Burkii opens in Bay Shore with fresh halal food and specialty lattes

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Burkii has opened in Bay Shore, bringing an extensive menu of halal comfort food, creative coffee drinks and made-to-order meals to Howells Road.

The family-run restaurant serves everything from crispy chicken and loaded rice bowls to açai bowls, smoothies and specialty lattes.

Owner Sammi Dutt, who grew up in Bay Shore, opened Burkii about a month ago after spending years developing the concept.

The idea dates back to his high school days, when finding a quick bite after practice wasn’t always easy, particularly for someone seeking halal options.

“We would get hungry and there was only a deli or pizza,” Dutt told Greater Long Island in April.

He spent more than three years renovating the Howells Road space with his family before opening Burkii, a name that means “take a bite” in Urdu.

The menu covers plenty of ground, with fried chicken, boneless wings, burgers, wraps, rice bowls, salads and breakfast sandwiches, along with lighter options such as açai bowls and smoothies.

The café side is just as ambitious, featuring espresso drinks, matcha and specialty lattes made with house-made syrups.

Among the more unusual offerings are a Kashmiri latte with rose, cardamom and pistachio; a Parisian latte with lavender and vanilla cream; and a baklava-inspired latte with pistachio, cardamom and honey.

There are also strawberry, blueberry and banana pudding-inspired matcha drinks.

A focus on freshness

On the food side, customers can dig into sweet chili popcorn chicken, garlic Parmesan wings, seasoned fries and customizable rice bowls.

Dutt said freshness is a priority, with ingredients prepared each morning and separate fryers used for chicken and items such as falafel and fries.

His experience working in various businesses and helping his father build restaurants helped shape his approach to Burkii, he said.

Taking the extra time to prepare food fresh each day makes a difference, Dutt said, and he believes customers can taste it.

The restaurant also plans to expand its vegan offerings as the business grows.

A Bay Shore homecoming

For Dutt, opening a restaurant in his hometown has been particularly rewarding.

Since opening, Burkii has welcomed local students, families and sports teams, including members of a nearby high school’s field hockey team who stopped in after a game.

Dutt recalled one customer purchasing several orders of popcorn chicken for the team.

He has also reconnected with former classmates and gotten to know local teachers, making the experience something of a homecoming.

Dutt said his parents helped inspire his love of food and restaurants.

“Growing up, I’d watch my mom and dad cook in the kitchen and I found it interesting,” he told GLI earlier this year. “At the end of the day, we’d all sit together for dinner.”

And it’s a family affair. Dutt works in the kitchen alongside his mother, Thayba Moughal, a registered dietitian, while his sister helps oversee operations and the customer experience.