The Halal Guys serve legendary halal Middle Eastern fare, featuring generous platters of chicken and beef gyros, all drizzled with their famous white sauce.
"The Halal Guys might be the most famous food cart in the city. Started as a hot dog cart in the 1990s, they pivoted to selling halal food to Muslim taxi drivers, who had few food options. “Lamb over rice,” recommends Harney without hesitation. “White and red sauce.” Halal Guys carts can be found all around the city, with most still in Midtown (as well as around the country)." - carla thomas
"The best halal cart in New York City is almost certainly the one closest to your apartment (or, maybe, whichever one you walk by when you're a little drunk). But The Halal Guys at 53rd and Sixth—which first opened in 1990 as a hot dog stand before changing their offerings to cater to Muslim taxi drivers—remains one of the city's most iconic street vendors, just as a steaming styrofoam platter of chicken over rice remains one of its most satisfying meals. The good news for the rest of the world is you can find Halal Guys just about everywhere now—they operate more than 100 brick-and-mortar locations in five countries. But it’ll always be ours. " - molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah, neha talreja
"Halal Guys is notorious for being one of the most famous street food vendors in New York. But like all good things in life somebody saw an opportunity to franchise it and that’s exactly what they did. Good for them, and we hope it works out, but whether it’s reasonable or not we feel different about a place knowing it’ll end up being a large corporate chain instead of a simple food cart on the street. While the Chicago version isn’t a food cart, it’s not much more. Halal Guys is a tiny little storefront and for the most part it’s a Serious Take-Out Operation. You’re coming for a cheap platter or pita sandwich with lamb, chicken, or falafel, and you’re going to cover it all in their famous “white” sauce. We’ve got some news about the white sauce though, especially for our east coast Halal Guys crazed friends. This might feel a little like telling kids Santa Claus doesn’t exist, but that stuff is basically mayonnaise infused ranch. And here in the Midwest, drenching food in ranch is one of our favorite pastimes. We’re not hating, because the white sauce is no doubt good, but it’s not an innovative concept. That said, the gyro meat is excellent and the chicken is good, and when you mix it all together with lettuce, rice, simple veggies, pita, and of course the white sauce, it’s a great, cheap meal. Hala guys is also open until 4am on the weekends. And the only thing better than greasy meat loaded up with ranch-like dressing is greasy meat loaded with ranch-like dressing after a night of drinking on the town. Food Rundown Pick A Protein You have your choice of gyro meat, chicken, or falafel, which you get in either a platter or sandwich as described below. The gyro meat is excellent and by far the best. It’s chopped up into smaller pieces opposed to the traditional long and thick sliced meat. The chicken is also really good and comes pulled. Falafel isn’t great. We’d skip it unless you’re a true vegetarian. Platters The platters are an overpacked tin bowl of rice, pita, lettuce, tomatoes, and your choice of chicken, gyro meat, or falafel. It’s a ton of food, and for around $12 you’ll be thoroughly satisfied. Don’t be shy and douse the whole thing in the white sauce. Their hot sauce is extremely hot, so test it out a bit before you get carried away. Combo platter with gyro and chicken should be the default move. Sandwiches Served in a pita with lettuce, tomatoes, plus onions and green peppers if you choose. Not as much food as the platters, but still plenty filling. Use all the white sauce. Fries Not bad and they go well with the sandwiches. Can be used as an extra conduit for funneling white sauce into your mouth. Hummus We like to get a side of hummus for use on both the platters and sandwiches." - Sam Faye
"Few lunches are as satisfying as the chopped lamb and chicken over rice from the Halal Guys, possibly NYC’s most widely recognized food cart. For those who kept the cart on their office lunch rotation, the popular platters are now available for delivery via Postmates, Uber Eats, and DoorDash. Don’t forget the white sauce." - Carla Vianna
"Halal Guys is so notorious that they’ve had to sue impersonator businesses trying to cash in on their street cred. Which, incidentally, only gives them more street cred. The original carts in Midtown have been around since 1990, and to this day it’s somewhat required that all meat-eating New Yorkers order the cart’s halal chicken or lamb over rice platters every so often. Not just because it’s famous, but because it’s delicious, filling, and costs $6. Whichever protein you choose (we like chicken), it’s imperative you nod and smile when the cart workers ask about the addition of white sauce, a slightly-sour yogurt dressing that’s as much of a star as the meat itself. Don’t get too cocky with their bright red hot sauce, its spicy punch will easily overpower the other flavors of your lunch." - hannah albertine
