Sammy’s Halal Food

The original landmark NYC halal location. The quality has declined over the past 10 years but Sammy’s still makes Halal Guys look like gruel.
For reference, I know people that frequently come from Connecticut just to have their Sammy’s fix. MUST TRY.

Omg I’ve been here a couple times now and I am obsessed with their Chicken Over Rice. So on point! Love the hot sauce, chutney and white sauce. They are super fast and top of that so cheap!

After hearing about the famous Sammy’s cart for many years, I finally got the opportunity to come here late Sunday night after the blizzard. Right on the north side of Roosevelt and Broadway, I’m surprised I’ve walked and driven by here so many times but never noticed it. There were two carts side by side, but given the late hour, I think one of them just «closed» because there were two guys in the open cart chatting it up. They were all smiles though and really nice when they saw us. (I’m used to the Halal Guys just getting down to business like, «What do you want? Okay, $ 7. Here you go. Thank you. Next!»)
Apparently there are four types of sauces you can get here: the standard white sauce, red sauce, BBQ sauce, and green sauce. The green sauce (a mix of green chili, cilantro, and something else that’s slipping my mind) came highly recommended on any of their rice platters. Given that I’m not a huge fan of cilantro, I opted to only get a little bit… and regretted not smothering the whole platter with it. That green sauce is so good! The cilantro isn’t overpowering at all, and there’s a nice tangy kick that goes so well with the dish. Their other sauces are great too (I need to get more red sauce next time; I thought it’d be crazy spicy like the Halal Guys’), although I thought the concept of the BBQ sauce on halal meat was a little strange. I’ll have to give it a go next time.
I was quite surprised but impressed with their combo rice platter. The rice is a long grained basmati rice, different from what the Halal Guys serve, and is also flavored differently (read: not yellow), but in a great way. Their meat is different too: they’re cubed instead of grounded/​chopped up, so you get more flavor out of each bite. In summary, everything just WORKED. One friend and I split one platter and were perfectly satisfied (we weren’t too hungry) while another had one platter to himself and was stuffed. That was $ 7 definitely well spent.
I think it’s safe to say that I’ve found my new favorite halal cart. If you’re ever in Jackson Heights by the 74^th Street Roosevelt stop, definitely give Sammy’s a go!

It is a bit overated, but it has good food. Try the green sauce, you wont regret it. It adds a kick of flavour. Good food spot and its 24 hours, they are open through storms as well. Only time i saw them closed was during hurricane sandy when cops told them they cud not stay open. Im not saying this is th3 best, your tastebuds might say it is, but its def. Good.

Best Halal cart, even better than the city one since it isn’t as oily as the 53^rd & 6^th one.

Over all best halal stand in Queens, some may argue it’s better than the halal guys in NYC in which I agree. The fluffiness of the rice says it all in one bite.

The best halal food in queens. The chicken is my favorite. The lamb is the basic lamb everyone has in queens. It’s not different like the halal guys lamb. Its a bit hard. But the chicken is flavorful and delicious. Way better than the halal guy’s bland chicken. Sammy’s sauce is yogurt based (you can taste it), and the hot sauce is HOT. They also have BBQ and free sauce. The chicken is the BEST hands down. The rice is flavored with cumin seeds (zeera). It tastes like Desi rice. The chicken and rice is a great combo. The people in line tend to be pretty happy as well. I’ve always ended up striking up convos in line. Last time a nice guy was joking around about which cart is best and we all had a good laugh. It’s nice to see smiles instead of the usual aggression of NYC street cart lines.

I was a big fan of Sammy’s halal early on but after trying it again recently, it’s not as good as I remembered. I ordered 3 combinations with white, hot, and green sauce. The lamb meat is what I found disappointing. It’s too charred and tough. The chicken taste pretty much the same as before. I usually finish the entire combo but today, I found myself eating just half of it. It’s $ 7 now for a combo, $ 6 for just chicken or lamb over rice. Halal food is getting pricier nowadays but they still offer up a large amount of food.
Verdict — The badly cooked lamb meat wasn’t a complete deal breaker. There’s just nothing really special about Sammy’s anymore. I remembered when they use to sprinkle I think chopped cilantro on top of their chicken and lamb. I didn’t see any of that today. The food itself wasn’t even served that hot. I rather get halal from Shah’s outside of Queens College instead. Back then, whenever I bought from Sammy’s, the aroma was so strong, it would stink up my car. Today, it left no smell at all.

Best late night food in USA. Go here. Get the Combo. Sammy doesn’t have to be cool to rule my world. Ain’t no particular type of food I’m more compatible with, I just want Sammy’s extra chicken and his: Combo.
Yet, a missed opportunity. «Whammy’s Halal» would be better. Not Wham-​Bam-​Thank-​You-​Mammy, which sounds incestuous (what? just me?). But if you arise from slumber at 3am and head out to Sammy’s, you «Wake Me Up Before You Go-​Go.» «I don’t want your freedom, I just want your Combo.» Last Christmas, I gave you a combo, and the very next day, you gave it away. This year, to save me from tears, I’ll give one to someone special. Like Sammy, who makes «special white sauce» for me. It’s thick and salty.
Moving on.
Get: Combo with all sauces
Why Sammy’s is #1: It just is. The seasoning. The rice. The sauces
And?: The chicken, especially. Marinaded to perfection. Incomparable. Uniquely and spectacularly spiced. Juicy as a motherf***er. Heavenly. Just… wow
Service: Lovely, and open nearly 24 hrs a day!
Prices: Dirt cheap, $ 6 for a combo with drink!
Portions: Enormous, like, even bigger than my oh is that the time
Tips: If it’s for later, skip the salad
Nationality?: Sammy’s Afghan, maybe the food is too?
Better than Halal Guys?: Oh hell yes
I know Halal Guys (famous Halal Carts near Times Sq.) is yum. I even gave it a 5. But they’re vastly inferior to Sammy’s (#1), Zaiqa in Flushing (2^nd), and Biryani Cart’s Chicken Tikka on 6^th Ave in Manhattan (a little different).
I tried to make small talk with Sammy, asking «how’s business?» His response? «Brother. Want to increase your penis size naturally without surgery?» Hence the name: «Spammy’s Halal.»
Sammy’s is my #1 meal in NYC: home to Halal Carts. Carts elsewhere are inferior, meaning Sammy’s is the best Halal Cart… ever. Try HG, but don’t skip places in Queens like Zaiqa and Sammy’s. You’ll miss NYC’s best street food. You may go to Mecca for your Hajj. My Hajj is on Broadway & 73^rd in Queens, just north of Roosevelt, on the NE corner, served by a little neon-​lit cart known as Spammy’s.
I tried to make small talk, asking «how’s the family?» The response? «My friend. I am of WEMA BANK PLC, LAGOS NIGERIA. My late Grandmother arranged a TRANSFER OF ($ 19,780,000.00 USD) (URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL). To facilitate this transfer I NEED ($ 30,000.00 USD).» Living up to his rep: «Spammy’s Halal.»
Spammy’s is worth a pilgrimage to Jackson Heights, in fact, after being stuck for months in Europe last Autumn, once «home», I detoured up here (incurring extra MTA charges), popped my head up to street level for a couple of these Combos (it’s right by a subway entrance), then headed back underground and over to Port Authority for the Buffalo bus, while consuming every morsel of the heavenly Halal, and planning a very long run-​on sentence.
I tried to make small talk, saying «weather’s been… weathery, eh?» His response? «YOU HAVE WON! We happily announce to you the draw of UK-​LOTTO Sweepstake Lottery International programs held on 27^th of March, 2014. Your e-​mail address drew lucky numbers: 19−6−26−19−35−7.» Again: «Spammy’s Halal.»
Give me George Michael and Whammy’s Halal any day of the week. Actually, scratch that. Ow! Not literally, Starlight! Put the claws down and step away from the food plate! I’ll take Spammy instead. I’ll send all my money to Nigeria. I’ll invest in penis enlargement pills. I’ll accept that I won a non-​existant lottery that I never entered. I’ll do it all for a taste of the most wonderful Cart food on Goddess’ Green Earth: the Sammy’s Halal Cart Combo.
But back to «Whammy’s» possibilities. My gf. «Everything She Wants» is Sammy’s. Well, that, and George Michael’s bum in the «Faith» video. Sammy is her «Father Figure.» She sang «I Want Your Sauce» to him (more incestuousness?). She found «Monkey» in her Combo, and still gave it «One More Try.»
«Whammy’s» could sell a «Combo Tropicana». You’d accidentally, quietly ask for extra mint sauce (a Careless Whisper, if you will). Warning: there’s another cart on «A Different Corner», it’s vastly inferior.
If you want 80’s reviews, I’m Your Man. I’m a Young Gun, having some fun. Crazy ladies got me on the run. Sammy’s takes me to the Edge Of Heaven, and George’s beard pushes me off the proverbial precipice. I land in chilly, choppy waters off the coast of Newquay, Cornwall, England, on a surfboard, no less. Just like the «Son Of Albert» once did (look it up). But all of this is a filament of my proverbial lightbulb. Speaking of lightbulbs, there are too many in my fave Chinese place (Xi’an). Too bright. Leads to an instant proverbial headache (worse than Wham! Rap — Enjoy What You Do?). I think they should Dim Sum.
Get it? No?
This is review #2,499 (penultimate before hiatus). I like to save the best for last. Speaking of which, wanna be my final gf/​bf? I sent all my $ to Nigeria but I know where to get great Afghan food and there are other, «significant», non-​financial benefits of dating me.

Don’t see why it get so hot on Unilocal.Seasoning was just ok. Has too much tendon and soft bones in chicken.
Most of the Halal carts I tried serve better chicken over rice than here. For example the one right in front of Queens place in Elmhurst by Queens Blvd. Should be right in front of Cold Stone.

I seek out every halal cart/​food truck in my area and give them a try.
I had a favorite for the longest time until i tried Sammys halal.
It is now my favorite and best I’ve had.
I had the combo over rice with white sauce hot sauce AND their green sauce which seems to be a mix with mint/​cilantro.
Haven’t found anyone that can dethrone these giys

It’s late and we’re hungry. The Halal Cart right downstairs is billowing the sweet smell of chicken over rice into our apartment. Do we decide to drop by and pick up an order or two? Nope. The GF finds a Halal place located in Jackson Heights called Sammy’s. I think to myself, this place better be worth it as I’m making my way over (2 stops on the train). I was also told to make sure I «get it from Sammy’s because I’ll know if you didn’t » … Never mess with GF ESP.
So I get to the location and I find Sammy’s, surrounded by competition on left and right. I order the combo over rice (chicken and lamb) with pita bread. As I was ordering, a couple was trying to decide which Halal cart to order from but were immediately convinced Sammy’s was the way to go because I was taking pictures of the cart (for Unilocal purposes and for proof of location).
The trip was definitely worth it. The lamb and chicken were cooked perfectly and the rice was aromatic in addition with the onions and lettuce mixed in. The pita bread really makes this order stand out and I also asked for the white and brown sauce with the rice which is a must have when ordering. My only concern was that the order was a bit on the oily side from the grill. The combo with pita bread includes a can of soda and comes out to 8 bucks. Not bad for a filling dinner.

They deserved the crap out of that Vendy Award. That’s all I have to say about this halal food truck.
Oh and HUGE portions of lamb in your lamb gyro with life changing green sauce and hot sauce, only $ 4. Open til wee hours of the night. Perfection.

After hearing about the popularity of this food cart, I have decided to give it a try to see how comparable it is to The Halal Guys.
The line is not super long, but the wait may take awhile since the food is being made on the spot. I don’t think you can really compare Sammy’s to the Halal Guys because it is pretty different.
Sammy’s Halal has white basmatic rice instead and I really like it. I have tried both the lamb and chicken over rice individually and both are good. I usually prefer the lamb over rice. The pieces of lamb are not chopped up like the Halal Guys. You can actually savor the taste of lamb.
The two unique things that differentiate this place are the green sauce and cilantro. Make sure you ask for them, it makes a huge difference!!!

Too salty, I ordered with white and green sauce
The food is that salty and little hard. I don’t know why this spot doesn’t have great halal and it gets great reviews.

This is the best halal I’ve had in New York. Nothing except maybe King of Falafel and Shawrma in Astoria compares.
No other place has such tender, flavorful chicken. The green sauce is amazing and they top your platter with cilantro! Yum!
Be sure to get your chicken and rice with lots of green sauce and extra cilantro.

I was a frequent customer of Sammy’s in Jackson heights for over 5 yrs before moving to Chicago. this place is solid. I prefer this to the halal guys in the city for sure.
I like their combo plate with their green chutney sauce!

Love Sammy’s food truck.
They’re fast, they’re efficient, with food that rivals the Halal Guys.
I found them about two years ago walking from the Jackson Heights subway station, risked a sample and didn’t regret it. I then proceeded to eat my next four late-​night meals there.
Chicken over rice is amazing. Tender dark-​meat chicken over rice, soaked in white and red sauce. Best eaten on a cold winter night. Those guys are there, rain or shine.
If you want to try them, there are two other food trucks that trick you with similar names and looks. Don’t be deceived. It’s the one in the middle, usually with a line of people.

One day, when I get married, I will have Sammy’s cater the reception.
The only problem with Sammy’s is that it isn’t located in front of my house. If the Sammy gods are reading this right now, please hear me: open up a location in Bushwick so that I can eat there every day. Please.
Sammy’s has changed my life, and it can change yours too.

Not sure how I missed writing a review about Sammy’s! I pretty much come here several times a month.
It’s much better than 53^rd and 6^th. The rice is so better seasoned and the chicken is just juicier… with the addition of white sauce and a little bit of hot… then ask for their green sauce… yum. YUM.
…aaaaand my muffin top’s never been the same. ;)

Wow! My favorite Halal Cart for a while was 53^rd & 6^th — but this cart was a competition! I am now re-​ranking my Halal Food Cart list!
I stumbled upon this Halal cart late night on July 4^th. After planning the entire day to watch the Macy’s Fireworks show, my tummy now demands attention! Right off the 74^th– Roosevelt Avenue station, I smell the halal food aroma immediately… at this point, I knew I have to get Halal food.
I ordered the Combo Over Rice ($ 5.99) which comes with soda. The three guys at the cart were still very energetic and was very friendly to me. They said to me, «see you very soon». On my mind, «Soon, ehh? What makes them so confident?»
When I opened the box right after I got back to my place, the smell makes me so eager to take a bite without washing my hands (almost!). I also noticed how neatly they piled my salad on my left side, rice at the bottom, lamb on the top, chicken on the bottom, white sauce in the middle, red hot sauce on top of the white, and finally the green hot sauce on top! What an impressive presentation! I dive in with my fork… one bite, and I can’t help but noticed how tender and moist the meat was! The meat was cut into very small pieces — which makes it easy for me to put rice, lettuce, and meat into my mouth at once! Marinated meat was just perfect in flavor. The right amount of seasoning. The rice a bit too moist for my taste but it was not a big deal at all.
People who know me, know that I am not a «sauce» person. I may have to change that reputation because of Sammy’s Halal! It was the perfect amount of white sauce, red hot sauce, and lots of green hot sauce! The green hot sauce was my favorite part of all! I have never thought green hot sauce works so well with halal food! Truly, truly amazing additional flavor!
To Sammy’s Halal guys — Yes, you are right. I am coming back VERY SOON!