<< back to foods in New York City

Halal chicken and/or lamb over rice

What: Long-grain basmati or yellow rice served with chopped chicken and/or sliced lamb gyro, plus fiery hot sauce, white sauce, lettuce, tomato, and a bit of pita bread. Also called, rather appetizingly, “street meat,” or just “halal food,” referring to its compliance with Islamic law (similar to Jewish law’s kosher rules), as the omnipresent carts dishing this out are nearly always run by Muslims. What started as suitable cheap-and-filling late-night fuel for the city’s cabbies has blossomed into a street-food empire craved by locals and tourists alike. Before all the gourmet food trucks moved in, this was New York’s ultimate street food.

Where: Like most things, all street meat is definitely not created equal. A popular midtown cart, where you can expect quality, great-tasting, not-overly-greasy meat, is Famous Halal Guys at 53rd St. and 6th Ave, map. Some instruction on where to find them: During the day (10am-5am), they are stationed at the southeast corner of 53rd/6th; from 7pm-4am, they are also set up on the southwest corner, in front of the Hilton (everything is further confused by the fact that both stands are always present, and both usually have lines). More recently, the Halal Guys have expanded their franchise to involve a stand at the southwest corner of 53rd/7th (10am-5am). When in doubt in the sea of copycats, keep an eye out for the yellow bags and T-shirts the staff always wear.  

When: See cart hours above, but between these three, you can find good halal food in midtown almost all day and all night. Though we enjoy this for lunch, it is all the more amazing late at night after a few drinks.

Order: We are fans of the generous chicken and lamb combo platter ($6) here, with everything. The red sauce is seriously fiery, so mix it well; the yogurty white sauce, salad, and bread help to balance flavors. Make sure to eat it while it’s still hot—it seems to cool quickly, and cold rice and lamb just doesn’t work. Of course, you can also order just chicken or just lamb, or go for the meat wrapped in pita.

Alternatively: The award-winning Kwik Meal #1, a cart nearby on 45th St. and 6th Ave. (map) that’s famously run by a former Russian Tea Room chef, also turns out great chicken-and/or-lamb platters that are notable for their inclusion of “real” hunks of lamb as opposed to the more usual sliced gyro meat. In Queens, there are two excellent halal stands that have likewise garnered attention in the city’s street-vendor world: the flagship Sammy’s Halal in Jackson Heights (73rd St. and Broadway; map; don’t miss their green sauce), and the King of Falafel & Shawarma in Astoria (30th St. and Broadway, map).