BK Jani

BK Jani is a Pakistani-American burger and grill house on Grand Street in East Williamsburg, near the Bushwick line, founded by Sibte Hassan, a longtime Brooklynite from Pakistan. He opened the original in Bushwick in 2015 around a simple idea: the American backyard barbecue, filtered through the social, share-everything food culture he grew up with. The name comes from jani, an Urdu term of endearment that means something like sweetheart or darling. Everything served is halal, food arrives on paper plates, and the room is casual and BYOB, so bring your own beer or wine. The brand has since added outposts elsewhere in the city, but Grand Street remains its relaxed, neighborly Brooklyn home base.

Featured by the YouTuber New York Turk in 2025, BK Jani is best known for its signature burger: a halal patty seasoned with South Asian spices, closer in spirit to a kofta than a diner burger, finished with a spicy green chutney and tomato on a soft seeded bun. Beyond the burger, the lamb chops earn steady praise, and the menu also runs to chicken, a fried chicken sandwich, sweet potato fries and soup. The restaurant has hosted special steak nights that need to be booked well in advance, so check its social channels if you want to plan a bigger occasion. Otherwise, walk in, claim a table, open your bottle and settle in for an easy, unhurried meal with friends.