Maharaja Sweets and Snacks Is an Indian Confectionary Wonderland in Jackson Heights

This month, we're proud to present the Bread & Grains issue—dedicated to all manner of doughs, dosas and baked desserts made in Queens. To coincide with the print issue (you'll be able to pick up a print copy very soon!), every weekday throughout the month of February, we're featuring a different bakery in the borough. Some are old standbys, and some are new and on the rise, but each one reflects the diverse and independent spirit of Queens.

For a crash course in the wide and wonderful world of Indian confections, you won’t find a better tutor than Maharaja Sweets and Snacks, located in the ethnically diverse food paradise of Jackson Heights. Tandoori breads, deep-fried puris, fluffy bhatures and dosas (thin rice crepes) comprise the snacky baked-good offerings, while sweets are sorted into a number of compelling categories.

Bengali specialties include sandesh—formed from paneer cheese, sugar and cardamom powder—along with rasgulla (curdled milk dumplings) and coconut-coated, fruit and nut-stuffed cham cham (also known as pleasure boats). You’ll find sweets made with khoya (a low-moisture dairy product created from heated and thickened or dried milk), as well as jamun, a tropical black plum. And that’s just for starters. Good luck figuring out whether to order ladoos (spheres of flour, ghee and sugar) or jalebi (fried, sugar-soaked circles of maida batter) or the variety of halwas (dense, crumbly squares of flour, semolina, grains and/or nuts). The obvious way forward at Maharaja is clear: Avoid the headache of picking and choosing and select an assortment of them all.

7310 37th Ave., Jackson Heights
718.505.2680