To make any Bengali feel at home, you only need a couple of things: a crispy deep-fried hollow semolina shell called puri, spicy chickpeas and potatoes, an endless amount of cucumber, onion, cilantro, egg, and a signature sauce: toq, directly translated as “sour,” a spicy tamarind water used as a dip. Fuchka is an experience unlike anything else, and while its origin is argued upon, the modern-day Bengali style snack is served up plentifully by way of food trucks.

In Bangladesh, families join together after a busy day for a custom called nasta, meaning snacktime in Bengali. This tradition has become a uniform ritual, even amongst families in Queens, as a way to bond over food. It is a time where everybody is present, enjoying the food and honoring where it was made and where it came from. As compliments and comfort flows, so do stories, advice, and life lessons.

Nasta (snacktime) is a way for people to bond over food. It is a time for families to come together after spending the day apart and within the busy streets of NY, food trucks repurpose that special time into something more accessible for the people of Jackson Heights.The ingredients used for these dishes can be prepared in bulk ahead of time and are relatively cheap. Watching onion and cilantro flying in the air as the dish comes together in seconds is very entertaining, but what is more fun is dipping your fuchka in the toq and popping the whole thing in your mouth before the toq seeps through the shell and rips it apart. And thus, vendors seized this easily-made dish to become one notoriously made by food trucks. From rest stops to schools, this taste of home followed as people immigrated to New York City.

Fuchka trucks have four essential functions: they provide accessible and stable employment for Bengali immigrants; they serve as a strong cultural link to the streets of Old Dhaka, making New York City feel more like home; they support mental health and wellbeing in a community that often stigmatizes these issues; and they expose non-Bengali New Yorkers to a vibrant part of Bengali culture, fostering cross-cultural connections in the city’s diverse tapestry.

Immigration

Fuchka trucks are a staple for Bengali communities in Jackson Heights but how did such large groups of Bengalis come to be in the first place? Bengali immigration to the United States can be dated back to over 130 years in the late 19th century. At this time, Muslim traders, chikondars, came to American port cities to sell embroidered silk goods and build their networks from the ground up.¹ The second wave included Bengali seamen arriving in the early 20th century. During World War I, when labor was needed, these men stepped in to work for our country and integrated themselves into American life.² However, the Bengali-American population first began to cultivate when the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act removed national origin quotas and allowed for family reunification. Bangladesh also gained its independence from Pakistan in 1971 after a bloody fight and the people gained motivation to live in America and live out the American dream. Where you could travel miles away from home and establish something of your own. While vendors in Jackson Heights may not have predicted the reliance people would have on the food trucks, they sure have embraced it.

A Home Away From Home

As Bengali immigrants came to New York City, they made the borough of Queens their home. Jackson Heights in Queens has become a symbolic and practical center for Bangladeshi and Bengali immigrants. City officials recognized the specific street for its large Bengali population, and formally named it “Bangladesh Street,” home to numerous Bengali businesses, including restaurants, groceries, pharmacies, and media offices.³

Jackson Heights resembles Puran Dhaka, the old capital city of Bangladesh, in many aspects. Characterized by a deep rhythm, people weaving through the streets, honking cars, attention grabbing street vendors, and the hum of conversations in various languages, Jackson Heights feels like home to many.⁴ It serves as an entry point and support network for newcomers. The concentration of Bengali-owned businesses and cultural institutions provides essential services, employment opportunities, and a sense of belonging. Community organizations and business associations help newcomers navigate life in New York, advocate for their interests, and celebrate cultural heritage, such as Bangladesh Heritage month. In the case of the fuchka trucks, they are places where people come together when they feel lonely. It fosters a sense of community where people feel free to speak in the language they feel comfortable in and engage in conversations that make people feel better which is crucial for better mental health across the community.

On the same street you are more than likely to find sari shops, Bangladeshi grocery stores, travel agencies, gold stores, halal butcher shops and restaurants. Walking through resembles the marketplaces in Puran Dhaka where people would utilize every inch of space to make their living. While the buildings and surrounding areas are different as can be, the energy has lasted through the years. The people are loud, fast-paced, and rooted in community. Restaurants and stalls are places for people to gather, where even college students can meet up to lighten their heavy load. Traveling here is not only a trip but a learning experience.
The fuchka trucks especially embody values of the Bengali culture. The business is a way of life as said by Md. Naeem Khandaker, owner of Tong. He tells his story of how when he opened had a “crowd of unbelievers” including his wife who left him but that in the end his hard work paid off because he opened a new market for Bengali consumers.⁵

Fuchka

Tong is the first fuchka cart to open in NYC and it is a marker of how the Bengali community is making its mark because despite the struggles of the diaspora, we are working hard to provide for the community. These fuchka carts are a powerful symbol of home started by immigrants for immigrants as well as their children, or just exposure of the culture to others. Khandaker was a pioneer who taught many other immigrants the art of making and serving fuchka. A customer of these carts when asked why she chose to eat there said “Because I heard good reviews about the fuchka trucks there (especially, Fuska house), that they have the best fuchkas in NY. I saw an instagram influencer (Bengali as well) reviewing it and she said good things about it.”⁶

Word of mouth is how most places gain their popularity in Bengali communities so when paired with social media, these trucks have transformed into gathering spots where people connect, socialize, and maintain ties to their heritage. They are more than just places to eat; they are informal community centers where people speak their native language freely, share stories, and support each other in an unfamiliar environment. Fuchka can be shared or passed around, nasta is a shared ritual that fosters belonging and solidarity among people.

These food trucks are also a pathway for people outside of the culture to come partake in a small part of this world. Fuchka trucks introduce Bangladeshi cuisine to a broader audience, helping break down cultural barriers and promoting understanding in one of New York’s most diverse neighborhoods. Owners like Naeem Khandaker of Tong explicitly aim to educate others about Bangladeshi food and culture, encouraging pride in their heritage and reducing the stigma or shyness around sharing their traditions. The popularity of these trucks among non-Bangladeshi customers also reflects the growing acceptance and integration of immigrant cultures in the city.

It is also important to recognize the people working at the trucks trying to make a living.⁷ Street vending, including running fuchka trucks, provides vital economic opportunities for immigrants who may face barriers to traditional employment due to language, credential recognition, or immigration status.⁸

Many vendors are themselves recent arrivals, and their businesses offer both jobs and entrepreneurial pathways within the community. Despite challenges such as strict city regulations and permit limitations, these trucks persist as essential sources of livelihood.

Fuchka Being Introduced to the Masses

FuchkArt is striving to put Bengali food on the map right in the heart of Times Square. Being open 24 hours, they have your standard fuchka, jhal muri, samosas as well as bacon egg and cheeses, coffee, and kati rolls. Their menu is both authentic and adaptive, this blending of flavors caters not only to Bengalis searching for that taste of home but also the millions of people who visit NYC that now have the chance to easily find this type of food. Accessibility for food is important because that is how people are exposed to new items, cultures, and ideas. A relatively new cart, the location is what makes this specific truck stand out. Finally, Bengali food can get the appreciation it deserves and this proves that food can be made approachable and relevant to new audiences. The 24 hour operation is also very fitting for the city that never sleeps.⁹

Mental Health Stigmas

Underneath all the joy of the Bengali people, there lies a deeper issue that needs to be discussed. While it is amazing that these spaces are available to everyone, there is a significant barrier within the Bengali community of mental health resources. This can be linked towards a stigma towards mental health that continues to perpetrate the community. The cultural norm is to discourage open conversations of mental health, often dismissing issues as just physical, spiritual, black magic, or meant only for Americans to worry about.¹⁰ Language barriers, lack of culturally competent mental health providers, and limited access to services further compound these issues, making it even harder for Bengali immigrants to seek and receive appropriate care. In the U.S., research and resources tailored specifically to the Bengali community are sparse, as they are often grouped under the broader South Asian category, which overlooks unique stressors and experiences.¹¹

Conclusion

Fuchka trucks provide more for NYC than just a tasty snack. It is important to recognize the people behind the truck and their struggle to fund their livelihood in this city. Immigrants feel at home when they visit these trucks, the children of immigrants feel a connection to their roots when they come to eat at these trucks. It teaches people to embrace differences and variability while being appreciative of NYC outside of high rise buildings. In neighborhoods like Jackson Heights, they stand as cultural anchors where language, laughter, and tradition thrive. Underneath all of this positivity also lies the mental health issue that may explain why people depend on these carts so much. With all of this information, there is a story to be told and a lesson to be learned; that it is best to listen, learn, accept, and to enjoy the moments that we share.

1. Amaya Collier. “Jackson Heights Street Food Vendors Provide Cultural Exchange, Struggle to Survive amid City Restrictions.” The Shield Online, November 3, 2023. https://macshieldonline.com/45938/features/jackson-heights-street-food-vendors-provide-cultural-exchange-struggle-to-survive-amid-city-restrictions/ ↩︎
2. Amaya Collier. “Jackson Heights Street Food Vendors Provide Cultural Exchange, Struggle to Survive amid City Restrictions.” The Shield Online, November 3, 2023. https://macshieldonline.com/45938/features/jackson-heights-street-food-vendors-provide-cultural-exchange-struggle-to-survive-amid-city-restrictions/ ↩︎
3. Andrew Keh. “The Fuss About Fuchka: A Bengali Street Food’s N.Y. Origin Story.” The New York Times, October 26, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/26/nyregion/jackson-heights-street-food-fuchka.html ↩︎
4. Amaya Collier. “Jackson Heights Street Food Vendors Provide Cultural Exchange, Struggle to Survive amid City Restrictions.” The Shield Online, November 3, 2023. https://macshieldonline.com/45938/features/jackson-heights-street-food-vendors-provide-cultural-exchange-struggle-to-survive-amid-city-restrictions/ ↩︎
5. Bengali Immigrants in the USA.” The Space Ink https://thespace.ink/lifestyle/bengali-immigrants-in-the-usa/ ↩︎
6. Anonymous, Interview by Zahin Zaman. April 3, 2025. ↩︎
7. Amaya Collier. “Jackson Heights Street Food Vendors Provide Cultural Exchange, Struggle to Survive amid City Restrictions.” The Shield Online, November 3, 2023. https://macshieldonline.com/45938/features/jackson-heights-street-food-vendors-provide-cultural-exchange-struggle-to-survive-amid-city-restrictions/ ↩︎
8. Md Omar Faruk and Simon Rosenbaum. “Mental illness stigma among indigenous communities in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, July 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10391860/ ↩︎
9. Fuchkart. “Find Us on 44 street between Broadway and 6th ave next to Gap. This is the only spot in times square to satisfy your desi cravings! @halaldesihabibi.” Instagram. October 20, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/fuchkart_/ ↩︎
10. “The Bengali Mental Health Movement.” Urban Justice Center: Safety & Justice in Action, https://sja.urbanjustice.org/bengali-mental-health-movement/about-bmhm/ ↩︎
11. “Voice of South Asia.” VOSA.TV, https://www.vosa.tv/eng/archives/28523 ↩︎