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. Greek-style grilled meat in pita, fries inside.
Tip: The lamb souvlaki pita with fries inside is the order. Bigger sit-down menu in the back room if you want salad too.
Address: 116 Stanton St, NY, NY 10002, New York City
The Halal Guys cart at 53rd and 6th has served halal chicken and rice in Midtown New York City since 1990. The yellow rice, the white sauce and the red chilli set the cart template.
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. Vendy Awards winner 2006.
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. Pita wraps with tzatziki, fries, raw onion, Vendy nominee.
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.
Adel's cart sits across from the Halal Guys at 53rd and 6th in New York City. Adel Aly opened his own cart in 2007 after years cooking inside the Halal Guys kitchen.
Try: Chicken and rice with white sauce
Tip: The line is half as long as the Halal Guys for arguably the better chicken. The white sauce is tangier.
The 53rd and 6th late-night cart corner is a New York City institution: three carts side by side, the Halal Guys and two rivals, feeding bar crowds until 04:00.
Try: Late-night chicken and rice
Tip: Order from whichever cart has the shortest line; the three menus are nearly identical at this hour.
Thiru Kumar's vegan South Indian dosa cart has run on the south side of Washington Square Park in New York City since 2001. Two Vendy Awards, daily lines of regulars.
Try: Masala dosa
Tip: Cash only. The Pondicherry special is the cart's signature; the masala dosa is the entry-level order.
