Shake Shack opened its first cart in Madison Square Park in New York City in 2004. Danny Meyer's burger stand; the original outdoor location with park-bench seating.
Tip: The line is shortest at 10:30 (breakfast) or 15:00 (post-lunch). The Concrete frozen custard is the editor pick.
Address: 23rd Street and Madison Ave New York, NY 10010, New York City
Ihawan on 70th Street in Woodside Queens has run Filipino BBQ in New York City since 1987. Pork skewers, lechon kawali, silog breakfasts; under-$15 plates, family-style.
Try: Pork BBQ skewers and silog plates
Tip: The pork BBQ skewers are the lunch order. Sinigang soup is the cold-weather pick. Cash and card accepted.
Joe's Steam Rice Roll in Flushing Queens has run Cantonese steamed rice rolls in New York City since 2017. Eight fillings, two sauces, $6 to $10 plates, counter service.
Try: Rice roll wraps
Tip: The shrimp-and-scallop rice roll is the order. Cash only at the original; the second Brooklyn location takes card.
Punjabi Grocery & Deli on East 1st Street has fed cab drivers $5 curry plates in the East Village, New York City since 1994. Open 24 hours, all vegetarian, all halal.
Try: Vegetable curry over rice, $5
Tip: Combo curry plate: rice, three vegetable curries, a samosa, a chapati. Cash only. Eat on the bench out front.
2 Bros has sold a $1 cheese slice on St Marks Place in the East Village, New York City since 2009. The slice is the city's floor price; 17 locations citywide.
Try: $1 plain cheese slice
Tip: The slice is reheated, not fresh; ask for a hot one and they cook a new pie. Cash only.
Prince Street Pizza in Nolita has sold the cult $6 spicy spring square slice in New York City since 2012. Sicilian crust, cup-and-char pepperoni, hot honey on the side.
Try: Spicy pepperoni square slice
Tip: Lines at 13:00 weekends run 45 minutes. Off-hours at 15:00 to 17:00 are the easy walk-up; the slice still holds heat.
L'Industrie on South 2nd Street has sold $5 slices and a $7 burrata slice in Williamsburg Brooklyn New York City since 2017. Lines run around the block on weekends.
Try: Burrata square slice
Tip: Order ahead online to skip the line. The burrata slice is the Instagram order; the plain is the better slice.
