Best Halal Carts and Street Food in Manhattan
NYC street food is a religion. From $1 pizza slices to $7 halal platters that could feed two people, the sidewalks of Manhattan serve some of the best cheap eats in the world. Here is your guide.
Halal Carts
1. The Halal Guys (53rd and 6th Avenue)
The original. The line wraps around the block for a reason. Chicken and gyro over rice with white sauce and hot sauce. $8 for a platter that weighs 2 pounds. Open until 4 AM. Pro tip: the hot sauce is EXTREMELY hot — ask for it on the side.
2. Adels Famous Halal (West 4th Street)
The Greenwich Village favorite. Lamb over rice is the move. Slightly less chaotic than 53rd and 6th but equally good. $7-9.
3. Rafiqi (Multiple Locations)
Yellow carts all over Midtown. Consistent quality, fast service, and the combo platter (chicken + gyro) is the best value at $9.
4. King of Falafel and Shawarma (Astoria, Queens)
Worth the trip to Queens. Won the Vendy Award (street food Oscar). The shawarma wrap is perfect. $7-10.
Pizza
5. Dollar Pizza Spots
2 Bros, 99 Cent Fresh Pizza, and Percys are scattered across Manhattan. A cheese slice for $1-1.50. Its not gourmet but its hot, fast, and feeds you for pocket change. Best 2 Bros location: St. Marks Place.
6. Joes Pizza (Greenwich Village)
The Spider-Man pizza spot. $3.75 for a slice thats been voted best in NYC multiple times. Cash only, always a line, always worth it.
Hot Dogs
7. Grays Papaya (Upper West Side)
The Recession Special: 2 hot dogs + a drink for $6.95. Open 24/7. A NYC institution since 1973. Get the papaya drink — its weirdly good with a hot dog.
8. Crif Dogs (East Village)
Deep-fried hot dogs with creative toppings. The Spicy Redneck (wrapped in bacon with chili and coleslaw) is legendary. $5-8. Also: theres a speakeasy hidden inside (PDT — enter through the phone booth).
Tacos
9. Los Tacos No. 1 (Chelsea Market / Times Square)
The best tacos in Manhattan. Adobada (al pastor) on fresh corn tortillas. $4-5 per taco. The Chelsea Market location has less of a line.
10. Birria-Landia (Jackson Heights, Queens)
The birria taco truck that went viral. Red-stained tortillas, consomme for dipping, and a line thats worth every minute. $4 per taco. Roosevelt Avenue under the 7 train tracks.
Other Street Food Gems
- Wafels and Dinges (various) — Belgian waffles with speculoos spread. $8-12.
- The Arepa Lady (Jackson Heights) — Colombian arepas stuffed with cheese. $4-6.
- Dosa Man (Washington Square Park) — South Indian dosas made fresh on a cart. $10-12.
- Nuts 4 Nuts (everywhere) — Honey roasted nuts. The smell IS New York. $5.
Street Food Tips
- Lunch rush (12-1 PM) means longer lines but fresher food
- Most carts are cash only — carry small bills
- The best carts have the longest lines. Trust the line.
- Midtown carts close by 8-9 PM. Late night options are limited to halal carts and pizza.
We taste-tested all of these on camera — watch the full street food tour on NewYorkNoNavro YouTube.