An incredibly delicious and fun experience. This Egyptian owned seafood restaurant gives a unique experience that's not easy to find. You select your seafood up front, where its frozen, and then make specific requests for how you want it cooked. The calamari was my favorite, but you can't go wrong with anything.

+3

Amazing expirience. Seafood is so amazingly fresh and perfectly prepared. Easily the best seafood in all of NYC. You won't be disappointed if you order right. (Everything grilled, Branzino fish Egyptian style).

+3

The fish was super fresh, cooked with love and well-priced. Friendly staff and good service. The tiger shrimp was over the top. I love the concept of choosing your own ray fish from the counter before they cook it for you. My recommendation for the restaurant is to play some music, to add an unforgettable atmosphere to the amazing food experience.

This quality of fish and sides for great price !! Super casual tiny spot. Food was amazing The eggplant w spicy pickled peppers was 100000 Baba ghanoush Fried whole snapper Scallops Shrimp

+3

I am so happy that this place was recommended to me by my brother. This is THE BEST seafood restaurant I’ve been to in the US. The fish is fresh. The service is great and the people are so nice. We met the owner who was so friendly and helpful. He explained the best way for each fish to be cooked (eg. fried, grilled, breaded, singari, Egyptian radda). We ordered fried and grilled shrimp, grilled scallops, fried whitening, sea bass singari, boori Egyptian radda and brown rice. If you come by this area, I highly recommend that you try this restaurant.

+4

That’s exactly how a fish restaurant should be! You pick your fish right then and there, order your sides and enjoy. So authentic and delicious.

+2

Fresh seafood. Pick what you want, specify how you want it cooked (steamed, charred, fried, etc) and it arrives magically on your table. 2 guys and 1 gal tore through 2 fish, grilled shrimp, 1 pita each, fried calamari, salad, eggplant together. We loved the fish with the tomatoes and onions cooked underneath, soaking up all the flavor. Eggplant, the salad, and the calamari were all incredible and shouldn’t be missed! Don’t forget to get a bottle of pomegranate, peach etc flavored soda too- I unfortunately can’t remember the brand name but I think it started with an L. I believe it’s basically an Egyptian soda. 10/10 would return from CA for this

+1

Amazing service and quality of seafood. Lots to choose from and many different styles of cooking.. Its on a busy street so if u dont mind the loud ruckus then this place is for you!

Really good seafood/Egyptian restaurant in Astoria. We absolutely loved the fried calamari, baba and tomato eggplant. Pita was so yummy and fresh. We also ordered the branzino but wasn’t our favorite. You walj in, order your fish, they cook it for you then the server come get your side dish order. Will go back!!!

+2

Incredible, the prawns (done any way) are a must as well as the tagine with squid and shrimp. You can order everything to weight as well for perfect portions. Very authentic Egyptian flavours, the best of a home meal in Alexandria.

10’s across the board!! Family-friendly vibe for sure. My sister, my toddler and I dined here and we were greeted at the door by a gentleman of the restaurant who helped us bring in our stroller as it was cold and rainy outside! He was also quick to help us find an area to park the stroller as we sat and ate. The seafood is all fresh. You select which item you want and how you want it cooked. We had grilled shrimp, fried shrimp and calamari, the eggplant, the baba ganoush, scallops and the salad! Everything was all so good! Definitely worth more visits :-) Gave 4 stars for the atmosphere because the place is small, but it’s NY so hey!

This is what a fresh seafood place is supposed to be. Straight, to-the-point service. Fresh seafood picked out in front of you and cooked to heavenly perfection. I recommend the eggplant with garlic to start, the grilled shrimp, and any fish Egyptian style.

Everything was cooked incredibly well - baba ganoush, scallops, shrimp, and the whole fish. Flavours were delicious - not too much on the scallops, wonderful spice on the shrimp. I thought it would be too much food for two but I wanted to have more.

My husband and I just had dinner at Abuqir and we absolutely loved every single bite. We ordered the babaganoush, pita, Greek salad, fried shrimp and calamari, and grilled shrimp. Everything was incredibly fresh and absolutely delicious. Loved seeing and ordering from the counter with the fresh seafood displayed. The service was attentive but not overbearing. This will definitely be one of our go tos! Highly recommend

The best seafood I’ve ever had. Quite nice bread, quite nice spreads, addictive rice, good people, and above all, amazing seafood. The first time I had grilled calamari that was better than the fried was here.

This one is truly a no frill place based near Astoria Brooklyn neighborhood. The best Egyptian seafood we had in a long time. Abundant freshness of all the ingredients used in their dishes. Octopus, Seafood pasta and Scallops were perfectly done. The server Hussein was very kind and courteous. Overall, amazing treat for seafood lovers.

+4

Cute little place. Went for my birthday. I ate fish, scallops, and squid. You get to pick out what you want from the ice a they make it. Everything was perfectly seasoned and delicious. Easy to get there from the N train. It is right off Astoria boulevard. We sat outside. Not a fancy place if that’s what you’re looking for.

I don’t really leave reviews like that, but I actually had to for this place. Abuqir Seafood is honestly different. I’ve been to a bunch of seafood spots and they’re usually pretty hit or miss, but this one It’s on another level. The fish tasted so fresh, like it was literally just caught, and the seasoning was basically perfect. Even the sides were fire.

This place is somewhat like a hole in the wall. The food is excellent and you will have access to fresh, well-flavored seafood. You need to go up to the front to order your food. They have a selection of fish and seafood up at the front and you can basically have your pick. We got fried calamari, grilled sea bass, tahini + bread, a Greek salad and rice and it was all excellent! The seafood was amazingly tender and the flavors were excellent. Would definitely recommend trying this restaurant if you're in the mood for Egyptian seafood

Delicious, quality sea food, don’t believe the reviews about the service - the guys who served us were incredibly warm, friendly and accommodating. Everything was so tasty and fresh. It’s not cheap per se but the pricing is fair for what you get.

Niceee Hidden Gem. Food was fantastic, staff did and amazing job serving and making sure we had everything needed for a great meal. Will definitely be back again.

Definitely a reminder of Egypt's seafood in Astoria, NY. Amazing experience from the service to the food. After all the suggestions that I've been getting about this restaurant, drove 3 hours to get here. I couldn't be any more satisfied than this. Yes, in the middle of winter but outside sitting was available with 55 degrees, it was comfortable, family friendly, clean, fast service a bit of limited space but it's well worth it. 100% recommending if you like seafood!

+6

Came here on a Wednesday around 4:30pm while the restaurant and was not busy. The selection of seafood is a bit smaller than I had expected. We got the grilled shrimp, fried snapper, seared scallops, fried shrimp/ calamari, baba ghanoush & Egyptian rice. Food quickly came to the table, food comes to the table as it’s cooked, we waited so we could take a picture of the whole spread. Certain things like whole fried fish may take a bit longer. Nonetheless, the freshness of the seafood was great, each dish cooked to perfection and was not overcooked. Scallops were buttery, grilled shrimp was nowhere close to rubbery, calamari was not chewy and fish was fall apart tender. Would definitely recommend a dip as dipping the fried shrimp and calamari are a great pairing. Rice was a bit dry for our liking. Overall great experience and would definitely come back again.

+1

My friends and I had lunch here today and the food was spectacular. We got a collection of fried and grilled fish, prawn and octopus. All were deliciously cooked. The restaurant is easy to find and is not that busy. The servers were vey nice and helpful. Give it a go if you want reasonably priced freshly picked and cooked seafood.

+1

Highly recommend! We came on a Friday and even though it was busy, we were quickly seated. You select the seafood you want from the counter and tell the staff how you’d like it prepared. We ordered both the fried and the grilled shrimp, grilled scallops, and a grilled red snapper. The scallops were honestly some of the best I’ve ever had and the seasoning for both styles of shrimp was fantastic. The fish was well seasoned and perfectly grilled. In addition to the seafood, the side orders were also delicious - definitely get the baba ghanoush. All the staff were also incredibly friendly. I’ll definitely be back.

What a fun experience and the food was fabulous! I ordered the baba ghanoush, which came with the best pita I’ve ever had. I didn’t see any menus, so you should ask the staff to guide you for a selection or read reviews before you go! I luckily had seen the tagine recommended, so I got the tagine with calamari and shrimp. Definitely a portion for two or more! I went as a solo diner and it was much too filling for just me. I would definitely recommend this as a place to go with a group, so you can order a few different things to share. The tagine came bubbling in a clay pot, and was very intensely flavored! Weirdly, I almost liked the vegetables more than the seafood! The shrimp seemed a little over cooked, but I think that’s the nature of this dish with shrimp. I would love to try again with a fish that could handle more intense heat. The tagine came with this wonderful onion rice that was a great pair. The meal came out to about $60 (with bottled water), which again would be a better situation for two! Next time, I’d love to try a whole fish and the fried calamari! Highly recommend making the trip to Astoria—it was walkable from the N and then walkable to the Museum of the Moving Image.

Hands down to this seafood place. I’ve been in Astoria Fish Market and Hamido a couple of times (both are very good places in Astoria) but overall the food here was more tasty. We ordered a Greek salad, a side of lemon potatoes, grilled shrimp, grilled calamari, grilled scallops and grilled octopus. This was enough for 2 people and we paid $55 each (tax and tip included). No alcohol beverages are sold in this place. I can’t wait to go back and try more dishes.

+1

Everything was so fresh. The grilled octopus is a must! Delicious and of high quality.

Wow my husband and I had a fabulous seafood for a lunch at the Abuqir. We weren’t sure how to proceed but the staff were very friendly and helpful. We ordered lobster tail, Black Sea bass, Greek salad and baba ganoush. Salad was very fresh and delicious, freshly made pita bread was outstanding with baba ganoush, lobster tail was very succulent as well as the Black Sea bass. We just had to be careful with bones. There was absolutely no fish smell in the restaurant and our dishes. We highly recommend the place.

Exactly what sea food bbq should be. Pick your meats fresh, choose grilled fried or baked, and get some sides too!!! Also great value

+2

I first discovered AbuQir Seafood on TikTok and really wanted to try it, so I went straight to the 1-star reviews. After reading them, I felt hesitant. Then I checked Yelp and found much better reviews, so I decided to give it a shot anyway. I’m honestly glad I did because I don’t understand the negative reviews at all. The only thing those 1-star reviews got right is that the place is small. Other than that, my experience was amazing. The food was some of the best seafood I've ever had super fresh and full of flavor. The service was quick, and the staff were friendly, which made the whole experience even better. I had a great time and would definitely come back. At first, I was confused when I asked if my friend and I could sit at a table for four, and they said no. They explained that because the restaurant is small, they need to use tables efficiently to seat everyone on time, especially larger groups. Once they explained it, I understood perfectly. I was also puzzled by the one-order-only rule, so I asked about that too. The staff explained that when the restaurant gets busy, this helps avoid long waits and allows them to serve everyone faster, especially when it’s cold or very busy. They’re just trying to keep things moving and make as many people happy as possible. The restaurant is doing its best with a small space, fantastic food, and quick service. Overall, great experience, great staff, incredible seafood I just wish they had a bigger spot.

Nothing wrong with the food, but Abuqir’s massively overhyped to the point it was a letdown. The seafood was cooked perhaps a bit too simply, especially the shrimp that didn’t taste like much other than olive oil. You come here for a safe, faultless meal, not for adventure.

+1

Love the way they cook the shrimp at Abuqir, it’s my favorite preparation out of all the Astoria seafood places

AbuQir is excellent! The seafood is super fresh and cooked perfectly every time. Everything tastes amazing, especially the fish and shrimp. The service is great, friendly, fast, and helpful. The vibe is casual and fun, and the food keeps me coming back. Highly recommend if you love delicious seafood!

It took me back to Egypt. The best seafood I had in the United States by far and the price is reasonable. Definitely worth trying when in New York. All their food tastes great, we went twice and tried different fish and shrimp, and not one I regret.

I briefly saw someone post on their social media about this spot and I knew I had to come. I went with a couple of friends for a weekend afternoon lunch. The place was full but we managed to get indoor seats for a party of 4 immediately. Once you’re seated, you order your seafood by weight and tell them how you want them cooked. You can only order once, they don’t let you go back up and reorder additional seafood. They don’t give you a menu (you can look it up online prior to coming) to order sides. All the seafood was fresh, cooked PERFECTLY and sides were also very delicious. After getting home, we saw that their popular way to make the fish was blackened - we ordered it baked (it was still really good!). Def will be back!

+3

Great fish cooked perfectly with amazing flavors. Staff was amazing and friendly. Would be nice to have a menu just to know what something might cost. Nothing was overly expensive but I can imagine "sticker shock" if someone did what I did and just kept ordering what looked good! Small inside and a bit hot so I sat outside but the street is busy so you will get car exhaust, many people, and noise. Remember it's Queens.

Azzam Aziz

Fish cooked to your liking. We loved the spices and the cooking, the flavor was good overall. The bathroom is small but gets the job done.

+1

Gaurang Sadekar

I always feel like a kid in Toys’R’Us when I go to Abuqir. No menu, what you see is what you can get. The guys behind the counter want to share their culture with you, but they don’t want to make conversation. Ask and you shall receive. I’ve been here twice, and both times just marveled at the quality, flavor and technique of each dish. The singari style fish is especially fantastic, and the grilled shrimp is one of my favorite dishes in NYC. The kind of meal that makes you plan ahead for when and with whom you’ll return in the future. 10/10, no notes.

Gary Trinh

If you like grill fresh seafood, you must try this restaurant. The seafood here is very very fresh, you select the raw seafood you see in the counter. They grill everything to the perfection. We love their grill scallops, river giant shrimp, squid, etc…the Greek salad and tahini were very good as well. We enjoyed everything and will come back again. Need to go there early or you need to wait for the table.

+1

Najeeb Abdullah

First time at this seafood spot and we had a great time. There is limited seating space so it's normal for there to be a line to get a table. Inside it's quite casual, nothing super fancy. There is a friendly staff member who helps you order the fish available and guides you through the process. We ordered shrimp, lobster tail, branzino, and salmon. We also ordered a side of Egyptian rice. Everything was cooked very well with great seasoning. Pricing was quite reasonable for fresh seafood and service was great.

+3

Lydia Morcos

You better sit outside the vibes were outstanding. Food was exactly like eating seafood in Egypt. Everything was very tasty and the service was great. I highly recommend this place we ordered shrimp fried and butterfly. Both of them were great. We ordered fish rice and salad. Everything was perfectly made.

I recently visited Abuqir Seafood and I can honestly say it’s one of the best seafood spots I’ve tried in NYC. The food is unbelievably fresh and packed with flavor. You can literally taste the quality in every bite. From perfectly grilled fish to crispy calamari and flavorful shrimp, everything was cooked to perfection. The portions were generous, and nothing felt rushed or thrown together — it’s clear they take pride in what they serve. One thing I really loved is that you can choose your fish and how you want it prepared, which makes the whole experience feel customized. Whether you like your seafood grilled, fried, or baked with bold Mediterranean spices, they do it right. The seasoning is balanced, the textures are perfect, and every plate comes out looking just as good as it tastes. It honestly feels like you’re getting a home-cooked meal with restaurant-level presentation. The service made the experience even better. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and genuinely helpful when it came to choosing what to order. They explained the different fish options and cooking styles, which made the whole meal feel more personal and authentic. Even though the place was busy, the food came out quickly and everything was served hot and fresh. The atmosphere felt lively and comfortable, making it a great spot for family dinners, date nights, or just grabbing amazing seafood with friends. What really surprised me was how reasonable the prices were for the quality you get. In a city where seafood can be overpriced, Abuqir Seafood delivers top-tier freshness and big portions without breaking the bank. You truly get your money’s worth here, especially considering the portion sizes and the quality of ingredients. If you’re anywhere near Astoria and craving seafood, do yourself a favor and check this place out — you’ll leave full, happy, and already planning your next visit.

Ruben RM

Best seafood I’ve had in New York City Área. This Astoria spot is not fancy. Service is not luxury. Food is A M A Z I N G.

Daniel Lo

The seafood was so fresh and the sauce was delectable. Highly recommend making a trip to Abuqir for your seafood fix! We paid about 80 bucks for two people for the shrimps and the octopus.

Phil W

Stopped by Abuqir for lunch and was seriously impressed! We had grilled octopus, seared scallops, Egyptian rice, grilled whole shrimp, fried calamari, and grilled red snapper. Everything was incredibly fresh, seasoned just right, and cooked perfectly. One thing to know is that the dining experience is a bit different (in a good way). Once your table is ready, the waiter will tell you to head over to the seafood stand to pick out what you want. They’ll then cook it up fresh to order and it shows in the flavor. Indoor seating is limited and cozy, with a few outdoor tables available when the weather cooperates. It’s casual and no-frills, but if you’re into high-quality seafood without the fuss, this place is a hidden gem. Highly recommend for seafood lovers looking for something authentic and delicious!

+2

Edwin

First time here at AbuQui, highly recommended! Fresh seafood, fast service, you choose the seafood you want to eat, priced by the half pound and pound. They're clean. Super delicious!

+2

Alison Pouw

best seafood at affordable prices in the city, no question. feels super authentic and homey. everything is fresh and served fast — no frills but full of flavor. come with a crew so you can try more. great for lunch or lowkey dinner. need to go back to try everything. fried shrimp and scallops were so fantastic. the bread and dip is fab too.

+2

Amber Vandeyar

First time here and this place is absolutely amazing - no frills. For a family of 4 we ate swell everything is so flavorful the Greek salad, the bread, baba ghanoush, scallops, calamari, fried anchovies, red snapper. If you love seafood, this place is a must

hui Chang

This small little restaurant in astoria is amazing. When we first arrived, there were still 2 tables open for 4 people. We got seated right away, which is nice, no wait. We went up to the counter area to pick our fishes, calm , shrimp, squid, and everything was very fresh . As we waited, got hummus dip and breads was so good got extras bread. Everything came out one by one pretty timing gap between each dish, so we got to enjoy in timing matter we'll everything is still warm. So overall, it was a great time and definitely will be back enjoy other style of cooking from the kitchen.

+5

Abuqir was a recommendation from a friend so I had this place on my list for a while & here is how my visit went. This is a very small restaurant with some outdoor seating on the street, the style of this seafood spot is different than what I am used to since there are no menus but instead you go up front and pick what you want to be cooked & served, they have a broad selection of seafood so you can have lots of options. I wanted our seafood grilled with olive oil, garlic and spices & I went with the seafood soup, a leg of octopus, calamari, shrimp, a house salad, a side of Egyptian rice and bread basket which fed 2 adults & 1 child and the bill came up to $76.00 & the way the seafood is priced is by weight. Me and our family enjoyed everything we ordered, food was fresh and tasty, however, what I did not like was how dirty the bathroom was and the lack of ambiance; yes it is a casual place but it could be and feel more welcoming, more tidiness and more clean.

Excellent seafood in Astoria. IMO I prefer abuquir, but only slightly and because of their octopus. This place is incredible.

Food was fresh and the vibe was peak Queens, however, I think it could’ve been a little more flavorful. By the end of the meal, I was a little tired of the simplicity of all the preparations, but maybe I just didn’t know what to get. I was blown away by the fried calamari though, by far the best I’ve ever had! Make sure you get some baba ghanoush and pita too

+2

Really enjoyed this place, but you come just for a seafood heavy experience. Very small interior and most patio tables are at an angle on the sidewalk. Had the scallops, whole dorado, fried sardines, tiger prawn, octopus. Maybe due to seasonality but the octopus was double the price of everything else (priced by pound) which stood out, otherwise really good value. The whole fish was only $22!

Great food, fresh fish, and prompt services. Prices are a little high. Half a pound of calamari fried, half a pound of grilled squared, and a dip was about $55 before tip.

Abuqir is a fantastic classic Egyptian restaurant where you can pick your fish and the style you want them to cook it in. However, I most enjoyed the seafood tagine! It was packed with various kinds of seafood—all mixed into a tomato sauce.

Astoria’s Steinway Street is a carnival of smoke and neon: hookah bars in a row, Arabic cafés lit like living rooms, Greek diners holding their corners with quiet stubbornness. Lately, a new refrain has crept into the neighborhood: Dubai pistachio chocolate, advertised in window after window, café after café. It’s a good thing, undeniably — pistachio folded into chocolate rarely disappoints — but its omnipresence feels almost scripted, as if pleasure itself had been focus-grouped and sold back to you. You wonder if every shop is sourcing from the same distributor, if the quality is consistent, or if ubiquity is the real product. Abuqir fits neatly into this landscape. An Egyptian seafood restaurant, it draws people like moths to a flame — or like shoppers to a bar of pistachio chocolate. From the outside, it looks like a scene more than a restaurant. Tables spill onto the street, the crowd curated by the algorithms of Instagram. There is genuine beauty here, but also the faint suspicion that you’re watching a commercial at the same time you’re living it. The ritual, though, has its own gravity. You stand at the counter as though in a market stall, pointing to shrimp, octopus, bass. You choose grilled or fried, and wait. The striped bass arrives blistered and crisp, tender to the bone. The octopus, so often ruined elsewhere, is supple, smoky, persuasive even to a skeptic. The shrimp are solid, though less memorable. A dip — halibut, or maybe herring, the memory blurs — fills the table but not the imagination. Eating outdoors is half the pleasure. You sit at the edge of a current: Steinway’s voices, the perfume of shisha, the occasional rev of a car. The staff keeps things brisk, unadorned. And yet, when the bill arrives — $146 for two, no alcohol — the spell falters. Seventy-three dollars a head for a fish, some octopus, shrimp, and a dip. Not ruinous, but unsettling. You wonder how much of it was the price of seafood, and how much the tax of trend. On the way out, it is a relief to duck into Titan Foods, the Greek grocer two blocks north, with its feta stacked in brine, cookies and canned sardines neatly arranged. Here, the pleasure feels quieter, sturdier, unadvertised. Abuqir offers real joys: a bass that lingers in memory, octopus handled with rare care, the vitality of Steinway itself. But like the pistachio chocolate that now stares from every window, its sweetness comes with the aftertaste of calculation. You leave not hungry, not unhappy, but faintly aware that what you consumed was as much performance as it was meal.

Great find and fresh seafood. Pretty basic decor, and a little smallish. Staff are courteous and friendly. The food is the star. You walk in straight to the back counter where all the available seafood is presented on ice. Tell the purveyor what and how much you want (it's priced by weight), tell him how to prepare it - fried, baked, grilled... and go have a seat. The server comes by for your drink and sides requests. Done and enjoy the food. Worth a trip. (Parking does suck in that area).

+6

The food was not bad, has a bit of citrusy taste on the grilled shrimps, very interesting. Recommending calamari For us, we didn’t really like how quiet it was, the owner seems a bit cold.. maybe he’s a joyful guy, just not on that day.. Another thing is, there seems to have no price tag on the goods, it’s throwing us off a bit, cus we came in with a budget, and it confused us to a degree.

This place is unique and wonderful. There's no menu, just fresh fish and seafood cooked to order. The star of my meal curiously enough was the eggplant in garlic and vinegar--really superb! The lobster and scallops were on point, while the jumbo shrimp was a bit overcooked, unfortunately. Perfection doesn't exist, but this place easily transports you to an Egyptian port food stall and that's a pretty awesome culinary journey, if you ask me.

🍽️ When you enter AbuQir, you’ll be seated then prompted to walk to the back to pick your seafood and how you’d like it to be cooked. 🦐 Our favorite was the grilled jumbo shrimp with a special sauce ($38 for two pieces). 🧾 There is no written menu, but you can get side dishes like Greek salad, pita bread, eggplant & tomato sauce. 💵 They accept both credit card and cash. Between the two of us, we spent around $100 in total.

+4

Very crowded restaurant so expect waiting 10-15 minutes outside before they let you in. Grilled Octopus was amazing. Shrimp and calamari were good. Grilled Branzino was good but they didn’t remove scales from the skin. Overall the seafood is fresh and cooked well.

J. Gurung

stopped by for lunch and the sea food at this place didn’t disappoint. The old guy taking the order seem to not be in the mood but we didn’t let that spoil our lunch. we ordered varieties of sea food from scallops, shrimps, red snapper, branzino. Calamari was also delicious. It was all cooked to perfection. the grilled one is definitely the way to go than the fried ones. this place tends to get too crowded. No place to wash hands so recommend carrying a sanitizer or a wet wipes.

+2

Spurthi Kontham

Delicious pick-your-own fresh seafood restaurant! Grilled shrimp was some of the best I’ve ever had, whole broiled branzino was also incredible. I had read to get the babaganoush but thought it was just okay and a small portion for the price. Well worth the visit!

I recently visited Abuqir Seafood and was impressed by the freshness and quality of the dishes. The seafood tasted clean and well-prepared, with simple seasoning that really let the natural flavors shine. Everything came out hot and nicely presented, and you can tell the ingredients were fresh. The grilled selections in particular stood out, with a nice char and tender texture that didn’t feel overcooked. The atmosphere was casual and welcoming, making it a great spot for a relaxed meal. Service was attentive without being overbearing, and the staff were helpful in guiding us through the menu. If you’re looking for straightforward, flavorful seafood without unnecessary frills, Abuqir Seafood is definitely worth checking out.

Gabriella Richard

Stumbled upon this spot and was so pleased. The seafood was fresh, well seasoned and cooked perfectly. Even the dips and salads were great. They were also so helpful in selecting our seafood. You won’t be disappointed if you come here.

+2

I will start with the good news. The tables were large, the seating were comfortable, the food was cooked to proper tenderness, and the prices were very moderate. Now the bad news. There no menu or bathroom for that matter. You have to know exactly before coming into the restaurant what you want to order, otherwise you are kind of out of luck on getting something you like. In that respect, I asked about the dishes that I normally order in Egyptian seafood restaurants whether in the US or overseas (e.g., shrimp soup or seafood soup, small clam soup or gandofli, baked crab, etc.), and none of them were offered by the restaurant. I did my best to order something, which is a fish (you have to choose from the display with no sign as to the type of fish), brown rice, green salad, sesame salad, and pita bread. First no water came with the dinner, so I had to order a diet coke. And, only one napkin was provided and I had to use my own supply. The food was not spiced properly not even remotely close to authentic Egyptian cosine. The green salad was too salty and came saturated with heavy dressing. The fish was baked in oil and concentrated lemon juice and was not cooked with garlic or onion or any other seasoning like common. The rice you can forget it. It was bland all the way. I also order ten giants grilled shrimped and they again were not spiced properly or at all. I do not know where they got this shrimp but it had not test whatsoever. The best thing I liked was the sesame salad (tahini salad) and the pita bread. The all male waiters were nice but they all wear their regular day to day outfits leaving you with the impression that you are in a whole sale seaside market.

+3

I’ve just been there today, Wednesday, April 26th 2023 at 2pm, Eastern time. I wanted to verify whether or not the title of one of the best 100 restaurants in NYC, registered on Sunday in the New York Times was worthy. Controversially it wasn’t . Turns on: 1- Fresh fish you can choose 2- Small cozy environment 3- Clean, simple and homie 4- Salad is fresh, tasty and juice Turns off: 1- The owner/manager is overwhelmed with calls, and you have to wait for him to finish to be attended. I am a business man and a good way to avoid such problem is to hire a person to do the job. That’s a suggestion. 2- You do not have the chance to choose your portion of fish, since there’s a minimal requirement, that not always is that what you want to try/eat. Although I understand the message, I also understand that people who eat seafood want to try as many kinds as possible and sometimes there’s too much in the plate to eat and we have to bring home - uncomfortable… 3- At least with me , the owner/manager didn’t let me know the price, stating I was about to know in the end. I was wondering if I didn’t have the money with me to pay. Hopefully I was just ok with it 4- Too much expensive for the lacking of quality in the “reception”. Working with public requires sympathy and attention - no matter the culture you come from. We are talking about a restaurant that was considered one of the best in NYC, for one of the most outstanding newspapers all over the planet ! I hope my review can serve to the owner/manager and he either hires someone to help him or be more gentle when receiving his attendees.

+6

Decent Seafood, as fresh as it gets however the way it's prepared is very simple. For presentation I think it was over priced. Like shopping at a fish market and the fishmonger cooked it for you. Didn't really like the side dishes either. Service was okay but the ambiance is lacking.

You order first, then sit down and they'll bring out what you ordered to you. The scallops were really nice, but I also enjoyed the fried calamari.

The food is freshly made but the wait and the prices😵‍💫😵‍💫. I also feel like since it’s so busy the cashier rushes you. Make sure you know what you want when picking out your food. The service was slow and the cashier who pressures you to hurry is why I’m rating so low. They also do not give any sides for free which is disappointing . The bathroom is super small for a place that gets some much costumers . I had the red snapper, with the mixed seafood and black tiger shrimps. Seasoning was good could have been better but the black tiger shrimp was great.

So we’re Egyptian and speak Arabic and tried to order but the guy at the register was so nasty!! He was so rude and impatient doesn’t want to answer basic questions about the fish or how to even order. The food was good but service sucks and they take forever!! God forbid you ask for something extra or forget to order everything you need at one time, they never bring it out!! It’s sad to see a good place like this go to waste bc we ain’t coming here again!!! 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼 And if you don’t know how to order or speak Arabic have fun dealing with these guys and getting what you want, there was a couple that sat next to us from India and they had such a hard time ordering food and complained how rude the guy inside was 👎🏼 What a shame

I was disappointed. Having passed by before and read the reviews I expected better. The whole experience was off, I think that might be due to them possibly being understaffed/super busy. It was my first time dining there so I didn’t know the protocol to approach the front and order. I waited sitting inside until I could be sat outside. The waiter didn’t think to explain anything to me for over 10mins until I asked for a menu which is when he told me that I had to just go to the front and pick my fish. I want to note that all of the staff members were very sweet and kind, just not super attentive - again that may be because they were overwhelmed. I was dining alone so my order was pretty small, a few shrimp, a few scallops, few squid, baba ghanoush and salad on the side. The baba ghanoush was out fast and it was delicious! It was so good I ordered some to take home, it was my favorite thing they served with the crispy bread. I waited, waited and waited for my seafood. I’ve made scallops and shrimp before, I know it doesn’t take 30mins. I tried to be patient until I noticed others getting their food then I asked. I waited close to 45 minutes for two small plates of seafood that should have taken 5 minutes to make. I understand that they were busy but I saw tables that ordered after me with bigger orders get their food. This made me feel forgotten and undervalued as a customer. Finally when I got them, non of it was mind blowing or worth the wait. I could have made better scallops at home with less oil/butter. The seasoning on the shrimp was good but it just didn’t hit the mark, and the squid was a bit flavorless. I think that if i was given a wedge of lemon or two maybe the flavor would have been there. But given my overall experience and the outcome of the food unfortunately I won’t be rushing to come back, expect for the baba ganoush! Maybe it was just how things unfolded that night but unfortunately that was my experience.

+1

Jammy Jams

fresh seafood; pick what you want and they'll cook it as u wish to order. really solid food but the owner seems rude as the other reviewers have said. restaurant was silent, reflecting that sort of tense atmosphere, and I was kinda ignored. scallops weren't fully seasoned, solid tajine. seafood only sold by the 1/2lb decent for solo dining but otherwise I'd imagine the atmosphere would dampen the vibe of a group hang

Sebastian S

Came here 1 person for an afternoon lunch in the fall 2025. I ordered scallops. Grilled octopus, and 1 Greek salad. The total was almost $100 after tax and tip. Went to another nearby seafood place with a French name a month later and it was about $150 for 3 people, with wayyy more food than this. Your mileage may vary.

Waleed Maoed

Was recommended this spot by a few friends so I had to give it a try in NY. The scallops were probably my favorite, but the fish and octopus didn’t hit the spot. Octopus was overcooked and super hard to cut. The baba ghanoush was also really good but we were only brought one piece of bread for a table of 4. All my friends I was with said they have had a better experience here before. Also kinda killed the mood early on since we received some rude customer service while ordering. Overall some of the food was pretty good, some was meh.

I gave it two stars because the food was good, but the disrespect we got from the owner was unbelievable. He was extremely rude. This was our first time at the restaurant, and we had no idea how their services were run. (At the restaurant, you have to go to the counter and pick up the fish you want, then choose whether you want it grilled or fried.) That's how orders are taken. We stood up to order our food at the counter, and the owner asked us in a very rude way to sit down and wait till he tells us when it is  a good time to order. Throughout the entire time we were at the restaurant, we received nothing but disrespect. I wanted to leave, but I had a baby with me. It was just very difficult to leave and find another restaurant at that time.

Overpriced for what you get, especially when the service is bare bones and the interior is dirty. There’s also 0 signage or menus so you have no idea how much anything is. They make you order inside and all you see is the seafood laid out over ice; you point and they drop everything into a bowl for cooking. The server asked if I wanted any sides as if I would’ve known what all the options were - I just looked at other tables to figure it out. For reference, just 3 octopus tentacles cost $43. Given how bare bones the place was and where the restaurant was located (Astoria) we were surprised. The scallops and octopus were just okay; the shrimp was fantastic though. You can go elsewhere in Astoria for the same quality and much better service and transparency for the price you pay here.

For starters, they sat us by the door and we asked if we could be moved someplace else because of the draft to which they said they would move us if they could… they never did but when a different couple came in they moved tables for them to be able to sit comfortably. The atmosphere is tense and unwelcoming. You’re expected to know how their restaurant works without any direction. There aren’t even signs explaining what preparations you can ask for. Calamari was fine. Shrimp was so chewy and overcooked. Seafood soup had some flavor but again all the seafood was tough and chewy. Oh no free tap water here either. You aren’t offered any water but you can buy bottled water. I mean no water for your customers screams greed. Also really interesting to see how cold the staff was to my husband who is Egyptian yet all smiles with other customers. There is better Egyptian seafood on the same street with warmer service. Lesson learned, we won’t be back.

I have heard so much about this place and finally having the experience—I was disappointed. The servers explained nothing. We were seated and just waited without directions or a menu—this alone is a deal breaker and not worth the aggravation. The food was inconsistent. The shrimp was slightly rubbery, the extra jumbo shrimp was tough (waste of money). The pita bread was inconsistent—the first batch tasted freshly made—while the 2nd batch was tough as if old bread reheated in microwave. The high point was the snapper which was a perfect fry and the salad was good. But overall a lack luster dining experience which I more likely will not be returning.

Syd

I just paid Manhattan high-end restaurant prices for what turned out to be an extremely low-quality, low-rated, food spot in Queens. $130 (with tip) for what you see in the photo is absolutely insane. The food had no flavor whatsoever, not even basic seasoning or the natural taste you would expect from fish. It was a complete waste of money. Also, the place is not somewhere you’d want to bring family or a date. It’s clearly designed for men who go in with zero expectations of atmosphere, cleanliness, or proper service. If you're looking for quality, taste, or a pleasant dining experience, do yourself a favor and avoid this place.

The food here is excellent, but unfortunately, the owner’s attitude really takes away from the experience. He’s quite rude and controlling, and it’s uncomfortable to see how he treats his staff. The employees seem to have no freedom to make simple decisions, like assigning tables, even when there are plenty of empty ones. It’s disappointing because the food deserves better management.

Absolutely terrible experience. The owner rushed us through ordering and conveniently failed to mention prices. There’s a hidden minimum half-pound charge on items like octopus and scallops, which ended up being around $35 each—completely outrageous and not disclosed upfront. Seating is uncomfortably cramped, service was rude, and the whole experience felt intentionally deceptive. Shockingly overpriced for such poor treatment. Avoid this place.

This was our first time visiting this restaurant, and while the food was decent, the service left a very bad impression. We initially placed a take out order, but then asked to switch to dine-in. The staff agreed, but one employee rolled his eyes at me when I made the request, which already felt unwelcoming. There were three of us, but my mom arrived a bit later because she was walking from the parking garage. My dad and I had finished eating and my mom had not arrived yet so we decided to take her to another restaurant. As we stood up to go, an employee stopped us and made a very snarky comment implying we weren’t being honest about her joining us, and telling us we’re disrupting the restaurant flow because we switched from to go to dine in, saying something along the lines of, “Well, if someone was really coming, they would have been here by now.” That kind of remark was unnecessary and disrespectful. Plans change, people walk at different speeds, and no customer should be accused , directly or indirectly, of lying. It turned what could have been a good experience into an uncomfortable one. Because of the attitude and lack of professionalism, we won’t be returning

I had a very disappointing experience at this seafood place. The owner’s behavior was extremely disrespectful and unprofessional toward customers, which made the entire visit uncomfortable. On top of that, the bathroom was out of order, and the entire place had an unpleasant smell. To make matters worse, the food was of poor quality — definitely not what you’d expect from a seafood restaurant. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this place based on the lack of cleanliness, poor service, and the way customers are treated.

Wish I could give zero . It’s a good place to go for seafood but the entire restaurant’s atmosphere is zero and the service as well . No welcome no smiles . Employees are standing there doing nothing . They just stand and watch customers most of the time . The owner is always unhappy stressed look . There seating arrangements are worst . They will force you to seat there where they want , customers can’t choose their table even if the tables are empty. Such a narrow small table sometimes you order a lot food and there are no place on that small table ! The owner just overlook ! Employees are not trained up . They don’t know what to do ! Restaurant atmosphere should not he like that .

Had the worst experience tonight. It’s like the place was going everything wrong that they can. Horrible attitude from boss/manager behind the counter. Shrimp was rubbery. Couldn’t eat it at all. Literally just ate the heads and threw away the shrimp. All the food was tasteless except the tahini sauce. But unfortunately the bread was inedible so I couldn’t enjoy the tahini either. Small tiny salads are priced at 10$. Each dish came 15/20 minutes apart. Service was the worst. Waiter was looking on as I was paying to make sure I topped. Not my first time there, but I definitely won’t go back.

Usually, I don’t mind mediocre service if the food is great. After all, I’m going for the food. This place however somehow provided the most hostile, arrogant, and nonchalant service I’ve ever had the displeasure to experience. The food is at best solid fresh seafood, certainly nothing to write home about in NYC. Not sure what gives them the gall to act the way they do. Every single person, from the counter guy to wait staff, was atrocious. If you have any self respect, spend your money elsewhere.

Went there was my wife they let us sit by the door was freezing, food wasn’t tasty shrimp and sea food soup were over cooked fish was okay, service was horrible if you want water you gotta order it, waiter wasn’t welcoming not even smiling, i got asked to got to the counter to pick the fish. I wanted and the gentleman there wasn’t smiling or asking me “what do you like to eat today or something like that” no instead he was staring at me waiting for me to tell him what do i want , felt unwelcoming, despite he was friendly with other Egyptian customers i don’t know why the vibes was weird there, not like the experience at all as alexandrian i grow up eating seafood from the best, anyway i hope this place and customer service gets better.

Food was overly salty and they do not give you tap water. Octopus and shrimp were tough, and I had a calamari that still had the gladius (like a white shell). We spent $40+ each.

+1

shorno deoun

If it was possible to give NO STAR I would. And best believe it this is one of my regular seafood places. It was extremely disrespectful and sickening and disgusting behavior from one of the server/host whatever he is. The restaurant only had two or three other tables while the whole restaurant was empty. We went like around 8:30/8:45PM on a cold day. Didn’t let us pull sit in a corner table saying it was going to get busy in a couple minutes. I waited around 10 mins to see when that was happening. He gave us the most disgusting attitude. The owner was sitting and listening to this and didn’t take any action. How are you letting the host behave this disrespectfully towards your guests???