Tag: street cart

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street

The Halal Guys at 52nd St & 6th Ave

I was walking around Midtown looking for a late lunch at around 3:30. Dang, that line at 53rd St & 6th Ave is super long even between normal meal times. Then I saw the same Halal Guys cart a short block South on 52nd St. The same umbrellas, the same yellow bags, the same T-shirts advertising 53rd St –but this one had no line.

I got a heavy platter of Chicken and Lamb over Rice ($6). It all looked the same and seemed to taste the same or similar from what I remember and from the Midtownlunch Street Meat Paloozas. Although it was super spicy, because I asked him to add more hot sauce after it looked like he only squirted a little on my food.

Well now that I’ve learned that not all Rafiqi’s are the same, I still can’t imagine that everyone in that long ass 53rd St line has compared them both and decided it was worth the wait. Makes me wonder about businesses that try to expand. The demand is definitely there, but the demand doesn’t want to walk a short block away.

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street

Rafiqi’s New Beef Options

I’ve been noticing that most of the Rafiqi’s Halal carts now have “New Beef Options” … Philly Steak sandwiches, pita wraps and platters. I got the Beef Rice Platter ($5.50). The guy pulled out a couple of thin rectangle slices of Philly Steak-style of raw beef and slapped it on the griddle. Cooking and chopping it up, asking if I want onions and cheese –yes, please.

The Philly Steak platter was surprisingly delicious. Of course, top it with white and the green hot sauce.

I only trust the Rafiqi’s on 6th Ave between 19th & 20th St, Manhattan to make this. I’ve been trying other Rafiqi’s that have been popping up in the area recently and they don’t compare. Even though it appears to be the same ingredients and toppings, the salad just taste better and the meat is cooked right at 6th. I’ve also spent hours walking around trying to find a Rafiqi’s that hasn’t raised their prices yet. There are a few out there, but then I realize I’m just trying to save 50cents.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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
lunch street

Boki Korean Food Cart

I was looking at the menu on the side of this Korean cart and thought the Bugolgi Bowl looked really good. I got that -$6 with white rice. The server was Latino and the guy dealing the money looked Italian. Not that they aren’t allowed to make Korean food, but I wonder how they’ll fare against all the Asians around the corner on Korea Way serving Korean food. My guess is that they’d do better away from that street.

The Bugolgi Bowl didn’t quite look like the photo, but in a white styrofoam container. The guy scooped a ton of the juice in there. It was pretty much soup with rice and beef. Tastes alright, just soupy. It isn’t until now that I realize that the bugolgi photo on the cart is a photo I took from KOFOO. Maybe that’s why I thought it looked so good. They tricked me …or I tricked me!

Boki Korean Food Cart – 5th Ave between 32nd & 31st St. NYC 10016
…I see UltraClay just wrote about this cart the other day. His looks less soupy.

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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.