Approaches to data flow bottleneck management using caching mechanisms in a distributed storage environment are disclosed. A read request is received by a first data storage node having a first set of interface module(s), a first set of data management module(s), a first redirection layer, and a first set of data storage devices. The read request has a corresponding file to be read. The first redirection layer is checked for an entry corresponding to the file. The read request is routed based on a file characteristic corresponding to the read request if there is no corresponding entry in the first redirection layer or to a second data storage node based on the entry in the first redirection layer. Potential bottleneck conditions are monitored on the first node. A redirection layer entry in the first redirection layer is generated in response to determining that a bottleneck condition exists.