Xi'an Famous Foods is a street-food stop in Chinatown, New York City.
Jason Wang's Xi'an Famous Foods has slung hand-pulled biang biang noodles in New York City since 2005. Located in Chinatown. Open daily 11:30-21:30.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Tip: Order the spicy cumin lamb biang biang noodles. The liang pi cold-skin noodles in summer are the secondary order.
Address: 45 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013, New York City
Vanessa's on Eldridge Street has sold four dumplings for $1.50 in Manhattan's Chinatown, New York City since 1999. Pan-fried, steamed or boiled.
Try: Pork chive dumplings, four for $1.50
Tip: The sesame pancake stuffed with beef is the off-the-menu cult order. Cash speeds up the line at lunch.
Vanessa's on Eldridge Street has sold four dumplings for $1.50 in Manhattan's Chinatown, New York City since 1999. Pan-fried, steamed or boiled.
Try: Pork chive dumplings, four for $1.50
Tip: The sesame pancake stuffed with beef is the off-the-menu cult order. Cash speeds up the line at lunch.
Uncle Gussy's cart at Park and 51st has grilled pork and chicken souvlaki for Midtown office workers in New York City since the 1970s. Tzatziki.
Try: Pork souvlaki platter
Tip: Lunch only, weekdays. The line moves fast at 12:30; the platter feeds two if you split.
Souvlaki GR opened as a cart on the High Line then grew into a brick-and-mortar in the Lower East Side, New York City. Open daily 12:00-23:00.
Try: Lamb souvlaki pita with fries
Tip: The lamb souvlaki pita with fries inside is the order. Bigger sit-down menu in the back room if you want salad too.
The Halal Guys cart at 53rd and 6th has served halal chicken and rice in Midtown New York City since 1990. At W 53rd Street and 6th Avenue New York.
Try: Chicken and rice with white sauce
Tip: The original cart sits on the southwest corner; a second cart on the southeast corner is the same kitchen. The line is shorter at the southeast.
Sammy's Halal cart on Broadway in Jackson Heights, New York City has served Bangladeshi-style biryani and grilled chicken since 2001. Open daily 10:00-22:00.
Try: Chicken biryani over rice
Tip: Cash only at the cart. Ask for extra green sauce; the bright cilantro version is the menu's hidden detail.
King Souvlaki of Astoria has grilled pork and chicken souvlaki on a Queens corner cart in New York City since 2006. Open tue-sun 12:00-22:00.
Try: Pork souvlaki pita
Tip: Order pork souvlaki on a pita, fries inside the pita. The chicken is well-cooked; the pork is the better cut.
