12 Iconic Carts to grab New York City Street Food
New York City is all about speed and efficiency, requiring everyone to keep up with the hustle and bustle of the city’s mass transit system and the endless flow of foot traffic through Times Square, Central Park, or any of the city’s sprawling neighborhoods. With NYC’s emphasis on fast travel, it shouldn’t be surprising that New Yorkers hold an affectionate outlook on its fabled food carts sprinkled throughout the city.
From classic hot dog vendors to heavily frequented Halal restaurants, these NYC food carts remain some of the best in the entire Empire City, giving any one of New York’s higher-class sit-down restaurants a serious run for their money.
Billy’s Hot Dog Cart
Billy’s Hot Dog Cart doesn’t just have the honor of standing out as the best food cart in New York – it also happens to serve some of the greatest hot dogs in the city. Typically operating between West 82nd Street and 103rd Street, Billy’s Hot Dog Cart may look like an ordinary food vendor at first glance, but the glizzies Billy dishes out are beyond adequate description.
Gorilla Cheese
If you love cheese, chances are you’ll love Gorilla Cheese, the premium NYC food destination for dairy lovers across the city. Here, the emphasis is placed on specialty grilled cheese sandwiches, from age-old classics like cheddar or smoked mozzarella sandwiches to more upscale items like imported asiago smothered over prosciutto and aioli.
No matter which sandwich you pick, be sure to round out your meal with a hearty bowl of tomato bisque or tater tots loaded with bacon and cheddar cheese.
Birria-Landia
The fact that Birria-Landia has quickly multiplied from a single location in Jackson Heights to four different food carts across NYC should tell you all you need to know about this exquisite mobile taco shack.
With a simple menu consisting of tostadas, mulitas, homemade consomé, and – of course – tacos, Birria-Landia’s tender beef will leave you moaning in rapturous pleasure with each and every bite.
The Halal Guys
New York has no shortage of decent halal restaurants and food trucks on almost every city corner, but for our money, few places surpass the quality of The Halal Guys. A mere stone’s throw away from Stuyvesant Square Park, The Halal Guys has been supplying fleet-footed New Yorkers with heaping platters of chicken, falafel sandwiches, and gyros since 1990, making it a tried-and-true NYC classic every bit as iconic as Billy’s Hot Dog Cart or 99 Cent Fresh Pizza.
Adel’s Famous Halal Food
Next to The Halal Guys, Adel’s Famous Halal Food should be at the top of every diners’ list for potential halal eateries. As with its counterpart/business competitor in The Halal Guys, Adel’s offers an assortment of mouthwatering Middle Eastern delicacies, from massive chicken and lamb combo platters served over rice to lamb gyros heavy enough to be used as a self-defense weapon.
Mysttik Masaala
Without a doubt, the finest Indian restaurant cart in New York, Mysttik Masaala, has a healthy mix of classic Indian dishes and more traditional menu items commonly associated with street vendors in New Delhi or Mumbai.
For example, there’s the always dependable chicken tikka masala, as well as palak paneer and the ever-spicy vindaloo, along with more standout specialties like Banarasi chaat, crunchy bhelpuri, or extraordinarily moist aloo tikkis to order alongside your meal.
Franky’s Souvlaki
If you’re going to choose to eat souvlaki anywhere in New York, your final destination should be Franky’s Souvlaki. A Queens hotspot that also doubles as one of the finest Greek restaurants in Astoria, every single item at Franky’s remains worth trying, be it the pork, chicken, beef, or gyro souvlaki, or a simple Greek salad that will leave you saying “mmmm” all day long.
Wafels & Dinges
While New York City has an impressive lineup of savory food trucks, it remains difficult to find an option for something on the sweeter side. A tantalizing choice for anyone looking for an after-dinner snack, Wafels & Dinges has a widespread menu of decadent desserts capable of satisfying even the most severe sweet tooth.
Between their Belgian hot chocolate, fruit-topped waffles, spekuloos cookie butter spread, there’s little reason to wonder why Wafels & Dinges has become such a beloved NYC institution.
Bodega Truck
While New York City has many specialty foods that make up its culinary reputation, something must be said about Bodega Truck’s chopped cheese sandwiches. A flavorful combination of chopped ground beef, onions, and cheese served on a hero roll, few sandwiches are as closely tied to NYC as the chopped cheese.
Shining a gleaming light on this underrated Manhattan delicacy, Bodega Truck has chopped cheese sandwiches for every individual diner, whether you’re in the mood for a bacon, hash brown, and egg breakfast sandwich (the “Good Mawning”) or a Dominican chimi sandwich with salami, cabbage, and bodega sauce (“El Dominicano”).
El Rey del Taco
When translated to English, El Rey del Taco literally means “The King of Taco” – a suitable name for this fan-favorite Queens food truck. Living up to its royal moniker, El Rey del Taco boasts an assortment of first-rate Mexican dishes, including tacos, tortas, tostadas, burritos, and nachos, topped with your choice of chicken, seasoned beef, chorizo, or birria, depending on your preference.
Tony’s Dragon Grille
An NYC staple dating back to the late 1980s, Tony’s Dragon Grille opts for a fresh take on its predominantly Mediterranean-inspired menu, billing itself as an exciting alternative to similarly-veined fast food restaurants like Cava. At Tony’s, guests can order almost anything their heart desires, be it a rice bowl topped with grilled chicken, ribeye steak, salmon, or a spinach pie, or a more traditional NYC-style burger or hot dog.
Harlem Seafood Soul
Seafood in Harlem? Say it ain’t so! Bringing that impossible idea to real life, Harlem Seafood Soul offers an eclectic lineup of delicious soul food, owing a significant debt of gratitude to traditional Southern home cooking. Here, diners can gorge themselves on Southern fare straight from New Orleans, Charleston, or Memphis, including jumbo shrimp and grits, fried catfish nuggets, and buttermilk fried chicken, among other menu options.
