It's on 4 of my lists. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- Cost$
- From my guide, updated September 2026.
Origin. Halal Guys, an iconic street food cart, originated in New York City in the early 1990s. It began as a humble food cart operated by three Egyptian immigrants near the corner of 53rd Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan. Their savory halal meats served over rice with signature white sauce quickly gained popularity among New Yorkers, leading to the expansion of their food cart operation and the eventual opening of brick-and-mortar restaurants across NYC and beyond.
The Halal Guys have stands everywhere. This popular NYC food cart is never too far, no matter where you are in the city. Offering straightforward yet tasty options like gyros or platters with rice, chicken or beef, lettuce, and tomato, they adhere to Halal dietary guidelines. A quintessential cheap eat in the city, I can’t envision NYC without them.
Where to eat it. Expect to find multiple locations scattered throughout the Big Apple when searching for this famous New York City dish. The best part? Many locations stay open until midnight. Some spots even run until 4 AM, making it one of the most iconic late-night food spots in NYC.
Since their humble beginnings with carts in 1990, The Halal Guys have rapidly expanded, now with brick-and-mortar restaurants scattered everywhere. With most locations open until midnight, they’re a top choice for late-night bites in NYC.
Offering straightforward yet tasty options like gyros or platters with rice, chicken or beef, lettuce, tomato, and their renowned white sauce, they adhere to Halal dietary guidelines. A quintessential cheap eat in the city, I can’t envision NYC without them. In fact, they’re my go-to late-night food spot and never disappoint.
What started as a humble food cart in 1990 has now expanded to several outposts across town and a restaurant on the Upper West Side. Under Islamic law, Halal food must be prepared with minimal animal suffering, viewing the slaughter as a sacrifice to God (a requirement of the Quran).
Today, folks of all stripes line up to get filling $15 platters (choose from beef, chicken or falafel) and $9 gyros. Seriously, you couldn’t miss this place if you tried, the lines are always so long, especially in the evenings.
It goes without saying, the Halal Guys have stands everywhere. They started their business out of carts in 1990, and have continued expanding to now include brick and mortar restaurants.
With so many locations the popular NYC cheap eats destination is rarely far from from wherever you might be. Since most of their locations are (at least) open until midnight their carts make for some of the best late night food near Central Park.
The menu is simple, either a gyro or a platter. Inside each you’ll get rice, a choice of either chicken or beef (you can also order a combination) lettuce, tomato, and their famous white sauce. The word halal is Arabic for “lawful,” meaning in line with the practices of the Quran and Islam. Similar to how a Jewish person must keep Kosher, a Muslim person must follow Halal guidelines.