani joint favored by Mamdani and stood out among South Asian spots with spices and to-go containers. Opponents had tried to portray Mamdani's eating biryani with his hands as barbaric, but patrons eating the same way appeared unfazed. A wall-mounted TV showed election coverage as cooks joined customers when the result came. Half the room were journalists, who interrupted diners with questions, while many patrons remained excited yet focused on food.
Read at Slate Magazine
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