How a Bengali snack, largely unknown in New York City five years ago, spawned a glut of imitators, all within a one-block radius of one corner on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights.

Tawa Tandoor, an Indian restaurant with a location in Midtown, has opened its doors at 37-56 74th Street in Jackson Heights, in a space previously occupied by Shereen Mahal. It’s now serving ...