Cafe Lily is a hidden gem - serving Korean-Uzbek (Koryo-saram) food. The food felt so homely and was super packed with flavor even though we have never had such food before. Our favorite was by far the Kuksi which blew us away - a cold deeply flavored noodle dish with a slight beef flavor with various pickled vegetables. I still have fond memories of the refreshing kuksi with the noodles perfectly cooked with just the right amount of bite. If you want something unique/local and don't mind a journey into deep Brooklyn, I highly recommend Cafe Lily! read more

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Been wanting to try this place and after I saw few Youtubers and Instagram influencers posting about it, I gave it a try. Ordered their mixed salad, the plov, the lamb kebabs and the manty. The mixed salad came with 3 types of fermented vegetables (cabbage, carrot and cucumbers). My favorite was the carrot one. The lamb kebab and the manty I would skip. However, the plov is a must! It was so good! Oily but if you eat it with the salad, it goes well. One thing they do, they round up the taxes to 10%. Not sure if they do it because they calculate the check manually. Would come back for their plov and the carrot salad. read more

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A charming little mom-and-pop café with a warm, cozy atmosphere. When I first walked in, I was greeted by a large celebration gathering with an impressive spread of dishes across their table. My friends and I specifically came to try the fern salad, cold noodles, and plov. We were also hoping to sample the dumplings and Korean blood sausages, but unfortunately, they were either sold out or unavailable at the time. It was a bit disappointing, but given how busy the café was when we arrived, it was understandable. Out of everything we tried, the cold noodles were definitely the standout dish. The plov and fern salad were close contenders. While the flavors were on the milder side, they were especially enjoyable and refreshing considering how hot it was that day. The homemade fruit punch was also incredibly refreshing and complemented the meal perfectly. read more

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I regret not coming here earlier as I pass by this place so many times! I came here with a friend & we both finally got to try this rare Korean Uzbek place. We ordered to share: 1) Kuksi, 2) Fern w/ Meat, 3) Lyulya, 4) Pigodya. Kuksi - cold noodle soup w/ shredded carrots + egg pieces, beef pieces and vegetable. This was definitely a uzbek korean dish. It looked like a korean cold noodle but it wasn't. Taste & things on it was different. The broth was light, sour and refreshing. The beef pieces was my least favorite - it was a bit hard to chew. It was interesting, but not my most favorite. I still prefer the korean cold noodles more. Fern w/ meat - This item was our most favorite & it was very unique. We both have never had fern or a dish like this. The fern was so crunchy and chewy in a good way. The meat gave the flavoring to the fern, however, it was a bit too salty. The spice was ok. Lyulya - ground beef & lamb shish kebab. It was very meaty and delicious. I liked it eaten w/ the bread they give you & some fern in it. Pigodya - steamed beef bun - this reminded me of the chinese steamed meat buns. It was so fluffy & delicious. The special sauce they give you was very interesting - it tasted like satay, soy sauce & had a little spice in it. They give you a basket of breads w/ butter & they were delicious. Service was excellent. Tons of seating inside. We were the 1st ones in & within 45 minutes it was almost full on a Saturday evening. P.S - They accept cash or credit card. If you pay w/ credit card, they charge an extra fee (I think it was 4%). Highly recommend to use cash! read more

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My friends wanted to check out Café Lily after seeing it on IG, so I tagged along. Heads up the street parking is tough to find. You don't need reservations though, since there was plenty of seating on a Friday night. The service was honestly horrible. When we asked for bowls, they gave us ones that were still wet like they had just been rinsed and not dried. Prices weren't too bad, but the food was a mix of Korean and Uzbek cuisine and most of it was disappointing. We got the dumplings, and when we asked about the meat, the staff guessed it was just beef, but it was actually beef and lamb. My friend noticed right away since it tasted gamey. Employees should really know what's in the dishes they're serving (and maybe even taste them). The rest of the food was subpar, and to top it off, they told us five minutes before closing that they were done for the night and started clearing the table while my friends were still eating. Definitely not the best experience. read more

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Must have passed Cafe Lily more times than I can remember... and finally went for lunch, Solo and then w/ a friend. A Uzbek restaurant, mix of Russian and Korean fusion cooking... I used to live near another spot that served up really delicious Uzbek food on 19th Avenue & 86th St (I love their fern salad!!) Situated on a quiet street with a mish-mosh of shops, and tinted windows, can seem uninviting... and staff could be a bit slow with service, so if you're in a rush, come when you have time to enjoy the meal. My first meal was of course to try their version of "cold noodle"... similar to the Korean style cold noodle but not made with buckwheat noodles. Here, they serve it with white noodles and tops with veggies and beef. The soup was not icy cold but also vinegary. It was good but I prefer the Korean style naeng-myeon which offers more chew & texture. My 2nd meal, had to try my other fav - Yuk Kae Jang; but here they call it Yu-KajJan. Now this one is interesting, the soup comes out bland... and you mix in the aromatics to your taste and eat over a bowl of rice. I actually enjoyed this a lot and would recommend this! My friend got their crispy potatoes & mushroom, it was ok. Nothing special. Also tried their meat manty - didn't like this, the skin was dry and tough to eat, the meat was a little gamey - perhaps bc it's lamb. Not my kind of dumplings! Also got their fern salad and the sauce, OMO delish! Soak it up with the toasted bread and your belly will thank you! The price is ok, not too crazy but also not an everyday lunch outing. Overall would come back for the Yu-KajJan & Fern salad. read more

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I went with a friend to try out this Korean-Uzbekistanian spot in Brooklyn based off of a TikTok that emphasized that the food itself is not a fusion but the food of a "dying culture." As someone who loves to eat, I know that culture is preserved in the food. So I just had to check it out with my friend before they left NYC for the next few months. Highlights below! ---- Wait staff was super attentive and friendly Service was fast and very considerate Very patient with us as new comers Friend's meal- Pigodya ---- Good portions Came with a spicy sauce: a little salty but very good! The meat is very tender The cabbage has a good flavor and very well seasoned The dumpling dough itself was very airy Vegetable/beef broth Super juicy but not too liquidy Needed some acidity like some soy sauce or something vinegary My meal ---- Fried salmon I do wish I had more greens The salmon was very good! I do wish it was a little more tender but I love the way it was fried, perfectly crispy ---- We also shared some of their homemade compote which was super fresh and refreshingly sweet! If you're in the neighborhood you definitely should give them a try read more

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Came here as a party of 3. We ordered the plov, cold noodles, fern salad, and a pitcher of their homemade fruit punch. They also provided a basket of yummy bread for the table. It was very soft and I ended up dipping the bread in the fern salad sauce. The fruit punch was not overly sweet and it was refreshing although I am not sure what fruits they used. It was my first time trying fern salad and I actually really enjoyed it. But my favorite dish was definitely the cold noodles. I would definitely order it again next time and try other dishes as well. The plov was good too, but way too little meat compared to the amount of rice they give. And some pieces of the meat were less tender than others. They had plenty of seating when we came on a Friday afternoon around 2pm. And the staff was so friendly. read more

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This place is such a hidden gem! Uzbek + Korean fusion... I only discovered it after seeing an Instagram reel advertising this place. I think since then it blew up because when I visited the staffs were definitely overwhelmed by the traffic coming to the restaurant. They had to turn down many groups - so just be aware that they might be busy but if you don't mind waiting they will still accommodate you. We got the Korean salad sampler, Korean fern salad (amazing!), and kuksi. We had ordered manti and shurpa but they messed up and forgot our order - which actually turned out for the better because we were so fully already as they are very generous with their portion size. The meal also comes with complimentary bread and butter. The highlight was the Korean fern salad. It was served warm and seasoned so nicely with garlic sauce. I was dipping the bread in this sauce! Their menu is very extensive. The staffs are so friendly and I could tell they were overwhelm but still trying their best to accommodate everyone. I can't wait to come back again and try out all the other items on their menu. read more

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Came here yesterday with my friend for lunch. We came around 2pm and it was empty besides 1 other table. The younger waitress was so sweet, she remembered my friend who came the week before and also gave good recommendations. It was me and two other girls and we shared the plov, fern salad and the cold noodles. I think my favorite was the plov and the cold noodle, I found the fern salad a little too salty imo and the carrot salad bland. We also go the campote to share which was nice, I liked that it was not overly sweet. The guy (owner) there was really friendly also, he was explaining to us that with credit card there would be extra fees and recommended cash instead for a slight discount read more

Cafe Lily - Russian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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The plov. You must get the plov. The fried tofu was also devine. 10/10 service, our server made the best recommendations and everything was plated perfectly. My previous neighbors were immigrants from uzbekistan and used to cook for my family; this dinner took me right back to their home. read more

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Just yes. Guys this place is so underrated. Pllleeaaaseee go give our girl Lily some loovvee. The Plov will change your LIFE. Hospitality was amazing too everyone is soo sweet and there was car video games on the tv which was honestly very fun. 100/10 experience, food, and service. read more

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I came here with a group of 5. One member of our party arrived early. They showed her to the patio and gave her bottled water while she waited, which was very kind. We sat in the back patio on a raised platform table with seating on the floor. The table had cushions all around it, as well as carpeting, so it was comfortable to sit. The patio was lovely with faux greenery and flowers adorning the walls and a wooden ceiling. It felt like an oasis. To eat, we shared the korean salad platter. It included carrots, cabbage, and eggplant in a kim chi style. All the vegetables were pickled, but they were well seasoned and tasty. For my main, I had the tofu with spicy sauce. I enjoyed this dish. The tofu was a perfect, firm texture. It was accompanied by peppers and onions. The sauce was flavorful and slightly sweet with a subtle spicy kick. They also provided warm bread and butter for the table. My friends got several of the meat dishes and loved everything. We also got the compote punch. It was fruity, but quite sweet. Similar to a classic fruit punch, but I wouldn't order it again. Our waitress was gracious and welcoming. A lovely restaurant to visit for a very authentic meal. read more

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The food was good overall, service was decent but staff could be bit more attentive, and ambiance is rather chill (albeit too lax for me, as there were screaming kids running around who I assume are the owner's or friends). read more

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This place was under renovations when I went. Grateful they fed me regardless as I hadn't eaten all day and it was super late. Food was delicious and prompt. I paid through Venmo. Service was prompt. I liked the spot and hope to return again when renovations are completed. read more

Cafe Lily - Russian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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My friend wanted to try this Korean Uzbek restaurant, and I was open to it as I've never had this type of cuisine before. It was pretty quiet on a Sunday night, and we were allowed to choose where we wanted to sit (indoors or outdoors in the back). We chose to sit outdoors but I didn't have to worry about mosquitos because there was shelter on the top though it has some opening. We asked the staff to recommend us some dishes that we should try and went with it. Interestingly, they served the dishes in order of deliciousness so we filled our tummies with all the yummy food first. Pitcher of fruit punch - 1/5 It was extremely watered down, so I highly don't recommend it. Manty - 3/5 Very filling steamed dumplings with chopped meat and onion inside. I was expecting some juice in it but it was on the dryer end. There is a side of sour cream for dipping which made the dumpling less dry but it didn't feel like they matched. House bread - 5/5 Maybe free stuff just tastes better but their bread was pretty unique. It reminded me of shanghai sesame pancakes. Kimchi - 4/5 Complimentary kimchi like at Korean restaurants. It was ok. Chicken patty with mashed potatoes - 1/5 The mashed potato didn't have any gravy so it was very dry. It would've tasted better if it was heavily seasoned but it was pretty bland. The patties were fried but I didn't like the taste and the texture wasn't it. It was harder than I expected. Plov - 4/5 Very homey taste. No frills but nice enough to keep eating. It was basically Uzbekistan-style fried rice. The rice is long grain and each one was separated from one another, which is what fried rice should be like. Meat with vegetables Korean style - 2/5 Too salty! Or else it would've been a decent but simple dish. Has a spicy kick to it. The workers were really nice. Cash is preferred here. read more

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Food, good! Service, good! Ambiance... too bright! But the real issue is a MASSIVE fee to pay by card. The door has a sign with the usual spiel about 4% or whatever but after eating the server mentioned that they also charge another fee (this is illegal as it is to be posted with the sign about the 4%). All in, the fees to pay by credit card ended up being closer to 10%. Don't want to damage a small business but reporting this to the city and to the State AG. read more

I'll be making this my regular dining destination. This place gets the feeling right, the food right and everything else right. I was tempted by so many other menu options. The employees showed exceptional hospitality by maintaining our drinks and ensuring our overall happiness. We're definitely returning. read more

I went there on Saturday lunch with my niece. Place is very clean service was great. The food is great and fresh. Would definitely recommend this place. read more

I usually don't write negative reviews, but this was one of the worst experiences. We came for their famous pegodi, but were told we could only order one per person because they were "too busy." When we asked for pelmeni and kebabs instead, they said those dishes were unavailable and kebabs would take 1.5 hours. We agreed to wait for other food: pegodi came in 20 minutes, but meat with vegetables arrived almost 40 minutes later, when we had already finished eating. The service was terrible, and the older lady with black hair (one of the owners) was extremely rude. The food was average at best. This is not how you treat customers--definitely not coming back. read more

Cafe Lily - Russian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Lily Cafe is a hidden gem in Brooklyn. The food is fashion Korean Russian. The cold noodles are sooooo good in a hot summer day. Refreshing, chewy and lots of flavors. The super light cold broth is just perfect. read more

I had heard about this place a while ago and I finally got to come here earlier this year for dinner. I was extremely curious to try this place out for myself as I'm ethnically Korean and I'm always curious to see what Korean food from other parts of the world are like. Service was admittedly a little slow at first, but it became more attentive as the night wore on and the restaurant got more and more busy. We decided to get an order of their white fungus salad and lagman to share, and I got their tofu dish as my main while the SO got an order of their beef dish as his main. We also decided to try out some of the Russian sodas they had (Chersi brand, pear and caramel flavors) for fun. The food itself was good and I may be biased, but the tofu dish was basically a homier version of dubu buchim yangnyeom that my mom makes for me from time to time. The white fungus dish was delicious as well, although that certainly was something I wouldn't consider to be Korean, per say. The SO loved his beef dish and the lagman as well. The Chersi sodas were fun, albeit a bit too sweet for me. Funnily enough, our server didn't really speak much English and we didn't know any Uzbek or Russian, so a lot of gesticulating and nodding and chuckling happened. If you're curious about Korean-Uzbek food, I would definitely recommend this place. There aren't too many in NYC, and this place offered some very homey dishes that certainly tasted like your mom's Korean dishes, while also maintaining its own unique flavor. read more

Food taste great Portions are small I would recommend this kitchen if you wanna eat authentic post societ union countries food. Saga is very polite and friendly lady. read more

This is my 3rd and last give a try place! Prices are way to high for the quality food... In the beginning when they just opened, she really cooked delicious( Korean food) now all is just a joke. Kuksu was tasteless, pegodya.. a big chunk of dough with little bit of meat is $4. I ordered tripe khe which is $16, they brought a portion where literally was 5 pieces of tripe the rest was carrots and onions. Then I asked waitress to tell the owner about it, no response. She even asked me if I wanted "to go"?, what!? Carrots and onions ??? For you to understand a portion is a 1lb plastic container approximately. Rip off! This is my 3rd time when I get Carrots and onions for the price of the tripe khe. Really disappointed. And I posted a picture of marinated cockroach, so careful when you use it. read more

Cafe Lily - Vinegar with baby cockroach, if you like guys! - Russian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Food is normally good here but had a fairly disappointing take out. The HOMESTyLE POTATOES were soggy (stored in sealed aluminum tray with plastic top) and for the MANTI, it didnt come with any sour cream T_T.. the sour cream made it so much better. I guess if you order it next time, make sure u ask them for sour cream. The kuksi was still good tho read more

This is a rather unique restaurant I've had Korean food, Russian Food, and Uzbek food but not this combination but it was nice comparing to the other similar places in my local area or in Sheepshead/Brighton. Anyway, I was here perhaps a month ago or so with a bunch of others. As we were sharing, I unfortunately couldn't try their guksu which a whole lot of people there were ordering. We shared a lot of food and it was next to nothing for everything and we were all quite full and overall the food was good with a mom and pop feel to the place. Nice staff with slight English issues but one of the people there was good enough at translations. The place was BYOB so I also got compote which I shared (as they gave me a pitcher instead of a single glass) and some green tea to help digest along with beers others brought. Appetizer sections (Sorted by best to worst outside of the Khe on top.) Fish Khe/ salad: This was similar and essentially the Korean-Uzbek variation of #/hwe which is essentially a spiced ceviche. It reminded me of German canned herring but a lot tastier. Good flavors. / bracken salad. This was served warm with beef and it was the Uzbek version of Gosari Namul / . I wasn't looking forward to this much as I've never been a fan of that banchan but this was very impressive here. Very well flavored with a good amount of tender beef. An improvement over the more common type. Tashkent salad / with beef tongue, egg, radish, peas, and mayo topped with fried onions. I've had this from other places and the version here was quite nice. Great portion size and not too much mayo. Avocado salad with tomatoes cucumbers, greens, and mayo. I'm not usually an avocado fan (I'd prefer an achichuk instead) but this was tasty. Fresh avocado and the rest of the mix went well. Assorted Korean style salads: The plate came with three types: Morkovcha / / Korean carrot salad: You can find this in a bunch of Russian places also. I've never been too big a fan as the flavors are light and it was fine here. Kimchi: It was a bit lighter and quite crunchy compared to most places. A good amount less spicy Eggplant salad. Lightly flavored. Fine but there's better places for this. Snow fungus/white fungus salad. Unique texture but I wouldn't order it again. A bit too light. Main dishes: Two types of shashlik/ which is the Russian term for shish kebab. In this case, we had chicken and lamb ribs as they were out of lulya. The chicken here was exceptionally moist and very good and better than most other Uzbek/Russian places I've been to. The lamb ribs were good and slightly less fatty than other places. Russian style fried potatoes/ Good though they were unfortunately out of the mushroom they use for it so it was plainer. Manty /: This is the Uzbek/Russian version of manti/mantı which is a type of Turkish dumpling though the Uzbek version is much larger by comparison and it's not already swimming in sour cream. The variation here had a nice filling; not too fatty but with a whole lot of flavor. There was sour cream on the side. Veal liver Turkish style/Arnavut ciğeri: This was a good version though better at the Turkish spots I've been. I generally prefer smaller pieces of liver as they tend to cook more evenly so there wasn't as much of a chew but good flavors. "Korean style beef with vegetables and soy sauce." I think this would be in Korean but I am unsure. This was just alright/I wouldn't recommend it much. The sauce which seemed to have either chili pepper or gochujang was good but the beef was a quite chewy. Alright dish. The only dessert here that we wanted was chakchak/. These are essentially fried miniature dough in a variety of forms topped with honey. They have a chewy texture similar to tteok/Korean rice cakes and the version here was better than at Baku. Good place. The owners were nice and they were happy to speak with the person running the group. Hope they do well but I expect they will continue to if the rest of the menu is as good as the dishes we ordered. read more

The storefront looks totally closed but don't be fooled - it's open AND they have a large outdoor patio! That said, the patio is mostly enclosed with exposure to the elements - but it is also very spread out. I've been really excited to try Cafe Lily with my Korean friends because I was so curious about the natural Uzbek-Korean fusion. I'm actually finally writing this review over a year later because I actually totally forgot about my past experience. I came today with a Russian friend and some other people, and we ordered a ton of food. Today, we sat inside, and it was definitely much nicer - we got the seating with the couch by the front under a chandelier, which was very fun. + Tashkent ($13) - 9/10 - This sounds really unappetizing (beef tongue, egg, white radish, "green peas," and mayo) but it was actually really delicious. I think they meant to say dill instead of green peas, and there were crispy onion bits that gave this dish a nice crunch. The egg was shredded, which I've never seen before, and the mayo lightly coats everything. The whole dish came together perfectly because everything just complements each other so well, making it refreshing, light, and flavorful at the same time. Everyone really loved it. + Korean fern salad with meat ($16) - 9/10 - I'm not sure how authentic this was, but I thought it was absolutely delicious. I wish I had my Korean friends with me to critique this dish because the ferns were definitely very Korean, and I was addicted to the sauce. I started sopping up the sauce with the bread to eat because it was that good. It's very flavorful though so it might not be for everyone. + Kuksi ($14) - 7/10 - This is a milder version of a Korean guksu; it's quite light and refreshing, and they do provide a lot of extra spicy sauce to add (much recommended). + Kharcho ($10) - 8/10 - This is apparently a Georgian soup, and I thought it was really comforting. It's tomato-based with meat and cilantro, and it tasted really familiar even though I've definitely never had it. Also very excellent with the extra spicy sauce. + Borsh ($10) - 7/10 - This is a hot borscht, and it was pretty good served with sour cream. I feel like other borschts I've had were too intensely beet-y, but this one was mild and everyone liked it. + Plov ($13-14) - 8/10 - This was on two separate parts of the menu; not sure how much we were actually charged for it. I thought this was really good and I would totally get it again, though my Russian friend said it was not the best he's had, as the lamb was not as tender as it could have been. I though the rice was really well-flavored and the lamb was tasty. Would totally get this again, and apparently it's THE Uzbek dish to get. + Meat khe ($17) - 9/10 - This was really delicious, and totally Korean-Uzbek fusion because it tasted kind of like the beef from Korean bibimbap but way more spicy (in a great way) and with cumin and other unfamiliar spices. Totally loved it. + Manty ($12) - 7/10 - I love how large and pillowy these dumplings are - kind of like a mix between an Asian dumpling and something Eastern European because the filling is definitely not Asian, and pairing with sour cream is totally different. + Homemade potatoes ($8) - 6/10 - These were a surprise dish that my friend ordered for us, but he was expecting something else. These are basically fried potato wedges (very well done) with dill and some mushrooms. Tasty, but I don't think I would've gotten this - especially since we were really full by this point. + Compote ($3 for a glass, $10 for a pitcher) - 9/10 - This was really excellent; we got a glass to try first, and then we immediately opted for the pitcher. It's such a good deal - we had a good amount for five of us. It wasn't too sweet, and reminded me a bit of blackcurrant juice. It's a homemade punch that is apparently made with dried apples, prunes, and other fruit. + Russian lemonade ($3.50) - 4/10 - There are 3 flavors, and I got the pear one. It comes in a bottle and it was a sparkling drink that tasted pretty artificial - definitely did not like it anywhere near as much as the compote. + Ayran ($4) - 9/10 - One of our friends was shocked because apparently he grew up drinking this in Pakistan - upon closer inspection, it says it's made in Saudi Arabia! I really liked this salty milky drink; someone described it as drinking "cheese water" which sounds gross but I did think this was really refreshing and interesting. Overall, I had a great meal and I really enjoyed my time here; I would've given five stars but for two things: 1) both times that I have eaten here during covid times, none of the staff wore masks. 2) We got a 10% dine-in charge that was not written anywhere on the menu or communicated to us verbally. The prices are low enough that I don't mind, but it's more about the principle. read more

Don't understand some of the negative reviews placed on this establishment but I'm here to defend and even the score. A first korean/uzbek/russian cuisine experience for me. A very homely restaurant and localized. The neighborhood it's located in isn't very lavish and doesn't look like much on the outside. But the food definitely is stellar and wow does it make up for everything. The kuksi salad, plov, potatoes dish was very flavorful, much spicier than your usual Uzbek cuisine. Love the korean fusion touches on several dishes. My manti dumplings were very stuffed and filling. Even the borcht soup was very rich and zesty. We loved the food so much, the owner herself stepped out to personally greet us while dining on the cold winter day - such a sweet lady. She went into detail about her menu cover choice, the restaurant name, and her wish to bring her home Uzbek Korean fusion cooking to New York because of the lack of restaurants dedicated to this type of food. As a cook, I appreciated the story behind the food and her journey too. A personal favorite for me as I loved all the dishes and is a perfect treat when coming home with a huge accomplishment. One of my favorite fusion places and unique to boot. read more

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It's food is insanely good! I couldn't forget its Kuksi, and I visited again, and wow everything was on the spot!!! Welcoming and kind staff members(I love their sincere hospitality), and GREAT FOODS(I'd recommend any kinds of salad, Kuksi, and Manti). Love love the sincere and honestly hard-working people, and its chef is really talented, amazing! read more

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The waiter are pretty nice and the food are fair. Place looks fancy can go once a while

Special thanks to the owner Lily who has been our friend for many years. She is a very kind, friendly and beautiful person. I am very glad that I had the chance to be able to see her again. Very delicious and fresh food that reminded me of my childhood. I highly recommend coming here and we will definitely be sure to return again. read more

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Unique cuisine and very filling. The service could've been a little more attentive but that could've been because it was the afternoon. I had the begodya, which was filled with meat and cabbage and tasted great. The lamb pilaf was my main course; it was rich and the lamb prepared well. Would come back! read more

Cafe Lily - Lamb pilaf - Russian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Amazing Uzbek-Korean mom-and-pop restaurant in Bensonhurst. Only in NY (and CA) do you get a mix of cultures like this. Total mom-and-pop atmosphere - literally the family takes turns serving you, while they eat as a group in the corner and take turns going to the kitchen. Even feels like you're at someone's house - couch in the back, TV on the front (playing dramatic Russian music videos), cozy ambience. Above all is the FOOD - excellent quality, perfect cooking, and wildly interesting diversity of influences. Korean, Central Asian, Russian, etc.. How many places can you get naengmyeon (Kuksi here) and kimchi, alongside Lagman and Plov, alongside Pelmeni, Borscht and Herring...etc etc. Had perfectly constructed Manty (with cumim & lamb! - at a "Korean" restaurant?) and Begodya (steamed bun with meat and cabbage), like a large bao but served E. Europe style with sour cream?! (and spicy chili/soy sauce). Also "Korean fern salad" and "Meat Khe" were terrific. Finished it off with a classic Tarragon soda, always better than American root beer. Support this local business, give them a try! read more

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I ordered lunch from there and went pick up. A lady came out from the kitchen without mask on. She made me wait for few minutes and then there is a guy came out and carried my food. He also didn't wear mask . I don't feel comfortable for eating their food. I don't know how the food tasted, but It is still covid pandemic. If you don't want to get sick, stay away. read more

ALL THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS! Not many places can say this, and everything was fresh. It was great to know such a good place is so close to home (I live a few blocks away). We ate "Al Fresco" (outside) in the backyard table area. The people who work here are like a large, multi-ethnic family (Russian and Korean) and they are very happy to cook serve you delicious food. I asked our waitress Galina: "What's good?" And man... She brought it! We had everything from soup,Korean salad, dumplings, spicy beef, shish kabobs... WOW!!! I posted a bunch of pictures, but they cannot tell you how delicious and fresh everything was. The only critique I have is I wish the shish kabobs were bigger! This is a very warm friendly, casual place. I saw families having fun alongside couples out on a date. I rarely see such a multi-cultural clientele in one restaurant. I guess it doesn't matter when the food is this good. I never had compote with Uzbek-Korean food, but it was perfect! There were also a few dads having a shot before dinner (BYOB) and some very happy kids running around - I plan on going back in the near future to try more of their dishes. Great food, casual friendly atmosphere. A great place to go, eat and have fun! read more

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Amazing restaurant serving Uzbek Korean food. Came for lunch on a Friday, the owner came out and chatted with us because it was our first time. Got the cold noodles (Kuksi) which were excellent. Fern salad was delicious, warm with meat and pairs well with rice. Assorted salad is a must. Mantys (dumpling) were good as well, just know these are thiccc boys. 10/10 would come again. They should have more business read more

I was super excited to try this place I had read about on the internet. I never had heard about Uzbek-Korean food. I have been to Bensonhurst maybe 5 times in my entire life so I'm glad that on this trip I made it to Cafe Lily The articles about the owner are true. She really is there working with her family and she's so sweet! Loved the food. I eat Korean food all the time but I had never had it with flavors like cumin and sour cream. They also had a lot of lamb in their cuisine. We ordered too much food with the bill coming out to $60 but we could've easily fed 4 people for dinner. They also do deliveries read more

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This place is definitely unique! If you love Korean food and never had uzbeki korean food you have to come try it. The other place that is well known for this cuisine is in Brighton Beach but they serve the same type of food. We got the assorted korean salads, manty, meat keh, and kuksi. If you've had korean food before the salad was basically a set of 3 banchan, manty was a cross between a mandu and a pierogi, meat keh was similar to korean stir fried spicy pork, and the kuksi was bibim naengmyeon. The food was amazing. I personally liked the manty because who doesn't like dumplings? It comes with sour cream and there's so much meat in it! I could just eat manty for the whole meal, but everything else was really good too. The meat khe was flavorful and spicy. It comes with a side of rice. The kuksi had lots of veggies in a cold broth with chewy noodles. Very refreshing if it was the summer, but nonetheless tasty. The korean salads I was ok about. Nothing special there. I wanted to see if there was anything different between korean and Uzbeki Korean sides but they tasted pretty normal. If you like to have a variety of salads though I would go for it. They have an outdoor area but when I went it was nearing winter so definitely want to come back when it is nicer out to check it out. read more

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Been coming here for a while. Always a great service and a very delicious food. Its great to know that they serve Central Asian Korean food because I am one. Thank you for not letting us forget our food culture. Amazing place!! read more

Loved the assorted salad and the Khe was really good too! Kuksi was good but I do prefer more eggs in mine. Portion is quite generous. Recommend for the Koryo Saran experience! read more

Cafe Lily - Beef Khe - Russian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York