The Good: Still like what it used to taste like from what I can remember. Hits the spot every time!…read more The Bad: Adel's is a fierce competitor a few blocks down with a long line. BUT, imho Adel's doesn't really taste as good as the original Halal Guys in terms of flavor and fragrance. The chicken from Adel's is in bigger chunks and some argue is more tender, but the flavor is definitely not close. Also, it's important that it comes with lettuce, tomatoes and a little onion to balance everything out. Finally, You must get both the spicy red and white sauce together to make it all come together! The Ugly: The smell is addictive, so if you walk by, it's hard to resist, even if you've just eaten a nice meal somewhere else. We couldn't resist. Gotta hit the gym hard for the next few days!

The guys working the cart are genuinely some of the friendliest people you'll meet in midtown…read more Always smiling, always patient, even when the line is wrapped around the block. And that line is no joke. You will wait. Plan accordingly. Here's my dilemma: every single time I eat here, my stomach lets me know about it later. Without fail. I've tried adjusting the hot sauce, going easy on portions... doesn't matter. Something about this food and my digestive system just don't agree. At this point I have to accept that it's probably not for me. So why do I keep coming back? Because at 2 AM after a late night, when everything else is closed and you're starving in Times Square, that platter of chicken and rice over white sauce smells like salvation. They're the only game in town at that hour, and honestly, in the moment, it hits. It's the next morning I regret it. If your stomach handles it better than mine, you'll probably love it. The food is tasty and the portions are huge for the price. I just wish I could enjoy it without paying for it twice.

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...

Great, fresh and flavorful food for a good deal. Stop by, say hello, and pick up a great meal.read more

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.

I would say the food lives up to the hype. However, I don't think it's worth waiting in the…read morehour-long line like I did, just considering there are so many great halal options in the city with a much shorter line. I do think they do as good of a job managing it as possible, but it is still quite the long line. If you do decide to wait in the line, I recommend sending a friend over to Magnolia Bakery to get you a treat while you pass the time. Overall, the lamb and chicken were extremely tender and flavorful. The sauce and rice were great as well, complementing them perfectly. The service is very efficient, and they do have a few cards set up to maximize the efficiency. It was great, and I'd say it's worth trying if the line is short! Otherwise, I would pivot to another nearby great option that you can easily find.

Absolutely overrated. This place is probably overhyped thanks to Instagram and YouTube influencers,…read morebecause the actual food is nowhere near worth the attention. Yes, it's only $10 if you pay cash, but honestly, the quality you get feels like it should cost even less. There are plenty, and I mean plenty of other halal spots that are significantly better than Adel's. We tried both the combination plate and the falafel plate. The falafel was so bad we threw the entire plate in the trash after just one bite. It was oily, heavy, and downright disgusting. To make matters worse, they drown everything in a ton of white sauce, which feels like an attempt to mask how poor the food actually tastes. The chicken on the combo plate was extremely bland and dry. It didn't taste fresh at all . A lot of their meat is pre-cooked somewhere else and just reheated at the cart. The pita is clearly store-bought in bulk and has a cardboard-like texture. The rice was the only somewhat acceptable part, but even that was dry and underwhelming. I genuinely don't understand how anyone would come back here a second time when there are so many other halal carts that are easily 1000 times better. It's definitely not worth standing in line for 30+ minutes. On top of that, the staff is surprisingly rude and tends to snap at you, even when you are just asking basic questions. Skip this overrated cart and save your money.

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.

It's fine? Highly…read morerecommended by my sister. I've been disappointed by Urban Hawker already but mainly from a value perspectivr. Slightly differe Ambience is irrelevant. You're at a food court. With some luck you can snag a seat and chow down but office lunchers will probably just head back to their desk. Was told that the fish was super crispy so I got that with fried rice. Purposely asked questions in Canto to let them know I'm with the home team. Fried rice is made to order and it's actually decent. Food comes out piping hot. The fish is covered with a thick breading that reminds me of the frozen breaded tilapia from Trader Joe. It's a big serving (ended up with enough left over for a second meal) but you'll have to work thru that breading. On its own it has pretty much no flavor but it comes with a black pepper sauce that you'll need. The sauce is weirdly thick but along with the thick breading the fish will stay crispy.

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

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!

This spot has my ongoing business. Staff provide excellent attention. The prices work for normal…read morebudgets. Their food makes dining worthwhile. This restaurant is the quintessential small venue.

Food is amazing my mouth bursted with flavor as soon as I took a bite, best food truck ever!!!! I…read morehad a medium rare steak and chicken over rice and arugula salad with the vinaigrette UFFFFF my mouth waters when I think about it--it was like sex in my mouth I'm sorry but it's that good!!!

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.

Long ago, when I was a fresh-faced ad agency intern, I spent a summer in a dorm room at NYU. With…read moreno interest in cooking, I remember becoming a semi-regular at the Gray's Papaya located at 6th Ave and 8th St and always ordering the Recession Special: two dogs loaded with onions and a papaya drink. It wasn't the best quality frankfurter, but somehow it worked with my indiscriminate palette. Flash forward a century or so, and this is the only Gray's Papaya left in the city. Since I'm a survivor, I thought it only appropriate to take Jamie to the original flagship location and order what else but the Recession Special. Sure enough, they still offer it for $7.50. It was $1.95 when I was a child, but it's still a good deal consisting of 2 Hot Dogs (Photo 10) and a Medium Papaya Drink (Photo 9). The franks were the same as I recall, nothing special but if you add onions and pay an extra 75 cents for the chili, it just works. The papaya drink is not a fruit juice but a puree mixed with sugar and milk. It actually complements the dog in a guilty pleasure kind of way. There was a line but it moved fast. Plenty of room at the red mini-counter, so I was able to relive my youthful dining dalliance with little effort. FOOD / DRINK - 4 stars...forgive me for I have sinned AMBIANCE - 3 stars...looks the same as it did in the last century SERVICE - 4 stars...they're quick and not rude...decide what you want before you order TOTAL - 4 stars...hope it survives RELATED - Hungry in NYC? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/NKwFRfdezS

No frills corner hot dog stand but it gets the job done on a fixed budget…read more Don't order the papaya juice as it's over-pulped. Big sign on window warning price increase starting June 1, 2026. I'm not that worried about the incremental price hike, as it'll remain one of the most economical hot dog lunch spots in Manhattan.

Great food and amazing service. I love visiting this stand. My coworker and I make it part of our…read moreweekly routine to go there for lunch

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!