Antojito Mexicano

We were absolutely starving, coming out late at night from a concert at Radio City Music Hall, and…read morethis was one of the few spots nearby that was still open. I had heard about The Halal Guys for years but somehow never had the privilege of trying it, mostly because this cart is usually packed. We walked straight up and, to our surprise, it was fairly empty-- clearly our lucky night. We ordered the chicken sandwich with everything and the beef platter with yellow rice, and OMG... it was incredible! These guys are clearly commanding the halal food scene, and after finally trying it, I completely understand the hype. The food was flavorful, satisfying, and exactly what we needed at that moment. There's something about eating a great late-night meal straight from NYC food cart that just hits differently. I will say, my sandwich was VERY spicy. And i love spicy food, but this was another level haha... My entire mouth was on fire. The funny part? I literally could not stop eating it. It was that good. Sometimes the simplest food, at exactly the right time, becomes the most memorable. This was definitely one of those moments. Now I get the hype!

I have worked at 6th/50th st for over 25 years and the Halal Guys location near 53rd and 6th is a…read moreshort walk. I have eaten here at least 200 times over those 25 years. I don't go as much as I use to, as the price has more than doubled since 2017/18. However, that has nothing to do with my rating. My problem is that meats have gone downhill. I used to love gyro meat - never sure what it was exactly lamb or beef - but now it is just gross and greasy. The chicken which used to be excellent is now very dry. The white sauce is great and the rice is fine, but that is it. Not worth getting anymore. Maybe one of their competitors is better, can't really be worse.

1.3 mi•Theater District, Midtown West, Hell's Kitchen

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Mama Halal Food

4.5(22 reviews)

This was just okay. There was lack of seasoning/flavor in the chicken rice bowl. The rice had…read moreactually no flavor :( But a friend told me to order specifically with the biryani rice next time...

Solid halal food cart in Manhattan by MoMA and Rockefeller Center. No line to order but nice to see…read moretwo regulars stopping by to say hello to the owner. The price is cheap and the lamb and rice portion is hefty. Hope to stop by soon for more halal food.

1.1 mi•Theater District, Midtown West

Chicken Over Rice Platterrice

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Lamb & chicken mix w/ rice & salad. Standard amount of sauces.

Hainan Jones

4.0(110 reviews)

Loved this spot! I ended up coming here twice during my trip to NYC. The location is super…read moreconvenient in Midtown, just steps from Rockefeller Center, and I was pleasantly surprised that we were able to get a table for three both times without much wait. The portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable for Midtown Manhattan. Over the two visits, I tried both versions of the Hainanese chicken rice, and both were delicious. The food came out incredibly fast, and I especially appreciated that the meals included Chinese broccoli. I also tried the stir-fried noodles from Hainan Jones and that was excellent. Overall, everything we ordered was flavorful, satisfying, and served quickly. Definitely a great spot for a casual and tasty meal in Midtown!

Heard that Anthony Bourdain loved this spot for hainan chicken and rice, which is a comfort dish…read morefor me and I really understand why. The chicken was very tender, well prepared, and so were the veggies. I think it has stiff competition by way of Lou Yau Kee but is definitely up there as top 5 southeast chicken rices in the city! I would def come back here and what's great is that you can feel healthy bc it's steamed/poached chicken, rice and veggies :) It's inside Urban Hawker, so you can get a variety of other things to go with your meal - might I recommend Kopi (malaysian coffee) at the nearby stand? The flavors were bold, authentic, and the chicken skin was silky smooth. The cucumbers had a nice crunch and the veggies as well. They give you two sauces, one of them is spicy and might be hotter than you expect so try it first.

1.0 mi•Theater District, Midtown West

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Adel's Famous Halal Food

4.4(1.1k reviews)

This is worth the hype guys... I have no idea how it got so popular (tiktok, ig reels, word of…read moremouth?) but everytime I passed by here during my trip there was a line. It also smelled heavenly. We decided to keep the good vibes going after the most fun night - BTS concert - since this was near our hotel, we got in line around 11:30pm? They're open until super late. Didn't even spend that long in line to be honest, or maybe I just didn't mind the wait? When you get closer to the front, the line splits into two - not sure what the system is logically but it does help with ordering faster. We got one platter for 2 people - Mixed Platter which includes rice, lamb, chicken, and a slice of pita. You also have the option to pile on some crispy french fries (why would you reject fries) and get a drizzle of various sauces. I very intelligently opted for the hot sauce on the side, and was so grateful for that because it does pack a punch! Gosh, this was so delicious. SEASONED, and everything on the plate mixed together so well in one bite. Also an excellent portion that would definitely last you at least 2-3 meals if you got it for one person. I'm for sure going back next time I'm in Manhattan.

Tastes great and reasonably priced. Would not wait more than 20min though, because the regular…read morespots are not that much different. Wait was not bad at 615 on a Tuesday. Looked like 30 people but line moved fast, so took under 20 min.

1.1 mi•Theater District, Midtown West

Mix Platter

Adel's Famous Halal Food - Combo (chicken and lamb) over rice and fries was well seasoned. Would recommend dranks while waiting with friends in line hehe!

Combo (chicken and lamb) over rice and fries was well seasoned. Would recommend dranks while waiting with friends in line hehe!

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Chicken over Rice Platter and Lamb Over Rice

Mr Fried Rice

3.9(30 reviews)

Located in urban hawker and it's pretty good! I got the Singapore Malaysian mee goreng noodles and…read morethey were good.

I'm never too sure about the quality, or value, of food court vendors as sometimes I feel like the…read morestores rely too heavily on the novel aspect of their environment/experience over the quality or value of their food. Mr Fried Rice was a gamble that payed off! Portion sizes were a lot bigger than I expected (especially given location) and the flavors were on point. The fried rice had that signature wok hei flavor you get from chefs high heat wok cooking and the pork chop was juicy and flavorful. The staff were friendly too Hard to go wrong for a meal sub $20. Definitely recommend if you are in the area.

Mr. Fried rice stall (1)

Teriyaki Grilled Salmon Fried Rice

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Sign of the place (Mr. Fried Rice)

Crun Cheese

4.5(2 reviews)

1.6 mi•Upper West Side

Was picking up some snacks at Whole foods off Columbus Circle. Wandered across the street and tried…read moreto find the right subway entrance to take to Grand Central. When I couldn't figure it out, I gave up and switched to an underground exploration mission because I was presented with a gift: the Turnstyle Underground Food Hall. I was pleasantly surprised! Legit dumplings, paella, bubble tea and some cute shops. It's not fancy but it has lots of flair. I walked the two sides and ended up choosing the Korean hotdogs because they had a sign with a special. For $6.98 you get a half cheese/half hotdog on a stick with the lemonade. I stepped up and ordered. There was a bit of upselling going on. If you want chopped up french fries rolled into the batter it costs a little extra. There are also different spices and sauces to go on top. I chose the strawberry lemonade and it was super sweet, so I'd go heavy on the ice. Sat down at the tables provided in the center of the hall. Had to let my melted cheese cool for a bit, because that first bite burned my mouth. Once cool enough, I devoured mine. Any kind of "fried dog" is a favorite of mine. It looks like there were still empty store fronts that should be filled soon. Good stuff to come back for! For now this was a great introduction to Turnstyle!

delicious. lots of toppings and seasonings to choose from and the potato dog was delicious!!!read more

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Carnegie John's

4.4(99 reviews)

1.4 mi•Midtown West

Very consistent,you can't go wrong with anything on John menu he is a nice person that been cooking…read moreon the block for a very long time.

Great chicken breast platter. Definitely will be my one of my go to spots for some great food. I…read morework right across the street and was looking for some good grilled chicken. This hit the spot. Very friendly guy and I'm definitely coming back to try a cheeseburger!

Carnegie John's Grilling Meat!

Chicken Breast Platter with White (tzatziki).

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Tony Dragon's Grille

4.5(280 reviews)

1.7 mi•Upper East Side

Visiting the city and asked a local on the street what is the best lunch around. He immediately…read morepointed us to Tony Dragon's food truck just block away. There was a line and we maybe waited 10 minutes, they have order ahead available as well. It moved quickly, service was friendly, food was served quickly. Their efficiency was impressive.

Stopped by here for a midweek lunch and it is busy!! Worked fine because I wasn't in a rush but if…read moreyou are, definitely order ahead. The beef and lamb is the way to go in my opinion, the meat was so tender and flavorful, great tzatziki and pita. A few too many onions and a little greasy, but still delicious and reasonably priced, you'll leave feeling full. I'd swing by again to try the burger.

Marinated in Red Wine & Greek Herbs. Pork Souvlaki Skewers.

Ribeye Steak over Rice Pilaf & Garden Salad.

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Oregano & Lemon Grilled Shrimp.

Gray's Papaya

3.8(1.7k reviews)

2.3 mi•Upper West Side

I can't go to NY and not have a hot dog. On my last day I walked to Gray's to get a dog with…read moreeverything and a pineapple juice. There was a short line, but it moved quickly. The staff let me use tap pay even though I didn't reach the minimum that was on their signage. I ate at the counter they have outside. The hot dog had a nice snap to it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The pineapple juice was cool, sweet and tart.

New York City has a remarkable ability to turn ordinary things into cultural institutions. Given…read moreenough decades, a basic diner becomes a historic landmark, and a simple hot dog counter becomes a neighborhood shrine. Gray's Papaya on the corner of 72nd Street and Broadway is the quintessential example. Founded in 1973 by Nicholas Gray after he split from Papaya King, Gray's built its reputation on snappy franks, tropical fruit drinks, and microscopic prices. High rents and Manhattan real estate realities eventually shuttered the other outposts, leaving this Upper West Side location as the last one standing. We ordered the famous Recession Special: two hot dogs and a papaya drink. One dog came loaded with mustard and sauerkraut, the other with grilled onions. Both were aggressively, heroically average. They were not bad, which would at least make for a compelling story. They were simply the sort of hot dogs that seemed to spend their lives avoiding taking a firm stance. If hot dogs were graded on a bell curve, these two would sit directly in the middle, quietly hoping nobody called on them. The mustard was mustard, the onions were onions, and the sauerkraut did its job. The papaya drink was cold and pleasantly sweet, offering a refreshing counter to the salty franks. The service was purely transactional. Nobody threw a hot dog at us, but warmth and hospitality are clearly not core company values. You step up, state your order, exchange cash, and move along. Still, three stars feels fair because nobody visits Gray's Papaya in search of culinary perfection. You go because you are hungry on the Upper West Side, you do not want to spend twenty dollars on lunch, and you want a quick taste of a Manhattan that existed before every storefront turned into a luxury bank branch. The hot dogs are strictly middle of the road. The history and price tag are considerably better.

0.9 mi•Theater District, Midtown West

Recession special...one with mustard and sauerkraut & one with chili & onions. Papaya juice and Coconut Champagne.

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Exterior

Biryani Cart

3.7(576 reviews)

Great cart for quick and affordable food with Bangladeshi / Indian / Pakistani food. The gentleman…read moreat the cart is very friendly and hard working. The food was great to try it at least once. With lots of variety in the menu we elected to get chicken Kati roll (the best of the lot) and spicy chicken biryani (different then what we expected). I would definitely recommend the roll (it comes in pair so try to get two different kids). This is the only location for it (46th & 6th) and he is there from 11am - 12 midnight (he said that is his timing). No seating area so all of that is to go, maybe you can just sit on the side and eat it.

I ate here last week and also 2 years ago and it was just as delicious as I remember! Both times I…read morehad the Buradi Roll. It's spicy but not too spicy. The service is wonderful, friendly and fast. The only downside is trying to find somewhere to sit and eat because the Kati Roll can be a little messy. Next time I am going to try the Spicy Chicken Biryani. Can't wait to come back!

Roll menu

Buradi Roll

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Biryani and rice menu

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Colin V.

114

1

0

10 years ago

CLOSED(?) I dearly loved this taco cart, but it's no longer at 28th and 6th. Does anyone know where it went?? :^( read more

Astrid S.

0

8

0

12 years ago

It's not the best but they are ok. Well cook food but takes forever to be serve.

Soumeya K.

3

8

6

12 years ago

Best place to go for a quick and satisfying beef taco!

Andrew C.

3

10

0

16 years ago

$4 for an authentic Gordita and soda, yes please

Antojito Mexicano - mexican - Updated September 2026

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Ordered the nachos rajas to go. It was enough food to feed 2 as a meal, 4 as an app. They were…read moredelicious! I forgot to ask for hot sauce. The rajas is green pepper and that was very heavy, could have done with a little less of that but how often do we ask for less of something on our food? I'm sure that the nachos with any of the protein would've been just as plentiful and delicious. Cute little place if you want to dine in, I wouldn't recommend for large groups though.

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