Tag: halal

Categories
street

Spiciest Lamb over Rice – R&Z Halal Truck

Does anyone else have this problem where you can’t decide what to eat for lunch and end up walking around for an hour? I guess with so many choices, it’s a good problem to have.

I ended up trying this halal truck on the southeast corner of 32nd Street and Park Ave, Manhattan. There’s a couple of halal carts in that area that seem to competing with the whole Rafiqi style toppings bar. I asked for everything on my lamb over spicy rice platter, which included chickpeas, black beans, corn, olives, cilantro, both grilled and raw onions, lettuce, tomato, a slice of pickle, white sauce, hot sauce. That hot sauce is the spiciest I’ve ever had from a cart or truck. Crazy good if you’re into the heat. Make sure you get the spicy rice too. I was sweating so much eating it in the park, I had to take it back to my cold AC office to finish up.

Only thing was that the lamb tasted like a salty hot dog. But pluses go to the two older guys in the truck. One of them smiled and thanked me genuinely. I’m not sure if he had teeth.

R&Z Halal Truck – southeast corner of 32nd Street & Park Ave, NYC 10016

Categories
lunch street

Halal Food Cart 5th Ave and 21st St

It’s a beautiful day to get skin cancer. I grabbed a platter of Fried Fish over Rice from the Halal Cart on 5th Ave (between 21st & 20th St). They had three different rices. A brown one, a light yellow one and a bright saffron yellow one. The light yellow had some vegetables and the rice had big granules.

Overall a decent plate of fish and rice. The guy also tossed on some chicken. Same thing happened with the two people ordering fish ahead of me. Isn’t that a little presumptuous?  Maybe it’s just the company I keep, but usually I assume most fish eaters are pescatarian (vegetarian except for fish/seafood). Most of my friends would have freaked if someone threw chicken on their fish/vegetarian platter.

I took it back to Madison Square Park and sat with all the young folk on the lawn, where they have the new Echo sculpture. It’s surreal sitting next to it. A lot of people taking photos and everyone else acting like it doesn’t exist.

I took a Fatbooth photo of Echo.

Categories
indian street

Mia Zee Halal Cart’s Chicken Biryani

This is that street cart Chicken Biryani I was talking about before. See, looks just like Chicken over Rice. Maybe it is mixed up and has ground pepper on it. This was $6. I think Chicken over Rice is $5. Taste decent for Chicken over Rice though, but maybe just order Chicken over Rice? …5th Ave and 25th St.

Categories
street

I Really Like Rafiqi’s on Six!

I’ve always been hesitant to go to a Rafiqi’s Halal Street Cart. I always think of them as the chain… the McDonald’s of NY Street Carts. But after walking around for an hour in the cold rain, I decided to get the Rafiqi’s (on Avenue of America’s/6th Ave between W 19th & 20th St) lamb & chicken over rice $5.50. I got a little bit of all the toppings (corn, cheese, olives, green peppers, onions) …all free, same price. And of course the green hot sauce everyone in front of me was asking extra of. Dang. This one meal was great! Reminded me of the $8 Chicken Bowl in Gainesville, Florida. I don’t think they exist any more, but it was that good.

I had it again a couple days later with just chicken over rice $4.75. I never get just chicken. I always think it’s too bland. But these guys do it good.

And just today, I tried the Rafiqi’s on Park Ave and 24th. It looked like the same food. Same Toppings, same price, but unfortunately not the same flavor. Dang, not all Rafiqi’s are equal. But here’s to the one on 6th Ave and 19th St! Green sauce it!

Other thoughts: Halal with cheese? Is that illegal?

Categories
street

Halal Food – South West corner of 23rd St & 6th Ave

This guy’s going to be my go-to Halal guy, especially since it’s been so cold outside and close to my office –the cart on the South West corner of 23rd St and 6th Ave (in front of Burlington Coat Factory). Sorta new as of this year I believe. I don’t think the food is that much more amazing, but he gives me more than the guy on the NW corner. The rice platters are all pretty much $5, even with combo lamb and chicken. The guy has spicy rice, tops the platter with fried shrimp, falafel, fries, fried eggplant and pickled jalapeño slices. Never had that much extra stuff in my Halal-style garbage plate.

This is one of the first time I got white sauce, hot sauce and BBQ sauce. The guy insisted. I like it. Smells like a McRib when I open the box up at work.

The second time I got freshly fried fish. Took a couple of minutes to cook up. Pretty good. This time the guy gave me two shrimps!

Categories
street

11 Eleven Express Halal Food Truck

I had the gut feeling that I had a dilemma yesterday, but I forgot what it was. I think it was whether or not to McRib.  I ended up trying the red 11 Eleven Express Halal Food truck on Park Ave between 25th & 26th St. The combo Lamb & Chicken over Rice Platter ($5) was salty. But when I ate it while reading all the McRib coverage at my desk, it started to taste like a McRib. I don’t know if it was all mental or if it really was the combination lamb gyro, chicken, white sauce, rice, lettuce and tomato all mixed together. Is that the secret?

Categories
street

United Halal Food Cart

It’s been so wet in NY this week. I went out for lunch and a guy unknowingly poked me with his umbrella in my crotch twice. The first time he was strutting passed me with his arms swinging and his closed umbrella tapped me down there. I was stunned. Then ten seconds later, he stopped right in front of me to tie his shoe and it happened again. He didn’t even know. Maybe it’s payback for that time at Matchless. I used to be afraid of people poking me in the eye with their sharp umbrella tips. I didn’t know I had to worry about my crotch.

I ended up grabbing a Chicken & Lamb over Rice ($5) from United Halal Cart on 5th Ave between 26th & 27th St near Madison Square Park. Nothing special compared to the other Halal carts nearby, except the rice was heavy on the saffron and kinda tasted like mushy paella. The guy seemed nice.

Categories
lunch street

LTZ Halal Truck on 30th St & 5th Ave

I like these guys because they’re nice and their lamb & chicken combo comes with fries, pickle and a falafel ball at only $5. It might be much blander than the $6 one a couple blocks away, but that place doesn’t give you a free soda anymore and made me feel stupid for trying to grab one.

LTZ Halal Truck – South East Corner of 30th St. and 5th Ave, NYC 10010