10 Best Food Carts & Street Food in New York City

10 Best Food Carts & Street Food in New York City (5 to 1)

5. Kwik Meal Cart. Southwest corner of 45th Street & 6th Avenue, Theater District, Midtown. What makes Kwik Meal unique among halal food is they do not serve shawarma, a processed mystery lamb meat, gyros like other NYC food carts, they actually use real lamb meat cut into cubes. The lamb gyro is so good I have not bothered to try anything else on the menu. The lamb chunks are marinated in papaya with spices and is a perfect portion for a lunchtime meal. Another plus is their green sauce which is used in their lamb gyros made with jalapenos, mint, and other spices. Service is quick and the quality of food makes up for its slightly higher prices.

4. Biryani Cart. 46th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue, Theater District. An Indian food cart known for their cheap and flavorful chicken kati rolls. The spicy Buradi chicken Kati rolls rule at Biryani’s. Before venturing over to Biryani Cart, I had never been introduced to street food known as the kati roll. A kati roll is basically the Indian version of a burrito. Biryani Cart’s Buradi chicken kati roll is made with chapati, an Indian flatbread, filled with spicy chicken topped with hot habanero sauce and mint. I prefer these kati rolls over traditonal kati rolls using thicker paratha bread because it is quicker to make and is a better ratio of bread to meat.

3. Halal Guys. Southwest Corner of 53rd and 6th, Theater District, Midtown (night only). This is the most famous halal cart in Manhattan thanks to the drunk crowd who visits them to eat after a night of partying. These guys are not there in the mornings or during lunchtime so do not be fooled like Anthony Bourdain was by the cart that sits in their spot during those hours. These guys typically setup shop around 7 pm and are open until 4 am. Their chicken plate with rice is the only thing to get. It is the bomb, white and red sauce is a must. The only complaint I have with them is they basically use all chicken and no vegetables but the taste is unparallel when compared to other street cart chicken plates. They have recently opened several carts on 53rd and 6th so go visit the one with the shortest line. Just look for the carts with halalguys.com umbrellas.

2. The Jamaican Dutchy. West 51st Street and 7th Avenue, Theater District, Midtown. My favorite meals at this cart include jerk chicken, fried fish called escovitch fish, goat soap, and oxtail. All meals are served with rice and peas and plantains. The Jamaican Dutchy cart run by O’Neill Reid is unique as it is the only cart in Midtown with Caribbean food. The line is usually long and it is not the fastest service but their jerk chicken plate and fried fish, served on , is the best deal in the city. If the meals are food too much for you, grab a jerk chicken sandwich or one of their mini meals.

1. Trini-Paki Boys Cart. 43rd Street & 6th Avenue, Midtown. Serve halal street food. The best food at Trini-Paki Boys are their Pakistani chicken and rice plate and doubles, two pieces of fried bread filled with a spicy chick pea sauce from Trinidad. Their chicken and rice is a bit different in their pepper sauce is inspired from Trinidad as well. This place tends to run out of food at times and closes early.

10 Best Food Carts & Street Food in New York City (10 to 6)