Dollar Grub: Coney Island Avenue

A belly-busting bike ride from Kensington to Midwood. The fuel: dirt-cheap knishes, samosas and naan.

Contrary to its name, Brooklyn’s Coney Island Avenue does not connect to Coney Island. The thoroughfare whizzes vehicles south of Prospect Park to Brighton Beach, cutting through a cross-section of sprawling Victorian homes, car-repair garages, gaudy sign-making shops and even a Russian banya or two.

Along with commerce, there’s a thriving culinary scene. Kensington’s Indian and Pakistani restaurants bleed into Midwood’s corridor of kosher restaurants, serving springy matzo balls and fat potato knishes. On a sun-drenched spring afternoon, I climb aboard my trusty bike and pedal down the boulevard, dining on flaky samosas, crunchy sour pickles and buttery, fluffy naan as big as my head.

By Joshua M. Bernstein; photos by Sam Horine

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