Middle Eastern Food Cart

*please read my previous review now since this is an update*
When i first tried the cart three weeks ago, I thought it was really TASTY. It was so good that i went back often. But after what happened last week, I must now give this cart the 1 star kiss of death…
So last week i was waiting in line for my food. When it was my turn, the guy quickly asked me what i would like. I ordered my usual which is lamb over rice, no salad, and extra hot/​green sauce. He prepared my order and i moved to the left. Then he asked the woman next to me what she would like. But while he was asking, he took his bare hand to brush scattered rice on his counter back into the rice bin. I looked at her in amazement and she was shocked as well. But I guess she didn’t care because she ordered anyways… DIRTY~!!!
I’m sure gross things happen at every establishment, but usually it’s out of sight and out of mind. This particular event was in sight and has consistently been on my mind. It makes my stomach woozy every time i think about it. I don’t even want to think about what these guys do behind closed doors. I will never eat from this cart again and will probably stay away from other carts for awhile as well.

I absolutely love this cart! If all my other food options suck, this Halal cart never fails. With options as low as $ 3, there’s something for everyone. I always get the lamb — whether it’s in a gyro, over rice, in a salad, or the meat by itself (always with the cucumber yogurt aka white sauce). I’ve never had their beans — I’m half Spanish so I don’t take my beans lightly. I highly suggest a lamb gyro with onions and peppers, lettuce, tomato, white sauce and the green hot sauce. At only $ 4, this sandwich is beyond delicious and filling. Ask for a couple extra napkins and you’ll be set.

This is a review of the LARGER of the two halal carts on the NW corner of Broadway & 39^th (in front of Chase). I’ve been a loyal customer for nearly three years now, and back in the day when it was still a small cart, it was the only cart on this corner. Things changed about a year ago when a new halal cart moved in on it’s turf, and to be competitive this cart upgraded to the larger, more «official looking» cart you see today. When the new cart on the block moved in, it decided to park right next to the big cart and luckily for those of us who work around here, it forced the big cart to up it’s game. The quality of their food drastically improved; before it was just your typical street meat, nothing special. Now they have more sauces to choose from and the salad, meat, and rice are much fresher than it used to be.
I usually get the lamb over rice or chicken over rice, and on days where I really can’t decide I get half lamb half chicken. The platter comes with your choice of meat over rice, beans, and salad. A couple of times they’ve thrown in a falafel for free. The regular size is $ 5 and the small size is $ 4. I like that their lamb and chicken are in bite-​sized pieces, not the ground up stuff that a lot of halal carts have. Since I like spicy, I always ask for extra hot sauce over my food, and they always oblige with no attitude. Very friendly and efficient service!

As a general rule, I don’t eat where poor people eat, because poor-​itis is contagious – at least that is what your mama told me. But because I’m a kind of a rebel, a rulebreaker, a polemicist – if you will – even to my own commandments, I am revealing to you that I am a fan of the falafel stops/​stands. Now Mamoun’s Falafel Restaurant in the Village, which is probably the most famous falafel spot in all of Manhattan, is solid. Very reliable. No need to actually write a review for that place. For $ 2.50, the falafel, hummus, or baba ganoush sandwiches are staples for the nearby NYU students, tourists, and the drunk B+Ters falling out of the many bars that line MacDougal between 3^rd Street and Bleecker. But even better than Mamoun’s falafel is the falafel sandwich one can score on the corner of Broadway and 39^th St in front of the Chase Manhattan Bank. Damn that falafel is good!
First off, it isn’t in a pita, but rolled in a soft flatbread. The falafel balls are well seasoned and moist. The hot sauce has a really good kick. But what sets this falafel apart is the eggplant they add as an option (an option you should take!). It’s roasted and/​or stewed with spices and it just brings all the flavors and textures together. As Laura B. would say, it’s fucking MAGICAL.
This food cart also serves street meat (gross on principle), but a lot of people seem to order their meat stuff too, but go for the falafel. It’s good enough to make you forget some of the voids inside you.