Absolutely love this place. Great food everytime time and the guys who run it are great. They can help you set up your meal or you can order ahead for pickup. I highly reccomend the salmon plate. TBH this is my go to spot for salmon. read more

This is a little Middle Eastern hole in the wall which has been serving a lot of the cab drivers for a good while. It isn't pretty inside and the people could be nicer but they are friendly enough if you know you want. As per all of the chickens outside, they specialize in rotisserie but they have a variety of other dishes as well. Some things are daily and the menu can be bit confusing to people not used to it. They are specifically Egyptian which means I will definitely be going back one of these days on a weekend to have their koshari. I got the lamb stew. It was a bit oily as expected but the lamb was very tender. I think it happened to be one of the more expensive things in the menu but I didn't mind as there definitely was a lot of lamb. The spices were on a lighter end but it was still satisfying. This was served with rice and peas (pretty positive they were black-eyed) as well as a small salad. The rice was cooked properly and the peas added good flavor. The salad could have been a bit better but it worked for what it was. Mid 3. Will go back and try the koshari as noted. read more

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This place doesn't look fancy, but what they do have is a really good seasoned Chicken. Very much of a unique flavor in Middle Eastern food Egyptian style. read more

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Delicious and kind owners. I go there every time I'm back in nyc. Real nyc hearty food vibe.

Grilled on coals chicken is so damn good. I'll take this over Halal brothers any day!! Yes it is halal Chicken seasoned perfectly.I don't like the breast but this was not dried out as most places do. Lots of sides and sweets available Service is not rude just straight up They are busy and do not rush you It's definitely a Taxi Drivers spot so parking can be easy at night since they don't linger around like the ey do in Queens Super casual tables available basically communal cafeteria but small eat and get out! read more

Big Arc Chicken - Mixed rice with some vegetable sauce and pasta? - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Literally was on the way to Trader Joe's to buy myself ingredients to cook (haha) when I passed by the store front of Big Arc. There were a hundred roasted chickens enticing me to come in and I couldn't help myself. The buffet of selections they had all looked incredible, but after ordering a standard half chicken plate I also got the eggplant and lentil soup as sides. The chicken was very satisfying- not the best I've ever had, but if you want chicken, this is a solid place to go. I was much more excited about the sides I got, which were VERY, very good (the lentil soup especially). Clearly reliable place for warm, satisfying food. read more

Big Arc Chicken - Chicken - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Once upon a time, long, long ago, when there was no Uber, no Covid, NYC had food joints that were known as Taxi Driver's Stop. On 233 1st Ave (Between 13th and 14th Street) there was a Chicken joint called Big Arc Chicken, which was one of those spots. It had good comfort food at reasonable prices. Fortunately, it still exists. Moreover, the food is still good and still reasonably priced. For little money you will be satisfied. They do tons and tons of grilled chicken every day, hence, I don't even have to tell you that chicken is good here. But, they also have excellent Egyptian Style Kababs, and grilled Salmon. They have the best Molokhia (an extremely healthy green leaf vegetable) Soup outside of Egypt and perhaps also the best Koshary outside of Egypt. Their stuffed cabbage is melt in the mouth addictive. Big Arc Chicken is a guilty pleasure. You never know, what surprise awaits you at this place. Today I had the most satisfying Sausage with Noodles. They broke every cooking rule, but by God it was delicious. read more

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This place is a gem. A bona fide gem. Cheap, simple food, low amount of ingredients, low processing, clean tasting, middle eastern chicken and fish. Sit down area is available and spacious. Sweet barbecue-like sauce and red hot sauce on tables. They have cheap specials that are satisfying. Well-toasted pita for that crispiness. And classic middle eastern pastries of genuine quality. I had some time to kill and was looking for basic, no-frills meat and bread, cheap, in the east village. For the price of TWO chicken and pita specials and a dessert, with my 30% tip. I saw most other places were charging for just one entree. And no stomach issues later. Can't wait to come back to the area to unfollow. read more

Big Arc Chicken - $6 special: 1/4 chicken with pita, and $3 "bird's nest" pistachio dessert - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

This place is immediately recognizable as it has a ton of fully cooked chickens hanging in the window by the street, however that is unfortunately the best thing about it here. The inside is very dirty and the people are not very friendly. The food is also pretty low quality, and the chicken is pretty dry as well. 3.5 read more

Worst delivery service ever. Lied about calling and trying to deliver to me and then refused to refund

The chicken is what I usually get with the soup. Well prepared. Price and service is good. I always leave real full and satisfied.

I was in NYC for my partner's birthday and I hit this place up because she wanted Artichoke pizza and I'm simply not a fan of Artichokes...this was nearby and when I saw the chicken cooking in the window it was like a "love at first sight" kinda thing. I got chicken on a pita and some rice. The chicken was very tender and exactly how I imagined it when I saw it in the window. The rice was actually really good and way better than it had a right to be. The staff in here was friendly and helpful...and the place smelled so, so, so good inside. read more

Big Arc Chicken - After seeing this chicken cooking in the window, I couldn't NOT go in... - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

One of my favorite places to order in from, they always have great chicken noodle and lentil soup. And as I finished posting this review and originally giving them 5 starts I pulled a long metal wire out of my teeth that was hiding in the lentil soup. I am not sure I am ordering from there again. read more

Big Arc Chicken - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Love bug arc for some late night chicken after a nigh of drinking. Its a healthy alternative to eating all of the crap that people usually eat after drinking. And its open pretty damn late. The place is no frills. Its the kind of place you find cab drivers grabbing dinner. And they usually know where the good stuff is. Its run by all middle eastern folks and has lots of middle eastern goodies like kafta and baklava etc. Its not fancy. Just a couple of chairs and tables. Paper plates. Chicken in those foil bags. But its good stuff. And its incredibly affordable. read more

I went out of my way to come here and enjoyed the food again. One thing I forgot to mention is that the food is Halal, so that is a plus for those who follow this diet. I keep seeing salmon here which I may get next time. Whatever you do try the hotsauce its fantastic!!! read more

Big Arc Chicken - Hot sauce and cool pink bag - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Great taste and quality. Feels like I'm back home, I highly recommend it and if you're hesitating it wouldn't hurt to try for the first time. read more

Rotisserie chicken is my usual go to for out and about healthier style of eating and I've passed this place many of times drooling over the 100 plus chicken being grilled at the same time from the window. BUT.... sadly, my experience here was simply disappointing. I could care less about the ambiance of this Middle Eastern restaurant but have an issue with terrible service and chicken that turns off my taste buds. Standing by the cash register waiting to order for a few minutes not a single employee asked if I was ready to order. After hearing my stomach rumbling, I asked one the employees where I can order, and he pointed me in the direction of the individual who was working the grill. I decided to go with the half chicken and opted out for the rice salad which cost extra. (Obviously I'm on a low carb diet soooo.....) But when I received my order there was pita bread and a pathetic looking salad which I was charged the full price for. Now I know I could have made a deal about it, but I shrugged my shoulders and figured I'd try this salad which wasn't worth any extra dinero at all. Unlike many, I'm a fan of Dry chicken but I'm not a fan of chicken that lacks flavor and any kind of seasoning. To top off my not so pleasant experience here an altercation between a customer and the employee on the grill erupted. I honestly had to take sides with the customer as the man on the grill starting shouting and lost his cool which made it very uncomfortable to everyone trying to enjoy their meal. With all that being said......Don't expect me step foot back in the establishment ever again. I'll just drool from the window at the 1000+ chickens being grilled and pretend like I've never had this experience here. : ) read more

Big Arc Chicken - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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It's hard to see the delicious chickens grilling in the window and keep walking past. I know I personally was too weak to resist the allure... I came here on a later night with my Dad, since we had a long night visiting my grandma at Beth Israel hospital nearby. We were starving and decided to take a walk around the neighborhood to see the food options. Cue the chickens being grilled in the window. And the gyro roasting on a spit. A place after my own heart. We both ordered the gyro platter with rice. I got mine with spinach and it was delicious all around. I also was unable to resist the baklava and honey cake at checkout (not pictured here). Only took a star off because I saw some questionable food hygiene practices. Thankfully didn't end up getting sick or anything (or this review would have gone very differently...) but is it advisable to keep two dozen raw salmon fillets out at room temperature? read more

Big Arc Chicken - Lamb gyro platter w rice, salad and spinach - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Like everyone in the world, I love carbs. A lot. But also like many, I get fat eating them. Go to Hell, genetics. During those cycles where I push carbs aside in favor of meats and veggies (It's almost beach season, y'know), Big Arc becomes a staple. This Egyptian joint is a bastion for grilled and meat-rich delights. From tandori and simply grilled styles of chicken to kofta lamb options, there's a lot to choose from. They totally make pitas and have side dishes like mac 'n' cheese, but you can also choose to toss a ton of meat over a bed of lettuce instead. For somewhere between $12 and $15 you can get enough meat to last you a whole day. The portions are huge. If you have trouble finding it, just look for giant grill with like 800 whole chickens being grilled from the window. You can't miss it along 1st Avenue. It's a bit divey, but they do accept credit cards if you don't have cash. Always a bonus. read more

Big Arc Chicken - A whole lotta grilled meat. - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

In A Nutshell: -My well-traveled wife had a single mission in mind while traversing the "Lower East Side" of New York City - find and devour Koshari. -Real quick, koshari is considered the national dish of Egypt. -We found Big Arc Chicken via Yelp, gave 'em a ring and they said to "come on down!". -You won't find koshari on their menu, so they made it for us :) -It was my first time eating this awesome dish filled with rice, lentils and macaroni - COMFORT FOOD at it's finest. Overall, if you are kicking it in one of the coolest, hippest neighborhoods in the world - Lower East Side, NYC make sure you come to Big Arc Chicken and request Koshari! It's the shizznit. read more

Big Arc Chicken - Koshari...it's not on the menu unless you ask for it. - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

What I appreciate about Big Arc is not their late night scene, working class ambiance, cheap prices, or delicious middle eastern offerings in the heart of the east village; it's all of those things and then more. With all of the trendy businesses popping up throughout the hood, Big Arc's divey interior is a natural attraction for me. I'm rarely here before 2AM and even around then it's always busy. The aroma of the baked chicken in the window, the meat kebabs fresh from the oven, and the colorful display of their veggie friendly items (babaganoush, hummus, picked veggies, etc.) are hard to ignore. Seating is going to be an issue for big groups, dining solo or in pairs might be the way to go. I recommend kebabs (doner especially) along with some type of their creamy and tasty hummus. Salads and rice pilaf are automatic for sides and the chicken is definitely worth trying, even if it has a tendency to be a little dry. Not a huge fan of the falafel, which is a staple any good Middle Eastern establishment should be on top of. At 4AM with late night munchies, many beggers won't be choosers. Don't come for the service or have expectations for their hole in the wall ambiance. Come because you don't feel like pizza or breakfast at 4AM, but instead a myriad of halal meats and inexpensive middle eastern platters. Cash only and beware of the lines. read more

Had a chicken sandwich and it was so good. Simply the best chicken sandwich I had in a long time. A+++++

2 reasons to come here: 1- craving grilled chicken & rice at a late hour 2- get on good terms with cabbies/sleeper cells It's not the juiciest or tastiest bird but its not too dry either..then again Im glad I brought my own hotsauce..2 whole chickens all white meat with rice for $20..not bad at 1am..but id rather have Halal cart read more

Big Arc Chicken - Grilled chicken in a bag - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Was very annoyed when I got home with my order tonight. I got a whole chicken for my partner (which is supposed to come with pita and sauce). When I paid I asked to doublecheck if there was pita and sauce - the guy replied the pita was in the bag and he quickly grabbed some sauce to put inside. However, when I got home, there was no pita. So pretty irritating that I tried to confirm and he was mistaken. Guess that's what I get when I pay $11 for a dinner and expect the order to be accurate. read more

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The chickens look so enticing as they sit prominently on the grill beside the window, which is what initially lured me in. I wasn't disappointed, the char on the chicken was perfect, and the staff really loads you up with food, so bring your appetite. Great neighborhood place that you can tell has been an institution for years. read more

Don't come here if you are expecting a lovely ambience and great service. Just order what you want and enjoy your meal haha. My friend got the kofta and okra and I got the chicken and rice. Simple, filling, and good. I did like the kofta more than the chicken though since it was a bit on the dry side but was great with the white sauce that you have to ask for. My friend lives in the East Village and says the fish is equally as good, especially the salmon. Don't be afraid to eat the bread with your hands :). Price point can't beat as well- enjoy! read more

I liked the massiveness of the grilled chicken platter and enjoyed the hummus and pita. The bird, itself, was a bit disappointing, with good charring but not enough seasoning. I wonder if the kababs and other Middle Eastern dishes might be preferable. read more

Okay, that was awesome. I live on a fifth floor walkup and I like to joke about handing the delivery guys my garbage to take down on their way out. I would never do such a thing, though. I always meet any delivery guy between the fourth and third floors, because I can easily run down a flight and I know that final fifth climb is a clincher. When I met the Big Arc delivery guy, he insisted on taking my bag down for me. I was like, "Say what?" He was all, "Don't worry, I've got it." Oh, and he was here 12 minutes after I placed the order. Say what?! Wow Oh, and the food smells freaking delicious. I haven't ripped into it yet, but I'm about to chow down and I'm stoked. Big ups to the best delivery guy in history. Represent read more

Well, I'm not sure if I was just incredibly hungry or just drunk and excited to get out of the rain, but I REALLY liked this place. A friend and I spotted it across the street after emerging from the wrong train stop and it was like a bright shiny beacon in the night. I figured I had to eat SOMETHING before drinking anymore and didn't have very high hopes but I entered anyway. The place had a very authentic feel to it. Like it's probably where alot of middle eastern folk go to eat themselves. Umm, Not like self cannibalization, wait, uhh...you know what I mean!! Anyway, I ordered the half chicken platter and fries and recieved the LARGEST amount of food i've ever eaten for about 9 bucks. The chicken was awesome, the pita was dope, the sides were slammin' (lentils and rice, I believe) and the fries were all nice and greasy. Perfect drunk food. I reccomend. Hope I can find it again! read more

Big Arc Chicken - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Where else are you going to get a juicy half chicken, rice, salad, and pita platter for $9? Arc chicken is some of the best value you can find in East Village. I always end with 2 meals when I get the half chicken arc special. And this isn't some low-quality superstore rotisserie chicken either - the chicken is always fresh off the grill, tender, and juicy. I recommend either the half chicken special or the fish special if you like grilled fish. This seems to be what all the regulars are eating whenever you drop in. read more

Get the salmon steak! These guys are the best! Place not fancy, but i go there for food. read more

Big Arc Chicken - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

$5 felafel sandwich which is slightly sweet with a cinnamon seasoning. It was okay but it is now about an hour later there is an acidic aftertaste that I am not enjoying. read more

sent me the wrong order said i had to bring the food back to get a refund i ordered fish they sent me meat balls i tipped the delivery guy 5 dollars will never order from them again disgusting read more

Skimpy portion for a "half" chicken which has so little meat compared with the huge portion at Riko Peruvian chicken on 8th Ave. The fluorescent lighting is dreadful. The greasy tables littered with food from previous meals, and the dirty carpet littered with food waste, show how little respect the owners have for themselves or their customers. At least the chicken wasn't dried out --- but for a total of $9 for a "half" chicken and a soda, after tax (no veggies or salad), this place has a lot of room for improvement. Riko you have spoiled me. read more

Came here late on Saturday looking to get some good late night food. Got a chicken sandwich from here which was a-ok. Definitely have had a lot better, specially in NYC. Biggest problem however is the customer service and attitude. The guys working at the time were extremely rude and unwelcoming. I will probably not be back to this place and would much rather spend the $6 at Vinny's next door. read more

Big Arc Chicken - I'd avoid this place. Go next door to Vinny's if you are craving late night food. - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Big Arc Chicken may be a bold experiment in immersion dining where the climate of the Arabian peninsula is evoked through cuisine served with every last bit of water extracted. Perhaps the owner has a doctorate in performance art from Bard. Much more likely is that the food is presented with such ennui that no one's bothered to tell any of the staff that the chicken, rice and general Middle Eastern fast food staples are being served with such little care that some ancestor must be doing somersaults of disgust in the afterlife. Seriously, you haven't tasted food under a heat lamp until you've been here. The roast chicken is so vacuum-sealed by the heat that any sauce rolls right off the thighs. Drumsticks are microscopic with the skin as crinkly as cellophane. The atmosphere at this late-night establishment is crack-whore breakroom circa 1978. Get ready to meet people who were swept off the street in the Dinkins administration, forever waiting the return of a bleaker city. Also present are confused Brooklyn-ites, ravenous and dejected at finding out that the next L train to Bedford is still 22 minutes away. These people have a right to be sad - they've just picked single worst dining option for blocks around. read more

I go to the gym at the 14th street Y and 100% of the time, after I leave the gym, I pick up take out before returning home. As of late, Big Arc Chicken has been added as a consistent "player" within my rotation of post gym meals. The only dish I've ordered so far is the chicken kebab platter. This is marinated chicken with rice pilaf and some lettuce or as they call it "salad." PROS: Delicious chicken: It's well marinated, juicy pieces of cubed chicken that's not only tasty, but prepared right in front of you (as observed by the dozens of roasted chickens perpetually roasting on the grill). Generous portions: They give you quite a large meal. Cheap: It's extremely inexpensive for the amount of food you get. The chicken kebab platter runs $10.50 which is a steal considering the amount of good you get. CONS: The service: A few of the guys that work here have a shitty attitude and I've had numerous encounters that were unnecessarily rude. For example, ON THE MENU it says "10% discount for hospital staff and students." Yet, anytime I have shown my hospital ID or school ID they get all pissed off like I'm breaking a rule. If you don't want to give a discount that's fine, but don't advertise it on your menu. Venue - This is no place to sit down and eat. It's uncomfortably hot inside and dilapidated, but you CAN sit down to eat if you desire. OVERALL: This place makes undeniably delicious food at bargain prices. Give it a shot. read more

After reading some good reviews, I was kind of looking forward to going here. It's not the kind of place that really stands out in the landscape, but sometimes those are good. Imagine my surprise when it kinda sucked... Sigh. First, they have a bunch of steam table food, which is always dicey at best. Most of it didn't look appetizing. I got chicken, which they cook on a grill at the front of the restaurant. Going to a chicken place and ordering chicken seemed like a good idea. The dark meat was okay. The white meat was drier than... well it was dry. Yuck. I got it with rice and salad. The rice had some kind of sauce over half of it, which I asked the guy about, and he told me it was "green bean sauce". It was sort of like a tomato-ey red sauce with green beans. Passable, but unexciting. And the salad was a crappy Greek salad thing. Oh well... The one thing I can say is that the place has value. they had a huge sheet of baked ziti that the guy would cut off big squares of and serve (after reheating in a microwave). Never mind that a microwave is not a great way to make pasta tasty, but if what you want is just a big brick of carbs for cheap, you might be happy. Otherwise, avoid. read more

I was "homesick" for koshary (Egyptian vegetarian food made of rice, macaroni, spaghetti and lentils mixed together, topped with a tomato-vinegar sauce and garnished with crispy fried onions. Add hot sauce) and found it at Big Arc Chicken via Yelp! Koshary is not on the menu at BAC but if you're craving this little bit of heaven then ask for it at the counter and you'll have the option of a small bowl or a large plate of koshary. It's delicious and just like I had in Cairo at the famous koshary restaurant Koshary Abou Tarek. They also have great traditional desserts, the baklava was a perfect sweet treat. read more

This is one of those places where all that matters is what you are paying for, the food. The ambiance, no. It's a cafeteria like space with tables, chairs, unflattering lighting, but it's clean and does have a flat screen tv. So it's not a completely lame space. That said, onto the important stuff. Their food is consistent and good. They make rotisserie chicken and it's always the same. It's flavorful, not greasy and works well with all their sides, which are a plenty. They make kebabs, hummus, baba ganoush, fresh veggies, and they'll have a special of the day - last time I went it was chicken liver and other organ meats in a delectable butter sauce. Their portions are humongous and they always accompany a side salad with the order. They have baklava and other sweets, have only had the baklava, and it's super delicious. They deliver, the food is consistent, authentic and inexpensive - 5 stars. They're open late nights which is great for post clubbing feasting. Service is also very friendly and as referred to before, heavy handed when plating. read more