Found myself in Midtown West around 11pm with nothing open and a real craving, and Shawarma Bay came through. Half the spots nearby had already shut down or had lines I wasn't about to stand in, and this truck was right there, lit up and moving fast. Got the two-meat combo over rice. The guys inside don't waste time. I had my plate in a few minutes even with a couple people ahead of me. Chicken and beef both came out hot, and the rice underneath was fresh and fluffy. Ask for the extra spicy red if you want to suffer a little. Portions are big for the price. I walked away full and happy. Fries are the one thing I'd skip (they go soft quick), but with the meat and sauces all over the plate I didn't care. If you're out late and everything else is closed, this is the move. They open at 7:30 and stay open well into the night, which is exactly when you want them. I'll be back the next time I'm wandering around starving after midnight. read more

Great food truck in the area. You'll find a abundance of lamb chicken over rice in the vicinity but this is one of those that are top tier and competes closely with the others. It's a must try and a go to if you enjoy the style as all in the area have their certain style. Love the lamb and chicken combo over rice. Hot, flavorful, fresh, and made to order. Great white sauce and hot sauce with a wonderful fresh salad that is full of ingredients. Love how the add the extra spice on top to top it off. Friendly and good service. I'd definitely come back. read more

Shawarma Bay - mix platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Shared a combo meal and wrap with my husband after hearing amazing things about this truck and realizing we were already nearby! We came right at opening (around 7:30pm on a weekday), and there were already a couple people waiting for it to open. Luckily we didn't have to wait too long to place our order, and our meal was made fresh to order (but was still ready quick). I'm not typically a food truck person, but I was impressed and enjoyed the meal. Of the two proteins, I preferred the chicken. The extra hot sauce had a great level of heat, too! read more

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While their shawarma wrap was delicious, it wasn't worth the 40 minute wait. We were able to order within minutes of arriving there, which gave us the impression that we might get our shawarmas relatively quickly. Little did we know that they had a massive backlog of orders that kept everyone waiting for ages. Very strategic. There are plenty of other things to do in the beautiful city of New York during a 40 minute time frame, and eating shawarmas at Shawarma Bay definitely isn't one of them. read more

I'm a sucker for halal carts and have heard great things about this spot! Came here just before 8pm on a Wednesday and there were a handful of people in line to order, but nothing too crazy and was able to order in like 5min. Ordered a fish masala platter and beef chapli kebab platter. It took about 20min to get our order which definitely felt on the longer side. It was because of the fish prep. If you're in a rush, just get one of the chicken/beef platters or something. There were about 5 other orders that came after us that got their orders before because they had ordered stuff like chicken over rice and what not. Once your food is ready they'll ask what sauces you want. We got white, some red (spicy) and green (lemon herb). We booked it home immediately and started eating within 20min. Ok so how was the food? Pretty good! I think the biggest standouts from this place is the rice (nice and fluffy) and the sauces are pretty bold, but balanced (or as balanced as you can for this). The beef chapli kebab is great and I feel is pretty rare for most halal carts. They're basically minced kebabs with herbs and spices slammed in so lots of different flavors and texture. The masala fish is also good. It obviously got a little soggy from the wait, but some pieces had a crunch. It wasn't particularly bursting with masala flavor, but with all the sauce it kind of makes up for it. The only thing in my opinion that sucked was the fries. They're like an even worse version of in-and-out fries. Just soggy and zero crunch. It's a bit of a write off for me, but it doesn't detract too much. The only shame for me is they don't open until 7:30pm. Wish it would open just a bit earlier, but they're def open late if you want the late night munchies. Also, they take card with a 3% up charge, so bring cash if you got it. Total was just under $30. TL;DR: Pretty good halal cart. Opens later, but good for late night munchies. Fish masala is pretty good, but can be a wait. Beef chapli is good, too. I'm sure the standard chicken over rice is good, too. read more

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While I do love Adele's, Shawarma Bay is just as delicious with a shorter wait and bigger portions. On a Sunday night, I waited about 20 minutes for my order of 2 Meat Combo Platter ($12). The platter already includes salad, rice and fries and then they ask you if you want the white, orange, and green sauce. Since it was my first time, I got the sauces on the side --otherwise they pour it all over your plate for you. All of the sauces are delicious though. They also have an extra spicy red sauce that's only given if requested. The orange sauce gives it a really nice kick, so no need for the red sauce unless you want it to hurt. The plate is generous with lots of food. I enjoyed both the chicken and beef meats, which paired well with all the sides and sauces. Truly nothing like a halal platter on a night out in NYC. I do wish they open earlier though, so I don't have to wait until 7:30pm. read more

Shawarma Bay - 2 Meat Combo Platter. - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

one of the best halal restaurants i've had in NYC! I got the chicken shawarma platter and it was delicious. There was no line but service was great and fast. There was a couple of tables to sit at inside as well. I will need to come back to try the other platters! read more

Shawarma Bay - chicken shawarma platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

4.5 rounded up to a 5 star review. It's hard to find halal food where they actually still Make the rice fresh instead of it being industrial bags of premade rice in a factory in queens/brooklyn (I'm looking at you halal guys!). It's things like this that set shawarma bay apart. The meat is nice and tender with a good flavor profile. Also the sauces taste homemade. I also like that there's not an insane line to get the food. The portions are also fair for the price I paid. I will def go back to try other things. read more

Shawarma Bay - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

My favorite halal in the city!! I'm so happy to find a halal cart with a fish option. I got the fish platter that comes with rice, salad and fries (it's a deal!). Their sauces are delicious, the fish was tasty and I loved that it came with a few fries. The rice wasn't the best but I prefer salad anyways. The staff were friendly and quick taking orders and prepping the food. There are no tables right next to it but if you cross the street there are several benches and tables where you can enjoy your food. read more

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Having seen Shawarma Bay featured on Late Nite Bites and conveniently located near our hotel, we stopped here after seeing the ridiculous line at Adel's. I have to say I prefer Adel's but Shawarma Bay gets stars for their plate of long grain rice, salad, and combo of chicken and beef. The fries were just fries. My favorite was the beef ha they shaved it to order and was very tender. The bits of chicken were okay for me. There was one person in line when we came here. Streets were crazy with young gals wearing cowboy boots coming from the Megan Morony concert at Radio City. Beautiful crisp night for some street meat! Give it a try and compare! read more

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The line can be long But when the line is shorter Yum - Shawarma Bay I managed to find myself near here two nights in a row when the lines weren't down the block, which was fantastic because I destroyed a chicken shawarma two nights in a row. This food truck paint in black screams the bad boy of Halal in NYC - the guys in side move fast and they get the orders out quickly. Plates look like they're filled with food and I can attest that the wraps are a pretty solid meal. Would recommend! read more

Food trucks have a special place in my heart and this one didn't disappoint. My wife and I come here because they have fish options which is unlike Halal Guys and Adel's down the street. The combo platter is full of lamb and chicken and has a unique spice with great flavor. The service is fast for a Friday. Definitely will be back! read more

Such a solid halal food truck. The beef doner wrap and the chicken shawarma wrap were both flavorful and well-seasoned without being too heavy. The fries had a nice crisp to them and were tasty too, just a little spicier than expected. Great option if you want something quick, affordable, and packed with authentic flavor. read more

Shawarma Bay - Beef Doner - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

guys guys this place haunts me. I think about it once a week. I need to find a halal place in the Bay Area like this. I really loved the sauces. they had this lemon herb one and holy shjt so good. huge portion. I think $17? a small wait but nothing like adels read more

Shawarma Bay - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Tried this truck after hearing about it. The hours posted said 6pm and there was already a small line forming by 5:30pm. When in line, we were told that it doesn't open until 6:30pm, which was disappointing. I did notice they were giving small snacks and water to a couple patrons waiting at the very front, which was nice of them! Once they open, someone goes down the line and takes everyone's orders. Then you receive a ticket number for your order that you show at the front. Make sure you pay in cash because I read reviews that there's a huge fee when paying with credit card. I paid with cash but the person before me's order did sound higher than expected for paying by credit card. The food itself was good! But it is comparable to other spots around the area. I would definitely go back if it were $9-$11 but at $13, it wouldn't be my top pick. read more

Came here on a snowy day and was glad to see them open. This is my first time trying and heard many good things online. We ordered the chicken shawarma and chapli combo, both were delicious but my favorite had to be the chapli! The star of the show was definitely their sauces. They recommended adding the hot sauce which I do not regret. It wasn't that spicy but added a nice touch of kick to the food! The white sauce and the lemon herb was delicious as well. Workers were really nice and good portions. Definitely coming back when I am in the area. read more

Shawarma Bay - Chicken Shawarma platter, Chapli combo - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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came here because it's across the street from Adel's which had a crazy long line and there wasn't a line at all here! and they deserve to have a line!! it was 11pm on a saturday night and we just walked right up to food truck we got a chicken shawarma platter & a masala fish platter at $12 each plate & the amount of food you get, it's such a great deal! and it's so delicious!!! we got all the sauces (except bbq) and loved every single one!!! it wasn't too long of a wait & you pay when you pick up your food read more

Shawarma Bay - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Really delicious food!! We got a beef and chicken platter, and it was super good, came with fries and veggies. Overall a little salty so definitely have something to drink with it. Serving size was good as well and didn't feel too oily. Perfect late night snack! read more

Shawarma Bay - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Shawarma Bay has my personal favorite mixed over rice in the city. I've eaten at a lot of halal spots around the city but the execution of each element at this spot is made very well. The meats and especially the chicken are always still moist and I love the unique variety of sauces that they have. I do wish the rice had slightly more seasoning, but it's consistently cooked very well. The service is quick and the staff is pretty friendly. All my friends I introduce also agree that this is pretty top tier. I'll definitely be back! read more

Thanks to these reels and no thanks at the same time... In 2017- I was getting my fav food from Adel's in like 10 minutes, now it's a 1-a 2-hour line out there (due to these reels/TikTok). And, thanks to these reels, I got to know about Shawarma Bay, so not sure, if I should be furious over these hyped reels/videos or not.. hahaha. I was there last night, and as usual, there was 2 hours line at Adel's and then I remembered about Shawarma Bay. Just 2 blocks north of Adel's cart, you can see a black food truck. But one second, there was a line here as well, WTH!! No worries, it only took 35 minutes (hahaha, I know, less evil concept) to get my food. Shawarma Bay guy would come to you while you are in the queue and take your order in advance. We ordered a mixed platter (Chicken + Chapli kabab)... When it was our turn, they asked choice of sauce, and we were good to go. You have 5 options for sauce- * White Sauce * Tzatziki sauce (ghost sauce of Wendy's * Hot Sauce * BBQ Sauce * Lemon Herb * Hummus A bed of long grain, fluffy rice with a mix of veggies, crispy fries, and sauce: a combination of this- too good. 4.5/5... no big chunk pieces like Adel's...Chapli Kabab is the main hero and highlight of this platter. Juicy, soft tasty - something different than halal carts... (I am not complaining about Adel's, but lately, they were not consistent with the quality of food, and I have been going there since 2017... last time there were big chunk chicken pieces in my food, did they forget to chop them?) The price is $12 for the platter and, the same for the wraps. They also serve Vanilla custard for $6. Something controversial here guys and I wanted to bring this attention, especially to Hindu folks who do not eat beef! When I asked for a mixed platter (chicken + lamb), The shawarma guy mentioned that 'they don't keep Lamb on their menu... In fact, anyone serving lamb (he named that famous food cart) with the same price as chicken, they are lying, it's 70-80% beef and they are lying to you. I was shocked, and not sure how to react, so ordered a chicken item only. read more

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Claimed to have the best falafel and while I haven't tried other carts around the city yet, I will say the falafel was delicious! I got the falafel platter which comes with rice, lettuce, veggies & fries. The portion is very generous so hope you're hungry and ready to eat - the meal comes out to about $12. My friend got the chicken platter and absolutely loved her meal as well. Once they make your order they will ask what sauce you'd like so you get to pick how much/which sauces. Highly recommended the green & white sauces! We got there a bit before they opened and there was a small line already forming & once they opened the line grew but they move very fast and are very nice, so totally worth the wait & I doubt you'll have to wait more than 15 minutes on a busy day! read more

Shawarma Bay - Falafel Platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Such a great late-night bite! The owner took our order and was super friendly and helpful with recommendations. We got the falafel platter and the 2 way combo platter and both were super solid. The falafels are made fresh in house and were so moist, flavorful, and crispy on the outside. It comes on a bed of rice with a side of fries and a side of salad. The sauces were definitely the star too - the white sauce is classic, the spicy orange sauce was creamy and delicious, and my favorite was the tangy green sauce. It was super refreshing and went so well with everything. When I go back I'll definitely get an extra side of the green sauce. read more

Shawarma Bay - Falafel Platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Service: 3/5 Food: 3.2/5 It's the new rivalry. Will Adel's get usurped? Probably not. It's solid, but it doesn't HIT. I will say portions here are bigger, veggies are fresher, there's usually a very minimal line to order + it's less greasy than Adel's (but maybe that's what makes them so good). On the other hand, the wait to get your food takes a minute. the smaller crowd means it's less chaotic. Tips: fries should be eaten fresh. unlimited sauces. lemon herb is similar to Adel's green sauce. you pay when you get your food. they take card (charge 3% fee). What I Ordered: - Chicken Shawarma: got boring after a while, almost dry. sauce just sits on top, the rice misses out - Chicken Chapli*: better than shawarma, juicier, sauce gets on rice, less protein tho - Vanilla Pudding: not too sweet, heavy on the cardamom. order once in a while *recommend read more

Shawarma Bay - Chicken Shawarma platter, Combo Shawarma platter, Vanilla Pudding - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing! 1) One of the best halal carts in NYC. If not the USA. 2) I got the beef chapli kabab with rice & fries. Wow! 10/10 3) I wish they were open 24/7, I would come here for breakfast, brunch, lunch, linner & dinner. read more

Came straight from LGA to do a head to head with the famous Adel's. I had the same combo and my verdict is that Shawarma Bay overall better. From the rice to the fries and meat and pickles salad the platter came with. The seasoning and flavors are tastier, the composition of the different ingredients were just put together perfectly. The quality of ingredients seems to be a little better than Adel's as well. I would put this platter in the same category as some of the best halal food I've had internationally in Europe. I really don't see Adel's hour + wait being worth it with Shawarma Bay being literally a 4 minute walk away with virtually no wait on a Friday night. I would highly recommend this place to blow you away for halal food! read more

Shawarma Bay - Friday 11 pm - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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We decided to give this place a try after seeing the absolutely absurd line at Adel's, and I can confidently say I'm glad we did. This is objectively a VERY good Halal spot, as the food was absolutely delicious. While I do slightly prefer the yogurt(?) sauce they use at Adel's over Shawarma Bay, that isn't at all to say the sauce Shawarma Bay uses is bad. Fries on the other hand could be better (they gave grocery store vibes), but then again, who goes to shawarma spots just for fries? The gyro and chicken meat were still fantastic Also, if you're like me and think the portions look small in photos, do not trust your eyes. I'm a fairly big guy, and a single box was enough to satisfy me despite going in with an empty stomach. read more

Shawarma Bay - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

We got the 2 way shawarma and beef kebab. I liked the 2 way shawarma more! The meat was flavorful, the fries were delicious with the sauces they put on, the salad was refreshing, and the rice was well seasoned. The beef kebab was a bit too dry for me and wasn't seasoned enough, even with all of the sauces. The portions were bigger than most halal carts that I've had in the city. read more

Shawarma Bay - 2 way combo - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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I'm sorry to say that I'm going to be the contrarian on here. I thought the meal was good but I had higher expectations. The rice was a small portion compared to other places and I wasn't impressed. The Chapli was good too but similar issue. The beef Chapli was chewy but the chicken one was softer. With Adel nearby I would suggest going to them. I'd be willing to come back but I don't think I'd get a platter. read more

Shawarma Bay - Mixed Chapli platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious street food! We tried both the chicken and beef shawarma wraps , both were flavorful and fresh. The lines can get long, but it's worth the wait. Everything was clean, and they use gloves, which is a big plus. Overall, a great experience! read more

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Shawarma Bay is the new Adel's, which itself was the new Halal Guys. Thank social media influencers for the hype, since the line's just as long as Adel's (30-45min wait) now. Sadly, it's no longer a "hidden gem". Hopefully all the halal competition in one area brings the prices down, but for now, Shawarma Bay is closer to Halal Guys in price ($12 for a platter) than Adel's ($10). We ordered the chicken and beef doner platter, and the mixed (chicken and beef) chapli platter, which are the first and second most popular dishes. The doner platter was pretty tasty, while the chapli was just okay - the beef tasted like meatloaf or country fried steak, and the chicken, while unique, was a little dry. Personally, I think I prefer Adel's over Shawarma Bay; Adel's spiced red rice tastes better and their curry-flavored spices have more flavor. It's also cheaper. However, Shawarma Bay does come with fries and a small salad, plus their staff is very friendly. I also like that they have a varied menu with desserts like vanilla and rice pudding. Can't go wrong with any of the Halal trio, especially since they're all in the same area. read more

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Kind of takes a bit to get your food but nothing compared to adela famous wait. This halal is even better though. They have a billion sauces to choose from and everything is super fresh and flavorful. Food truck rather than cart, right by Rockefeller / radio city. Def recommend- probably my fav in the city! read more

Amazing food truck spot! Came here on a Tuesday evening just after opening and there was already a line to order. I probably waited about 15-20 minutes in line but luckily the food comes out fairly quickly after ordering. I got the Chicken Shawarma Platter, which was a huge portion and was delicious! Would definitely recommend! read more

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This halal cart is delicious! You can get a whole plate for about ~$16 & it's such a generous portion. It comes with meat, rice, salad, fries & sauce of your choice. The cart opens at 7pm & when we came, there was already a line before it even opened. Once they opened, the line moved pretty fast. Overall, I recommend this halal cart if you're in the area! I will be back when I'm in the NYC area! read more

Shawarma Bay - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Without a doubt Shawarma Bay is the best tasting halal truck in Manhattan. I would say maybe even the entire city but I haven't sampled enough carts in Queens and Brooklyn to say so. Shawarma Bay is better than Sammy's Halal in terms of taste. Definitely better than their neighbors, Halal Guys. Better than Kwik Meal and any other competitors in Manhattan. I'm surprised they haven't won a Vendie Award or at least I haven't seen it on their truck. Shawarma Bay deserves this praise because the food is simply top notch. The rice and meats are fresh and flavorful. Even the salad, a component, some halal carts tend to neglect is actually pretty good. I usually get the lamb and chicken combo rice platter. It's a pretty sizeable and will definitely fill you up even if you just got done with the gym. I've also gotten the chapli kebab rice platter. It's also great. The service can be fast and it can also be a bit slow as there can be a huge line sometimes. It all depends on when you go. read more

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went on a sunday night pretty close to the opening time. there was already a decently long long so i kinda already knew it was going to be fire my friend recommended this spot so we went for dinner. honestly - this place was SO good - theyre known for the chapli kabob so i did a beef/chicken combo and was not disappointed. it came with some fried and salad - because i was hungry is why i finished it but the portions are def huge and can last 2 meals. it was full of flavor and the kabob was cooked perfectly. the sauces were perfectly made too, my mouth is watering just wringing this review remembering the meal. def one of the best halal carts ive had in ny - super worth they took our order and were super nice - they were the ones who said they could do a chicken and beef platter than just one meat which loveee. the cart itself is in a pretty busy part of the city but sunday night it was quiet and good halal weather so no complaints from my side. 1000/10 recommend and will be back read more

Shawarma Bay - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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The best halal food I've ever had. After being very underwhelmed by a lot of food on time square, we made our way to one last sight seeing stop for the night and couldn't help but smell this food truck. We were maybe three blocks up and could still smell amazing meat roasting and had to stop. So glad we did. We ordered the chicken and beef combo plate and a Greek gyro. The meat was so flavorful, generously served, tender, and perfectly complimented by the white and lemon herb sauces. When I say this was the best gyro of my life, I sincerely mean that. I was kind of full from all the other mediocre food we had, but I still scarfed this whole thing down. It was so good I couldn't stop myself! Absolutely a 10/10. read more

Saw the trend and thought to give it a shot. Was not disappointed with the Chapli combo although I'm more of a shawarma person. The hot sauce also adds a nice kick to it. I went on a Wednesday night and waited less than 10 mins in line. read more

Shawarma Bay - Chapli combo - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

chicken schwarma platter was absolutely loaded with delicious meat, rice (i really love the rice they use), fries, salad and sauce. the chicken was tender and the sauces were so flavorful. extremely nice guys working the truck, too. i've tried most of the well known halal trucks in manhattan (adel's, etc) and this one is tops. read more

Shawarma Bay - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

I did the line at Adel's a couple times and, while great, it never seemed worth the long wait (always 1-1.5 hours), so when I saw that Shawarma Bay was a couple blocks away, I decided to check it out too. Thank god I did because this is now my favorite halal spot in the city. The beef doner is by far the best, really flavorful, and not overly gamey. The chicken doner is good, but a touch dry for me and the chicken and beef chaplis are solid but a little dry/crumbly in texture - if you're not big on heat, I would skip on the chaplis since they're a little spicy. They always throw in a few fries too, which is perfect if you want just a few for variety (but not too many that they clump into a soggy ball). Shawarma Bay really shines in the freshness of their food - the salad is more substantial than your average halal spot (and there's never a limp lettuce leaf!) and the sauces are really standouts. The lemon herb in particular makes the halal taste almost healthy. I highly recommend going heavy on the white sauce and lemon herb sauce. I wish I could keep a bottle of their lemon herb at home so I can put it on all my halal. My only wish is to have them open during the day too so I can hit up for lunch. Unfortunately the crowd here can get large, even super late at night, and especially now that some TikTok/Instagram influencers are blowing up this spot, but the line moves fairly quickly (way faster than Adel's) and the wait isn't that long. It is a bit on the pricy side for halal ($12 / $13 for a combo), but it's definitely worth it. read more

Must say, it does live up to the hype. Everyone I know has been saying that as a true NY'er, is a must try. So, I went for it. The line was a mile long, but I have to say, it was worth the wait!! The serving comprises of rice with meat over it and fries. No salad. And you can have the usual white sauce and hot sauce or go with no sauce. I had it with no sauce and it was taste enough. You will need a drink though as it is a bit dry. It's definitely worth a try if you're in the neighborhood. read more

Shawarma Bay - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York