It's on 3 of my lists. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- Address1221 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020
- From my guide, updated September 2026.
Full disclosure. You’ll likely be waiting in line for more than an hour try to Adel’s Famous Halal Food. Even then I never debated taking it off the list, it’s just that good.
Across the street from Radio City Music Hall, the cart has a no-frills Middle Eastern menu. The most popular (and viral) dish is the combo platter, which comes with heaps of chicken and lamb over a generous bed of rice.
If I had to nitpick I would wish Adel’s Famous Halal Food opened earlier (they open at 6PM). On the flip side, it’s open until 4 or 5AM every night so it’s a great New York City street food destination after a night out.
Adel’s Famous Halal is a no-frills food cart that stays open late, serving up popular gyros, falafel platters, and melt-in-your-mouth shawarma. Expect buzzing energy and enough food to satisfy any late-night hunger, stopping by Adel’s is one of the most popular things to do in New York City at night.
The cart is cash only and doesn’t offer any seating, but the mouthwatering food makes it one of the most popular destinations for a late-night meal in NYC (and they have lines to prove it). Adel’s has been satisfying city cravings since 1989, even serving A-listers like Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.
Adel’s Famous Halal, a food cart open since 1987, serves some of the best late-night food in NYC. The hour long line, even at midnight, attests to its deliciousness. Known for generously sized, expertly seasoned rice and meat dishes, the menu offers gyros or platters, both under $10.
Located at 49th Street and 6th Avenue, the cart opens at 6 PM and stays busy until 4 or 5 AM. Waiting in a 45+ minute line is all but guaranteed, consider bringing snack…I wish I was joking.