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Halal food carts
Food carts, New Yorkers say, have changed the way they lunch. Among the best examples are the Halal Food carts dotting street junctions, usually run by Egyptians, Pakistanis or Bangladeshis. At under $10, a platter with basmati rice, meat of choice, salad dribbled with white sauce is a deal. And it’s not just people from the subcontinent who flock to these humble carts. Check out the Halal Guys near W 53rd St, 6th Ave, or Sammy’s Halal food near the Washington Park and New York University campus. Biryani Cart (46th St and 6th Ave), as the name suggests, is good for biryani but they also serve kathi rolls. Special mention: Pune chicken kathi roll.
Xi’an Famous Foods
Images of the famous terracotta warriors of Xi’an, a city in northwest China, invaded social media in India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi locked gaze with the clay army during his three-day trip to the country in May 2015. That the city also has its own cuisine is something I learnt only after a meal of ‘Western Chinese’ fare at Xi’an Famous Foods (24 W 45th St off Fifth Avenue) on my way back from the MoMA. Food arrived fast. Famished after a whole morning at the museum, I attacked the plate of spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles. Simply superb. Special mention: Spicy cumin lamb burger with handmade flatbread, for less than $5.
The Xi’an chain has now spread to six locations in Manhattan.
Caracas Arepa Bar
I stumbled upon Caracas Arepa Bar while walking around East Village off 7th Avenue. Arepa is a traditional dish of Venezuela. The meal at Caracas Arepa Bar is slightly over-budget to be called ‘cheap’ but the cornmeal patties — stuffed with meat and vegetables — were worth the $20 price tag.
Arepas are versatile and can be had for breakfast, lunch, or supper. They are widely available in the US, thanks to a sizeable population from Latin America.
Los Tacos No 1
A treasure trove for foodies is Chelsea Market (75 on 9th Ave), built inside what used to be the Nabisco (National Biscuit Company) Complex. The Oreo cookie was born in the cavernous ovens of this former factory.
I didn’t have Mexican on my mind when taking the subway to Chelsea. It was a friendly co-passenger who recommended the tacos at Los Tacos No. 1. “The best tacos in town,” he said with a 1,000-watt smile. He was right. The service was lightning fast. I opted for a corn tortilla (flour being the other variety). The tacos came with mouth-watering pollo (chicken) stuffing. Different kinds of salsa beckoned from stone bowls arranged on the counter. With a soft drink, the tacos set me back by less than $10. Special mention: Adobada (pork marinated in red sauce) quesadilla. If you have room for dessert, try the pecan pie at Sarabeth’s Bakery.
Shake Shack
My introduction to the Shake Shack phenomenon was while trying to grab some food before a walk to Brooklyn Bridge. Attracted by the name, I walked in to find queues in three counters. The cheeseburger topped with fresh lettuce was as delicious as the lemonade. It was later that I learnt about the status this fast-food chain enjoys. It took off as a hot-dog cart in Manhattan’s Madison Square Park in 2000 and soon garnered an impressive fan following. Next, it moved to brick-and-mortar restaurants and is now listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Ranjita Biswas is a Kolkata-based journalist
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