It's five blocks south and three blocks east from me, but as soon as the weather gets above 40 degrees, Carnegie John's is going to be my first lunch stop. Why all the fuss over a food cart? Try big patties of fresh ground beef pressed against the grill and cooked to order. Fresh vegetables on beautiful Italian sausage rolls with spicy mustard. As good a gyro as you'll find in the city without the worry of whether the lettuce will be browned or the meat fresh. CJ does everything right and nothing wrong. It's exactly what a food cart should be. Period. Even the system (walk up and order on the right, pay and take food from the left) is perfect. A-plus. read more

So this place has just been sitting around the corner of my workplace....forever! I'd heard about it since I'd moved here, but have never actually been here. So, in bringing no lunch to work...I needed lunch. A cheeseburger may not be the best way to start off the new year, but OMG this was delicious and worth the cost. TLDR: definitely get a burger, of the cheese variety ($5)! It's not overly greasy (less than Burger Joint) and it's giant (enough to make you full). I'm definitely going back to try the other stuff. I hear the ribeye ($7.50) is good and also the gyros looked good. read more

I was a little skeptical about having a burger from a street cart, but it tasted great and I'm still around 2 weeks later! The fresh burger was cooked and seasoned with a couple slices of American cheese to hold it altogether. The white sauce with lettuce and tomato was a great complement to the salted burger. There wasn't much taste to the slightly hardened bun, but that actually worked in order to support the patty and not mask any of its flavors. Other people around ordered the chicken with rice; I'll have to try that next time. read more

Carnegie John's - Massive cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and white sauce - Burgers Near Me - New York, New York

3.5 stars... I don't know what all the hubbub is about. It's a food cart serving average grub at average prices. It's a little unusual to find a guy selling the regular halal type food as well as burgers but other than that it's nothing special. I got a chicken sandwich which was just a chicken kabob on a white roll with some oddly pink colored BBQ sauce. It was a decent quick bite but I definitely wouldn't have gone out of my way to have a meal here, especially because it's not as predictably in the same place as the Halal Guys a few blocks away. read more

I've been coming here on and off for over 10 years. No better Greek-style cart out there.

If your looking for solid, basic, good affordable take away grub then this will do it! Some of the best street food ive tasted! Right outside Carnegie Hall. Chicken & rice is only $7 bucks. Then take it for a picnic in Central Park just blocks away! It was delicious! read more

Carnegie John's - Burgers Near Me - New York, New York

So I wandered around 56th and 7th ave before realizing John's was just at the NE corner with no signs or menu up. Just walk up and tell the man what you want! Burger and a diet coke for $5, burger was too big for the bun and quite delicious. Ditto what folks say about the fresh grilled onions and peppers being good. Bottom line, got a good burger at a good price, I'll take it. read more

I just had the cheeseburger today. Definitely one of the best burgers in Midtown. It's near the Burger Joint but guess which one is better? Carnegie John's! None of that ridiculous hype, hefty price tag or lines streaming into the lobby of Le Parker Meridien. You get plenty of beef for $4 instead of paying through the nose for an average burger meal. If you're not a burger person, then you have to try his rice platters. I've had the chicken platter (his best seller) and chicken & gyro combo platter in the past. His rice and salad are standard but he has delicious grilled meat choices and awesome Tzatziki sauce!! I don't think (his-ex-boss/mentor) Tony The Dragon's cart impressed me as much (At least not until Tony starts cooking the food himself consistently instead of his helpers). Just preference for me to go to CJ's instead. I'll be back for sure. I still need to try the italian sausage and steak platter. read more

I got a combination of souvlaki and gyro with rice and salad along with Tzaziki sauce for 8.00. For around here that's pretty good. The food tasted really good, especially the souvlaki. It was a good distance from me, but it was definitely worth the walk. read more

At least once a week, I find myself going to John's cart for lunch to satisfy my cravings for his gyro, shish kabob, or chicken. Love the way he grills the meat, you can smell and see the smoke from a block away! Haven't tried the burgers yet, I usually just go straight to Burger Joint. Thinking of giving it a shot after reading some reviews. read more

Burger = awesome. Juicy, fresh, sizable, and at an amazing price for a burger. 2 warnings - get there before 2. He runs out of patties.* And don't expect a lot of spices in the patty - it's pretty much straight up ground BEEF. *the first time I went, he offered a steak sandwich as a replacement. For my taste, it was a little dry, though the seasoning was good. If you're into steak sandwiches, I think it's definitely worth a shot. read more

Outstanding!!! Rice - Soft and perfectly cooked, definitely not the par-boiled stuff everyone else uses. Chicken - Grilled to perfection. Salad - Comes with cucumbers and fresh pieces of tomatoes. White Sauce - Thick, creamy and tangy. Tastes more on the yogurt side. Service - TLC read more

Checked out other yelp reviews and took the walk to the cart with my buddy. Nice simple operation, run by some good guys. I might be crazy, but the food tastes "healthier" than other street meat. If it wasn't so hot this summer, I would take the 8 block walk to this place more often. read more

I really really enjoyed this cheeseburger. And it was worth the walk of three looong avenues and a couple of blocks in 20 degree weather. First of all, it is huge. The burger is bigger than the bun and it does get a little messy, but overall, it is good quality, pretty thick, and really moist. Second, it is very tasty. I got it well done with cheese, white sauce, and ketchup. The white sauce was a nice little treat I was not expecting (with I believe cucumbers in it it). Definitely try it with the white sauce - a different, but good taste to a burger. Third, it's only $4.50...I mean seriously...and it is very good. It's better than some burgers I've paid triple the price to taste. The only negative is that there are really no side orders to choose from (so no fries), but I was actually pretty full. I would definitely go back to Carnegie John's (the service is good also)...I just wish it was closer to my job. =) read more

Carnegie John's - The inside of Carnegie John's huge burger with white sauce - Burgers Near Me - New York, New York

Surprisingly, this is a very healthy options for street cart. The food is grilled to order and the sauce is made of yogurt only so looking for quick & healthy cheap eats, this is the right answer. read more

Carnegie John's - Menu - Burgers Near Me - New York, New York

A little more expensive than your run of the mill cart but pretty good! There is a bit of a Greek twist to it (white sauce is a tzatziki). I got the chicken and lamb - chicken is a whole chicken breast, and the lamb is typical gyro lamb meat paste but they cut it into strips rather than chunks so there's more crispy surface area. The vegetables are pretty high quality for a cart. The hot sauce is kinda weird... Like a diluted Tabasco. Might just skip it next time. Will be back for the rib eye and burgers. I came back... The rib eye obviously isn't some steakhouse ribeye, but for a bite of meat from a food cart - as good as any I've had. read more

First time but won't be my last time! I work around this area now and I needed to know where to get my grub on, this is by far one of the best meals I've had from a food cart. It would have been perfect had it not been for the dressing on my salad...I don't mind a little, but there was way so much so that I could taste it on my rice, which I didn't like. Will go again and ask for no dressing! read more

when it comes to street meat, carnegie john's is a cut above the rest. this awesome truth has been revealed to me slowly. e.g., i ate a lot of sub-par gryos. and then i found CJ's and a whole world opened up. for me, gyros is all about the tzatziki--it's gotta be the right consistency, the right balance, it has to complement the meat. carny john's tzatziki is right on the money. as for the meat-- i dunno how he does it on the cart, but the it tastes like it was grilled over a spit in greece. it's never chewy or gummy, never tough. carnegie john's should be on regular rotation for any midtowner on a mission for good, cheap, fast lunch. read more

This is my new favorite cart in the neighborhood. I got a cheeseburger for $4.50. It doesn't have the flavor of Burger Joint's, but it makes up for it in size and price. My friend got a grilled chicken sandwich and it came on a sub roll for only $4.75. I'll definitely go back to try the steak sandwich. read more

I'm a huge fan of this cart. I've had several of the things on his menu, but I keep going back to the steak sandwich. The combination of the white sauce/steak/bread/green peppers puts a goofy smile on your face. AND! It's reasonably priced. I would go here everyday if I could eat whatever I wanted. As it is, I get fat when I eat like a pig... sucks. read more

This is the only food cart around the neighborhood that actually serves chunks and slices of meat that you can make out as meat. The platter comes with your choice of meat, yellow rice, fresh greens and two slices of tomato, no more no less. Sure dollops of white sauce and squirts of hot sauce if you prefer. John would take your order if you patiently and quietly wait for your turn in line, about 2-3 minutes. Because the order is grilled and assembled to order, there is another 3-5 minutes of wait after the order. I just found out John raised the price of most dishes from $6.50 to an even $7.00 yesterday. Woohoo, no need to get back those stinky quarters! And I can say "Keep the change!" And the line quite possibly would move faster because John doesn't need to give any quarter back. Everybody wins. It's next to the venerable Carnegie Hall, so I gave Ambience Classy, Intimate and Romantic. Noise Level Loud, there is always some constructions going on. And you sure can park and chain your bike around the scaffolding ... at the risk of being confiscated or stolen. Carnegie John's, the preferred food cart for people who do food cart. read more

I used to work half a block from this cart location for a while and then his burger was mentioned in a magazine. It is the best burger from a cart I've ever had and the best for $4. It's a hectic area with a lot of traffic, decently long lines, unfortunately the waiting area along the walls of Carnegie Hall are bathrooms for pigeons above. read more

I read the reviews on Carnegie John and was conducting surveillance in the area. I decided to try lamb on a pita with lettuce tomato and hot sauce. It was very good and inexpensive. If I am in the area again I will definitely go back. read more

I walk six blocks just to come to John's for lunch. The first time I went I ordered a gyro platter which was actually really good. The meat was legitimate gyro meat which looked like it had been sliced off a rotiseree. The white rice was very flavorful and delicious. I believe the meal was ~$7 and I consider that a great deal for the amount of food you get. The last time I was there I ordered a steak sandwich which was on a torpedo roll. I got it plain, just steak and bread. The ribeye which was used for the sandwich was both flavorful and juicy. I believe the sandwich was $4.75 which I also consider to be a great deal. I was stuffed by the end of the sandwich. If you're looking for a great place to get a quick meat sandwich or platter this is it. read more

The chicken platter is where it's at. Perfect for a quick lunch.

I used to work at 57th and 7th. Carnegie John's was a staple for me, at least once a week. I was uptown last week and made a point to stop by to pick up a grilled chicken over salad (you can also get rice, too, but I like it with just salad). I have hit up every cart near my new office but not one comes close to John's food. His seasoning on the chicken is delicious, and his white sauce is divine. It's the best around. read more

Well, I made the mistake of ordering a cheeseburger. Thankfully, Annie beat me until I ordered the Pastrami sandwich. Probably the best pastrami sandwich I've ever had. I think the $ should be $$, but I guess the price is appropriate for NYC. I'd definitely go back, for no other reason than to get some of the pickles I've ever eaten. read more

Great little food cart. I read about the place on Thrillist. I got the burger. Really solid burger cooked to order on his flattop. The chicken dish look great. Place is pretty quick and affordable. Worth the subway ride I took just to go during lunch. read more

Had the chicken & ribeye steak combo plate today, uhhh, wow. REALLY good, so much food, and only about 10 trillion times better quality than the pigeon and gerbil combo from the halal cart. Place is consistently awesome. read more

Best food cart in NYC. Amazing plate of homemade food for under $10. Enough for lunch and dinner. I always get chicken and rice plate with real tzatiki white sauce. Chicken is real breast cooked in front of you. Want to eat here everyday. read more

If I'm ever craving street meat, I go to Carnegie John's. I once got colitis and ended up in the ER after eating street meat at a random cart near Roseland Ballroom so never again will I trust those random places. But I trust Carnegie John's! The food is always made fresh to order. The platters are huge and come with dressed salad, even the cucumbers and tomatoes are fresh. The rice is pillowy soft and flavorful. The cheeseburgers are pretty good too and huge, for only $4.50 (or maybe it's $5.50 - still worth it). read more

The food is delicious, but the guy that is cooking shouldn't be handling the money at the same time!! Still I keep going there because is the best street food in the block! read more

Best pastrami sandwich, enough for two people with an appetite. Must do eating in New York City.

These 4 and 5 star reviews raving about the burger from here are a little crazy in my opinion. It's a good burger, but really nothing that special. If 3 stars is a-ok, then this fits the definition. It's definitely a good size but couldve used some seasoning and a better bun that doesn't fall apart. They also have no sides to go with the burger. If i worked closer i'd probably go back, but don't think i'll be walking 3 avenues to go any time soon. read more

Great burger! This cart on the southeast corner of 56th Street and 7th Avenue offers only a few options, among them a tasty burger. I got mine with sauteed onions, lettuce, tomato, cheese, white sauce, and ketchup. It was a delicious sloppy mess. I liked that it was a half pound, hefty burger. The grilled taste was good. The white sauce and onions added a special pizzazz other burger joints around don't offer. The white sauce combines superbly with the onions and cheese to create quite the tasty treat. Although the Burger Joint in the Parker Meridian is a tastier burger, and it can't come close to Del Frisco's for quality....for $4.50, it is a good option and better than most places in midtown. The cons? The burger patty was too large for the bun. I understand why he does that - obviously it cooks quicker. But I would rather wait a little longer and get a thick, juicy burger. Also, outside perimeter of the burger (the part that sticks out past the bun) is overcooked and dry. And I prefer a thick, juicy, almost rare burger...which obviously you just can't get at a cart. I've had almost every burger in midtown Manhattan - Goodburger, Del Frisco's, 5 Guys, La Cense, Burger Joint, Prime Burger, Burgers and Cupcakes, etc. I love me some burgers. Carnegie John holds its own. I would definitely return. I can't wait to try the steak I noticed on the menu! read more

As far as food carts go, Carnegie John's is the big winner. The 4 dollar cheeseburger is huge and cooked to order. Its without a doubt better than the Burger Joint. If you can find his stand, you should pay John a visit. read more

So much pastrami my pores are leaking meat, but that's how I like it. Long wait to get in for lunch but definitely worth it.

Hamburger, hot dog, fries and a water for $9.50. In Manhattan? Yes, really. And the burger and dog were as tasty (or better, burger at least) as any restaurant. read more

Can't beat the price for the platter. His combo platter is good with a good amount of everything. I definitely would go again and try his burgers! Everything taste fresh and tender. read more

This is probably the only street cart I will ever eat from. The food is always fresh and clean tasting. I always get the chicken with rice that comes with the yogurt sauce. It's just so delicious and filling. Too bad I don't work around the area anymore. =( read more