JERSEY CITY, New Jersey: Koroai Kitchen, a small Bangladeshi restaurant on Summit Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey, is well known among local diners for its traditional home-style cuisine and warm hospitality. The restaurant has recently gained renewed attention after its signature dish, “Lau Chingri”—bottle gourd cooked with shrimp—was included in The New York Times’ 2025 list of notable dishes of the year.

At the heart of Koroai Kitchen is its owner and head chef, Noor-E-Gulshan Rahman, affectionately known as “Amma.” The chef personally harvests bottle gourds from the garden behind the restaurant and uses them to prepare traditional Bangladeshi dishes. She runs the family-owned restaurant together with her daughter, Noor-E-Farhana Rahman.

According to information on the restaurant’s website, Koroai Kitchen specializes in halal Bangladeshi food prepared in a home-style tradition. Chef Noor-E-Gulshan Rahman, who has been nominated for a James Beard Award, personally prepares many of the restaurant’s dishes.

Since opening in February 2018, the mother-and-daughter team has served traditional Bangladeshi dishes that bring the familiar flavors of a Bangladeshi family kitchen to diners in New Jersey.

Koroai Kitchen’s appeal extends beyond its food. The restaurant reflects the warmth of family and the tradition of Bangladeshi hospitality. Its slow-cooked home-style dishes, authentic flavors and welcoming atmosphere have helped it establish a distinctive reputation among food lovers in Jersey City.

The recognition of “Lau Chingri” by one of America’s most influential food publications is significant not only for Koroai Kitchen but also for the wider recognition of Bangladeshi cuisine and culinary traditions in the United States.

For the Bangladeshi community in New Jersey, Koroai Kitchen’s recognition is also a source of pride. The dedication of the mother-and-daughter team, their love for traditional cooking and their commitment to preserving authentic Bangladeshi home-style flavors are now receiving attention beyond Jersey City.

Congratulations and Best Wishes

Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Chef Noor-E-Gulshan Rahman and Noor-E-Farhana Rahman of Koroai Kitchen. May their hard work, dedication and love for Bangladeshi cuisine continue to bring the flavors of our heritage to a wider audience.

May their beautiful journey together bring them even greater success, honor and recognition in the years ahead.

Reporter: MD Nasir
New Jersey, USA